Review and step-by-step setup of the Keenetic Extra KN-1710 Internet center

Kristina Gorbunova

Higher education in the specialty “Information Systems”. In the field for more than 7 years, he develops websites on WordPress and Tilda.

Keenetic Extra KN-1710 is the first model in the updated Extra line. The Internet Center supports dual-band operation. The model is equipped with a wireless signal amplifier and a port for connecting a USB modem. The Kinetik Internet Center is positioned as a home router, but is also suitable for a small office. The device is configured through a Russified interface.

Indicators and connectors

On the rear panel there are 4 LAN ports and 1 WAN connector, a reset button and a socket for connecting a power supply.

On the left side of the case there is a programmable button and a USB port for connecting an external modem or storage device.

At the top there is a button for controlling the Wi-Fi network. There are also 4 indicators:

• nutrition;
• Internet;
• assignable button or USB device;
• wireless network.

Connection

The router must be connected to electricity and to the computer using a patch cord to any gray LAN port. The ISP cable is connected to the blue WAN port. The IPTV set-top box must be directly connected to the router using a patch cable.

You can set up an Internet connection via a wired or wireless connection. In the first case, you need to launch the router web interface in your browser on your computer.

A laptop or tablet will be able to connect to the device via Wi-Fi. The wireless network name and password are located on a label on the bottom of the case. You can also configure the device through a mobile browser or the special My.Keenetic application.

What is seamless wifi roaming?

Seamless WiFi roaming (from the English “roaming”) is a wireless network consisting of several routers at once that cover a large area in the house. When moving along it, the connected device itself reconnects to the access point from which the best signal is currently emanating without losing connection.

Solving the problem of covering a large room with a wireless signal may involve simply installing several routers in different rooms and configuring the same networks with identical passwords on them. However, when switching between them, the smartphone or laptop will constantly lose connection to the Internet. This is critical if, for example, you download some files or play online games.

Also, with this type of connection there is no load distribution between routers. At the same time, 10 gadgets can be connected to the same device, consuming resources and interfering with each other.

• With seamless roaming, thanks to the joint operation of controllers on several routers, the load on wifi is distributed evenly.
• In this case, when moving around the territory, no disconnection occurs. The transition from one router to another is invisible to the user
• Finally, if any one component fails, its work is compensated by neighboring points. By redistributing the load, they will compensate for losses in the speed of the Internet and the local network as a whole.

Quick setup

After launching the Quick Setup Wizard, the user needs to respond to the program's requests. It takes 7 steps:

1. Select the Internet connection method: Ethernet or 3G/4G via USB modem.
2. Click on the “Internet” tab, for IPTV select without VLAN or enter the VLAN number if provided by the provider.
3. Specify the default MAC address or enter it (if associated).
4. Select automatic IP if the address is dynamic, or manual if the address is static and provided by the provider.
5. Select the connection type: without password, PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP, etc. Information about this is provided by the provider and indicated in the contract.

6. Wait for the firmware updates to be checked and installed. You cannot turn off the router during the update. The device will reboot.

7. Choose a method to protect against online threats. After this, a message indicating a successful connection to the Internet will appear on the screen.

Manual setting

To go to the web interface, instead of “Quick Settings”, click on “Control Panel”. The user will immediately be asked to enter a unique password to protect the router from unauthorized access.

After setting a new password, the main screen of the web interface will open. To set up a connection with your provider, you need to click on the “Internet” tab.

A tab with wired connections will open. It is necessary to move the slider to the “On” position.

Next, you need to select an authentication method from the provider, specify a login and password for authorization. If necessary, you can specify additional connection settings.

Setting up via mobile application

The router is compatible with My.Keenetic software. The program can be installed on a smartphone and tablet running iOS or Android. The connection to the router via the application is established using a QR code or by manually entering Wi-Fi settings.

The QR code is located on a sticker at the bottom of the Internet center body. You need to scan it to gain access to the device settings.

When you connect to the router for the first time, you will be asked to set a password for the admin account.

Go to the “Internet” tab through the menu, and then launch the setup wizard.

Next, follow the instructions of the application. If the provider cable is not connected, the program will ask you to connect it. Next, you need to specify your login and password for authorization on the Internet (if required), and select the IP address setting.

Some companies bind the client by MAC address. If your service provider also uses this method of protecting users, you must select “Yes” and provide the MAC address when asked to register.

After all the steps, the program will check network access. If the Internet is working, you will see a corresponding message.

How to quickly configure the Keenetic Extra (KN-1710) router yourself

Keenetic Extra is a dual-band Wi-Fi router for use at home or in a small office. Despite the large range of supported capabilities and excellent technical content, the device has a compact size and weight of 250 g. The design is made in white and gray, looks stylish and minimalistic, and will fit into almost any interior. There are LED indicators on the top cover, and on the right there is a button that turns off Wi-Fi and turns on WPS connection. There is a USB connector on the side that allows you to connect a flash drive, a cable from a printer, WiMax or a 4G modem. The package includes the router itself, power supply, documentation and patch cord.

