Slow internet speeds are one of the most common complaints of users who have a Netgear WiFi range extender in their home. A Netgear extender, also called a Netgear WiFi repeater or Netgear WiFi extender, is designed to take your existing WiFi signal from your wireless router and extend its range further into areas of your home or office that suffer from poor or no WiFi coverage. The purpose of a Netgear range extender is to give you faster and more reliable internet speeds in WiFi dead zones. However, many users find that their Netgear extenders end up delivering slower internet speeds compared to what their router provides. There are several reasons why you may be experiencing Netgear extender slow speeds and sluggish internet connectivity.
However, significant drops in internet speeds through the Netgear WiFi extender, such that web pages and videos load very slowly or not at all, indicate an underlying issue that needs troubleshooting. This article will dive into the various solutions and tips to fix Netgear extender slow speeds and optimize your Netgear WiFi repeater to deliver faster performance.
Table of Contents
Tips to Resolve Netgear Extender Slow Speed Issue
1. Check the Extender’s Location
One of the main causes of the Netgear extender slow speeds is suboptimal placement. Where you place your Netgear WiFi extender in relation to your wireless router is crucial for getting the fastest internet speeds.
- Your Netgear WiFi extender needs to be close enough to the router to get a strong signal, but not too close that both are transmitting in the same area.
- Ideally, your Netgear range extender should be placed about halfway between your router and the WiFi dead zone where you want a boosted signal.
- Ensure no thick walls or other major obstructions are blocking the path between your router and extender.
- Placing the Netgear WiFi repeater too far from the router often results in a weak incoming signal, which then gets rebroadcast weakly to your devices. This significantly slows down internet speeds through the Netgear WiFi extender.
- Also evaluate the location for potential sources of wireless interference like microwaves, baby monitors, Bluetooth devices, etc. that can impact speeds over your Netgear WiFi extender network.
Change positions to maintain line of sight between the router and extender while minimizing interference. Proper placement fixes many causes of poor performance and Netgear extender slow speeds.
Optimizing placement by moving your Netgear range extender away from the router and closer to the WiFi dead zone can effectively boost speeds and resolve Netgear extender slow speed issues.
2. Update the Extender’s Firmware
Outdated firmware on your Netgear WiFi repeater can also cause Netgear extender slow speeds. Netgear periodically releases new firmware versions containing bug fixes, security patches, and performance improvements for their extenders. However, the firmware does not automatically update on the extender. You have to manually check for and install the latest firmware version.
It is highly recommended to keep your Netgear extender updated with the newest firmware available. An outdated version can have compatibility issues with your router, cause glitches that lower WiFi speeds, and lack optimizations that are added in newer firmware. Always check Netgear’s support site to see if a newer firmware update is available for your extender model.
The process to manually update firmware on a Netgear WiFi extender is generally simple. You just have to access your device’s admin console, go to the firmware update section, select the latest firmware file you downloaded from Netgear’s site, and let the extender install it. Refer to your device’s user manual for exact steps.
After updating to the latest firmware, you should test the internet speeds over your Netgear range extender again. Often a firmware update resolves any software bugs that were limiting speeds and boosts performance. Keeping your firmware up-to-date is a quick fix for many Netgear extender slow speed complaints, allowing you to enjoy faster WiFi through the booster.
3. Change the WiFi Channel
Interference from nearby wireless devices can significantly slow down the internet speeds you get through your Netgear extender. Devices like your neighbours’ WiFi networks, Bluetooth gadgets, baby monitors, cordless phones, and more can all operate on the same WiFi channels as your extender and router. This causes channel congestion, data collisions, and lagging connection speeds.
To fix interference-related Netgear extender slow speeds, you need to change the WiFi channel on the extender and router to less crowded channels. It is best to use a WiFi analyzer app to scan nearby wireless networks first and see which channels are most congested.
