NETGEAR CAX30S Nighthawk Cable Modem WiFi 6 Router Combo User Manual

User Manual
Nighthawk AX6 AX2700 WiFI Cable Modem Router Model CAX30

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You can also check out our NETGEAR Community for helpful advice at community.netgear.com.
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Check with your cable Internet provider to confirm that this NETGEAR cable device is allowed on your cable network.
If you are experiencing trouble installing your cable device, contact NETGEAR at 1-866-874-8924.
Regulatory and Legal
Si ce produit est vendu au Canada, vous pouvez accéder à ce document en français canadien à https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.
(If this product is sold in Canada, you can access this document in Canadian French at https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.)
For regulatory compliance information including the EU Declaration of Conformity, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
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By using this device, you are agreeing to NETGEAR’s Terms and Conditions at https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions. If you do not agree, return the device to your place of purchase within your return period.
Note to CATV system installer: This reminder is provided to call the CATV systems installer’s attention to Section 820-93 of the National Electrical Code, which provide guidelines for proper grounding and in particular, specify that coaxial cable shield shall be connected to the grounding system of the building, as close to the point of cable entry as practical.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.

Hardware Setup

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Unpack Your Modem Router
• Front panel LEDs and buttons
• Rear Panel
• Position Your Modem Router
• Install and Activate Your Modem Router

For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at support.netgear.com.

Unpack Your Modem Router
Your package contains the modem router, Ethernet cable, and power adapter.

Front panel LEDs and buttons
Status LEDs are located on the front of the modem router. The WiFi and WPS buttons are also located on the front.

You can use the LEDs to verify status and connections. The following table lists and describes each LED on the top panel of the modem router.
Table 1. LED descriptions

• Off. No power is supplied to the modem router.
• Solid red. Thermal cutoff mode. Power off the modem router, let it cool, and move it away from heat sources (such as a TV, DVD player, or speakers) and keep it vertical in open air.
Downstream| • Solid amber. One downstream channel is locked.
• Solid white. Two or more downstream channels are locked.
• Blinking white. The modem router is scanning for a downstream channel.
• Off. No downstream channel is locked.
Upstream| • Solid amber. One upstream channel is locked.
• Solid white. Two or more upstream channels are locked.
• Blinking white. The modem router is scanning for an upstream channel.
• Off. No upstream channel is locked.
Online| • Solid white. The modem router is online.
• Blinking white. The modem router is synchronizing with the cable provider’s cable modem termination system (CMTS).
• Slow blinking amber and white. The modem router reached the traffic meter limit.
• Off. The modem router is offline.
Ethernet ports 1-4| The LED color indicates the speed: white for Gigabit Ethernet connections and amber for 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connections.
• Solid. A powered-on device is connected to the Ethernet port.
• Blinking. The port is sending or receiving traffic.
• Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port.

Table 1. LED descriptions (Continued)

2.4 GHz radio| • Solid white. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
• Blinking. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
• Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.
---|---
5 GHz radio| • Solid white. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
• Blinking. The router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
• Off. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.
USB port| • Solid white. A USB device is connected and is ready.
• Off. No USB device is connected, or someone clicked the Safely
Remove Hardware button and it is now safe to remove the attached USB device.

The WiFi and WPS buttons are located on the front of the modem router.
Table 2. Front panel buttons

router on and off. If this LED is lit, the WiFi radios are on. If this LED is off,
the WiFi radios are turned off and you cannot use WiFi to connect to the modem router.
WPS| This button lets you use WPS to join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password. The WPS LED blinks during this process and then lights
solid.
LED on/off| Pressing this button for two seconds turns the LEDs on and off.

Rear Panel
The connections and button on the rear panel are shown in the following figure.

Position Your Modem Router
The modem router lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your WiFi network. However, the operating distance or range of your WiFi connection can vary significantly depending on the physical placement of your modem router. For
example, the thickness and number of walls the WiFi signal passes through can limit the range.
Additionally, other WiFi access points in and around your home might affect your modem router’s signal. WiFi access points are modem routers, repeaters, WiFi range extenders, and any other device that emits a WiFi signal for network access.
Position your modem router according to the following guidelines:

• Place your modem router near the center of the area where your computers and other devices operate, and within line of sight to your WiFi devices.

• Make sure that the modem router is within reach of an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables for wired computers.

• Place the modem router in an elevated location, minimizing the number walls and ceilings between the modem router and your other devices.

•  Place the modem router away from electrical devices such as these:
  – Ceiling fans
  – Home security systems
  – Microwaves
  – Computers
  – Base of a cordless phone
  – 2.4 GHz cordless phone

•  Place the modem router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, and insulated walls, and items such as these:
  – Solid metal doors
  – Aluminum studs
  – Fish tanks
  – Mirrors
  – Brick
  – Concrete

Install and Activate Your Modem Router
The modem router provides a connection between your cable Internet provider’s network and your computer, router, or WiFi router.
Connect Your Modem Router to a Computer
During the installation and activation, you must connect the modem router directly to a computer.

Note: Before you connect your modem router and contact your cable Internet provider, collect your cable account number, account phone number, and login information (your email address or user name and password).
To connect your modem router directly to a computer:

1. Connect a coaxial cable.
   Use the coaxial cable that your cable company provided to connect the cable port  on the modem router to a cable wall outlet or a line splitter. Make sure that the cableis tightly connected.
   Note: If Xfinity is your cable Internet provider, Xfinity recommends connecting your modem router directly to a cable wall outlet.

2. Connect the power adapter provided in the package to the modem router and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet.
   When the startup procedure is complete, the Power LED lights solid white.
   If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/Off button on the rear panel of the modem router.

3.  Wait for the modem router to come online.
   When the modem router comes online, the Online LED stops blinking and lights solid white.
   This process might take up to 10 minutes.
   Even though an Internet connection is established, Internet service is available only after you set it up with your cable Internet provider.

For information about how to activate your Internet service, see Activate Your Internet Service on page 16.
Activate Your Internet Service

Before you activate your Internet service, gather the following information:

• Your cable Internet provider account information
• Modem router model number, which is CAX30
• Modem router serial number, which is on the modem router label
• Modem router MAC address, which is on the modem router label

Your modem router’s serial number and MAC address are on the modem router label.

The following is contact information for cable Internet providers that support your modem router.
Table 3. Cable Internet provider contact information

https://www.cox.com/residential/support/home.htmlhttps://www.cox.com/activate
1-888-556-1193
Mediacom| https://support.mediacomcable.com/
1-855-Mediacom (1-855-633-4226)
Optimum| https://www.optimum.net/support/contact-us
https://install.optimum.com/JointInstall/
1-877-810-6750
Sparklight| https://support.sparklight.com/
1 877-692-2253

Table 3. Cable Internet provider contact information (Continued)

us/https://activate.spectrum.net/>
1-833-267-6094
Xfinity| https://www.xfinity.com/internetsetup
1-800-XFINITY (1-800-934-6489)
Use the Xfinity app for Xfinity activation and then use the NETGEAR
Nighthawk app for router installation.

Note: Your cable Internet provider’s contact information might change. You can find the contact information in your monthly Internet service billing statement.

To activate your Internet service:

1. Visit your cable Internet provider’s website and follow the onscreen instructions to activate your Internet service.
2.  If you are unable to activate your Internet service using the instructions on your cable Internet provider’s website, call your cable Internet provider for support.
3. To determine the accurate Internet speed, visit your cable Internet provider’s speed test website and perform a speed test. .
   If your actual speed is lower than your subscribed speed, contact your cable Internet provider.

Perform a Speed Test
To determine the accurate Internet speed, visit your cable Internet provider’s speed test website and perform a speed test.
If your actual speed is lower than your subscribed speed, contact your cable Internet provider.

Specify Your Internet Settings

Usually, the quickest way to set up the modem router to use your Internet connection is to allow the modem router to detect the Internet connection when you first access the modem router with an Internet browser. You can also customize or specify your Internet settings.
This chapter contains the following sections:

• Specify the Cable Connection Starting Frequency
• View Modem Router Initialization
• Manually Set Up the Internet Connection
• Change the MTU Size

Specify the Cable Connection Starting Frequency
The starting frequency is automatically generated. For most Internet connections, you do not need to specify this information. If you must enter a starting frequency, contact your Internet provider.

To change the starting frequency:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the modem router network.

2. Enter http://routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the password you set the first time you connected to the modem router. The user name and password are case- sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Cable Connection.
   The page displays the status of all downstream and upstream channels and provides a field for the starting frequency.

5.  Enter the starting frequency.
   6. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

View Modem Router Initialization
You can track the initialization procedure of the modem router and get details about the downstream and upstream cable channel. The time is displayed after the modem router is initialized.
The modem router automatically goes through the following steps in the provisioning process:

1. Scans and locks the downstream frequency and then ranges the upstream channels.
2.  Obtains a WAN address for the modem router.
3.  Connects to the Internet.

To view the status of the modem router initialization:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the modem router network.

2. Enter http://routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the password you set the first time you connected to the modem router. The user name and password are case- sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Cable Connection.
   The Startup Procedure section displays the initialization progress. The page also displays the status of all downstream and upstream channels. (You must scroll down to view all the channels.) The number of downstream and upstream channels that are locked depends on the number of channels that your Internet provider uses.

Manually Set Up the Internet Connection
In most situations, you do not need to change these settings. We recommend that you use the default settings for DHCP because most cable Internet services provide the IP address through DHCP.

To specify the Internet connection settings:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the modem router network.

2.  Enter http://routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the password you set the first time you connected to the modem router. The user name and password are case- sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Setup > Internet Setup.

5.  If your Internet connection requires an account name or host name, type it in the Account Name (If Required) field.

6. If your Internet connection requires a domain name, type it in the Domain Name (If Required) field.
   For the other sections in this page, the default settings usually work, but you can change them.

7.  Select an Internet IP Address radio button:
   • Get Dynamically from ISP. Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your IP address. Your ISP automatically assigns these addresses.
   • Use Static IP Address. Enter the IP address, IP subnet mask, and the gateway IP address that your ISP assigned. The gateway is the ISP modem router to which your modem router connects.

8. Select a Domain Name Server (DNS) Address radio button:
   • Get Automatically from ISP. Your ISP uses DHCP to assign your DNS servers.
   Your ISP automatically assigns this address.
   • Use These DNS Servers. If you know that your ISP requires specific servers, select this option. Enter the IP address of your ISP’s primary DNS server. If a secondary or tertiary DNS server address is available, enter it also.

9. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.
   If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see Troubleshooting on page 119.

Change the MTU Size
The maximum transmission unit (MTU) is the largest data packet a network device transmits. When one network device communicates across the Internet with another, the data packets travel through many devices along the way. If a device in the data path uses a lower MTU setting than the other devices, the data packets must be split or “fragmented” to accommodate the device with the smallest MTU.

The best MTU setting for NETGEAR equipment is often the default value. In some situations, changing the value fixes one problem but causes another. Leave the MTU unchanged unless one of these situations occurs:

• You experience problems connecting to your ISP or other Internet service, and the technical support of either the ISP or NETGEAR recommends changing the MTU setting. These web-based applications might require an MTU change:
  – A secure website that does not open, or displays only part of a web page
  – Yahoo email
  – MSN portal

• You use VPN and experience severe performance problems.

• You used a program to optimize MTU for performance reasons, and now you are experiencing connectivity or performance problems.

Note: An incorrect MTU setting can cause Internet communication problems. For example, you might not be able to access certain websites, frames within websites, secure login pages, or FTP or POP servers.

To change the MTU size:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the modem router network.

2. Enter http://routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the password you set the first time you connected to the modem router. The user name and password are case- sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.

5. In the MTU Size field, enter a value from 64 to 1500.

6.  Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

If you suspect an MTU problem, a common solution is to change the MTU to 1400. If you are willing to experiment, you can gradually reduce the MTU from the maximum value of 1500 until the problem goes away. The following table describes common MTU
sizes and applications.
Table 4. Common MTU sizes

connections that do not use VPN, and is the default value for NETGEAR routers, adapters, and switches.
1472| Maximum size to use for pinging. (Larger packets are fragmented.)
1468| Used in some DHCP environments.
1460| Usable by AOL if you do not send or receive large email attachments, for example.

Connect to the Network and Access the Modem Router

This chapter contains the following sections:

• Connect to the Network
• Types of Logins
• Log In to the Modem Router

Connect to the Network
You can connect to the modem router’s network through a wired or WiFi connection.
If you set up your computer to use a static IP address, change the settings so that it uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
Wired Connection
You can connect your computer to the modem router using an Ethernet cable and join the modem router’s local area network (LAN).

To connect your computer to the modem router with an Ethernet cable:

1. Make sure that the modem router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. Connect an Ethernet cable to an Ethernet port on your computer.
3.  Connect the other end of the Ethernet cable to one of the numbered Ethernet ports.
   Your computer connects to the local area network (LAN). A message might display on your computer screen to notify you that an Ethernet cable is connected.

Using WPS to Connect to the WiFi Network
You can connect to the modem router’s WiFi network with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) or you can find and select the WiFi network.
To use WPS to connect to the WiFi network:

1.  Make sure that the modem router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).
2. Check the WPS instructions for your computer or mobile device.
3.  Press the WPS button on the modem router.
4. Within two minutes, on your computer or WiFi device, press its WPS button or follow its instructions for WPS connections.
   Your computer or mobile device connects to the WiFi network.

Finding and Selecting the WiFi Network
To find and select the WiFi network:

1.  Make sure that the modem router is receiving power (its Power LED is lit).

2. On your computer or mobile device, find and select the WiFi network.
   The WiFi network name is on the modem router label.

3. Join the WiFi network and enter the WiFi password.
   The password is on the modem router label.
   Your computer or mobile device connects to the WiFi network.

Types of Logins
Separate types of logins serve different purposes. It is important that you understand the difference so that you know which login to use when.
Types of logins:

• WiFi network key or password. Your modem router is preset with a unique WiFi network name (SSID) and password for WiFi access. This information is on the modem router label.
  Note: Your modem router broadcasts dual-band 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi signals.
  The label shows the SSID for the 2.4 GHz signal. For information about 5 GHz WiFi settings, see Specify Basic WiFi Settings on page ?.

• Modem router login. This logs you in to the modem router web pages as admin from an Internet browser.

Log In to the Modem Router
When you connect to the network (either with WiFi or with an Ethernet cable), you can use a web browser to access the modem router to view or change its settings. The first time you access the modem router, the modem router automatically checks to see if it
can connect to your Internet service.

To log in to the modem router:

1. Launch a web browser from a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device that is connected to the network.

2. Type http://routerlogin.net or http://192.168.1.1.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the password you set the first time you connected to the modem router. The user name and password are case- sensitive.
   The first time you log in to the modem router, you are prompted to change the admin password and set up security questions. You must enter these settings before you can access the Internet.

4. Enter a new password.

5. Select security questions and enter the answers.

6. Click the Next button.

7. Click the Next button.
   The modem router connects to the Internet. The BASIC Home page displays the status of the Internet connection.

Control Access to the Internet

The router comes with a built-in firewall that helps protect your home network from unwanted intrusions from the Internet.
This chapter contains the following sections:

• Enable access control to allow or block access to the Internet
• Use keywords to block Internet sites
• Manage network access control lists
• Schedule when to block Internet sites and services
• Set up security event email notifications

Enable access control to allow or block access to the Internet

You can use access control to block or allow access to the Internet through your router.
To set up access control:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Access Control.
   The Access Control page displays.

5. Select the Turn on Access Control check box.
   You must select this check box before you can specify an access rule and use the Allow and Block buttons. When this check box is cleared, all devices are allowed to connect, even if a device is in the blocked list.

6.  Select an access rule:
   • Allow all new devices to connect. With this setting, a new device can access your network. You don’t need to enter the its MAC address. This is the default setting. We recommend that you leave this radio button selected.
   • Block all new devices from connecting. With this setting, a new device cannot access your router’s Internet connection, but can still access your router’s local network. Before a device accesses your router’s Internet connection, you must enter its MAC address for an Ethernet connection and its MAC address for a WiFi connection in the allowed list.
   The access rule does not affect previously blocked or allowed devices. It applies only to devices joining your network in the future after you apply these settings.

7.  To view allowed or blocked devices that are not connected, click one of the following links:
   • View list of allowed devices not currently connected to the network
   • View list of blocked devices not currently connected to the network
   The list displays.

8. To allow the WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device you’re currently using to continue to access the Internet, select the check box next to your computer or device, and click the Allow button.

9. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Use keywords to block Internet sites
You can use keywords to block certain Internet sites from your network. You can use blocking all the time or based on a schedule.

To block Internet sites:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. . Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites.
   The Block Sites page displays.

5.  Select a keyword blocking option:
   • Per Schedule. Turn on keyword blocking according to a schedule that you set.
   For more information, see Schedule when to block Internet sites and services on page 35.
   • Always. Turn on keyword blocking all the time, independent of the Schedule page.

6.  In the Type keyword or domain name here field, enter a keyword or domain that you want to block.
   For example:
   • Specify XXX to block http://www.badstuff.com/xxx.html.
   • Specify .com if you want to allow only sites with domain suffixes such as .edu or .gov.
   • Enter a period (.) to block all Internet browsing access.

7. Click the Add Keyword button.
   The keyword is added to the keyword list. The keyword list supports up to 32 entries.

8. Click the Apply button.
   Keyword blocking takes effect.

Block services from the Internet
You can block Internet services on your network based on the type of service. You can block the services all the time or based on a schedule.
To block services :

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Services.
   The Block Services page displays.

5. Specify when to block the services:
   • To block the services all the time, select the Always radio button.
   • To block the services based on a schedule, select the Per Schedule radio button.
   For information about how to specify the schedule, see Schedule when to block Internet sites and services on page 35.

6. Click the Add button.
   The Block Services Setup page displays.

7. To add a service that is in the Service Type menu, select the application or service.
   The settings for this service automatically display in the fields.

8. To add a service or application that is not in the menu, select User Defined, and do the following:
   a. If you know that the application uses either TCP or UDP, select the appropriate protocol. Otherwise, select TCP/UDP (both).
   b. Enter the starting port and ending port numbers.
   If the service uses a single port number, enter that number in both fields. To find out which port numbers the service or application uses, you can contact the publisher of the application, ask user groups or newsgroups, or search on the Internet.

9. Select a filtering option:
   • Only This IP Address. Block services for a single computer.
   • IP Address Range. Block services for a range of computers with consecutive IP addresses on your network.
   • All lP Addresses. Block services for all computers on your network.

10. Click the Add button.
    Your settings are saved.

Delete keywords from the blocked list
To delete keywords from the list:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time
   that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites.
   The Block Sites page displays.

5. Do one of the following:
   • To delete a single word, select it and click the Delete Keyword button.
   The keyword is removed from the list.
   • To delete all keywords on the list, click the Clear List button.
   All keywords are removed from the list.

6. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Prevent blocking on a trusted computer
You can exempt one trusted computer from blocking. The computer that you exempt must be assigned a fixed IP address. You can use the reserved IP address feature to specify the IP address. See Manage reserved LAN IP addresses on page ?.

To specify a trusted computer:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites.
   The Block Sites page displays.

5. Scroll down and select the Allow trusted IP address to visit blocked sites check box.

6. In the Trusted IP Address field, enter the IP address of the trusted computer.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Manage network access control lists
You can manage network access control lists (ACLs) that block or allow access to the Internet through your router.
To manage devices that are allowed or blocked:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Security > Access Control.
   The Access Control page displays.

5.  Select the Turn on Access Control radio button.

6.  Click the View list of allowed devices not currently connected to the network link.
   The list displays.

7.  Select the check box for a device.

8.  Use the Add button, Edit button, and Remove from the list button as needed.

9. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Schedule when to block Internet sites and services
When you schedule blocking, the same schedule is used to block sites and to block services.
To schedule blocking:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Security > Schedule.
   The Schedule page displays.

5.  Specify when to block keywords and services:
   • Days to Block. Select the check box for each day that you want to block the keywords, or select the Every Day check box, which automatically selects the check boxes for all days.
   • Time of Day to Block. Select a start and end time in 24-hour format, or select the All Day check box for 24-hour blocking.

6. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Set up security event email notifications
The router can email you its logs of router activity. The log records router activity and security events such as attempts to access blocked sites or services.
To set up email notifications:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Security > E-mail.
   The E-mail page displays.

5. Select the Turn E-mail Notification On check box.

6.  In the Send to This E-mail Address field, type the email address to which logs and alerts are to be sent.
   This email address is also used for the From address. If this field is blank, log and alert messages are not sent.

7. In the Your Outgoing Mail Server field, enter the name of your ISP outgoing (SMTP) mail server (such as mail.myISP.com).
   You might be able to find this information in the configuration window of your email program. If you leave this field blank, log and alert messages are not sent.

