My home network is in a right mess- can you help?

Figment

Have just had a quick look through the user manual and it seems the router and extender work as two networks. To log into the extender the default address is 192.168.1.250, or http://www.mywifiext.net. If prompted, log in as admin with password as the password. There you should be able to see devices to the extender.

It is not clear whether the extender has the capability to act as a DHCP server, so I'm assuming all IP addresses are allocated by the router.

Netgear recommend only connecting to the extender when out of range of the router's wifi signal. They also say router and extender should have the same security key.


When you rebooted the router, did you also reboot the extender?

JulyKnot

Thank you.
Yes, that's the webpage I got the info from. ( 192.168.1.250 doesn't work for me )
Yes, both router and extender need/have the same security key to access internet.
The extender has greater signal strength which is why two out of the three machines are connected to it.

I will see if win 7 laptop will connect to router wirelessly. I know the pc won't as I had an issue there in the past.

Win 8 laptop won't connect wirelessly to router at all and only limited connection to extender.

And no, I didn't reboot the extender. Bit nervous to try that in case I lose all access. At least now two out of three machines can connect to it successfully.

Figment

I'd be inclined to delete (forget) the network on the WIN8 machine and start again. Use WPS to set it up in preference to entering details manually.

JulyKnot

Figment wrote: »

I'd be inclined to delete (forget) the network on the WIN8 machine and start again. Use WPS to set it up in preference to entering details manually.

Would you mind telling me how to do this?
And what is WPS?
When I first switched on the machine, it just found the network and I didn't have to do anything as far as I can remember.

zagfles

Just a quick point - "attached devices" on the Netgear 834 doesn't seem to work properly, it never lists all attached devices on mine. I'm logged into my netgear now wirelessly from my laptop and it's not even showing my laptop as an attached device!

Figment

JulyKnot wrote: »

Would you mind telling me how to do this?
And what is WPS?
When I first switched on the machine, it just found the network and I didn't have to do anything as far as I can remember.

To forget networks in WIN8 - Press and hold or right-click the network in the network list, then tap or click Forget this network.

WPS = Wireless Protected Setup. When the new network is discovered click connect. There is (should be) an option to connect using WPS. Select this option, then press the WPS button on the extender within 2 minutes the connection is established automatically without the need to type in the security key. (WPS may be called Push n Connect on your extender)

JulyKnot

zagfles wrote: »

Just a quick point - "attached devices" on the Netgear 834 doesn't seem to work properly, it never lists all attached devices on mine. I'm logged into my netgear now wirelessly from my laptop and it's not even showing my laptop as an attached device!

Ok so I won't worry about that aspect too much then.

I am however concerned about first one machine and then another randomly not wanting to connect to the internet. All these problems seemed to have started since I messed about trying to connect the printer wirelessly. I should have left it alone.

JulyKnot

Figment wrote: »

To forget networks in WIN8 - Press and hold or right-click the network in the network list, then tap or click Forget this network.

WPS = Wireless Protected Setup. When the new network is discovered click connect. There is (should be) an option to connect using WPS. Select this option, then press the WPS button on the extender within 2 minutes the connection is established automatically without the need to type in the security key. (WPS may be called Push n Connect on your extender)

I don't think I have WPS but was able to forget the network and reconnect entering my security key. I am now wirelessly connected to the internet.
Thank you so much.
What a fiasco and I still haven't sorted the printer side of things. I can't see how to assign a static ip within the router login.

JulyKnot

No, my problem isn't resolved. I just thought I'd check and disconnected from the extender and tried connecting to mySSID instead. This time got the now familiar limited connectivity.
Disconnected and tried connecting to mySSIDext again but t wouldn't let me.

Forgot both networks as above and tried connecting again to mySSIDext and it's working again.

I don't understand what the issue is at all.

Figment

JulyKnot wrote: »

I don't think I have WPS but was able to forget the network and reconnect entering my security key. I am now wirelessly connected to the internet.
Thank you so much.
What a fiasco and I still haven't sorted the printer side of things. I can't see how to assign a static ip within the router login.

Look on the LAP-IP page. I think Netgear call it Reserved IPs. You will need the printer's MAC address.

Probably the best way to do this is to run through the printer setup routine with it connected to one PC/laptop via USB cable. Once it is running wirelessly, disconnect USB cable and go into the router LAN IP page to set whatever IP it is currently using as reserved. You can then add the printer to the other devices.