E3200 Extender Blinking Yellow Light and No White Light

[ultramet]

So I purchased the E3200 to extend my network via WiFi (E3100). I followed all of the steps and got to the stage with the fast blinking yellow light (firmware update finished ). However, somehow the light won’t change to solid white light after rebooting. It just flashes yellow and then stays solid yellow. I’ve done a hard reset of the E3200 and tried again but to no avail. Should I reset my E3100 router and try to pair again. This is extremely frustrating, especially as I am switching from an Eero system that was essentially plug and play. Any help would be extremely appreciated.  I am giving logistic support to an area ICU during this COVID crisis and could use better WiFi access and speed. Thanks.

[Edg1 · Accepted solution]

Try pairing it next to the router then moving it the the location you want it. 

[ultramet]

Actually I reset both my E3100 router and the E3200 extender and then paired them as you suggested. Also, I made sure to let the firmware upgrade run a long time. It seems it can be a longer process than the 6-10 min. It now works. Thanks for the follow-up. The extender works great as I have an apartment with thick brick walls. Thanks for the follow up! 

[jstark03]

I'm getting the same blinking light..is the blinking yellow the firmware update?  I've let the update got past 15 minutes and still just blinking.  any help would be great.

[ultramet]

Did you previously have a good connection (white light) or was it the initial setup?. If this is the initial setup you will have to wait until you get the FAST blinking yellow light. You then unplug the extender and you should get the solid white light when you plug the extender again. Also, you should initially plug the extender in again closer to the router to make sure you are not too far away. I noticed that the dropped white light to a blinking yellow light is happening much less after about a week. I am not sure why but I think it might be related to the self-organizing network getting better with time. In essence, the extender is just working better with time on its own. Good luck

[Emosupremo]

This pairing side by side doesnt work. Btw, i have no splitter or coax  Cable in my 3200 box so that option is bogus too.. Shame on Fios.

[Cang_Household]

Sorry for the inconvenience. Can you login into the E3200’s web GUI? There should be no difference between connecting with an Ethernet or coax for pairing.

[glcmech]

Verizon sent me replacement for my 3200 extender.  It pairs fine and gets white light but then starts blinking yellow and sometimes goes back to white.  I have repaired it several times.  When I check the FIOS app it appears that I have coverage in the area where the extender is but it continues to blink yellow.

[Bretyboy]

Still not working. Does anyone here have an actual clue about any of this apparently useless "technology"? It would be really nice if one of these moderators are supposed to experts had an actual answer instead of just closing these conversations.

[KH-OrnEsh]

Due to the age of this thread, it will be locked in order to keep discussions current. If you have the same or a similar question/issue we invite you to start a new thread on the topic.

[Rob5589]

Okay I have a similar problem and can not figure this out with the initial setup.

I did a hard reset on both the router and extender. I am wired using an Ethernet if that means anything. 

I plug in the extender and get a solid yellow after it boots up. 

I press both the extender and router for 3-5 seconds and get both blinking blue. 

after a few seconds they both go solid blue. 

then about 10 seconds go by and the router goes to solid white and the extending goes to solid yellow. 

After that, the extender goes to fast blinking yellow in about 15 seconds and stays that way.

the first time I let it do that for 15 minutes and plugged it back in and got solid yellow, followed by fast blinking yellow. It never goes to solid white. 

I tried this so many times and can’t figure it out. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 

[ultramet]

Hmm. It sounds as if you are doing everything correctly. Only thing I can suggest trying again is 

1. Let the firmware upgrade run longer than 15 min. I honestly let it run 30 min to be sure.

2. When I unplugged the extender after I received the rapid blinking yellow, I didn't move the extender very far at first. Maybe only 20 feet away at max. Eventually I got the solid white light. After I had the solid white light and checked that it was functioning well about 2 hours later I moved it farther away and it worked fine.

Please note that when you eventually get the solid white light there will be periods of blinking yellow. These gave decreased with time as the SON has improved.

I think it takes a while for the Verizon SON to realize that this extender is on your network. I also believe the firmware upgrade can take more than 15 min. Best Rob

[Nrt48]

Found a remarkable thing! I had the same issue with an E3200 Fios extender, only a flashing yellow light when I moved it to the weak area of the house. T it wasn’t working and tried every reboot, relocation and start-over possible. Frustrated, I downloaded several network analyzer apps and discovered it was in fact WORKING!!! Plugged 2 LAN Cables in for TV and cell phone booster...and all WORKED! This is while the extender light blinked yellow- and still is!!! Don’t know if this always the case, but worth a try.

[Cang_Household]

The E3200 is uplinked to G3100 right?

Here is the description for LEDs. I believe the yellow blinking occurs only when you turned on the meshed WiFi.

[Mitch25]

My e3200 light stays solid yellow

[pianomanuel]

This is working as expected. After all you list, unplug and move the extender to another room at least 20 feet away from the primary router. Don’t mess with the primary router. 
plug in the extended and wait about 10 minutes. 

they don’t tell you this in the dumb setup guide. 

what happens is the two routers are smarter than you think. It knows if it is too close in proximity to each other, probably to prevent cross-talk. 

This took me some research to figure out. 

I hope it helps, it is anti-intuitive. 

[Eaglesei]

how do I fix frim wide update?i I can't get rid of the blinking light

[Emosupremo]

Ditto. Umpteen times. suggestions dont work either paiting c ethernet or by placing the 3200 near the 3100.
Pressing reset doesnt work either. Didnt have this much trouble c my Nighthawk. Fios, get your act straight.

[Emosupremo]

Is an ethernet pairing worse than wifi c no ethernet cable preferred. An inet post elsewhere claims the Fios instructions to use Ethernet cable "leads to problems later on."

??? Bit cryptic, eh.

[redleg1416]

I linked the extender to the router and the extender light went solid white. I moved it to the needed location and the extender light would not come back on. I tried to reset it and took it back next to the router, but the light would not come on again. What should I do???

[agjacs]

I originally set up the router properly and got white lights on both the router and the extender.  All of a sudden months later I get a blinking yellow light on the extender.  I try pairing closer and it works--get white lights.  When I replug in at the location I originally had the extender I get a yellow blinking slow light.  Too far away.  When I hit the reset button on the extender, I get a solid yellow... it's now indicating that I have no internet connection.  This is by the way, right next to my computer that shows a strong signal.  Maybe I just don't need it but i don't understand why it is behaving this way.  Why is there not enough signal for it all of a sudden?