8. In the Outgoing Mail Server Port Number field, enter a port number in the field.
   If you do not know the port number, leave the default port number.

9. If your outgoing email server requires authentication, select the My Mail Server requires authentication check box, and do the following:
   a. In the User Name field, type the user name for the outgoing email server.
   b. In the Password field, type the password for the outgoing email server.

10. To send alerts when someone attempts to visit a blocked site, select the Send Alerts Immediately check box.
    Email alerts are sent immediately when someone attempts to visit a blocked site.

11. To send logs based on a schedule, specify these settings:
    a. From Send logs according to this schedule menu, select the schedule type.
    b. From the Day menu, select the day.
    c. From the Time menu, select the time, and select the am or pm radio button.

12. Click the Apply button.
    Your settings are saved.
    Logs are sent automatically according to the schedule that you set. If the log fills before the specified time, it is sent. After the log is sent, it is cleared from the router memory. If the router cannot email the log and the log buffer fills, the router overwrites the log.

Manage Network Settings

The router comes ready for WiFi, Ethernet, and USB connections. You can customize the router’s network settings. We recommend that you install the router and connect it to the Internet before you change its network settings.
This chapter contains the following sections:

• View or change the WAN settings
• Set up a default DMZ server
• Change the Router’s Device Name
• Change the LAN TCP/IP settings
• Specify the IP addresses that the modem router assigns
• Disable the DHCP server feature in the modem router
• Manage reserved LAN IP addresses
• Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi connections
• Specify Basic WiFi Settings
•  Change the WiFi Mode
•  Change the Transmission Power Control
• Change the WiFi password or the WiFi security
• Set up a guest WiFi network
• Control the WiFi radios
• Set up a WiFi schedule
• Specify WPS settings
• Enable or disable implicit beamforming
• Enable or disable airtime fairness
• Ethernet Port Aggregation

View or change the WAN settings
You can view or configure wide area network (WAN) settings for the Internet port. You can set up a DMZ (demilitarized zone) server, change the maximum transmit unit (MTU) size, and enable the modem router to respond to a ping to its WAN (Internet) port.
To view or change the WAN settings:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time
   that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
   The WAN Setup page displays.
   View or change the following settings:
   • Disable IPv4 Firewall Protection. The IPv4 firewall protects against some internet threats and denial of service attacks. Select this check box only in special circumstances.
   • Disable Port Scan and DoS Protection. DoS protection protects your LAN against denial of service attacks such as Syn flood, Smurf Attack, Ping of Death, and many others. Select this check box only in special circumstances.
   • Default DMZ Server. This feature is sometimes helpful when you are playing online games or videoconferencing, but it makes the firewall security less effective.
   • Respond to Ping on Internet Port. This feature allows your modem router to be discovered. Use this feature only as a diagnostic tool or for a specific reason.
   • MTU Size (in bytes). The normal MTU (maximum transmit unit) value for most Ethernet networks is 1500 bytes. Change the MTU only if you are sure that it is necessary for your ISP connection.
   • Disable SIP ALG. Some voice and video communication applications do not work well with the SIP ALG. Disabling the SIP ALG might help your voice and video applications to create and accept a call through the modem router.

5. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Set up a default DMZ server
The default DMZ server feature is helpful when you are using some online games and videoconferencing applications that are incompatible with Network Address Translation (NAT). The modem router is programmed to recognize some of these applications and
to work correctly with them, but other applications might not function well. In some  cases, one local computer can run the application correctly if the IP address for that computer is entered as the default DMZ server.
WARNING: DMZ servers pose a security risk. A computer designated as the default DMZ server loses much of the protection of the firewall and is exposed to exploits from the Internet. If compromised, the DMZ server computer can be used to attack other computers on your network.
The modem router usually detects and discards incoming traffic from the Internet that is not a response to one of your local computers or a service that you configured on the Port Forwarding/Port Triggering page. Instead of discarding this traffic, you can specify that the router forwards the traffic to one computer on your network. This computer is called the default DMZ server.
To set up a default DMZ server:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
   The WAN Setup page displays.

5. Select the Default DMZ Server check box.

6.  Type the IP address.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Change the Router’s Device Name
The modem router’s default device name is based on its model number. This device name displays in the file manager when you browse your network.
To change the modem router’s device name:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
   The LAN Setup page displays.

5. In the Device Name field, type a new name.

6.  Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Change the LAN TCP/IP settings
The modem router is preconfigured to use private IP addresses on the LAN side and to act as a DHCP server. The modem router’s default LAN IP configuration is as follows:

• LAN IP address. 192.168.1.1
• Subnet mask. 255.255.255.0

These addresses are part of the designated private address range for use in private networks and are suitable for most applications. If your network requires a different IP addressing scheme, you can change these settings.
You might want to change these settings if you need a specific IP subnet that one or more devices on the network use, or if you use competing subnets with the same IP scheme.

To change the LAN TCP/IP settings:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. . Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
   The LAN Setup page displays.

5. In the IP Address field, type the IP address.

6.  In the IP Subnet Mask field, type the subnet mask of the modem router.
   The IP address and subnet mask identify which addresses are local to a specific device and which must be reached through a gateway or modem router.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.
   If you changed the LAN IP address of the modem router, you are disconnected when this change takes effect.

8. To reconnect, close your browser, relaunch it, and log in to the router.

Specify the IP addresses that the modem router assigns
By default, the modem router acts as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server. The router assigns IP, DNS server, and default gateway addresses to all computers connected to the LAN. The assigned default gateway address is the LAN address of the modem router.
These addresses must be part of the same IP address subnet as the modem router’s LAN IP address. Using the default addressing scheme, define a range between 192.168.1.2 and 192.168.1.254, although you can save part of the range for devices with fixed addresses.

To specify the pool of IP addresses that the modem router assigns:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
   The LAN Setup page displays.

5.  Make sure that the Use Router as DHCP Server check box is selected.

6.  Specify the range of IP addresses that the router assigns:
   a. In the Starting IP Address field, type the lowest number in the range.
   This IP address must be in the same subnet as the modem router.
   b. In the Ending IP Address field, type the number at the end of the range of IP addresses.
   This IP address must be in the same subnet as the modem router.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.
   The modem router delivers the following address information to any LAN device that requests a DHCP address:
   • An IP address from the range that you define
   • Subnet mask
   • Gateway IP address (the modem router’s LAN IP address)
   • DNS server IP address (the modem router’s LAN IP address)

Disable the DHCP server feature in the modem router

By default, the modem router acts as a DHCP server. The router assigns IP, DNS server, and default gateway addresses to all computers connected to the LAN. The assigned default gateway address is the LAN address of the modem router.
You can use another device on your network as the DHCP server or specify the network settings of all your computers.
To disable the DHCP server feature in the modem router:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
   The LAN Setup page displays.

5.  Clear the Use Router as DHCP Server check box.

6. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

7. (Optional) If this service is disabled and no other DHCP server is on your network, set your computer IP addresses manually so that the computers can access the modem router.

Manage reserved LAN IP addresses
When you specify a reserved IP address for a computer on the LAN, that computer always receives the same IP address each time it accesses the modem router’s DHCP server. Assign reserved IP addresses to computers or servers that require permanent IP settings.

Reserve an IP address
To reserve an IP address:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
   The LAN Setup page displays.

5.  In the Address Reservation section, click the Add button.

6. In the IP Address field, type the IP address to assign to the computer or server.
   Choose an IP address from the modem router’s LAN subnet, such as 192.168.1.x.

7.  Type the MAC address of the computer or server.
   Tip: If the computer is already on your network, you can copy its MAC address from the Attached Devices page and paste it here.

8. Click the Apply button.
   The reserved address is entered into the table.
   The reserved address is not assigned until the next time the computer contacts the modem router’s DHCP server. Reboot the computer, or access its IP configuration and force a DHCP release and renew.
   Edit a reserved IP address

To edit a reserved address entry:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
   The LAN Setup page displays.

5.  Select the radio button next to the reserved address that you want to edit.

6. Click the Edit button.
   The Address Reservation page displays.

7. Change the settings.

8. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Delete a reserved IP address entry
To delete a reserved address entry:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
   The LAN Setup page displays.

5. Select the radio button next to the reserved address that you want to delete.

6. Click the Delete button.
   The address is removed.

Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi connections
The WPS Wizard helps you add a WPS-enabled device to your WiFi network without typing the WiFi password.
To use the WPS Wizard:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > WPS Wizard.
   A note explaining WPS displays.

5. Click the Next button.
   The WPS page displays.

6.  Select a setup method:
   • Push button. Click the WPS button on this page.
   • PIN Number. The page adjusts. Enter the client security PIN and click the Next button.

7. Within two minutes, go to the WPS-enabled device and use its WPS software to connect to the WiFi network.
   The WPS process automatically sets up yourr WPS-enabled device with the network password when it connects. The modem router WPS page displays a confirmation message.

Specify Basic WiFi Settings
The router comes with preset security. This means that the WiFi network name (SSID), network key (password), and security option (encryption protocol) are preset in the factory. You can find the preset SSID and password on the router label.
Note: The preset SSID and password are uniquely generated for every device to protect and maximize your WiFi security.
If you change your preset security settings, make a note of the new settings and store it in a safe place where you can easily find it.
If your computer is connected with WiFi when you change the SSID or other WiFi security settings, you are disconnected when you click the Apply button. To avoid this problem, use a computer with a wired connection to access the modem router.
To specify basic WiFi settings:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Wireless.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.
   You can specify the settings for the 2.4 GHz band and 5 GHz band.

5. From the Region menu, select your region.
   In some locations, you cannot change this setting.

6.  To control the SSID broadcast, select or clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box.
   When this check box is selected, the modem router broadcasts its network name (SSID) so that it displays when you scan for local WiFi networks on your computer or mobile device.

7. To change the network name (SSID), type a new name in the Name (SSID) field. The name can be up to 32 characters long and it is case-sensitive. The default SSID is randomly generated and is on the router label. If you change the name, make sure to write down the new name and keep it in a safe place.

8.  To change the WiFi channel, select a number from the Channel menu. In some regions, not all channels are available. Do not change the channel unless you experience interference (shown by lost connections or slow data transfers). If this happens, experiment with different channels to see which is the best.
   When you use multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different channels to reduce interference. The recommended channel spacing between adjacent access points is four channels (for example, use Channels 1 and 5, or 6 and 10).

9. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.
   If you connected wirelessly to the network and you changed the SSID, you are disconnected from the network.

10. Make sure that you can connect wirelessly to the network with its new settings.
    If you cannot connect wirelessly, check the following:
    • Is your computer or mobile device connected to another WiFi network in your area? Some WiFi devices automatically connect to the first open network without WiFi security that they discover.
    • Is your computer or mobile device trying to connect to your network with its old settings (before you changed the settings)? If so, update the WiFi network selection in your computer or mobile device to match the current settings for your network.

Change the WiFi Mode
To change the WiFi mode settings:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the modem router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Wireless.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.

5. In the Wireless Network (2.4 GHz b/g/n) section, select a WiFi mode from the Mode menu.
   • Up to 54 Mbps. This mode allows 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b devices to join the network but limits 802.11n devices to functioning at up to 54 Mbps.
   • Up to 430 Mbps. This mode allows for reduced interference with neighboring WiFi networks. This mode allows 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b devices to join the network but limits 802.11n devices to functioning at up to 430 Mbps.
   • Up to 860 Mbps. This mode allows 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b devices to join the network and allows 802.11n devices to function at up to 860 Mbps. This mode is the default mode.

6.  In the Wireless Network (5 GHz a/n/ac) section, select a WiFi mode from the Mode menu.
   • Up to 430 Mbps. This mode allows 802.11ac, 802.11n, and 802.11a devices to join the selected WiFi network in the 5 GHz band of the network but limits 802.11ac and 802.11n devices to functioning at up to 430 Mbps.
   • Up to 860 Mbps. This mode allows for reduced interference with neighboring WiFi networks. This mode allows 802.11ac, 802.11n, and 802.11a devices to join the selected WiFi network in the 5 GHz band of the network but limits 802.11ac devices to functioning at up to 860 Mbps.
   • Up to 1801 Mbps. This mode allows 802.11ac, 802.11n, and 802.11a devices to join the selected WiFi network in the 5 GHz band of the network and allows 802.11ac devices to function at up to 1801 Mbps. This mode is the default mode.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Change the Transmission Power Control
By default, you router’s transmission power is set to 100%. This allows your router to give you whole home WiFi coverage. If you don’t need whole home WiFi coverage, and you also want to save power consumption while using your router, you can lower the transmission power of your router.
To change the transmission power control:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the modem router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Wireless.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.

5. In the Wireless Network (2.4 GHz b/g/n/ax) section, select a percentage from the
   Transmit Power Control menu.

6. In the Wireless Network (5 GHz a/n/ac/ax) section, select a percentage from the
   Transmit Power Control menu.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Change the WiFi password or the WiFi security
The WiFi password is different from the admin password that you use to log in to the router.
Your router comes with preset WPA2 or WPA security. We recommend that you use the preset security, but you can change the settings. Do not disable the preset security.
To change the WiFi password or the WiFi security:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Wireless.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.

5.  To change the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi password, enter a new password in the Password (Network Key) field.
   You must enter a phrase of 8 to 63 characters. The Password (Network Key) field displays if the WPA2-PSK [AES] or WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES] security radio button is selected.

6. To change the WiFi security for the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi network, select a Security Options radio button.
   • None. An open WiFi network that does not provide any security. Any WiFi device can join the WiFi network. We recommend that you do not use an open WiFi network.
   • WPA2-PSK [AES]. This option is the default setting. This type of security enables WiFi devices that support WPA2 to join the router’s WiFi network. If you did not change the WiFi password, the default password displays. The default password is printed on the router label.WPA2 provides a secure connection but some older WiFi devices do not detect WPA2 and support only WPA. If your network includes such older devices, select WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES] security.
   • WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES]. This type of security enables WiFi devices that support either WPA or WPA2 to join the router’s WiFi network. However, WPA-PSK [TKIP] is less secure than WPA2-PSK [AES] and limits the speed of WiFi
   devices to 54 Mbps.
   • WPA/WPA2 Enterprise. This type of security requires that your WiFi network can access a RADIUS server.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Set up a guest WiFi network
A guest network allows visitors to use the Internet without using your WiFi security password or with a different WiFi password. By default, the guest WiFi network is disabled. You can enable and configure the guest WiFi network for each WiFi band. The router simultaneously supports the 2.4 GHz band for 802.11ax, 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b devices and the 5 GHz band for 802.11ax, 802.11ac, 802.11n, and 802.11a devices.
The WiFi mode of the guest WiFi network depends on the WiFi mode of the main WiFi network. For example, if you configure the WiFi mode for the main WiFi network as Up to 54 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz band, the guest WiFi network also functions in the Up to 54 Mbps mode in the 2.4 GHz band. The channel also depends on the channel selection of the main WiFi network.
The router provides two default guest networks with the following names (SSIDs):

• 2.4 GHz guest WiFi network SSID. NETGEAR_Guest
• 5 GHz guest WiFi network SSID. NETGEAR-5G_Guest

By default, these networks are configured as open networks without security but are disabled. You can enable one or both networks. You can also change the SSIDs for these networks.
To set up a guest network:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Guest Network.
   The Guest Network Settings page displays.

5. Configure the following settings to set up a 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network:
   • Enable Guest Network. By default, the guest WiFi network is disabled. To enable the guest WiFi network for the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz WiFi band, select the Enable Guest Network check box.
   • Enable SSID Broadcast. By default, the router broadcasts the SSID of the WiFi band so that WiFi stations can detect the WiFi name (SSID) in their scanned network lists. To turn off the SSID broadcast for the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network, clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box.
   • Allow guests to see each other and access my local network. By default, WiFi clients that are connected to the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network cannot access WiFi devices or Ethernet devices that are connected to the main WiFi network. To allow access to the main WiFi network, select the Allow guests to see each other and access my local network check box.
   • Guest Wireless Network Name (SSID). The SSID is the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network name. The default 2.4 GHz SSID is NETGEAR_Guest. The default 5 GHz SSID NETGEAR-5G_Guest.
   To change the SSID, enter a 32-character (maximum), case-sensitive name in this field.

6.  Select a WiFi security option for the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network:
   • None. An open WiFi network that does not provide any security. Any WiFi device can join the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network. This is the default setting for the guest WiFi network.
   • WPA2-PSK [AES]. WPA2 provides a secure and fast connection but some older WiFi devices do not detect WPA2 and support only WPA. Select WPA2-PSK [AES] security to allow WiFi devices to connect to the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network at the fastest speed. If your network includes older devices that do not support WPA2, select WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES] security. To use WPA2 security, in the Password (Network Key) field, enter a phrase of 8 to 63 characters. To join the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network, a user must enter this password.
   • WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES]. This type of security enables WiFi devices that support either WPA or WPA2 to join the 2.4 GHz band of the guest WiFi network. However, WPA-PSK [TKIP] is less secure than WPA2-PSK [AES] and limits the speed of WiFi devices to 54 Mbps. To use WPA + WPA2 security, in the Password (Network Key) field, enter a phrase of 8 to 63 characters. To join the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz guest WiFi network, a user must enter this password.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

8. Make sure that you can reconnect over WiFi to the network with its new security settings.
   If you cannot connect over WiFi, check the following:
   • If your computer or mobile device is already connected to another WiFi network in your area, disconnect it from that WiFi network and connect it to the WiFi network that the router provides. Some WiFi devices automatically connect to the first open network without WiFi security that they discover.
   • Does your computer or mobile device display as an attached device? If it does, it is connected to the network.
   • Are you using the correct network name (SSID) and password?

Control the WiFi radios
The modem router’s internal WiFi radios broadcast signals in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ranges. By default, they are on so that you can connect over WiFi to the modem router. When the WiFi radios are off, you can still use an Ethernet cable for a LAN connection to the modem router.
You can turn the WiFi radios on and off with the WiFi On/Off button on the modem router, or you can log in to the modem router and enable or disable the WiFi radios. If you are close to the modem router, it might be easier to press its WiFi On/Off button.
If you are away from the modem router or already logged in, it might be easier to enable or disable them.
Use the WiFi On/Off button

To turn the WiFi radios off and on with the WiFi On/Off button:
Press the WiFi On/Off button on the top of the modem router for two seconds.
If you turned off the WiFi radios, the WiFi On/Off LED and the WPS LED turn off. If you turned on the WiFi radios, the WiFi On/Off LED and the WPS LED light.

Enable or disable the WiFi radios
If you used the WiFi On/Off button to turn off the WiFi radios, you can’t log in to the modem router to turn them back on. You must press the WiFi On/Off button again for two seconds to turn the WiFi radios back on.
To enable or disable the WiFi radios:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.

5. Do one of the following for your router’s WiFi networks:
   • Turn off the WiFi radio. Clear the Enable Wireless Router Radio check box.
   • Turn on the WiFi radio. Select the Enable Wireless Router Radio check box.

6.  Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Set up a WiFi schedule
You can turn off the WiFi signal from your modem router at times when you do not need a WiFi connection. For example, you might turn it off for the weekend if you leave town.
To set up the WiFi schedule:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.

5.  Click the Add a new period button.
   The page adjusts.

6. Use the menus, radio buttons, and check boxes to set up a period during which you want to turn off the WiFi signal.

7. Click the Apply button.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.

8. Select the Turn off wireless signal by schedule check box to activate the schedule.

9.  Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Specify WPS settings
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password.

To specify WPS settings:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.
   The Router’s PIN field displays the fixed PIN that you can use to configure the modem router’s WiFi settings from another device through WPS.

5. (Optional) Select or clear the Keep Existing Wireless Settings check box.
   By default, the Keep Existing Wireless Settings check box is selected. We recommend that you leave this check box selected.
   If you clear this check box, the next time a new WiFi client uses WPS to connect to the modem router, the modem router WiFi settings change to an automatically generated random SSID and security key.

6. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Enable or disable implicit beamforming
Implicit beamforming means that the modem router can use information from WiFi clients that support beamforming to improve the WiFi signal.
To enable or disable implicit beamforming:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.

5. Scroll down below the WPS Settings section and select or clear the Enable Implicit BEAMFORMING check box.
   Selecting this check box enables implicit beamforming. Clearing this check box disables implicit beamforming.

6. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.
   If you connected over WiFi to the network, you are disconnected from the network and must reconnect.
   Enable or disable airtime fairness
   Airtime fairness ensures that all WiFi clients receive equal time on the network. Network resources are divided by time, so if you have five WiFi clients, they each get one-fifth of the network time. The advantage of this feature is that your slowest WiFi clients don’t control network responsiveness. This feature is enabled by default, but you can disable it.

