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 or Mesh Master (FRITZ!Box or FRITZ!Repeater). The Connect LED on the FRITZ!Repeater flashes quickly for a while and then flashes slowly again.
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
- Install the latest software for the wireless router according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you are using a FRITZ!Box or a FRITZRepeater as a wireless router, proceed as described in the Updating FRITZ!OS of the FRITZ!Box or FRITZ!OS Update of the FRITZ!Repeater.
2 Optimizing the Wi-Fi settings of the Mesh Master
Perform this step only if you are using a FRITZ!Box or a FRITZ!Repeater as the Mesh Master:
Enabling all Wi-Fi networks
- Click on 'Wi-Fi' in the user interface of the Mesh Master.
- Click on 'Wi-Fi Channel' in the 'Wi-Fi' menu.
- Enable the option 'Adjust Wi-Fi channel settings'.
- Enable the Wi-Fi network for the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz frequency bands.
- Click on 'Apply' to save the settings.
Adjusting the name of the Wi-Fi network (SSID)
- Click on 'Wi-Fi' in the user interface of the Mesh Master.
- Click on 'Wi-Fi Network' in the 'Wi-Fi' menu.
- Click on 'Additional Settings for the Wi-Fi Network' and 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 Mesh Master automatically steer your wireless devices to the ideal frequency band ('band steering').
- Click on 'More Information on the Wi-Fi Network' and disable the option 'Hide name of the Wi-Fi network'. This way, all wireless devices can connect to the Mesh Master and the Mesh Master can optimally control your wireless devices in the Mesh ('Mesh Wi-Fi Steering').
- If you changed the name of the Mesh Master's Wi-Fi network (SSID), remove all special characters from the Wi-Fi network name. Since some wireless devices do not support all of the special characters allowed by the Mesh Master, use only letters (but not special characters such as ä, ë, ö, ü, á, é, í), numbers, and spaces.
- Click on 'Apply' to save the settings. If the wireless devices were only connected to the 5-GHz Wi-Fi network with a different name, you must then reconfigure the Wi-Fi connection on those devices.
Disabling the MAC address filter
- Click on 'Wi-Fi' in the user interface of the Mesh Master.
- Click on 'Security' in the 'Wi-Fi' menu.
- Click on 'Restrict Access to Wi-Fi'.
- Enable the option 'Allow all new wireless devices'.
- Click on 'Apply' to save the settings.
Enabling the WPS function
- Click on 'Wi-Fi' in the user interface of the Mesh Master.
- Click on 'Security' in the 'Wi-Fi' menu.
- Click on the 'WPS Quick Connection' tab.
- Enable the option 'Push-button method enabled'.
- Click on 'Apply' to save the settings.
Unlocking the buttons
- Click on 'System' in the user interface of the Mesh Master.
- Click on 'Buttons and LEDs' in the 'System' menu.
- Click on the 'Keylock' tab.
- Disable the 'Buttons locked' checkbox.
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.
- If the wireless router can provide the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz frequency bands at the same time:
- Enable the 2.4-GHz and 5-GHz Wi-Fi networks on the wireless router:
- If the wireless router can automatically steer the wireless devices connected to it into the ideal frequency band ('band steering'), enable the corresponding option.
- 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).
- 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.
- If the wireless router supports WPS, enable it. This makes it possible to set up the Wi-Fi connection from the FRITZ!Repeater at the touch of a button (WPS - Push Button Configuration).
- Enable the display of Wi-Fi network names (SSID) and give the wireless router a unique Wi-Fi network name. This way, all wireless devices can connect to the wireless router and it 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 vicinity.
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
- Use the appropriate guide to reconfigure the connection from the FRITZ!Repeater:
