Which Netgear WiFi extender should I buy and how do I set it up?

[jameswill8520]

There are dead zones in my home WiFi and I consider a Netgear extender. I am not certain what kind of a model fits best with a 2-story house and how to set that model up with the router I have. Seeking model suggestions, installation procedure (WPS or web UI) and how not to slow down.

 

[Nikhil Rajoria]

To be used at home, Netgear Nighthawks EX8000 and EX6120 are the best options.

Setup steps:

1. Insert the extension in a router.
2. Join to the Netgear ext network.
3. Browse and open mywifiext.net.
4. Install the setup wizard displayed on the screen.
5. Connect the extender to the router halfway and to the weak-area.

 

[mayank]

The best choice is the Netgear AC1200 Dual-Band WiFi Range Extender for balanced performance and price. Plug it in midway between your router and weak zone, press the WPS button, or use a browser setup to connect and extend coverage.

 

[John]

Popular Netgear extenders include models like EX3700, EX6120, and EX8000, chosen based on coverage needs. Setup is easy: plug in the extender, connect to its network, visit the setup URL, and link it to your main WiFi. Place it midway between your router and weak-signal area for best performance.

 

[Emmawoods]

buy a Wi-Fi 6 Netgear extender in case your equipment is modern (EAX20 or EAX80 are also decent), or the traditional EX7700 tri-band in case you are willing to spend less money and still have the same SSID. Wi-Fi6 is more efficient; tri-band ensures that the so-called extender takes half the band, as that additional band can be used as a backhaul.

 

[ethancarter]

If your ISP speed is modest (≤300 Mbps) and most devices are older, an AX1600/AX1800 (EAX11/EAX20/EAX14) is plenty. If you’re on gigabit internet and want futureproofing, EAX80 (AX6000) is beefier. Netgear’s product pages list the EAX and EX series so you can compare specs.

 

[ethanwalker]

If you post your router model and rough square footage / layout (e.g., router in corner on 1st floor, dead zone is upstairs above garage), folks can recommend whether a single extender will cut it or you should go mesh.

 

[jameswill8520]

Avoid slowing down

• Use Ethernet backhaul if possible.
• Prefer a mesh product if you want whole-house coverage without fiddly room-by-room extenders (Netgear Orbi is their mesh line; they even have newer WiFi 7 Orbi options if you want a full replacement instead of a single extender). Mesh systems often give better seamless roaming and less throughput loss across floors.

 

[natalia]

If you ever see the extender’s LED go orange/amber a lot, it’s telling you “move me” it wants a stronger router signal. Also, if your house has thick brick or the router sits in a basement, one extender won’t cut it go mesh or add two extenders wired to LAN.