ZyXEL Keenetic Extra: reviews. ZyXEL Keenetic Extra: setting up the router

To the most famous brands-manufacturerscommunication equipment belongs to the company ZyXEL. Among the most technological products of this manufacturer is the Keenetic Extra router. What are the main features of its configuration? What do users say about their experience of using the router in practice?

Device Features

What you need to say before you considerfeatures settings for the devaysa, study characterizing his feedback? ZyXEL Keenetic Extra is a very common device, and therefore opinions about using it are found on many thematic online portals. In this connection, one can be sure of the reliability of the obtained data. So, now consider the main characteristics of the device.

The device in question is equipped with:

- processor with a frequency of 600 MHz;

- a module of RAM with a capacity of 128 MB;

- flash memory in the size of 16 MB;

- 3 antennas;

- 5 Ethernet ports supporting 1 Gb / s data transfer;

- USB ports;

- Hardware modules that allow you to connect to 3G and 4G networks, if you use a USB modem;

- ports for connection to lines operating in the standard ADSL2;

- telephony support modules.

The router can function as an access point, signal amplifier, and adapter. Key performance indicators of the device:

- data transmission over a wireless network with a speed of 300 Mbit / s;

- ensuring streaming routing using the PPPoE standard with a speed of 950 Mbit / s, in the PPTP format with a speed of 500 Mbit / s;

- reading data from USB-carriers at a speed of 17 MB / sec.

The main functions of the wireless network:

- The use of modern security algorithms WPA-PSK;

- support for the guest network in Wi-Fi format;

- providing access control using MAC addresses;

- support for quick setup of WPS;

- Support for Wi-Fi Multimedia.

The device is compatible with a large number of software types -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 through TELNET, as well as from an external network. If necessary, you can use the backup option, as well as restore settings. Another interesting option for managing a device is software update of its functions. The device also supports logging of system processes.

How can testify presented onthematic portals reviews, ZyXEL Keenetic Extra, in terms of characteristics, is one of the most functional devices in its segment. Let us now consider the features of setting the required parameters of the router's hardware modules to ensure its correct operation.

Router Setup: Connection

Customize ZyXEL Keenetic router Extra, like almost any otherdevice is carried out with the correct connection of the corresponding device to the communication infrastructure, which is installed in the apartment or office of the user. Despite the fact that the main task of the router owner is to configure the wireless Internet, the initial parameters of the device will need to be established via a wired connection to the device in question.

But before that you need to bring the router intofunctional status, connecting to it the antenna, the power supply, and the wire that connects to the network card of the PC. In addition, you need to connect to the router wire leading from the provider. As a rule, there are no special problems in order to bring ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router into a functional state - user reviews may indicate this.

After the device is brought to workstate - we turn on the power and wait for the appearance of indicators on the router's body that the device is working and receiving a signal from the provider's network. If the connection is OK - you can configure the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router using the tools of the operating system.

Network settings in the operating system

First of all, you need to enter the "PanelWindows »control, then go to the" Network connections "option. It is necessary to find the point in charge of connections with the local network. You need to click on it with the right mouse button and select the "Properties" item. In the window that opens, select the option that is responsible for setting the TCP / IP protocol, then click on the "Properties" button.

In turn, in the boot menu you needset the settings by which the IP address and the address of the DNS server should be obtained automatically. Now you can proceed directly to setting up the router.

Basic settings of the router

First of all, it makes sense to resetThe current settings if the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra Wi-Fi router has already been used somewhere else, as the options within the network infrastructure used may be very different from those in which the router operated before. In order to reset the device settings, you must press the Reset button located in the recess of the router body and hold it for about 30 seconds. In this case, the router must be plugged into the outlet. After you need to wait until the device reboots.

Then you need to re-enable software.Windows tools. In this case, in order to configure the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router, we mostly need only a browser. It will suit almost anyone, including standard Internet Explorer. It is necessary to open the browser and enter the address 192.168.1.1 in it. In the page that opens, you need to enter the network administrator's login - admin, and the password - 1234. It is possible that the combination of username and password, if the router was previously used, will be different. If this is the case, and the settings have not been reset, then you will need to learn them from the previous administrator. But when resetting the initial parameters, the login and password are set by default - exactly the ones mentioned above. If everything is in order with the login data to the router's control panel, the user will enter the appropriate interface.

In case the router ZyXEL Keenetic Extrapurchased in Russia, the menu in the control panel of the device is most likely Russian-speaking. If this is so, then it is necessary as soon as the start screen 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, you must enter the correct data in the fields that are present in the opened settings.

Network connection setup: PPPoE protocol

Typical for many providers is a schemewhereby Internet access is provided through the PPPoE protocol. If this is the case, then you need to select the appropriate option in the router settings. You also need to check the box next to the option responsible for activating the IP address for the WAN. But in some cases it is not required to install it - you need to clarify this moment with the provider. After you enter your 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 in it are required. But, again, some providers recommend setting certain values ​​in the appropriate option. Therefore, it makes sense to clarify this point by contacting the support service of the Internet access service provider.

