Anoneh's Blog

Netgear Wireless Repeating Function WIFI

Because I renew my ISP contract, the ISP gave me another Netgear router but the newer R6220 model. Instead of throwing the old one away, we can use this to extend the range of the WIFI.

The main ‘problem’ is that once you make one router a repeater, you are not able to connect to the admin page or http://192.168.1.1 , even when you are connected directly via ethernet cable or via WIFI. You can only do that when you reset to default factory setting using a paper clip. This problem only arises when somehow you need to troubleshoot due to mis-configuration, otherwise there is no need to access the repeater.

There are 2 parts. One is the base station, the other is the repeater.

Best to start configuring with the repeater router first and put the base station offline. First access the admin page. The repeater will connect via WIFI so WIFI config like the channel, region, passwords must be identical. You cannot have an auto channel because you need to have the same channel ie. 36. However, to differentiate the base station from the repeater, you may have different SSID. eg. ‘net-base’ and ‘net-repeater’ for example. Having two DHCP servers on the network will cause serious problems, so to avoid this the DHCP function of the Repeater should be disabled under ‘LAN Setup’.

Under checkbox, select ‘Enable Wireless Repeating Function’.

Select the ‘Wireless Repeater’ under radio button. Now this is the confusing IMHO. You know our MAC address (repeater) but you don’t know the base station’s MAC address. It is best to note it down before you start this but if you have not, then you can find out the MAC address by turning over the router and find the MAC address printed on it. Not sure about other brand’s router but this is standard information on Netgear routers. Before you click apply, copy the MAC address of this router. After clicking apply, you will not be able to access the router again. Unplug this repeater router and place it where it belong. eg. another room.

Now lets move to the base station part. Access the admin page and under checkbox, select ‘Enable Wireless Repeating Function’.

Select the ‘Wireless Base Station’ under radio button. You have already taken note of the repeater MAC address. Now fill that info. in under Repeater MAC Address 1.

This article is a condensed version of Netgear’s KB on this topic.

Note : In the repeater mode with wireless client association, your wireless router sends all traffic to a base station access point. You can set up the wireless router as either the base station (parent) or as the repeater (child) access point.