You can set up your NETGEAR WiFi range extender to use the same wireless network name (SSID) as your main wireless router. This enables your WiFi devices that are connected to the router to automatically connect to the extender.
Newer NETGEAR mesh extender models support the One WiFi Name feature. This feature enables your extender to use the same WiFi network settings as your router without additional setup. For more information, see How do I enable or disable One WiFi Name on my Nighthawk Mesh WiFi Range Extender?
By default, your extender uses your main wireless router’s SSID with _2GEXT added to the end for the 2.4GHz band and _5GEXT for the 5GHz band. If you use the same SSID for your router and extender, some of your WiFi client devices might stay connected to the router even when the extender provides a stronger signal, which can hurt WiFi performance.
Most newer WiFi devices automatically connect to the strongest available signal. Some WiFi devices might require additional setup to do this, or might not be able to. We recommend that you check your devices’ WiFi connection capabilities before proceeding.
To set up your NETGEAR WiFi range extender to use the same wireless network name (SSID) as your router:
- Follow the instructions to install your extender until you are asked to select a SSID and password:
- Enter the SSID and password from your main wireless router in the fields that display.
- Click or tap NEXT.
- Follow the remaining instructions to finish setting up your extender.