Table of Contents

Set-up

Wireless Settings
Mode Settings

Advanced

Wireless Settings
Wireless Advanced Settings
WPS Settings
Device List

System

System Information
Change Admin password
Firmware Upgrade
Reboot


Set-up

Wireless Settings

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Wireless Network

This is the name that's broadcast to identify your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender when connecting new devices.

The default wireless network/SSID is unique and set to 'NetComm XXXX' where X are random alphanumeric characters.

You can change the Wireless network/SSID using up to 32 alphanumeric characters (case-sensitive).

Advice for choosing a wireless network/SSID

  1. Characters ? " $ [ \ + aren't allowed
  2. Name can't start with ! #
  3. No <space> at start or end

Channel

Whenever you switch on your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender, or after resetting to its factory settings, it automatically finds a clear wireless channel. Under normal conditions, you should not need to manually change the wireless channel to avoid interference.

Wireless Key

You will need this key to connect devices to your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender.

You can change this setting, however ensure you write it down as you will need to enter it for any devices you wish to connect. The default setting can be found on the Wireless Settings card.


Mode Settings

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On this page you can choose your Wi-Fi Extender work mode.

Please note: switching mode need to restart the device to take effect.


Advanced

Advanced Wireless Settings

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This section allows you to change the wireless interface mode, network name (SSID) and security settings of your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender.
If you make changes to the wireless network/SSID and/or security settings, ensure you write them down as you will need to enter them on any devices you wish to connect.
You can restore the default settings by using the "Reset" pinhole on the front of the Wi-Fi Extender. (use a paper clip or other thin object and press the button for 1 sec)

Wireless Network

This is the name that's broadcast to identify your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender when connecting new devices.
The default wireless network/SSID is unique and set to 'NetComm XXXX' where X are random alphanumeric characters.
You can change the Wireless network/SSID using up to 32 alphanumeric characters (case-sensitive).

Advice for choosing a Wireless network/SSID

  1. Characters ? " $ [ \ + aren't allowed
  2. Name can't start with ! #
  3. No <space> at start or end

Wireless Network

This option lets you set your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender's wireless interface to that best suited to your environment.

  • 802.11n 40Mhz is the default mode and enables maximum data speeds for all device types;
    however in some conditions it can cause a small loss in performance, in which case 802.11 a/n should be selected.
  • 802.11 a/n - is ideal for all users
  • 802.11a - is only recommended for users with some older 802.11a devices which don't work in 802.11 a/n mode

Channel

Whenever you switch on your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender, or after resetting to its factory settings, it automatically finds a clear wireless channel. Under normal conditions, you should not need to manually change the wireless channel to avoid interference.

Wireless Security

This section allows you to change the wireless security for each of your wireless networks (SSID) on your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender. If you don't select any of the encryption methods wireless data can be intercepted by unauthorised users.

WPA & WPA2 (Recommended)

WPA (WiFi Protected Access) is the next generation of security for wireless networks and offers improved security over WEP. Your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender is set to WPA & WPA2 by default.

Select WPA & WPA2 if all your wireless devices support WPA (check the instructions supplied with your wireless devices)

We recommend that you use the default WPA & WPA2 setting if all the wireless devices connecting to your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender support a combination of WPA or WPA2 as this setting is best for interoperability across a wider range of devices.

If using WPA & WPA2, your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender will accept devices that only support WPA and newer devices that can use WPA2. This is the default setting that guarantees the highest level of wireless security for all your devices.

Advice for a secure Wireless key

To help make your Wireless key as secure as possible, please make sure that it:

  • is at least 10 characters long, but no more than 63
  • is a combination of numbers, upper-case letters (or 'CAPITALS'), lower-case (or 'small') letters
  • does contain punctuation, but no spaces
  • is not a name or a dictionary word
  • does not repeat the same character one after another (e.g. aabbccdd00)
  • is not a commonly used key like 'abcd1234', 'welcome1', etc
  • is not the same as information given elsewhere on your NetComm Wireless Home Hub (e.g. your Hub Manager's password, serial number, MAC address or wireless network/SSID

WEP

WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) offers a standard level of security and is supported by older wireless devices. Select WEP if you wish to connect older wireless adapters that don't support WPA (see below).


Wireless Advanced Settings

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Through this page, you can set advanced configuration parameters of the wireless, in general, keep the default configuration.

Fragmentation Length / CTS/RTS Threshold / Preamble Mode

These settings are reserved for wireless testing and advanced configuration only. Do not change these settings.

