Does Netgear Wi-Fi extender work with Xfinity?

Using a Wi-Fi network with a small range is quite annoying, though it is a common problem for houses or buildings with more than two bedrooms. The bandwidth does not matter; if the signal fails to cover the whole area, you will experience problems – unless you use a Wi-Fi extender.

Range extenders aim to increase Wi-Fi signal coverage by acting as bridges between the weak reception areas and the router. They will rebroadcast the signal to these areas, allowing them to have the same coverage levels as those around the router.

Xfinity routers can include their Wi-Fi extenders in the package, though you may wonder if the router works with Netgear extenders. The answer is some Netgear extenders will work, with the best option being the Netgear EX3700 extender. Netgear extenders have the advantage of a ‘universal’ design, which allows them to work with multiple routers regardless of the brand.

What is a Wi-Fi extender?

These are devices that work similarly to signal boosters. They connect the Wi-Fi network you use and rebroadcast the router signals to more areas, allowing for more coverage at similar speeds.

You can connect the extender in two ways: wirelessly (the more hassle-free method) or through an Ethernet cable to the router. Regardless of the connection method, the extender should increase the Wi-Fi signal coverage throughout the area.

Netgear extenders you can use with Xfinity routers

There are many Netgear Wi-Fi extender models in the market, with each having its features and specifications, and most work well with Xfinity routers.

We have outlined the best 5 in the table below.

 Steps to connect your Netgear extender to the Xfinity router

If you have a newer Netgear extender, you should use the Nighthawk app to set it up. If you are unsure about the compatibility, you can check the Netgear website to see if it works with the router.

For all other extenders, you can use the following steps to connect them:

• Plugin the extender to power it on. Ensure the Power LED is on – if it does not light, press the Power button.
• Connect your mobile device or computer to the Wi-Fi network you want to use. The default Wi-Fi network name will be NETGEAR_EXT with no password, though this may be different depending on the specific router you use.
• Launch a web browser and type mywifiext.net in the search bar. This will display the New Extender Setup page.
• Select the ‘New Extender Setup’ option and accept the terms if it prompts you to do so.
• Select the credentials you want to use as the admin. The system will use the credentials to access the settings of the Netgear extender. The recommended user name should remain as admin, though you can create a password that is different from the one you use for your Wi-Fi network.
• Answer the security questions. You will use them to recover your admin credentials in case you lose them.
• Select Next, then choose the radio buttons for the 5 and 2.4GHz SSIDs. Select Next.
• Enter your network’s password and select Next.
• Choose an SSID for the extender and its password. If you are using a mesh extender, you can check the Enable One Wi-Fi Name box to allow it to use the same credentials.
• Select Next.
• On the connected device, go to its Wi-Fi settings and connect to the new network.
• Go back to the bottom of the web browser page, choose its checkbox, then choose Continue.

Conclusion

When attempting to improve your Wi-Fi network range through an extender, you should consider the router location and avoid blocking its signal. In case you experience issues when connecting the router and extender, you can reach out to the Xfinity customer helpline and they will assist you in setting up the system.

FAQs

Where should I place the Netgear extender for the best results?

The ideal placement is halfway between the computer and your router. Regardless of the positioning though, you must always keep the extender within the router’s range.

Will the Netgear wireless extender work with my existing router?

As a general rule, yes, it should. Netgear extenders are ‘universal’ extender models, which means they will work with most routers regardless of whether you bought them or rented them from your ISP.