| NETGEAR WGXB102 Powerline Wireless Range Extender |
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Model: WGXB102
Brand: Netgear
Manufacturer: Netgear
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 83
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
Kit lets you create a 802.11g wireless network from an existing network with only electrical outlets
Supports IEEE 802.11g wireless standard and is backwards compatible with 802.11b networks
Enhanced security thanks to WPA and 64/128-bit WEP encryption
Sleek design fits into any decor
Device measures 6.5 x 3 x 8.6 inches (WxHxD) |
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| Description: |
| Netgear WGXB102 54Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender Kit - This kit is designed to let you easily extend the range of your wireless network to areas that do not receive the signal. First, you plug the XE102 Wall-Plugged Ethernet Bridge into an available RJ-45 port on your router, and an available wall outlet. Then you go to an area that can not receive your 54Mbps signal, and plug the WGX102 Wireless Range Extender into any available wall outlet. That area now becomes "live", with your data traveling back and forth over your home's powerline! SSID Suppression WPA PSK (Wi-Fi Protected Access Pre-Shared Key) Support |
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| User Reviews (83 total): |
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Easy to setup, high failure rate, August 12, 2008
By user (New Orleans, LA United States)
NETGEAR WGX102 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender
I have a Netgear Rangemax WNR834B wireless router upstairs, but the WiFi signal downstairs was spotty. I added the XE102 upstairs, and plugged in the WGX102 wireless range extender downstairs.
Pros: It took about 10 minutes to setup, and works well, both wireless routers use the same SSID, and the same WPA password - so connectivity is seamless while moving back and forth with a handheld wireless device like a WiFi phone.
Cons: The unit gets very hot within an hour or two. The first unit I purchased failed within a day. The replacement unit is working, but lets see if it lasts a few months. I fear that the heat produced by this unit does not auger well for its longevity, or my electric bill.
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Get LAN Extenders instead, July 13, 2008
By user
The Wireless Range extender (WGXB102) did not work at all.
Previously I used the NetGear bridge and access point, which didn't work.
I have the Wireless Range N Max router, from NetGear.
Only the electric LAN Range extenders worked. Basically, I could
have purchased a cheap LAN router, because esentially I have the
same thing. I have a LAN cable connected to my wireless router, which
connects to a LAN range extender. I purchased a NetGear LAN card for
my other PC.
If you are considering NetGear, I recommend just sticking with LAN
routers/connections. There wireless does not seem up to spec. They also
do not provide repeaters. NOTE: Only one Range N router supports wireless
access - bridge/access point connections).
I wasted a lot of money using NetGear. Especially considering the USB
adapter signals were terrible.
*(The LAN extender is half of the WGX6102 (Non wireless part). They
do sell this in pairs. I would highly recommend that, if you have walls
blocking the wireless routers.
I really wouldn't recommend NetGear. They have limited repeater options.
And there Range N Max does not support wireless - wireless access points.
I had lots of difficulties with NetGear wireless, and I do
have walls separating different computers. I ended up using
there LAN electical adapters.
Bottom line, I would just use NetGear for LAN connections only.
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netgear, June 17, 2008
By user
It works great, easy to install,however, this product doesn't to last long. I have bought one and it lasted about almost a year and bought a replacement because wall plug wouldn't work for the second time. Second one, lasted for over a year.
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Problems solved!, January 30, 2008
By user (Placerville, CA)
This is a great solution for folks with hard-to-cover wireless "dead zones" in their homes. I must have bought and returned 5 or 6 new routers, antennas and "repeater" range extenders - nothing worked. Then I bought this product and now my coverage is fantastic! Plus, the range extender can be moved around very easily from plug-to-plug, allowing you to re-situate it as needed for optimal coverage. I didn't do a bench test or anything, but it seemed to be very fast.
I took off one star because it was tricky to configure for a secure connection, and the instructions were very vague (and in one case - the IP address of the range extender itself, just plain wrong - I had to figure that out by looking it up on the web). I'd say it's a definite buy if you are fairly computer\internet savvy, or if you don't have wireless security enabled.