To enable or disable airtime fairness:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
   The Wireless Settings page displays.

5. Scroll down below the WPS Settings section and select or clear the Enable AIRTIME FAIRNESS check box.
   Selecting this check box enables airtime fairness. Clearing this check box disables airtime fairness.

6. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.
   If you connected over WiFi to the network, you are disconnected from the network and must reconnect.

Ethernet Port Aggregation
Ethernet aggregation lets aggregate two Ethernet ports on your router to improve the aggregated file transfer speed.
To set up Ethernet port aggregation, connect a device that supports Ethernet port aggregation and 802.3ad to Ethernet aggregate ports 1 and 2 on your router. Note that Ethernet port aggregation is also referred to as link aggregation, teaming port, and port trunking.
WARNING: To avoid causing broadcast looping, which can shut down your network, do not connect an unmanaged switch to Ethernet ports 1 and 2 on your router.

Set Up Ethernet Port Aggregation
If you are connecting a switch, make sure that your switch supports 802.3ad LACP.

To set up Ethernet port aggregation:

1. Set up Ethernet port aggregation on your device before connecting it to your router.
   Note: If your device supports a static link aggregation group (LAG) only, you must enable static mode before you connect your device to Ethernet ports 1 and 2 on the router. See Step 3 for more information about how to enable static mode on your router.
   For information about how to set up Ethernet port aggregation on your router or computer, see the documentation that came with your router or computer.

2. Connect your device to Ethernet ports 1 and 2 on the router.

3.  Log in to your router and enable Ethernet port aggregation:
   a. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
   b. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.
   c. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.
   d. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Ethernet Port Aggregation.
   The Ethernet Port Aggregation page displays.
   e. Select an Ethernet port aggregation mode (note that Ethernet port aggregation is disabled by default):
   • Enable (LACP-IEEE 803.3ad). The router communicates with the device connected to Ethernet ports 1 and 2 on your router, and checks to see if Ethernet port aggregation is supported on the device. If Ethernet port aggregation is supported, the router automatically trunks Ethernet ports 1 and

4. If not, Ethernet ports 1 and 2 work as independent Ethernet ports. We recommend that you select this mode unless your NAS or switch can support static LAG only.
   • Static. If your device supports a static link aggregation group (LAG) only, select this mode. Otherwise, we recommend that you to select the Enable (LACP- IEE 803.3ad) radio button instead.
   Note: You must enable static mode before you connect your device to Ethernet ports 1 and 2 on the router.
   f. Click the Apply button.

View or Change the Modem Router Ethernet Port Aggregation Mode
To view or change your modem router’s Ethernet port aggregation mode:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Ethernet Port Aggregation.
   The Ethernet Port Aggregation page displays.

5. Select an Ethernet port aggregation mode:
   • Disable. This mode is selected by default. This mode disables Ethernet port aggregation on your router. Ethernet ports 1 and 2 can be used as independent Ethernet ports.
   • Enable (LACP-IEEE 803.3ad). The router communicates with the device connected to Ethernet ports 1 and 2 on your router, and checks to see if Ethernet port aggregation is supported on the device. If Ethernet port aggregation is supported, the router automatically trunks Ethernet ports 1 and

6. If not, Ethernet ports 1 and 2 work as independent Ethernet ports. We recommend that you select this mode unless your NAS or switch can support static LAG only.
   • Static. If your device supports a static link aggregation group (LAG) only, select this mode. Otherwise, we recommend that you to select the Enable (LACP- IEE 803.3ad) radio button instead.
   Note: You must enable static mode before you connect your device to Ethernet ports 1 and 2 on the router.

Manage Your Modem Router

This chapter describes the modem router settings for administering and maintaining your modem router and home network.
The chapter contains the following sections:

• Update the router firmware
• Change the admin password
• Enable admin password recovery
• Recover the admin password
• View information about the router and the Internet and WiFi settings
• Display the statistics of the Internet port
• Check the Internet connection status
• View and manage logs of router activity
• View devices currently on the network
• View event logs
• Monitor Internet traffic
• Manage the router configuration file
• Remotely access your router using the Nighthawk app
• Disable LED blinking or turn off LEDs
• Set your time zone
• Set the NTP Server
• Specify ReadyDLNA media server settings
• Return the router to its factory default settings

Update the router firmware
You can log in to the modem router and check if new firmware is available, or you can manually load a specific firmware version to your modem router.
Check for new firmware and update the router
The modem router firmware (routing software) is stored in flash memory. You might see a message at the top of the modem router pages when new firmware is available. You can respond to that message to update the firmware or you can check to see if new firmware is available and update your product.
Note: We recommend that you connect a computer to the modem router using an Ethernet connection to update the firmware.
To check for new firmware and update your modem router:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Administration > Router Update.
   The Router Update page displays.

5. Click the Check button.
   The modem router finds new firmware information if any is available and displays a message asking if you want to download and install it.

6.  Click the Yes button.
   The modem router locates and downloads the firmware and begins the update.
   WARNING: To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the update. For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not turn off the router.

When the upload is complete, your modem router restarts. The update process typically takes about one minute. Read the new firmware release notes to find out if you must reconfigure the modem router after updating.
Manually upload firmware to the router
If you want to upload a specific firmware version, or your modem router fails to update its firmware automatically, follow these instructions.
Note: We recommend that you connect a computer to the modem router using an Ethernet connection to upload the firmware.

To manually upload a firmware file to your modem router:

1. Download the firmware for your router from the NETGEAR Download Center, save it to your desktop, and unzip the file if needed.
   Note: The correct firmware file uses an .img or .chk extension.

2. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to the router network.

3.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

4. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

5.  Select ADVANCED > Administration > Router Update.
   The Router Update page displays.

6. Click the Browse button.

7. Find and select the firmware file on your computer.

8. Click the Upload button.
   The modem router begins the upload.
   Note: To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the update. For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not turn off the router. Wait until the router finishes restarting. If your modem router does not reboot, check the Router Status page to confirm whether the new firmware version uploaded.

Change the admin password
The admin password is the one you specified the first time you logged in. You can change this password.
Note: The ideal password contains no dictionary words from any language and contains uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and symbols. It can be up to 30 characters.
To change the password for the admin user name:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
   The Set Password page displays.

5. Type the old password in the Old Password field.

6.  Type the new password in the Set Password and Repeat New Password fields.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Enable admin password recovery
The modem router admin password is used to log in to your router web interface. We  recommend that you enable password recovery so that you can recover the password if it is forgotten. This recovery process is supported in Internet Explorer, Firefox, and Chrome browsers but not in the Safari browser.
To enable password recovery:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
   The Set Password page displays.

5.  Select the Enable Password Reset check box.

6. Select two security questions and provide answers to them.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Recover the admin password
If you set up the password recovery feature, you can recover your modem router admin password.
To recover your router admin password:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the modem router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Click the Cancel button.
   If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to enter the serial number of the modem router.
   The serial number is on the router label.

4. Enter the serial number of the modem router.

5. Click the Continue button.
   A window opens requesting the answers to your security questions.

6. Enter the saved answers to your security questions.

7. Click the Continue button.
   A window opens and displays your recovered password.

8. Click the Login again button.
   A login window opens.

9. With your recovered password, log in to the modem router.

View information about the router and the Internet and WiFi settings
You can view router information, the Internet port status, and WiFi settings.
To view information about the router and the Internet, modem, and WiFi settings:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
   The ADVANCED Home page displays.
   The information on this page uses the following color coding:
   • A green icon indicates that the Internet connection is fine and no problems exist.
   For a WiFi network, the network is enabled and secured.
   • A red icon indicates that configuration problems exist for the Internet connection or the connection is down. For a WiFi network, the network is disabled or down.
   • An amber icon indicates that the Internet port is configured but cannot get an Internet connection (for example, because the cable is disconnected), that a WiFi network is enabled but unprotected, or that another situation that requires your attention occurred.

Display the statistics of the Internet port
To display the statistics of the Internet port:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
   The ADVANCED Home page displays.

5. In the Internet Port pane, click the Show Statistics button.
   The Show Statistics window opens and displays following information:
   • System Up Time. The time elapsed since the modem router was last restarted.
   • Port. The statistics for the WAN (Internet) port, LAN (Ethernet) ports, and WLANs.
   For each port, the window displays the following information:
   – Status. The link status of the port.
   – TxPkts. The number of packets transmitted on this port since the router was last started.
   – RxPkts. The number of packets received on this port since the router was last started.
   – Collisions. The number of collisions on this port since the router was last started.
   – Tx B/s. The current transmission (outbound) bandwidth used on the WAN and LAN ports.
   – Rx B/s. The current reception (inbound) bandwidth used on the WAN and LAN ports.
   – Up Time. The time elapsed since this port acquired the link.
   – Poll Interval. The interval at which the statistics are updated on this page.

6. To change the polling frequency, enter a time in seconds in the Poll Interval field and click the Set Interval button.
   To stop the polling entirely, click the Stop button.

Check the Internet connection status
To check the Internet connection status:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
   The ADVANCED Home page displays.

5. In the Internet Port pane, click the Connection Status button.
   The Connection Status window opens. The information that displays depends on the type of Internet connection.
   For example, if your Internet connection does not require a login and the router receives an IP address automatically, the window displays the following information:
   • IP Address. The IP address that is assigned to the modem router.
   • Subnet Mask. The subnet mask that is assigned to the modem router.
   • Default Gateway. The IP address for the default gateway that the modem router communicates with.
   • DHCP Server. The IP address for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server that provides the TCP/IP configuration for all the computers that are connected to the modem router.
   • DNS Server. The IP address of the Domain Name Service server that providestranslation of network names to IP addresses.
   • Lease Obtained. The date and time when the lease was obtained.
   • Lease Expires. The date and time that the lease expires.

6. To release (stop) the Internet connection, click the Release button.

7. To renew (restart) the Internet connection, click the Renew button.

8.  To exit the screen, click the Close Window button.

View and manage logs of router activity
The logs are a detailed record of the websites you accessed or attempted to access and many other router actions. Up to 256 entries are stored in the log.
To view and manage logs:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Logs.
   The Logs page displays and shows information such as the following:
   • Action. The action that occurred, such as whether Internet access was blocked or allowed.
   • Source IP. The IP address of the initiating device for the log entry.
   • Target address. The name or IP address of the website or news group visited or to which access was attempted.
   • Date and time. The date and time the log entry was recorded.
   Other information might be displayed.

