How to Connect a Wi-Fi Extender to a Spectrum Router

There are many reasons why the range of your Wi-Fi is not good. Maybe you have a slow internet connection. Perhaps you have too many other radio frequencies and devices interfering with the signal. Maybe your router isn’t good, or your home is too big for your router’s capabilities.

However, with a Wi-Fi range extender, you can drastically increase the signal's effective range. These Wi-Fi extenders are very easy to set up, but if you want them to work correctly, you need to do it right. This article discusses how to connect your Wi-Fi extender to a Spectrum router.

Connecting a Wi-Fi Extender to Your Router

Let’s go over the two methods for connecting your Wi-Fi extender to your Spectrum router. These instructions will be the same for all routers and Wi-Fi extenders, not just for Spectrum.

Using the WPS Button

WPS stands for Wi-Fi-protected setup, and this is the best way to make the connection. Most modern routers will have a WPS button. If your Wi-Fi range extender has a WPS button, this is the method you need to follow. Remember that you cannot use the WPS button to connect devices to the range extender, just to connect the range extender to the router.

1. Plug the Wi-Fi extender into a power outlet somewhere near your router (close enough to get the signal). Ideally, you should place the range extender about halfway between the router and where you will need the Wi-Fi signal.
2. Turn the Wi-Fi extender on by switching the on/off button into the on position. Most Wi-Fi extenders will come with indicators that tell you if it is too close to or too far from the router. If your extender shows all green lights (as most models will), you are good to go.
3. Press the WPS button on your router, and then hit the WPS button on the range extender within two minutes (give or take depending on the router and extender).
4. Once the WPS light stops flashing, the connection has been made. To connect the 5 GHz band, repeat these steps. If this method does not work, use method 2.

Without the WPS Button

If either your router or the range extender does not have a WPS button, you will need to use this method to connect your WI-FI extender to your router.  

1. Make sure that your computer is not connected to the internet.
2. Plug the Wi-Fi extender into a power outlet somewhere near your router (close enough to get the signal). Ideally, place the range extender about halfway between the router and where you will need the Wi-Fi signal.
3. Turn the Wi-Fi extender on by switching the on/off button into the on position. Most Wi-Fi extenders will come with indicators that tell you if it is too close to or too far from the router. If your extender shows all green lights (as most models will), you are good to go.
4. You now have to connect your computer to the range extender, which can be done in two ways.
5. You can connect the extender to your computer wirelessly. Find the extender on your list of available internet connections. Enter the wireless key as printed on the extender. Make the connection.
6. You can connect the extender to your computer via Ethernet cable.
7. Open your internet browser (you will not have a connection), and enter the URL as indicated on your extender to complete this setup method. You will then need to enter the admin password. Your router should not be connected to the range extender.

Conclusion

As you can see, connecting a Wi-Fi range extender to a Spectrum router (or any other router) is not very difficult at all. Just make sure to follow the steps to the letter.