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Good product, but check the box!, January 2, 2008
By user (Callawassie Island, SC)
I first bought this in a 220V version for my son in Germany, and was impressed with the simplicity in setup, and the immediate improvement.
Back home, I bought the first one, brought it home, found no ethernet cable included. Took it back, brought the second one home, and again, found no ethernet cable cable included. Took that one back, and then the clerk and I both stood there and opened the third box, and found there was a cable in that box! Setup is really easy...plug into your router and outlet, then plug the other one where you want reception. My Tivo, which gets data by wireless, jumped from an average of 25% signal to 70% signal! One tip, try not to plug main unit with cable into extension cord if at all possible...best signal quality is if direct into wall outlet.
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Don't fall for it!, October 25, 2007
By user (Houston, TX)
I bought this for my office at the recommendation of Best Buy's Geek Squad. It is easy to install and immediately I saw 100% signal in previously dead areas. However, it is a separate network and I couldn't make it "communicate" with my current network. After spending hours on the phone with Netgear's customer support (which was clearly in another country with limited English skills) they couldn't offer me a good solution. The only helpful info was that the extender has to be plugged into the SAME circuit as the router...which isn't helpful in a multi-circuit building.
After giving up on what should have been an easy install, I called Geek Squad to set it up for me. After 4 hours and $159, the "agent" said he couldn't figure it out and couldn't configure the extender. If a geek can't do it in 4 hours I can't recommend it!!
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Great product so far, October 21, 2007
By user
This solution works a treat - as I received zero reception of my access point in the upper floors of our house previous to using this - but now I can get reception practically everywhere. Note: they are a pain to setup correctly, mainly as the instructions are pretty abysmal. The trick is to use the ethernet side of the connection to setup the access point (as opposed to the wireless static IP route) - after this the products works very well. I didn't touch the cd software, as the web based access to the AP is more than sufficient. I am running with WPA-PSK security - which works flawlessly.
Just as a matter of advice the devices state 120v, but after checking the circuits, it was obvious these are variable (switch-mode) voltage devices - I have been running them on 240v for a while - and they have worked perfectly... Highly recommended.
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Useless even if it worked, October 19, 2007
By user (Blue State, USA)
I had two problems with this wall plugged router:
First, I spent 2 hours on the phone with technical support at the end of which tech support threw up their hands and said it must be my firewall.
Second, tech support guy 1 and guy 2 both said, "both devices must be plugged in to the same circuit" that is, on the same electrical breaker, in order for it to work properly. In 95% of US homes each circuit covers 1 to 3 adjacent rooms, the area covered by a decent regular wireless router. If you need a range extender, the area you want to extend to is extremely unlikely to be on the same electrical circuit. Duh.
If you read the reviews, it appears that many people have had good success with this device. My recomendation - if it fits your needs buy it, save the reciept and, if it's not up an running in 20 minutes, take it back.
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Excellent, October 17, 2007
By user (Budoia, Italy)
It worked literally straight out of the box. Plugged one unit to the ADSL Router/Hub down in the basement office (which does transmit wirelessly, but not strongly enough to penetrate the basement ceiling reliably), and the other unit upstairs, and there it was - instant wireless networking throughout the house where none was previously available. I was pretty impressed! On the heat issue... I think people's definition of "hot" varies a lot from one to another. I found it running no hotter than my least hot AC-DC adapter, which frankly to me is not particularly hot. More like warm. Perhaps Netgear improved this aspect in later releases.
I did find a vast performance improvement (double= from plugging the units into a double adapter as opposed to directly to the wall. By all means plug the thing straight into the wall and avoid power boards/double adapapters, etc. It might still work, but you'll be compromising performance - possibly quite significantly!
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You won't regret buying this, October 15, 2007
By user (Barnegat, NJ USA)
My wireless router has been pretty much useless. Buying this range extender kit was the most economical solution to my "can't get a signal" problem.
Using this couldn't be simpler. One of the units has an outlet, one does not. Plug one end of a short piece of ethernet cable into one of the outlets on the back of your router. Plug the other end into the outlet in the bottom of the little silver Netgear box. Plug it directly into an wall outlet, not a surge protector or extension cord, mkay? Plug the wireless unit into any outlet in your home and poof, you have internet signal in that room.
I live in a three story home. My router is in a back bedroom in the first floor. My sitting room is on the third floor. I have a lovely signal in my sitting room which I never had before, thanks to this product.
I get my best signal if I take the little wireless unit with me and plug it into an outlet in whatever room I want internet in. To avoid this you can buy extra wireless bridges, but carrying it around doesn't bother me at all.
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If it doesn't work out of the box you're in trouble, October 6, 2007
By user (NC)
I didn't have any luck getting this item to work as advertised. It appears that if you get lucky and it works right out of the box then you are fine. However, if you need the instructions, they are vague at best.
Get ready to call tech support.
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works great so far!, October 4, 2007
By user (coon valley, wi usa)
Netgear WGX102 54 Mbps Wall-Plugged Wireless Range Extender
no problem in getting this to work with my pc and mac.
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Worked great in 3 minutes, September 30, 2007
By user (los angeles, ca United States)
We had a four-year old "B" wireless/router in which the "wireless" part gave out. I spent hours trying to get a new, major-brand "G" wireless/router to work. So --- I then tried this Netgear Powerline system. The kit has two pieces, each about the size of a nitelite. The home station piece plugs a wall electric socket by our PC and we use a cable to your old router. The distant Powerline transmitter worked *anywhere* in our house, including our garage which I worried was on a separate circuit. The whole thing took THREE MINUTES!
(1) If you want to install security features, use the CD software. I have the impression these little transmitters with no visible antenna are not real strong and probably won't be detectable outside your house. But use your own judgment.
(2) The two-piece kit is pricier than most standalone wireless routers base stations. But since it only takes a second to move the remote unit from say, living room to backyard, you get strong internet anywhere in a few seconds. Our old base station never really covered our (modest) house nor into the back deck. This solves that problem in a flash.
(3) Would have bought this a couple years ago if I realize how easy it sets up and how it instantly solved our round-the-house access issues.
(4) You might find different parts of your house are on different 'circuits.' We have an old house with add-ons and an outside garage and yet for us, everything was found to be on "one circuit" from the viewpoint of the Powerline.
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Wireless made easy!, September 6, 2007
By user (Tokyo)
I can not comment on the speed as I didn't make any specific tests, but it seems fast. At least as fast as my cable internet connectino speed. But what is REALLY fast, is the set up. In less than a couple of minutes I was online. Very good! Full marks!
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Excellent hardware, but set-up quality is lacking, August 23, 2007
By user (Ann Arbor, MI USA)
I am very pleased with my Netgear products. I have a MR814 wireless router, which is installed in my 1860 sq ft condo's lower level between two big "I" beams. These beams suck the power (and range) out of the signal so that there are some places on the main floor that I can't receive a strong enough signal.
However, with the XE102 and WGXB102 installed, I receive a strong singnal throughout the condo and my deck and patio. (It was necessary to extend the electrical circuit for my livingroom into the lower level and next to my router so that I could plug the XE102 into the same circuit as the WGXB102.)
My only difficulty was that I was unable to establish any security on the WGXB102. (The supplied software couldn't find the web site that was necessary to make the proper settings and Netgear's support personnel were too inexperienced to solve the problem.) Ultimately, I hired "The Geek Squad" to set the security settings. (He didn't use the supplied software.)
So, I find the hardware to be 5 stars, but the set up software and support to be 1 star.
