The most famous brands of communication equipment manufacturers include ZyXEL. Among the most technological products of this manufacturer is the Keenetic Extra router. What are the main features of its settings? What do users say about their experience of using the router in practice?
Device specifications
What needs to be said before considering the features of the device settings, to study the reviews characterizing it? ZyXEL Keenetic Extra is a very common device, and therefore opinions about using it are found on many thematic online portals. In this connection, you can be sure of the reliability of the data. So, now we will consider the main characteristics of the device.
The device in question is equipped with:
- processor frequency of 600 MHz;
- RAM module with a capacity of 128 MB;
- flash memory of 16 MB;
- 3 antennas;
- 5 Ethernet ports supporting data transmission at a speed of 1 Gbit / s;
- USB ports;
- hardware modules that allow you to connect to 3G and 4G networks provided that you use a USB modem;
- ports for connecting to lines operating in the ADSL2 standard;
- telephony support modules.
The router can operate in the mode of an access point, a signal amplifier, as well as an adapter. Key performance indicators of the device:
- data transfer over a wireless network with a speed of 300 Mbps;
- Ensuring routing of flows using the PPPoE standard at a speed of 950 Mbit / s, in PPTP format at a speed of 500 Mbit / s;
- reading data from USB-drives with a speed of 17 MB / sec.
The main functions of ensuring the functioning of a wireless network:
- the use of modern protection algorithms WPA-PSK;
- support for guest network in Wi-Fi format;
- providing access control using MAC addresses;
- support for quick WPS settings;
- Support for Wi-Fi Multimedia technology.
The device is compatible with a large number of types of software - in particular, with mobile applications for iOS and Android platforms. The device can operate at temperatures up to 40 degrees and humidity up to 95%. The device can be controlled via the web interface, the command line via TELNET, as well as from an external network. If necessary, you can use the backup option, as well as restore settings. Another noteworthy device management option is a software update of its functions. The device also supports logging of system processes.
As the reviews presented on thematic portals may testify, ZyXEL Keenetic Extra, in terms of characteristics, is one of the most functional devices in its segment. Now consider the features of setting the required parameters of the router's hardware modules to ensure its correct operation.
Router Setup: Connection
Setting up the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router , like almost any other device, is carried out with the correct connection of the corresponding device to the communication infrastructure, which is installed in the user's apartment or office. Despite the fact that the main task of the owner of the router is to configure wireless Internet, the initial parameters of the device will need to be set through a wired connection to the device in question.
But before that, it is necessary to bring the router into functional state by connecting an antenna, a power supply, and a wire that connects to the PC network card. In addition, you must connect the wire leading from the provider to the router. As a rule, there are no special problems in bringing the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router into functional state - user reviews may indicate this.
After the device is operational, turn on the power and wait for the indicators on the router to indicate that the device is working and is receiving a signal from the provider's network. If everything is OK with the connection, you can configure the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router using the operating system tools.
Network settings in the operating system
First of all, you need to enter the “Control Panel” of Windows, then go to the option “Network Connections”. In it, you need to find the item responsible for connections to the local network. You need to right-click on it and select "Properties". In the window that opens, select the option responsible for configuring the TCP / IP protocol, then click on the "Properties" button.
In turn, in the boot menu, you need to set the settings by which the IP address, as well as the address of the DNS server should be obtained automatically. Now you can proceed directly to configuring the router.
Basic router settings
First of all, it makes sense to reset the current settings if the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra Wi-Fi router has already been used somewhere before, since the options within the network infrastructure involved can be very different from those at which the router functioned previously. In order to reset the device, you must press the Reset button, located in the recess of the router, and hold for about 30 seconds. In this case, the router must be plugged in. After that you need to wait until the device reboots.
Then you need to reuse the Windows software tools. In this case, in order to configure the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router, we mainly need only a browser. Almost anyone, including the standard Internet Explorer, will do. You must open a browser and enter the address 192.168.1.1 in it. In the page that opens, you must enter the network administrator login - admin, and the password - 1234. It is possible that the combination of username and password, if the router has been used before, will be different. If this is the case, and the settings have not been reset, then you will need to find them from the previous administrator. But when resetting the initial parameters, the default login and password are set - exactly those that are indicated above. If everything is in order with the data for entering the control panel of the router, the user will enter the appropriate interface.
If the WiFi ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router is purchased in Russia, then the menu in the control panel of devices is most likely Russian-speaking. If this is the case, then as soon as the start window of the panel opens, after entering the login and password, select the “Internet” option. After you need to click on the tab "Authorization". After that, it is necessary to enter the correct data into the fields present in the opened settings.
Network Connection Setup: PPPoE
Typical for many providers is a scheme in which Internet access is provided through the PPPoE protocol. If so, then you need to select the appropriate option in the router settings. You also need to check the box next to the option that activates the IP address for the WAN. But in some cases it is not required to be set - you need to check this moment with the provider. After that, you must specify a username and password to access the network. They must also be obtained from the provider or viewed in the contract for the supply of communication services, if available. The next item in the network connection settings interface is MTU. As a rule, no changes to it are required. But, again, some providers recommend setting certain values ​​in the corresponding option. Therefore, it makes sense to clarify this point by contacting the support service provider of Internet access services.
