Requirements For Placing An Extender Access Point In A Mesh Wifi Network - NETGEAR WAX638E User Manual

Insight Managed WiFi 6E AXE7800 Tri-band Multi-Gig Access Point Model WAX638E
In the mesh WiFi network, the extender access point connects to the root access point
over a WiFi connection and broadcasts (extends) the WiFi network to the WiFi clients:
• Backhaul connection: The WiFi connection between the root access point and the
extender access point is referred to as the backhaul connection.
• Fronthaul connection: The WiFi connection between the extender access point
and its WiFi clients is referred to as the fronthaul connection.
In a NETGEAR Insight Instant Mesh WiFi network, you must use the Insight Cloud Portal
or Insight app to set up the mesh WiFi connection between the root access point and
the extender access point. That is, you cannot do so through the local browser UI of
either the root access point or the extender access point. In a network with multiple
root access points, NETGEAR Insight automatically connects the extender access point
to the root access point with the strongest WiFi signal.
Although the extender access point broadcasts the same WiFi network or networks as
the root access point, you can also set up a WiFi network on the extender access point,
which then can be broadcast by the root access point and other extender access points
in the mesh network.
The access point can broadcast on the 2.4 GHz band, the 5 GHz band, and the 6 GHz
band (the preferred band for the backhaul connection on the access point). Depending
on the WiFi capability of the WiFi client, any band can provide the fronthaul connection.
Requirements for placing an extender access
point in a mesh WiFi network
The following are the requirements for placing an extender access point in an Insight
Instant Mesh WiFi network:
• The existing WiFi network must include at least one mesh-capable access point that
runs the latest firmware version. On the root access point, use one Ethernet port for
the connection to your network.
• The extender access point must be in factory default state. If you used the extender
access point in your network before, reset the access point to factory default settings.
• The extender access point must be within range of the WiFi signal of a root access
point so that it can sync with the root access point. During setup, for a reliable WiFi
connection, place the extender access point less than 25 feet (7.5 m), in a line of
sight with minimal obstacles from the closest root access point.
• You must use the NETGEAR Insight Cloud Portal or Insight app to install the extender
access point in the existing WiFi network.
Install the Access Point in an
Insight Instant Mesh WiFi
Network
47 User Manual