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Simply didn't work, July 25, 2007
By user (Maryland, USA)
I know some users have had good luck with this product, but it simply did not work for me, and I returned it. I'm a fairly experienced computer user and generally can handle most things, so when it didn't work the first time I didn't give up. I spent a couple hours on two separate days working with the manual, installing/deinstalling software, checking on-line help before calling tech support. Tech support, as is true for most companies today is non-US based, which is fine but the first individual I talked to had great difficultly communicating with me. When I got his supervisor, the English was much better and we could work through all the troubleshooting. Essentially, the device would not keep a connection with the router so the signal would drop off. At the end when nothing worked, the tech said that I must have a circuit breaker between the router and the plug-in device, and this is why it won't work. They don't tell you this can be a problem any where in the product description or manual. I not sure I buy this as before I changed internet providers this year I used an Apple wireless router and single booster in the exact same locations and this worked fine. My advice would be if it doesn't work for you don't waste you time talking to tech support, send it back and try something else.
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Works great - relatively easy set-up (for a techie)., June 7, 2007
By user (St. Louis, MO United States)
I bought this item to extend my wireless network in my 3 level home so that my Playstation3 could talk to one of my XP computers, which funtions as a media server. I initially had a 70% signal at the Playstation which was inadequate to maintain a good enough connection to stream music/video.
After some research, I decided to go with the Netgear Powerline system because of the apparent ease of setup, expandability, and compatibility with "any" router system. (As an aside, I was initially going to buy the D-link range extender to complement my DI-524 router. Despite the fact that they advertise that these 2 components are compatible, after digging deeper I found out that you need a specific firmware version (1.05) on the router for this pairing to work, and they could not roll my firmware back. Crazy!)
So I went ahead with the Netgear system. Hardware set-up could not be any easier. Simply 2 things to plug in the wall and 1 ethernet cable. Custom configuration of the wireless access point to match my router settings was a different matter, and the instructions are not very good. (I admit, I did not run the provided CD, which may have more detailed info). To make a long story short:
1. I initially configured something incorrectly and needed to reset the access point to factory default. There is one of those needle-buttons below the unit to do this. What they don't tell you is that this only works if the unit is plugged in. Well, duh (maybe). But anyway, after I realized that, it still took about 5 tries before the thing ACTUALLY RESET, which was frustrating.
2. For some reason, I could not get the access point configuration page while my network was on. Despite being able to connect to the access point (after configuring the SSID, etc), the config page just would not come up. When I randomly shut off my network in frustration (i.e. cut power to modem/router), it worked! At this point, I was able to make all the custom settings needed. When I started everything back up with the correct settings, it worked great!
I now have 100% signal to my Playstation even though I decided to place the access point 1 floor up (immediately above), and streaming media works awesome.
All in all, I spent about 1.5 hours fiddling around with this, but it was worth it! Hopefully this review might save someone else some time.
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Great once you get it working, May 29, 2007
By user (Trenton, NJ United States)
The quick install instructions did not work. Not only are the instructions poorly written, they just did not work. I had to use the CD ROM software to get it working. Its been working perfectly after the 40 or so minutes it took to do the initial setup.
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Now you're talking! This just worked., May 18, 2007
By user (Camarillo, CA USA)
I spent hours with the LinkSys WRE54G Range Extender and it never did work. I bought this little gem and had it up and working in a few minutes.
Yes it is a wired solution so the laptop has to be plugged into the box with an Ethernet cable. However we still have wireless in the house as long as the laptop isn't too far from the wireless router. When my wife is at her desk 100' from the router, where the wireless doesn't work, she just hooks up this little guy and it works great.
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A wireless range extender that didn't work, May 12, 2007
By user (California)
This device just didn't work. It seems to be an attempt to combine wireless networking with powerline networking so that the wireless network can extend to places far from the router. I bought it to get a better connection for a PS3. But when I set up the device, the PS3 did not receive any signal at all, and the computers near to it did not do any better than without the device. So I returned the device. A computer expert had warned me that these wireless range extenders are plagued with problems, and he seems to be right, at least based on my experience with this device.
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