Connection Setup: PPTP

Another popular access mechanismto the network — enabling PPTP protocol. If this is so, then it is necessary, while in the “Internet” interface within the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra WiFi router control panel, select the “Authorization” option. In the window that opens, select the appropriate protocol. After that, you must enter the address of the server provider. As a rule, it is also fixed in the contract for the supply of Internet access services. If this document is not available - it is necessary to clarify the relevant data in the support service of the provider. The login and password of access to the network are specified in the same way, which are reflected in the contract or provided by the communication service provider.

Connection Setup: NAT Protocol

Another network connection scheme -enabling the NAT infrastructure. According to experts, this mechanism is one of the simplest from the point of view of the implementation of correct configuration of 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's control panel, then select the “Connection” option. Then you need to make sure that the option “Automatic” is activated in front of the point where the settings by IP parameters are recorded. However, the use of this scheme is possible if the network infrastructure used by the provider allows.

In many cases, the NAT interface functions whensubject to the introduction of the necessary settings in manual mode. If this is the case, the user will need to specify the parameters, as well as the IP addresses, which are fixed in the contract with the communication service provider. To do this, go back to the “Connection” item located in the “Internet” menu, then select the “Manual” option opposite the field in which the settings by IP parameters are recorded. Then you will need to enter parameters such as IP address, network mask, configure the default gateway, register DNS 1 addresses, as well as DNS 2.

These are the basic network parameters of the router.ZyXEL Keenetic Extra. Setting up, in fact, a wireless connection to the Internet is the user's next task. Consider the features of its solution in more detail.

Wireless setup

In order to configure WiFi in thisrouter, you need to go back to the router's control panel through the browser. After downloading the main interface, you must select the option "Wi-Fi network", then - the menu item "Connection". After that, you need to check on the page that opens, whether a check mark is set against the option responsible for activating wireless access. Then - enter the name of the Wi-FI network in the SSID field - any that the owner of the router himself prefers. It will subsequently appear in the list of wireless connections in the network interfaces of the operating system. After that, you need to click on the "Accept" button and thus fix the settings.

After that, you need to return to the option "Wi-Fi network",and then select the "Security" menu item. Here you will need to fix the password for Wi-Fi. In addition, it is necessary to activate efficient data encryption algorithms. In the option "Authentication" you need to select WPA2-PSK. In the settings of the type of protection it makes sense to set the protocol of mixed encryption - TKIP / AES. The format you need to set for a 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 can be disconnected from the PC and used as a wireless device.

So, we studied the way howsetting up a Wi-Fi connection on a device such as the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router - user reviews can say that this procedure can be carried out quite quickly. As a rule, there is no particular difficulty in solving the corresponding task - provided that the owner of the router has the information necessary to configure the device.

Consider now what users say abouthis experience of using ZyXEL Keenetic Extra WiFi in practice. Reviews of the corresponding device are found on a large number of thematic online portals.

Reviews about the device

User opinions about the device can be classified into the following main categories:

- evaluation of the usability of the router settings interface;

- reviews of the stability of the wireless connection;

- Opinions about the functionality of the device.

Consider the features of these types of reviews in more detail.

Reviews about the device: ease of use of settings

Reviews - ZyXEL Keenetic Extra, like manyother devices of a similar purpose can be evaluated from various points of view. Opinions regarding the usability of the device in question may indicate that the owners of the device tend to view the router control interface as quite typical for devices of the corresponding type.

In general, the router configuration algorithms, oin question, they are similar to those that characterize the procedure for setting the required parameters in similar interfaces of other devices. And this, as users can note, is rather an advantage, from the point of view of managing such a device as the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra WiFi router. Device reviews can often include points of view on which the versatility of the settings interface is among the most important criteria for giving a positive rating to the router. That, in principle, is not surprising, since such routers are designed primarily for home use, and not for professional use.

Thus, if a person has experiencesetting the settings in other popular routers, then making the required parameters in the control interfaces of such a device as ZyXEL Keenetic Extra Wi-Fi router (user reviews can confirm this) is easy.

It is also important how the owners of the device assess the stability of its work.

Reviews about the stability of the router

The router in question can be consideredits owners, it functions quite stably - both from the point of view of ensuring the constancy of the connection of the 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 to use the router 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 beadequate in terms of the presence between the appropriate device and the device connecting to it, walls and other obstacles, as well as the distance between them. Actually, this pattern describes not only the use of such a device as ZyXEL Keenetic Extra router - reviews of other devices, in terms of assessing the stability of the device will be based on similar features of the wireless networks.

Reviews of device functionality

Another category reviews reviewsRouter - those that reflect the assessment of the functionality of the device by users. In this case, it makes sense to compare the views of the owners of the router with the characteristics that we considered above.

If you study reviews, ZyXEL Keenetic Extra is likeusers may consider that in terms of functionality they are practically not inferior to the leading competing models of routers in their segment. From the point of view of basic hardware components, as well as supporting communication standards, the router is one of the most advanced devices. As testimonials can testify, the ZyXEL Keenetic Extra is a fairly versatile router. It is suitable for organizing the functioning of a wireless home network, and for building appropriate infrastructure in the office.