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Question

Using extender - showing strong signal but no connection

Jan 5, 2015 6:18AM PST

I'm using a ZyXEL N300 wireless extender. Previously I was only getting wifi signal in a small corner of the room and it was showing a weak signal (1-2 bars) on my devices. I've now set up the extender and when it is plugged in and switched on, it shows up as a strong signal anywhere in the room but I'm not actually connected to the internet. When I turn the extender off, I get a weak signal and only in the corner of the room, as before, but at least it works. So it seems like the extender is working but my devices aren't recognising it. This is the same on my laptop, iPad and Android phone. Is there something I need to change in the settings?
I don't know if it makes a difference but when the extender is plugged in, the lights to indicate wireless connectivity are on but flickering, and the LAN light is not on. It's probably explained in the manual but sadly I can't understand it - the manufacturer is not great on layman's terms!
Any help very much appreciated! Let me know if further details are needed.

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
So this extender is in that same room?
Jan 5, 2015 6:30AM PST

The extender needs not only pairing with the network but has to be halfway between the router and this room. Many folk plug it in the area that needs extending. Well, that should do exactly what you noted.
Bob

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I've moved it but still not working
Jan 6, 2015 6:47AM PST

Hi Bob
Thanks very much for the reply. It was in the area that needs extending when I wrote the post, but then I moved it so that it was halfway between the router and the room. It was strange - at first after doing that it worked and I had a connection and I was able to stream TV in the the part of the room where I hadn't been able to get any connection before. However, after about 5 minutes, the connection stopped working and it was the same situation as the first time I tried the extender - it was showing a strong signal but there was no connection at all. I could only connect to the internet after switching the extender off - but I could only get a signal in one corner of the room, as before. So it does seem that the extender is doing something (it's showing strong signal in areas where there was no signal before) but for some reason when the extender is on, my devices are no longer connected to the internet (even though they shows up as connected in there wifi settings). Have you encountered this issue before?
Thanks
Jenny

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Why yes.
Jan 6, 2015 6:51AM PST

And it's why the office won't sell or deploy them. Folk want them to work well and I see them fail a lot.

Try checking firmware updates and try the router and extender on 802.11g mode.
Bob

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Excuse ignorance...
Jan 7, 2015 5:12AM PST

Hi Bob

Thanks very much for the suggestions. Apologies for my ignorance but I'm not sure how to do those things. Any explanations would be very much appreciated!
Thanks
Jenny

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Such would be in the product manuals and web pages.
Jan 7, 2015 11:17AM PST

I can't offer how to update firmware other than point you to the maker's web pages. There's a danger that if I mistype something the product would fail altogether.

As to 802.11g. That's in the product manual on configuration.
Bob