5.  To customize the logs, scroll down and clear or select the check boxes in the Include in Log section.

6.  To refresh the log screen, click the Refresh button.

7. To clear the log entries, click the Clear Log button.

8. To email the log immediately, click the Send Log button.
   You must set up email notifications in order to receive the logs. The router to emails the logs to the address that you specified when you set up email notifications. For more information, see Set up security event email notifications on page ?.

9. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

View devices currently on the network
You can view all computers and devices that are currently connected to your network.
To view devices on the network:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Attached Devices.
   The following information is displayed:
   • Connection Type. Wired or the WiFi band for the connection.
   • Device Name. If the device name is known, it is shown here.
   • IP Address. The IP address that the router assigned to this device when it joined the network. This address can change if a device is disconnected and rejoins the network.
   • MAC Address. The unique MAC address for each device does not change. The MAC address is typically shown on the product label of the device.

5.  To update this page, click the Refresh button.

View event logs
Event log captures inportant modem router events.

To view the event log:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Administration > Event Log.
   The Event Log page displays the following information:
   • Time. The time the event was recorded.
   • Priority. The severity for this event.
   • Description. A description of this event.

5.  To refresh the page, click the Refresh button.

6.  To clear the log entries, click the Clear Log button.

Monitor Internet traffic
Traffic metering allows you to monitor the volume of Internet traffic that passes through the modem router Internet port. You can set limits for traffic volume.
To monitor Internet traffic:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter.
   The Traffic Meter page displays.

5.  Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box.

6.  To control the volume of Internet traffic, use either the traffic volume control feature or the connection time control feature:
   • Select the Traffic volume control by radio button and then select one of the following options:
   • No Limit. No restriction is applied when the traffic limit is reached.
   • Download only. The restriction is applied to incoming traffic only.
   • Both Directions. The restriction is applied to both incoming and outgoing traffic.
   • Select the Connection time control radio button and enter the allowed hours in the Monthly limit field.

7.  If your ISP charges for extra data volume when you make a new connection, enter the extra data volume in MB in the Round up data volume for each connection by field.

8. In the Traffic Counter section, set the traffic counter to begin at a specific time and date.
   To start the traffic counter immediately, click the Restart Counter Now button.

9. In the Traffic Control section, specify whether the router should issue a warning message before the monthly limit of Mbytes or hours is reached. By default, the value is 0 and no warning message is issued. You can select one of the following to occur when the limit is attained:
   • The Online LED blinks white or amber.
   • The Internet connection is disconnected and disabled.

10.  Click the Apply button.
    The Internet Traffic Statistics section helps you to monitor the data traffic.

11. To update the Traffic Statistics section, click the Refresh button.

12.  To display more information about the data traffic on your router and to change the poll interval, click the Traffic Status button.

Manage the router configuration file
The configuration settings of the modem router are stored within the modem router in a configuration file. You can back up (save) this file to your computer, restore it, or reset it to the factory default settings.

Back up the settings
To back up the modem router’s configuration settings:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
   The Backup Settings page displays.

5. Click the Back Up button.

6. Follow the direction of your browser to save the file.
   A copy of the current settings is saved in the location that you specified.

Erase the settings
CAUTION: This process erases all settings that you configured in the router.
To erase the settings:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
   The Backup Settings page displays.

5.  Click the Erase button.

The configuration is reset to factory default settings. When the reset is complete, the router restarts. This process takes about two minutes.
WARNING: To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the reset. For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not turn off the router. Wait until the router finishes restarting.

Restore the settings
To restore configuration settings that you backed up:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
   The Backup Settings page displays.

5. Click the Browse button to find and select the .cfg file.

6. Click the Restore button.
   The file is uploaded to the modem router and the modem router restarts.
   WARNING: Do not interrupt the restoration process.

Remotely access your router using the Nighthawk app
You can use the Nighthawk app to remotely access your router and change its settings. Before you can use remote access with the Nighthawk app, you must update your router’s firmware and download the latest Nighthawk app for your mobile device. For more information about how to update your router’s firmware, see Check for new firmware and update the router on page 63.To download the latest Nighthawk app for your mobile device, visit https://www.netgear.com/home/apps-services/nighthawk-app/.

Disable LED blinking or turn off LEDs
The LEDs on the top panel of the modem router indicate activities and behavior. You can disable LED blinking for network communications, or turn off all LEDs except the Power LED.
To disable LED blinking or turn off the LEDs:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > LED Control Settings.
   The LED Control Settings page displays.

5. To disable blinking, select the Disable blinking on Online LED, LAN LED, Wireless
   LED and USB LED when data traffic is detected radio button.

6.  To turn off all LEDs except the Power LED, select the Turn off all LEDs except Power
   LED radio button.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Set your time zone
To set your time zone:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.
   2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

2. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

3. Select ADVANCED > Administration > NTP Settings.
   The NTP Settings page displays.

4. Select your time zone from the menu.

5.  If you live in a region that observes daylight saving time, select the Automatically adjust for daylight savings time check box.

6. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Set the NTP Server
By default, the router uses the NETGEAR NTP server to sync the network time. You can change the NTP server to your preferred NTP server.
To set the NTP server:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the
   router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > NTP Settings.
   The NTP Settings page displays.

5.  Select an NTP server radio button:
   • Use the default NETGEAR NTP server
   • Set your preferred NTP server

6.  If you selected the Set your preferred NTP server radio button, enter the NTP server domain name or IP address in the Primary NTP server field.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Specify ReadyDLNA media server settings
By default, the router acts as a ReadyDLNA media server, which lets you view movies and photos on DLNA/UPnP AV-compliant media players, such as Xbox360, Playstation, and NETGEAR media players.
To specify media server settings:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage > Media Server.
   The Media Server (Settings) page displays.

5. Specify the settings:
   • Enable Media Server. Select this check box to enable this device to act as a media server.
   • Media Server Name. Click the Click here to change the Device name link to
   change the modem router’s media server name.
   Note: If you change the media server name, you can also change the ReadySHARE storage folder access path to the new name or keep the access path as \\readyshare .

6.  Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Return the router to its factory default settings
Under some circumstances (for example, if you lost track of the changes that you made to the router settings or you move the router to a different network), you might want to erase the configuration and reset the router to factory default settings.
To reset the router to factory default settings, you can use either the Reset button on the back of the router or the Erase function.
After you reset the router to factory default settings, the user name is admin, the password is password, the LAN IP address is 192.168.1.1 (which is the same as www.routerlogin.net), and the DHCP server is enabled.
Tip: If the router is in bridge mode, you can access it by LAN IP address 192.168.100.1.
Use the Reset button
CAUTION: This process erases all settings that you configured in the router.
To reset the router to factory default settings:

1. On the back of the router, locate the Reset button.
2.  Using a straightened paper clip, press and hold the Reset button for at least five seconds.
3. Release the Reset button.
   The Power LED starts blinking. When the reset is complete, the router restarts. This process takes about two minutes.
   WARNING: To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the reset.
   For example, if you are connected to the router web interface, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not turn off the router. Wait until the router finishes restarting.

Erase the settings
CAUTION: This process erases all settings that you configured in the router.

To erase the settings:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
   The Backup Settings page displays.

5. Click the Erase button.
   The configuration is reset to factory default settings. When the reset is complete, the router restarts. This process takes about two minutes.
   WARNING: To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the reset.
   For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load a new page. Do not turn off the router. Wait until the router finishes restarting.

Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Modem Router

This chapter describes how to access and manage storage devices attached to your modem router. ReadySHARE lets you access and share USB storage devices connected to the router. (If your storage device uses special drivers, it is not compatible.)
Note: You can use a USB port on the modem router to connect a USB storage device like a flash drive or hard drive. Do not connect a computer, USB modem, CD drive, or DVD drive to a USB port on the modem router.
The chapter contains the following sections:

•  USB device requirements
• Connect a USB storage device to the router
• Access a storage device connected to the router from a Windows-based computer
• Map a USB device to a Windows network drive
• Access a storage device that is connected to the router from a Mac
• Enable FTP access within your network
• View network folders on a storage device
• Add a network folder on a USB storage device
• Edit a network folder on a USB storage device
• Safely remove a USB storage device

For more information about ReadySHARE features, visit netgear.com/readyshare.

USB device requirements
The modem router works with most USB-compliant external flash and hard drives. For the most up-to-date list of USB devices that the modem router supports, visit kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18985/~/readyshare-usb-drives- compatibility-list.
Some USB external hard drives and flash drives require you to load the drivers onto the computer before the computer can access the USB storage device. Such USB storage devices do not work with the modem router.
The modem router supports the following file system types for full read/write access:

• FAT16
• FAT32
• NTFS
• NTFS with compression format enabled
• Ext2
• Ext3
• Ext4
• HFS
• HFS+

Connect a USB storage device to the router
ReadySHARE lets you access and share USB storage devices that are connected to a  USB port on the modem router. (If your USB storage device uses special drivers, it isnot compatible.)
To connect a USB device:

1. Insert your USB storage device into a USB port on the modem router.
2. If your USB storage device uses a power supply, connect it.

You must use the power supply when you connect the USB storage device to the modem router.
When you connect the USB storage device to the router USB port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).

Access a storage device connected to the router from a Windows-based computer

To access the USB storage device from a Windows-based computer:

1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your modem router.

2.  If your USB storage device uses a power supply, connect it.
   You must use the power supply when you connect the USB storage device to the router.
   When you connect the USB storage device to the modem router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).

3.  Select Start > Run.

4. Enter \\readyshare in the dialog box.

5. Click the OK button.
   A window automatically opens and displays the files and folders on the USB storage device.

Map a USB device to a Windows network drive

To map the USB storage device to a Windows network drive:

1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your modem router.

2. If your USB storage device uses a power supply, connect it.
   You must use the power supply when you connect the USB storage device to the router.
   When you connect the USB storage device to the modem router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).

3.  Select Start > Run.

4.  Enter \\readyshare in the dialog box.

5.  Click the OK button.
   A window automatically opens and displays the USB storage device.

6. Right-click the USB device and select Map network drive.
   The Map Network Drive window opens.

7. Select the drive letter to map to the new network folder.

8.  Click the Finish button.
   The USB storage device is mapped to the drive letter that you specified.

9.  To connect to the USB storage device as a different user, select the Connect using different credentials check box, click the Finish button, and do the following:
   a. Type the user name and password.
   b. Click the OK button.

Access a storage device that is connected to the router from a Mac
From a computer or device on the network, you can access a storage device that is connected to the modem router.
To access the device from a Mac:

1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your modem router.

