One of the best things about Netgear WiFi extenders is that the setup process is very easy. The Quick Start Menu that comes with it explains all the steps you need to perform for your extender’s setup. It defines all the buttons resting on your extender, terms used during the installation process, and options used to complete the setup. This makes things easy for users.

All said; there are still some things – be it terms or options – that might seem tricky not only to novice users but advanced ones too. One of these things is SSID. While connecting your range extender with a router, you need to know the latter’s SSID. In case it is hidden, users might feel confused and pause their setup process for a while until they find out what to do next. Don’t worry! It’s not as tricky as it seems to be.

In this post, we’ve brought an easy solution to help you connect your extender with a router if the router’s SSID is not visible. Do you know what is an SSID and how is it necessary?

What does “SSID” mean?

A “service set” refers to all those wireless networking devices that work on same parameters provided by IEEE 802.11 wireless networking standard. Hence an SSID or Service Set Identifier means the primary name that helps users identify which wireless network (or service set) to connect with.

All SSIDs are unique from one another so that a user connects to the correct one. Router manufacturers provide their WiFi devices with a default SSID (up to 32 character-limit), such as “NETGEAR” or “Linksys” but users with administrative access to the network can change it to anything. Since they are case-sensitive, you need to be careful while entering an SSID into the provided field.

What happens when you are unable to see a router’s SSID?

Usually, wireless routers broadcast its SSID to all nearby devices. These devices, then, generate a human-readable name which helps users distinguish between their WiFi network and others’. However sometimes, a router’s SSID seems hidden. This makes setting up a range extender appears to be difficult because you don’t know which details to put in the provided fields during your Netgear extender setup.

How to connect your Netgear extender to a hidden SSID?

If you are trying to connect your Netgear WiFi extender with a router and can’t detect the latter’s SSID, you need to enter it manually during the extender setup. Read on to know how you can do it.

Plug in your WiFi extender to a power socket and wait until it completely turns on
Launch a web browser and enter into www.wifiextassist.com
The New Extender Setup page will appear. When it does, create an account by filling the form and hit Next
On NETGEAR Genie page, click on WiFi Range Extender
When the list of all existing WiFi network shows up, you will not be able to view your network if the SSID of your router is hidden
Click on “Manually input my wireless SSID” and hit Next
Provide your router’s SSID in the field and type your password. Make sure you choose the same security option as configured on your router
Click Next
On the next step, the setup will ask you to enter the SSID and password of your extender’s network. If you want to keep those same as they are now, don’t do anything here and click Next (Otherwise, provide a new SSID and password, and click Next)
Select your client devices and connect them your extender’s WiFi network
Click Continue

Mywifiext is the easiest way to install and configure your Netgear extender. You can now use the WiFi network from your Netgear range extender. And if you need guidance, you can ask for expert help for making the setup process easier and faster for you.

Author's Bio: 

HI, I am Amit Gupta, working as a Digital Marketer at stickystan.com