Connection Setup: PPTP
Another popular mechanism for organizing access to the network is the use of the PPTP protocol. If this is the case, then, being in the Internet interface within the control panel of the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra WiFi router, select the "Authorization" option. In the window that opens, select the appropriate protocol. After that, enter the address of the provider's server. As a rule, it is also fixed in the contract for the supply of Internet access services. If this document is missing, you must check the relevant data with the provider's support service. The login and password for access to the network, which are reflected in the contract or provided by the communication service provider, is similarly indicated.
Connection setup: NAT protocol
Another network connectivity scheme is using the NAT infrastructure. According to experts, this mechanism is one of the simplest from the point of view of correctly configuring the connection of the router in question to the network. In order to set the required NAT options, you need to enter the Internet interface of the router control panel, then select the Connection option. Then you need to make sure that the option “Automatic” is activated opposite the item where the settings for IP parameters are fixed. However, the use of this scheme is possible if the network infrastructure used by the provider allows it.
In many cases, the NAT interface functions provided that the necessary settings are entered in manual mode. If so, then the user will need to specify the parameters, as well as IP addresses, which are fixed in the contract with the communication service provider. To do this, return to the “Connection” item located in the “Internet” menu, then select the “Manual” option opposite the field in which the settings for IP parameters are fixed. Then it will be necessary to enter such parameters as the IP address, netmask, configure the main gateway, register the DNS 1 addresses, as well as DNS 2.
These are the main network parameters of the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router. Setting up, in fact, a wireless connection to the Internet is the next task of the user. Consider the features of its solution in more detail.
Wireless Setup
In order to configure WiFi in the router in question, you must again go to the control panel of the router through a browser. After loading the main interface, select the “Wi-Fi Network” option, then the “Connection” menu item. After that, you need to check on the page that opens whether the checkmark is checked in front of the option responsible for activating wireless access. Then - indicate the name of the Wi-FI network in the SSID field - any one that the owner of the router will prefer. It will subsequently appear in the list of wireless connections in the network interfaces of the operating system. After that, click on the “Accept” button and fix, thus, the settings.
After that, you need to return to the “Wi-Fi Network” option, and then select the “Security” menu item. Here you will need to fix the password for Wi-Fi. In addition, you need to activate effective data encryption algorithms. In the "Authentication" option, select WPA2-PSK. In the settings of the type of protection it makes sense to set the mixed encryption protocol - TKIP / AES. The format to set for the network key is ASCII.
After the necessary settings are entered, you need to click on the "Accept" button. Then you need to save the changes in the settings of the router, after which it will reboot - this procedure takes about 1-2 minutes. After the device, it can be disconnected from the PC and used as a wireless device.
So, we studied how Wi-Fi connection is configured on a device such as the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router - user reviews may indicate that this procedure can be carried out quite quickly. As a rule, there are no special difficulties with solving the corresponding task - provided that the owner of the router has the information necessary for setting up the device.
Now let's look at what users say about their experience in using WiFi ZyXEL Keenetic Extra in practice. Reviews about the corresponding device are found on a large number of thematic online portals.
Device Reviews
User opinions about the device can be classified into the following main categories:
- Evaluation of the convenience of using the router settings interfaces;
- feedback on the stability of the wireless connection;
- opinions on the functionality of the device.
Consider the features of these types of reviews in more detail.
Reviews about the device: ease of use settings
Reviews - ZyXEL Keenetic Extra, like many other devices of a similar purpose, can be evaluated from a variety of points of view. Opinions regarding the usability of the device in question may indicate that the owners of the device are inclined to consider the router control interface as quite typical for devices of the corresponding type.
In general, the settings algorithms for the router in question are similar to those that characterize the procedure for setting the required parameters in similar interfaces of other devices. And this, as users may note, is rather an advantage in terms of managing a device such as the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra WiFi router. Testimonials about the device can often include points of view on which the universality of the settings interfaces is among the most important criteria for setting a positive rating for the router. Which, in principle, is not surprising, since such routers are designed mainly for home use, and not for professional use.
Thus, if a person has experience setting the settings in other popular routers, then entering the required parameters into the control interfaces of such a device as a ZyXEL Keenetic Extra Wi-Fi router (user reviews can confirm this) will not be difficult.
It is also important how the owners of the device evaluate the stability of its work.
Reviews on the stability of the router
The router in question, as its owners may consider, is functioning quite stably - both from the point of view of ensuring a constant connection of connected devices to the Internet, and from the point of view of maintaining the stability of the internal hardware modules of the router. The main thing is that the use of the router is carried out in a room in which there is no significant interference in the form of radio waves or reflective surfaces.
Of course, the placement of the router should be adequate, in terms of the presence of walls and other obstacles between the corresponding device and the device connecting to it, as well as the distance between them. Actually, this pattern characterizes not only the use of such a device as the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router - reviews of other devices, from the point of view of assessing the stability of the device, will be based on similar features of the functioning of wireless networks.
Device Functionality Reviews
Another category of reviews about the router in question are those that reflect the ratings of the functionality of the device by users. In this case, it makes sense to compare the opinions of the owners of the router with the characteristics that we examined above.
If you look at the reviews, ZyXEL Keenetic Extra, as users can consider, is practically not inferior in functionality to the leading competing router models in its segment. In terms of basic hardware components, as well as support for communication standards, the router is among the most advanced devices. As the reviews may indicate, ZyXEL Keenetic Extra is a sufficiently universal router. It is suitable for organizing the operation of a wireless home network, as well as for building the appropriate infrastructure in the office.