Once you identify the least crowded channels, log into your Netgear WiFi extender admin console and switch to one of those channels. Then access your wireless router admin and change its WiFi channel as well, selecting a different channel from what you set the Netgear extender to.
Having your router and Netgear range extender broadcast on non-overlapping channels will reduce interference.
4. Reset the Extender
If you have tried various troubleshooting tips but your Netgear extender is still delivering slow WiFi speeds, resetting the device to factory default settings can help. Resetting clears out any bugs, glitches, or bad configurations that may be causing problems with your Netgear WiFi repeater’s performance.
Note: Resetting your Netgear range extender will wipe out all your custom settings and return it to an out-of-the-box state.
To do this, locate the reset button on your WiFi extender, and hold it down for at least 10 seconds until the extender reboots itself. Refer to your device’s manual for the exact reset procedure.
Once your Netgear WiFi extender has been reset, go through the initial setup again from your smartphone or laptop. Re-enter the name and password for your extender network, confirm security settings like WPA2 encryption, and reconnect the extender to your wireless router signal.
Test the internet speeds over your Netgear extender after resetting it. In many cases, resetting the WiFi repeater fixes software issues that were hindering performance and returns it to optimal speeds. Just remember you may have to customize some settings again that were wiped out during the reset.
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5. Test with a Wired Connection
If your Netgear extender continues exhibiting slow WiFi speeds even after trying the above troubleshooting tips, it’s time to test the extender’s performance with a wired connection. This can help determine if the issue is between the router and extender or on the extender’s broadcast to your devices.
- To perform this test, you will need an ethernet cable. Connect one end of the ethernet cable to one of the LAN ports on the back of your Netgear WiFi repeater. Connect the other end to a laptop or desktop computer.
- Now browse the internet and perform speed tests over the wired connection into the Netgear extender. Compare these speeds to your regular WiFi connection.
- If the wired connection to the Netgear range extender also shows slow internet speeds, then there is likely an issue between the router and extender preventing optimal data transfer between them.
- Things to check include distance, obstructions, channel interference, and problems with the router itself that are slowing down the signal to the Netgear WiFi extender.
However, if wired speeds into the extender are fast but WiFi speeds remain slow, then the problem lies with the Netgear extender’s broadcast signal. Try adjusting its WiFi channel, placement, and transmission power. But you may need a replacement extender if speeds are still lagging over WiFi.
6. Check the Router Settings
Sometimes Netgear extender slow speeds are caused not by the extender itself, but due to incorrect settings on your wireless router that is connected to the extender. It’s important to double-check that your router is configured optimally to provide the fastest base signal to your Netgear WiFi repeater.
Log into your router’s admin console and verify key settings like WiFi mode, channel width, security type, and transmission power or signal strength. Refer to your router’s user manual for optimizing these settings.
Also consider upgrading to a new AC, AX, or mesh router system if your current router is outdated.
Article you might be intrested in: Netgear AC1750 Extender Delivering Less than 5Mbps? Try These Fixes
Conclusion
In summary, there are various troubleshooting tips you can try to fix slow WiFi speeds from your Netgear extender:
- Evaluate the extender’s placement and move it closer to the halfway point between your router and the WiFi dead zone. This optimizes the signal between the router and extender.
- Check for and install the latest firmware update for your Netgear WiFi repeater model. Outdated firmware often hurts performance.
- Change the WiFi channels on both the extender and router to the least congested options to reduce interference.
- Reset your Netgear range extender to factory default settings to clear any software issues.
- Test with a wired connection to isolate if the issue is between the router and extender or in the extender’s broadcast.
- Adjust settings like WiFi mode, channel width, and power on your wireless router to improve the base signal to the Netgear WiFi extender.
If you try all these tips but still experience Netgear extender slow speeds, contact Netgear support. There may be compatibility issues or a hardware defect limiting your extender’s performance. Consider upgrading to a new extender or mesh system if your model is outdated. With the right troubleshooting, you can resolve the Netgear extender slow speed and enjoy faster WiFi throughout your home.
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