2. If your USB storage device uses a power supply, connect it.
   You must use the power supply when you connect the USB storage device to the router.
   When you connect the USB storage device to the modem router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).

3. On a Mac that is connected to the network, select Go > Connect to Server.
   The Connect to Server window opens.

4. In the Server Address field, enter smb://readyshare.

5.  When prompted, select the Guest radio button.
   If you set up access control on the modem router and you allowed your Mac to access the network, select the Registered User radio button and enter admin for the name and router admin password for the password. For more information about access control, see Enable access control to allow or block access to the Internet on page?.

6.  Click the Connect button.
   A window automatically opens and displays the files and folders on the USB storage device.

Enable FTP access within your network
File Transfer Protocol (FTP) lets you download (receive) and upload (send) large files faster.
To enable FTP access within your network:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
   The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.

5.  Select the FTP check box.

6.  Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

View network folders on a storage device
You can view network folders on a storage device that is connected to the modem router.
To view network folders:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Scroll down to the Available Networks Folder section to view the following settings:
   • Share Name. If only one USB device is connected, the default share name is USB_Storage.
   You can click the name or you can type it in the address field of your web browser.
   If Not Shared is shown, the default share was deleted and no other share for the root folder exists.
   • Read Access and Write Access. The permissions and access controls on the network folder. All–no password (the default) allows all users to access the network folder. The password for admin is the same one that you use to log in to the modem router.
   • Folder Name. The full path of the network folder.
   • Volume Name. The volume name from the storage device.
   • Total Space and Free Space. The current utilization of the storage device.

Add a network folder on a USB storage device

You can add network folders on a USB storage device connected to a modem router USB port.
To add a network folder:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
   The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.

5. In the Available Network Folders section, select the USB storage device.
   If a single device is attached to the USB port, the radio button is selected automatically.

6. Click the Create Network Folder button.
   The Add Folder window opens.
   If this window does not open, your web browser might be blocking pop-ups. If it is, change the browser settings to allow pop-ups.

7.  From the USB Device menu, select the USB drive.
   Note: We recommend that you do not attach more than one drive to one USB port (for example, through a USB hub).

8.  Click the Browse button and in the Folder field, select the folder.

9. In the Share Name field, type the name of the share.

10. From the Read Access menu and the Write Access menu, select the settings that you want.
    All–no password (the default) allows all users to access the network folder. The other option is that only the admin user is allowed access to the network folder. The password for admin is the same one that you use to log in to the router.

11. Click the Apply button.
    The folder is added on the USB storage device.

12. Click the Close Window button.
    The window closes.

Edit a network folder on a USB storage device
You can edit network folders on a USB storage devices connected to a modem router USB port.
To edit a network folder:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
   The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.

5.  In the Available Network Folders section, select the USB storage device.

6. Click the Edit button.
   The Edit Network Folder window opens.

7.  Change the settings in the fields as needed.

8.  Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Safely remove a USB storage device
Before you physically disconnect a USB storage device from the modem router USB port, log in to the modem router and take the USB storage device offline.
To remove a USB storage device safely:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
   The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.

5. In the Available Network Folders sections, select the USB storage device.

6. Click the Safely Remove USB Device button.
   This takes the device offline.

7. Physically disconnect the USB storage device.

Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet

With Dynamic DNS, you can use the Internet to access USB devices attached to the router’s USB ports when you’re not home.
This chapter contains the following sections:

• Set up and manage Dynamic DNS
• Set up FTP access through the Internet
• Your personal FTP server
• Access USB storage devices through the Internet

Set up and manage Dynamic DNS
Internet service providers (ISPs) assign numbers called IP addresses to identify each Internet account. Most ISPs use dynamically assigned IP addresses. This means that the IP address can change at any time. You can use the IP address to access your network
remotely, but most people don’t know what their IP addresses are or when this number changes.
To make it easier to connect, you can get a free account with a Dynamic DNS service that lets you use a domain name to access your home network. To use this account, you must set up the router to use Dynamic DNS. Then the router notifies the Dynamic DNS
service provider whenever its IP address changes. When you access your Dynamic DNS account, the service finds the current IP address of your home network and automatically connects you.
If your ISP assigns a private WAN IP address (such as 192.168.x.x or 10.x.x.x), the Dynamic DNS service does not work because private addresses are not routed on the Internet.

Set up FTP access through the Internet
To set up FTP access:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > USB Functions > ReadySHARE Storage.
   The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays.

5. Select the FTP (via Internet) check box.

6. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

7. To limit access to the admin user, select a device in the Available Network Folder’s section.
   If only one device is connected, it is automatically selected.

8. Click the Edit button.
   The Edit page displays.

9.  In the Read Access menu, select admin.

10. In the Write Access menu, select admin.

11. Click the Apply button.
    Your settings are saved.

Your personal FTP server
With your customized free URL, you can use FTP to access your network when you aren’t home through Dynamic DNS. To set up your FTP server, you must register for a NETGEARDynamic DNS (DDNS) service account and specify the account settings. See Set up a new Dynamic DNS account on page 94.
Note: The router supports only basic DDNS, and the login and password might not be secure. You can use DDNS with a VPN tunnel for a secure connection.

Set up your personal FTP server
To set up your personal account and use FTP:

1.  Get your NETGEAR Dynamic DNS domain name.
   For more information, see Set up a new Dynamic DNS account on page 94.

2. Make sure that your Internet connection is working.
   Your router must use a direct Internet connection. It cannot connect to a different router to access the Internet.

3.  Connect a storage device to the router.

4. If your USB storage device uses a power supply, connect it.
   You must use the power supply when you connect the USB storage device to the router.
   When you connect the USB storage device to the router USB port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN).

5. Set up FTP access in the router.
   See Set up FTP access through the Internet on page 92.

6. On a remote computer with Internet access, you can use FTP to access your router using ftp://yourname.mynetgear.com.

Set up a new Dynamic DNS account
To set up Dynamic DNS and register for a free NETGEAR account:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS.
   The Dynamic DNS page displays.

5.  Select the Use a Dynamic DNS Service check box.

6. From the Service Provider menu, select NETGEAR.
   You can select another service provider.

7. Select the No radio button.

8.  In the Host Name field, type the name that you want to use for your URL.
   The host name is sometimes called the domain name. Your free URL includes the host name that you specify and ends with mynetgear.com. For example, specify MyName.mynetgear.com.

9. In the Email field, type the email address for your account.

10. In the Password (6-32 characters) field, type the password for your account.

11. Click the Register button.

12. Follow the onscreen instructions to register for your NETGEAR Dynamic DNS service.

Specify a DNS account that you already created
If you already created a Dynamic DNS account with NETGEAR, No-IP, or DynDNS, you can set up the router to use your account.

To set up Dynamic DNS if you already created an account:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS.
   The Dynamic DNS page displays.

5.  Select the Use a Dynamic DNS Service check box.

6. From the Service Provider menu, select your provider.

7. Select the Yes radio button.
   The page adjusts and displays the Show Status, Cancel, and Apply buttons.

8. In the Host Name field, type the host name (sometimes called the domain name) for your account.

9. Depending on the type of service, specify either the user name of the email address:
   • No-IP account or DynDNS account. In the User Name field, type the user name for your account.
   • NETGEAR account. In the Email field, type the email address for your account.

10.  In the Password (6-32 characters) field, type the password for your DDNS account.

11. Click the Apply button.
    Your settings are saved.

12. To verify that your Dynamic DNS service is enabled in the router, click the Show Status button.
    A message displays the Dynamic DNS status.

Change the Dynamic DNS settings
You can change the settings for your Dynamic DNS account.

To change your settings:

1.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS.
   The Dynamic DNS page displays.

5. Change your DDNS account settings as necessary.

6.  Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Access USB storage devices through the Internet
You can access USB storage devices through the Internet when you’re not home.
To access devices from a remote computer:
1. Launch a web browser on a computer that is not on your home network.
2. Connect to your home router:
• To connect with Dynamic DNS, type the DNS name.
To use a Dynamic DNS account, you must enter the account information on the Dynamic DNS page. See Set up and manage Dynamic DNS on page 92.
• To connect without Dynamic DNS, type the router’s Internet port IP address.
You can view the router’s Internet IP address on the BASIC Home page.
You can use FTP to share files on a USB device connected to the router.

Use VPN to Access Your Network

You can use OpenVPN software to remotely access your router using virtual private networking (VPN). This chapter explains how to set up and use VPN access.
The chapter contains the following sections:

• Set up a VPN connection
•  Specify VPN Service in the Router
• Install OpenVPN Software
• Use a VPN Tunnel on Your Windows Computer
• Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media
• Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home

Set up a VPN connection
A virtual private network (VPN) lets you use the Internet to securely access your network when you aren’t home. This type of VPN access is called a client- to-gateway tunnel. The computer is the client, and the router is the gateway. To use the VPN feature, you must log in to the modem router and enable VPN, and you must install and run VPN client software on the  computer. VPN uses DDNS or a static IP address to connect with your modem router. To use a DDNS service, register for an account with a host name (sometimes called a domain name). You use the host name to access your network. The modem router supports these accounts: NETGEAR, No-IP, and Dyn. If your Internet service provider (ISP) assigned a static WAN IP address (such as 50.196.x.x or 10.x.x.x) that never changes to your Internet account, the VPN can use that IP address to connect to your home network.

Specify VPN Service in the Router
You must specify the VPN service settings in the router before you can use a VPN connection.
To specify the VPN service:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
   The VPN page displays.

5.  Select the Enable VPN Service check box.
   By default, the VPN uses the UDP service type and uses port 12974. If you want to customize the service type and port, we recommend that you change these settings before you install the OpenVPN software.

6. To change the service type, scroll down and select the TCP radio button.

7. To change the port, scroll down to the Service Port field, and type the port number that you want to use.

8.  Click the Apply button.
   Your changes are saved. VPN is enabled in the modem router, but you must install and set up OpenVPN software on your computer before you can use a VPN connection.

Install OpenVPN Software
You must install this software on each Windows computer, Mac computer, iOS device, or Android device that you plan to use for VPN connections to your modem router.
Install OpenVPN Software on Your Windows Computer
You must install this software on each Windows computer that you plan to use for VPN connections to your modem router.

To install VPN client software on your Windows computer:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
   The VPN Service page displays.

5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected.

6.  Specify any VPN service settings on the page.
   For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 98.

7. Click the For Windows button to download the OpenVPN configuration files.

8.  Visit openvpn.net/index.php/download/community-downloads.html to download the OpenVPN client utility.

9. In the Windows Installer section of the page, double-click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe link.