Transmit Power Control

This display the Wi-Fi Extender's available transmit power. You can adjust it as required.


WPS Settings

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Enable WPS

Tick this option to enable the WPS button on your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender.

WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) Settings

Your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender has a Wireless WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) button which supports PBC and PIN mode to Connect.

This means easy connection to a WPS-enabled PC (running Windows 8, Windows 7 or Windows Vista with Service Pack 2):

  1. use your PC's wireless network connection manager to select your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender network name/SSID
  2. when prompted press the Wireless WPS button on your device. For other types of WPS-device follow the device's instructions to activate WPS on the device itself (often this is simply a press of a WPS button)
  3. then simply press the PBC button on your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender
  4. if you use the PIN mode, please enter the pin code generated by the client, and then click the PIN button to connect

Please note: WPS supports None, WPA2-PSK(AES) and WPA-PSK(TKIP)+WPA2-PSK(AES) wireless security, WPS is not available if your wireless security is set to WEP or WPA-PSK(TKIP).

To find out more about WPS, go to www.wi-fi.org/wifi-protected-setup


Device List

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This section shows the wireless devices that are, or have been connected to your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender.
When the page is accessed the NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender will scan your local network to identify all the hosts, so this page may take a short while to update. MAC address are shown for each of the Interfaces and devices, these are normally found on labels on products and uniquely identify the interfaces.

Note: To update the device list, click Refresh.


System

System Information

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Firmware version

This field shows your current firmware version. Visit support.netcommwireless.com/ to check if a newer firmware version is available for your device.

MAC addresses

Your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender has three MAC addresses for the Wireless, Ethernet and Router interfaces. You can use these addresses to identify your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender on your home network from other devices such as a Broadband router.

If you use The IP Configuration Tool to access this user interface, the Wireless MAC address will be displayed.


System Logs

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The log is a detailed record of the Web sites that users on your network have accessed or attempted to access.

Save
Save the logs.

Clear
Clears the logs completely.

Refresh
Refresh the logs.


Change Admin Password

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The default Administration (Admin) Password of your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender has been generated randomly and is unique to your device.

If you wish to change the password:

  1. Enter the Old password
  2. Enter the new password twice, once in New password and again in the Confirm password fields
  3. Click Apply

Please note the following points about your new Admin password:

  • The new password can be up to 32 characters long, but for increased security, it should be as long as possible (at least 8 characters long), contain a mix of letters, numbers and capitalisation, and should also not include dictionary words or common names.
  • Your password is case sensitive
  • If you change your password, keep a note of it somewhere safe

If you forget your password, you can restore the default value by using the reset button on the back of your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender. Please note, pressing the reset button will restore all settings (e.g. Wireless Network/SSID, Wireless Security Settings) to their default values.

You will have 5 attempts to enter the password correctly. If you do enter it incorrectly 5 times, you will be locked out of Extender for 1 minute. If that happens, close your browser window and try again 1 minute later. Should the password still be incorrect on a subsequent attempt, the amount of time you'll be unable to access Wi-Fi Extender will increase until it reaches 15 minutes. At that point you won't be able to enter a password for 15 minutes until it is entered correctly. Turning your Wi-Fi Extender off and on will reset this counter and allow you to have 5 consecutive attempts again.

Once you click 'Apply' to change your password

The new setting takes effect immediately. When you continue to access other pages, you may be prompted to log in again with your new password.


Firmware Update

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Firmware updates are released periodically to improve the functionality of your NetComm Wireless Wi-Fi Extender. If you experience problems with your device please check if there is an update available on the NetComm Wireless support website support.netcommwireless.com/.

To update the firmware in your Wi-Fi Extender:

  1. first, download the new firmware to your computer (the file will have an .img extension)
  2. click the Browse... button and select the new firmware
  3. if you wish to retain any settings you have changed, tick the Clear Config option is unticked
  4. Click Upload and Install

The update takes approximately 2 minutes after which your Wi-Fi Extender will re-boot. Please do not turn off your device until the update is complete.


Reboot

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Restore the factory default configuration

Click Restore.

Restore the Wi-Fi Extender will restore the factory default configuration.

Please note: Do not try to go online, turn off the Wi-Fi Extender, shut down the computer, or do anything else to the Wi-Fi Extender until the Wi-Fi Extender finishes restarting! When the test light stops blinking, wait a few more seconds before doing anything with the Wi-Fi Extender.

Reboot System

Click Reboot.

Restarting the Wi-Fi Extender does not affect current settings.