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Knowledge document #438

FRITZ!Repeater cannot establish a Wi-Fi connection

After you set up the FRITZ!Repeater, it cannot establish a Wi-Fi connection to the wireless router (for example a FRITZ!Box). The signal strength LEDs on the FRITZ!Repeater flash for a while and then switch off.

Work through the following steps to resolve the problem.

Note:All instructions on configuration and settings given in this guide refer to the latest FRITZ!OS for the FRITZ!Repeater.

1 Installing the latest software for the wireless router

  1. Install the latest software for the wireless router according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you are using a FRITZ!Box as a wireless repeater, proceed as described in the guide Updating FRITZ!OS.

2 Optimizing the FRITZ!Box's Wi-Fi settings

The following steps are only necessary if you are using a FRITZ!Box as the wireless router:

Enabling the 2.4 and the 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Wi-Fi Channel" ("Radio Channel") or "Wi-Fi Network" in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Enable the option "Set Wi-Fi channel settings automatically (recommended)" and enable the Wi-Fi network for the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz frequency band or enable both Wi-Fi networks in the section "Active Frequency Bands". If only the option "Wireless radio network enabled" is displayed, then both Wi-Fi networks are either already enabled or the FRITZ!Box only supports the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi network.
  4. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

Adjusting the name of the Wi-Fi network (SSID)

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Wi-Fi Network" ("Radio Network") in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Click "More Information on the Wi-Fi Network" and disable the option "Hide name of the Wi-Fi network" or enable the option "Name of the Wi-Fi network visible". This way, all wireless devices can connect to the FRITZ!Box and the FRITZ!Box can optimally control wireless devices in the Mesh ("Mesh Wi-Fi Steering").
  4. If available, click "Additional Settings for the Wi-Fi Network".
  5. Disable the option "Different names for the Wi-Fi networks on 2.4 and 5 GHz" to use the same name (SSID) for both Wi-Fi networks. Only then can the FRITZ!Box automatically steer your wireless devices to the ideal frequency band ("band steering").
  6. Click "Apply" to save the settings. All Wi-Fi connections to the FRITZ!Box are cleared when the settings are adopted.

Disabling the MAC address filter

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Security" or "Radio Network" in the "Wi-Fi" menu.
  3. If available, click "Restrict Access to Wi-Fi".
  4. Enable the option "Allow all new wireless devices". If the option is not displayed, enable the Advanced View first.
  5. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

Enabling the WPS function

  1. Click "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Security" in the "Wi-Fi" ("Wireless") menu.
  3. Click on the "WPS Quick Connection" tab.
  4. Enable the option "Push-button method enabled" or "WPS enabled".
  5. Click "Apply" or "Start WPS" to save the settings.

Unlocking the buttons

  1. Click "System" in the FRITZ!Box user interface.
  2. Click "Buttons and LEDs" in the "System" menu.
  3. Click on the "Keylock" tab.
  4. Disable the "Buttons locked" checkbox.
  5. Click "Apply" to save the settings.

3 Optimizing the Wi-Fi settings of the wireless router

The following steps are only necessary if you are using a wireless router from another manufacturer:

Note:Refer to the manufacturer of the wireless router for information on setting it up; for example, consult the manual.

  1. If the wireless router can provide the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz frequency bands at the same time:
    1. Enable the 2.4 GHz and the 5 GHz Wi-Fi networks on the wireless router:
    2. If the wireless router can automatically steer the wireless devices connected to it into the ideal frequency band ("band steering"), enable the corresponding option.
    3. If the wireless router has an option "Zero Wait DFS", "Always on DFS", or a similar option for uninterrupted use of the 5 GHz Wi-Fi network, enable it. This allows the wireless router's 5 GHz Wi-Fi network to be used even while the Wi-Fi environment is being checked for radar systems (for example for weather service, air traffic control, and the military).
  2. Disable the wireless router’s MAC address filter. You can re-enable the MAC address filter after you have successfully set up the Wi-Fi connection.
  3. Enable WPA2 encryption (CCMP) or the WPA3 transition mode (WPA3 + WPA2) in the wireless router. Only use WPA (TKIP) if the wireless router does not support WPA2. The FRITZ!Repeater does not support WPA3.
  4. If the wireless router supports WPS, enable it. This makes it possible to set up the the Wi-Fi connection from the FRITZ!Repeater at the touch of a button (WPS - Push Button Configuration).
  5. Enable the display of Wi-Fi network names (SSID) and give the router a unique Wi-Fi network name. This way, all wireless devices can connect to the FRITZ!Box and prevents your wireless devices from trying to connect to the wrong wireless router if there are Wi-Fi networks with the same name in the area.

    Note:All Wi-Fi connections are cleared when you apply the new Wi-Fi network name. You must then reconfigure the Wi-Fi connections.

4 Reconfiguring the Wi-Fi connection

  1. Use the appropriate guide to reconfigure the connection from the FRITZ!Repeater:
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