The signal transmission quality of this model is excellent. It is provided by four high-precision non-removable antennas operating in different bands, and their placement can be adjusted depending on the location of the router. The antenna power is 5 dBi, which is enough for an excellent signal that can penetrate 1-2 brick walls without losing connection speed. In addition, there are additional data reception and transmission amplifiers.

The processor used as a filling is MediaTek MT7628AN, which has a clock frequency of 580 MHz. The amount of allocated memory is 32 MB internal and 128 RAM DDR2. But, despite the wide possibilities, the maximum speed of receiving a signal from the service provider is limited to 100 Mbit/s. Few providers can provide more, but technology does not stand still. Therefore, it would be worth having a potential reserve for the future.

Keenetic Extra can operate simultaneously in two bands - 2.4 and 5 GHz. In automatic mode, frequencies are not separated; to do this, you need to additionally enter different names for the frequencies in the settings, and the password will remain the same for both.

One of the nice features is support for DLNA capabilities. When connected to a TV or external screen, it is possible to stream video from a mobile device, while streaming video plays without delay. The system has built-in firewalls that protect against intruders and limit access to unwanted content. Information filtering is carried out by two services - Yandex.DNS and SkyDNS.

Few Wi-Fi router manufacturers can boast of having a specially developed mobile application for iOS and Android. The well-designed, functional and convenient My.Keenetic application can even fine-tune connection parameters. The main screen displays a list of routers available for administration, and the management window displays a list of connected devices on the local network. To perform the first setup of the router, you can even get by with the application without using the web interface. But we will follow the usual path and tell you how to configure the Keenetic Extra (KN-1710) router using a browser.

1. The first step is to connect the router to power. Then you need to connect the LAN connector to your computer or laptop, and the provider cable to the WAN connector.
2. You need to find out the router's IP address. To do this, press the Win+R key combination on the keyboard, type ncpa.cpl in the window that appears and click “OK”. Right-click on the Ethernet icon and select the “Status” menu item. A window will open in which you need to click the “Details” button. Copy the Default Gateway setting and paste it into your browser's address bar.
3. Go to the address by pressing the “Enter” key, the administrator panel will open on the page, where you will need to enter a password; it is not set by default.
4. Clicking on the Wi-Fi icon will take you to the wireless connection settings page. This router has 2.4 and 5 GHz access points. First, let's set up the 2.4 GHz point. Check the “Enable access point” checkbox. Enter the network name - SSID. Network protection – select WPA2-PSK from the drop-down list. The key is your Wi-Fi password, different from the factory preset one. After all the steps taken, click the “Apply” button. We configure the 5 GHz access point in the same way by changing the SSID.
5. We finish setting up the router by rebooting it. In the lower menu in the “System” section there is a “Reboot” button for this. Click it and try to use a wireless connection.

Zyxel Keenetic company cares about users and regularly releases updates for its devices. To install released patches in the admin panel, go to the bottom menu “System”, in the top menu – “Update”. Check this item periodically and update if the latest software versions are available, this will allow your device to work quickly and without errors.

Wi-Fi connection and settings

The wireless connection is configured in the “My Networks and Wi-Fi” section. You need to go to the “Home Network” tab. Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz will immediately be displayed there. By default, the router distributes the network to both bands, but if necessary, you can turn off an unnecessary frequency. Here you set the network name and password; it is better to leave the network protection as in the screenshot.

The 5 GHz Wi-Fi settings are identical to the 2.4 GHz ones.

What data needs to be changed for a wireless network?

There is a connection - now it’s important to change some settings of the router’s wireless network itself:

1. We go into the block below with “Wi-Fi” (icon with columns). In the first tab about the access point, we activate the network itself.
2. It is absolutely not necessary to change the point name, but you can do it if the standard one does not suit you. You have the right to come up with some original name. Only English characters, dashes, underscores and numbers can be used.
3. We specify WPA2 PSK as protection. Just below we write the combination - the key that you will need to write when entering the network.
4. Select the country and the mixed Wi-Fi standard.

   To set up Wi-Fi, just change the password

5. Optionally, you can select a channel (select the freest one experimentally - including one or the other), its width, and also set a certain power with which the router will operate. The higher it is, the further the signal will propagate. Save using the “Apply” button below.
6. We check the connection right there on the computer.

Setting up IPTV

By default, television works without additional settings. The user only needs to indicate in the wired connections section the port to which the set-top box is connected and select the appropriate value in its settings.

If the settings are lost, you need to open the “Home Network” section and find the IGMP proxy there. This function must be enabled by specifying the provider and auto protocol to use for connection. The settings must be saved and the router rebooted. After this, IPTV will work.

