In this article, we'll take a look at the Netis Wireless N E1 + Wi-Fi Amplifier. This compact device at a very attractive price can solve the problem of poor Wi-Fi network signal in your home, apartment, or office. In addition to the main mode of operation as a repeater, it can work as a router. This mode is called "Travel Router" in the settings. This is something like an access point. But this does not mean that Netis E1 + can replace a conventional router. You can connect the Internet to it via cable from a modem, or from a local network at the hotel and organize access to the Internet via Wi-Fi. There is even PPPoE authorization.
Let's return to its main purpose - to increase the radius of the Wi-Fi network coverage. The topic is quite popular nowadays. The router may not always provide stable Wi-Fi coverage throughout your home.
More about these devices: what is a Wi-Fi repeater (repeater), how does it work, and what does a router mean in repeater mode?
Very often in distant rooms the signal is very poor, or even absent. And as practice shows, this is not always because of a bad router, but because of the large area of the house, a large number of obstacles (walls), the thickness of the walls, the presence of metal in them, and other interference. You can see my recommendations for choosing the best place to install your router and tips for increasing the range of your Wi-Fi network.
If these tips do not help, then the best solution is to install a Wi-Fi signal repeater. In our case, Netis E1 +.
Did you know that Netis routers can operate in repeater mode? I wrote about it here.
The device is very simple. It is enough to plug it into an outlet about halfway between the router and the part of the house where the Wi-Fi network does not reach from the router and configure it using the WPS button, or through the control panel. Netis E1 + will connect to your router and amplify the signal. The Wi-Fi network will remain alone. The range of the network will simply increase.
Netis E1 + Review
This wireless signal booster comes in a variety of colors. I have light green. There is also white, blue, pink, orange, purple.
The repeater itself, network cable and instructions are securely packed in a small box. Including in Russian.
The repeater itself is very pleasant to the touch. Good plastic and good build quality.
On the front panel there is a company logo and a WPS button with an indicator. The indicator operation modes are described in the instructions. We will return to them later.
There is a LAN port at the bottom. If the amplifier is configured in the "Range Extender" mode, then it can be used to connect a computer, TV, or other device to the Internet via a network cable. Something like an adapter for devices that do not have the ability to connect directly to Wi-Fi. And in the "Travel Router" mode, the Internet is connected to the repeater by cable.
Cool device, I liked it. Let's now test it in operation.
Configuring the Netis E1 + repeater
There are two ways to set up Netis E1 + as an amplifier: via the WPS button, or via the web interface. Let's start with the first option. If everything works out, then we won't even need to enter the control panel.
Plug the repeater into a power outlet. In the place where there is a signal from the router.
Find the WPS button on your router and press it. You may need to press and hold the button for 1-3 seconds. But no longer! The WPS function must be enabled on the router (it is usually enabled by default). The indicator should flash. Everything here is very individual. Depends on the router model. You can read more about WPS in the article What is WPS on a Wi-Fi router.
Then on Netis E1 + press the WPS button for 1-2 seconds.
If you hold down the WPS button on the Netis Wireless N E1 + for about 5 seconds, the amplifier settings will be reset to factory defaults.
The indicator should start flashing actively.
You need to wait a bit. The repeater should connect to the router. The indicator should be solid blue. If it burns orangethen bad signal. Install it closer to the router.
After setup, there will be one Wi-Fi network. As it was before. The signal will simply be stronger. You can disable Netis E1 + and enable elsewhere. It will continue to strengthen the wireless network.
If you cannot configure this method, or there is no WPS button on the router, then see the second option.
Netisext.cc - configuring the repeater via the web interface
Turn on the amplifier and connect your computer, phone, tablet to a Wi-Fi network named "netis". She's not protected. If there is no such network, then do a factory reset. Press the WPS button on the amplifier for 5 seconds.
Open any browser. If the control panel does not open automatically, then go tohttp://netisext.cc... Or just netisext.cc. Or at the IP address 192.168.1.254.
Press the "Start" button to start the setup.
Netis E1 + will start searching for available Wi-Fi networks. We select our network from the list.
We enter the password for our Wi-Fi network. Just be careful, you must enter the correct password.
We are waiting for the repeater to establish a connection with the router. A window with information about the wireless network should appear.
That's all, Netis E1 + works and amplifies the signal from our router. Perhaps, for a while, the Wi-Fi connection will be without Internet access. You just have to wait. The network named "netis" should disappear.
You can access the control panel at netisext.cc.
Netis Wireless N E1 + in "Travel Router" mode (access point)
If the device has already been configured, then I recommend resetting the settings to factory defaults. To do this, press and hold the WPS button for 5 seconds. This is the third time I've written about this 🙂
Then connect to Netis E1 + the Internet via a network cable from a modem, or from an Internet outlet (in a hotel, for example). Something like this:
We connect to the amplifier's Wi-Fi network. Which is called "netis" by default and is not password protected. After connecting in the browser, go to netisext.cc and put the repeater in the "Travel Router" mode.
To start the configuration, click on the "Start" button.
The repeater will optimize the wireless network and prompt you to select the type of Internet connection: DHCP, Static IP and PPPoE. Most likely you need DHCP (automatic address acquisition).
If the repeater manages to set up an Internet connection via a cable, then it will prompt you to set the WI-FI network settings. You can change the network name and password. I do not recommend changing the rest of the settings.
Remember the password that you specify in the settings. To save, click on the "Save" button and confirm saving the settings.
After rebooting, a Wi-Fi network appears with the name that we set during the setup process. To connect to this network, use the set password. Netis E1 + will distribute the internet that it receives over the network cable.
And in the web interface, information on the wireless network and one more setting will open. You need to choose the strength of the wireless signal. There are two levels there: Normal and Enhanced.
If, for example, you are in a hotel room, then "Normal" will be enough for you. I think the cover will be enough for 1-2 rooms. If the area is large, you can select "Enhanced". Save the settings.
Netis E1 + firmware and other settings
The current version of the repeater firmware is indicated in the control panel. In my case, this is V1.2.32533.
To update it, you need to download the firmware file specifically for the E1 + model from the Netis website and upload it through the web interface, which can be accessed at netisext.cc.
You need to click on the "Advanced" - "Firmware Upgrade" button. Next, select the firmware file on your computer and click "Ok".
As you can see, there are not many settings there. There are two more buttons: "Factory Default" - to reset the amplifier to factory settings and "System Restart" - to reboot the device.
I liked the amplifier itself. Simple settings and clear equation panel. Albeit in English. Very decent Wi-Fi coverage. Somehow it gave out a stronger signal than my ASUS RT-N18U router :)
That's all. Leave your feedback on Netis E1 +, ask questions and share tips.