Port forwarding

If you want to access the interface of your home equipment through the World Wide Web, you can forward ports in the ZyXEL Keenetic 2 web configurator or, as professionals call it “Network Address Translation (NAT).”

Steps to follow:

1. Restart the router;
2. In the web interface of the device, open the “Security” tab;
3. Click “Network Address Translation (NAT)”;

4. For example, you need to provide access to a web camera that is connected to the router. For example, its address is “192.168.1.50”, local port 80. In the menu that appears, specify “Broadband connection (ISP)” in the “Interface” column. Do not touch the column below, but enter “TCP” in the protocol column. In the next paragraph, set “One port”, and in the place below it register the port to which their global network will be connected. It is recommended to set the port to more than 5000, otherwise there is a possibility of conflict with others;
5. In the “Redirect to address” column, type, for example, “192.168.1.50”;
6. In the “New destination port number” field – 80;
7. Click “Save”;
8. Restart the device;
9. Ready.

Change Password

You need to open the “Management” section and go to the “Users and Access” tab. There you need to pay attention to “User Accounts” and click on the inscription admin.

A window will open to change your password and account settings. You must enter a new password and save the changes.

Repeater and Bridge Modes

In Kinetic Extra, these modes are activated in the web interface settings. You need to open the “General Settings” section and find “Operating Mode” there, and then click on the “Change” button.

A page with the router operating modes will open. There you can switch the Internet center to repeater status. In this case, the Internet connection will be disconnected.

After activating the new mode, you need to further configure the Internet center as a repeater: change the IP address to connect to the web configurator.

If a new modem will be used as a repeater, you can activate this mode through the auto-configuration wizard. When choosing a method for connecting to the Internet, click on “Additional modes”.

Select "Amplifier".

Wait for the device to reboot and then simultaneously press the “Wi-Fi” button on the main and additional routers. This is necessary to automatically copy network settings to a new device.

⇡#Conclusions

We had no doubt from the very beginning that the Keenetic mesh network would be an interesting and inexpensive solution to organizing a network for the home. Keenetic Internet centers have repeatedly demonstrated good results in our test laboratory, and our testing today is another confirmation of this. In this case, it is especially pleasant to see that the manufacturer did not profit from its fans, but generously endowed all its devices with Mesh networking capabilities: from the most budget to the most advanced. This is a clear example of what customer focus looks like, not in words, but in deeds.

Keenetic Speedster

Also among the advantages of the Mesh network from Keenetic it is worth noting its simple setup, high performance and excellent roaming. The only thing I would like to wish for is a little improvement in the software, in which one could see the connection structure of Mesh cells, as well as adjust their signal power.

In general, purchasing Keenetic Internet centers has become more interesting even for those who do not yet plan to assemble a Mesh system. After all, later you can always buy the same or any other router, combining them and getting a high signal level in an apartment, country house or office. In terms of price and quality ratio, this is one of the best options on the Russian market!

Firmware update

Firmware updates must be performed via the web interface with a stable network connection. If the Internet constantly freezes, you should download the file with the new firmware version to your computer and start downloading it.

In the first case, you don't need to do anything. By default, the KN-1710 automatically downloads updates. The router periodically downloads and installs new software during periods of inactivity. But sometimes engineers can disable this function when setting up the Internet. You can activate it back in the “General system settings” located in the “Management” section.

The firmware is downloaded from the official website. To update the web interface using files downloaded to your computer, you must open the general settings section again. There you need to find the “System Files” tab and click on firmware. A brief description of the file will appear. You need to click on the “Replace file” button and select the folder on your computer where the new firmware version is stored.

The files will begin downloading. You must wait for the procedure to complete and the Internet center to reboot.

The My.Keenetic mobile application also supports firmware updates. To do this, go through the menu to the “System” section and open the “About the device” subsection there. Information about the center OS will open and the “Device Update” button will appear. You need to tap on it to download the new firmware version.

⇡#Supply set

The delivery package for the Keenetic Viva, Speedster and Air Internet centers is the same and minimalistic. Along with the main devices in cardboard boxes, the user will find:

• power adapter;
• high-quality Ethernet cable;
• a short printed connection guide.

More detailed setup guides, including articles on organizing and optimizing a Mesh network, can be easily found on the manufacturer’s official website.

Reset

Settings are reset to factory values ​​in two ways: by pressing a mechanical button on the back panel of the router or in the device’s web interface. If the user has forgotten the new password for authorization in the firmware, he will have to use the first method. To do this, take a paperclip or any other thin object, press the button on the back panel and hold it for 10 seconds. The settings will be reset.

In the web configurator, you need to go to the “General Settings” section and scroll to the “System Reboot” tab. There will be a "Restore Factory Settings" button. You need to click on it and confirm the reset by entering the word “RESET”.