10. Download and install the Open VPN software on your computer, click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe file.
    

11. Click the Next button.

12.  Read the License Agreement and click the I Agree button.
    

13. Leave the check boxes selected as shown, and click the Next button.

14. To specify the destination folder, click the Browse button and select a destination folder.
    

15. Click the Install button.
    The window displays the progress of the installation and then displays the final installation page.
    

16. Click the Finish button.

17.  Unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and copy them to the folder where the VPN client is installed on your device.
    For a client device with Windows 64-bit system, the VPN client is installed at C:\Program files\OpenVPN\config\ by default.

18.  For a client device with Windows, modify the VPN interface name to NETGEAR-VPN:
    a. On your computer, go to the Networks page. If you are using Windows 10, select Control Panel > Network and Sharing Center > Change adapter settings.
    b. In the local area connection list, find the local area connection with the device name TAP-Windows Adapter.
    c. Select the local area connection and change its name (not its device name) to NETGEAR-VPN.
    If you do not change the VPN interface name, the VPN tunnel connection will fail.
    For more information about using OpenVPN on your Windows computer, visit https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html#quick.

Install OpenVPN Software on Your Mac Computer
You must install this software on each Mac computer that you plan to use for VPN connections to your modem router.

To install VPN client software on your Mac computer:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
   The VPN Service page displays.

5.  Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected.

6. Specify any VPN service settings on the page.
   For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 98.

7. Click the For non-Windows button to download the OpenVPN configuration files.

8. Visit https://tunnelblick.net/index.html to download the OpenVPN client utility for Mac OS X.

9.  Download and install the file.

10. Unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and copy them to the folder where the VPN client is installed on your device.
    The client utility must ge installed by a user with administrative priviledges.
    For more information about using OpenVPN on your Mac computer, visit
    https://openvpn.net/vpn-server-resources/installation-guide-for-openvpn- connect-client-on-macos/.

Install OpenVPN Software on an iOS Device
You must install this software on each iOS device that you plan to use for VPN connections to your router.
To install VPN client software on an iOS device:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
   The VPN Service page displays.

5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected.

6. Specify any VPN service settings on the page.
   For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 98.

7. Click the For Smart Phone button to download the OpenVPN configuration files.

8. On your iOS device, download and install the OpenVPN Connect app from the Apple app store.

9. On your computer, unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and send the files to your iOS device.
   Note that when you open the .ovpn file, a list of apps displays. Select the OpenVPN Connect app to open the .ovpn file.
   For more information about using OpenVPN on your iOS device, visit
   http://www.vpngate.net/en/howto_openvpn.aspx#ios.

Install OpenVPN Software on an Android Device
You must install this software on each Android device that you plan to use for VPN connections to your modem router.

To install VPN client software on an Android device:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
   The VPN Service page displays.

5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected.

6.  Specify any VPN service settings on the page.
   For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 98.

7.  Click the For Smart Phone button to download the OpenVPN configuration files.

8. On your Android device, download and install the OpenVPN Connect app from the
   Google Play Store.

9.  On your computer, unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and send the
   files to your Android device.

10.  Open the files on your Android device.

11. Open the .ovpn file using the OpenVPN Connect app.
    For more information about using OpenVPN on your Android device, visit
    http://www.vpngate.net/en/howto_openvpn.aspx#android.

Use a VPN Tunnel on Your Windows Computer

After you set up the modem router to use VPN and install the OpenVPN application on  your computer, you can open a VPN tunnel from your computer to your modem routerover the Internet.
For the VPN tunnel to work, the local LAN IP address of the remote modem router must use a different LAN IP scheme from that of the local LAN where your VPN client computer is connected. If both networks use the same LAN IP scheme, when the VPN tunnel is established, you cannot access your home router or your home network with the OpenVPN software. The default LAN IP address scheme for the modem router is 192.x.x.x. The most common IP schemes are 192.x.x.x, 172.x.x.x, and 10.x.x.x. If you experience a conflict, change the IP scheme either for your home network or for the network with the client VPN computer. For information about changing these settings, see Change the LAN TCP/IP settings on page ?.

To open a VPN tunnel:

1. Launch the OpenVPN application with administrator privileges.
   The OpenVPN icon displays in the Windows taskbar.
   Tip: You can create a shortcut to the VPN program, then use the shortcut to access  the settings and select the run as administrator check box.Then every time you usethis shortcut, OpenVPN automatically runs with administrator privileges.

2. Right-click the OpenVPN icon.

3. Select Connect.
   The VPN connection is established. You can do the following:
   • Launch a web browser and log in to your modem router.
   • Use Windows file manager to access the modem router’s USB device and download files.

Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Device and Media

To access a USB device and download files from your Windows-based computer using VPN:

1. On your Windows-based computer, open the Windows file manager and select Network.
   Note: See your computer’s documentation for information about how to display the network resources.
   The network resources display. The ReadySHARE icon displays in the Computer section and the remote router icon displays in the Media Devices section (if DLNA is enabled in the modem router).

2. If the icons do not display, click the Refresh button to update the window.
   If the local LAN and the remote LAN are using the same IP scheme, the remote modem router icon does not display in the Media Devices and Network Infrastructure sections.

3.  To access the USB device, click the ReadySHARE icon.

4. To access media on the modem router’s network, click the remote modem router icon.

Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home

When you’re away from home and you access the Internet, you usually use a local Internet service provider. For example, at a coffee shop you might be given a code that lets you use the coffee shop’s Internet service account to surf the web.
Nighthawk lets you use a VPN connection to access your own Internet service when you’re away from home. You might want to do this if you travel to a geographic location that doesn’t support all the Internet services that you use at home. For example, your Netflix account might work at home but not in a different country.
Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Modem Router
By default, the router is set up to allow VPN connections only to your home network, but you can change the settings to allow Internet access. Accessing the Internet remotely through a VPN might be slower than accessing the Internet directly.
To allow VPN clients to use your home Internet service:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
   The VPN page displays.

5. Select the Enable VPN Service radio button.

6. Scroll down to the Clients will use this VPN connection to access section, and select the All sites on the Internet & Home Network radio button.
   When you access the Internet with the VPN connection, instead of using a local Internet service, you use the Internet service from your home network.

7. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

8. Click the For Windows or For Non Windows button and download the configuration files for your VPN clients.

9. Unzip the configuration files and copy them to the folder where the VPN client is installed on your device.
   For a client device with Windows 64-bit system, the VPN client is installed at C:\Program files\OpenVPN\config\ by default.

Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router
By default, the router is set up to allow VPN connections only to your home network, not to the Internet service for your home network. If you changed this setting to allow Internet access, you can change it back.

To allow VPN clients to access only your home network:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the modem router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service.
   The VNP page displays.

5. Select the Enable VPN Service radio button.

6. Scroll down to the Clients will use this VPN connection to access section, and select the Home Network only radio button.
   This is the default setting. The VPN connection is only to your home network, not to the Internet service for your home network.

7.  Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

8.  Click For Windows or For Non Windows button and download the configuration files for your VPN clients.

9.  Unzip the configuration files and copy them to the folder where the VPN client is installed on your device.
   For a client device with Windows 64-bit system, the VPN client is installed at C:\Program files\OpenVPN\config\ by default.

Use a VPN Tunnel to Access Your Internet Service at Home
To access your Internet service:

1. Set up the router to allow VPN access to your Internet service.
   See Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Modem Router on page 107.

2. On your computer, launch the OpenVPN application.
   The OpenVPN icon displays in the Windows taskbar.

3. Right-click the icon and select Connect.

4. When the VPN connection is established, launch your Internet browser.

Manage Port Forwarding and Port Triggering

You can use port forwarding and port triggering to set up rules for Internet traffic. You need networking knowledge to set up these features.
This chapter contains the following sections:

• Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server
• Port Triggering

Manage Port Forwarding to a Local Server
If your home network includes a server, you can allow certain types of incoming traffic  to reach the server. For example, you might want to make a local web server, FTP server, or game server visible and available to the Internet.
The router can forward incoming traffic with specific protocols to computers on your local network.You can specify the servers for applications and you can also specify a default DMZ server to which the router forwards all other incoming protocols.

Set Up Port Forwarding to a Local Server
To forward specific incoming protocols:

1. Decide which type of service, application, or game you want to provide.

2. Find the local IP address of the computer on your network that will provide the service.
   The server computer must always use the same IP address.

3.  Assign the server computer a reserved IP address.
   See Manage reserved LAN IP addresses on page 44.

4.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

5. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

6.  Enter the router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

7. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering.
   The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.

8. Leave the Port Forwarding radio button selected as the service type.

9.  From the Service Name menu, select the service name.
   If the service that you want to add is not in the menu, create a custom service. See Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service on page 112.

10. In the Server IP Address field, enter the IP address of the computer that will provide the service.

11.  Click the Add button.
    The service displays in the menu.

Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service
The router lists default services and applications that you can use in port forwarding  rules. If the service or application is not predefined, you can add a port forwarding rulewith a custom service or application.

To add a custom service:

1.  Find out which port number or range of numbers the application uses.
   You can usually find this information by contacting the publisher of the application or user groups or news groups.

2.  Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

3. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

4. Enter the router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

5.  Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering.
   The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.

6.  Leave the Port Forwarding radio button selected as the service type.

7.  Click the Add Custom Service button.
   The Ports – Custom Service page displays.

8. In the Service Name field, enter a descriptive name.

9.  From the Protocol menu, select the protocol.
   If you are unsure, select TCP/UDP.

10.  In the External port range field enter the port range.

11.  Specify the internal ports by one of these methods:
    • Leave the Use the same port range for Internal port check box selected.
    • Type the port numbers in the Internal Starting Port field and the Internal Ending Port field.
    You can enter a port range and fixed ports in one rule, for example, external (30–50,  78, 100–102), internal (40–60, 99, 200–202). With this rule, external ports 30–50 are forwarded to internal ports 40–60.

12.  In the Internal IP address field, type the IP address or select the radio button for an attached device listed in the table.

13. Click the Apply button.
    The service is now in the list on the Port Forwarding/Port Triggering page.

Edit a Port Forwarding Service
To edit a port forwarding entry:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering.
   The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.

5. Leave the Port Forwarding radio button selected as the service type.

6. In the table, select the radio button next to the service name.

7.  Click the Edit Service button.
   The Ports – Custom Services page displays.

8. Change the settings as needed.

9. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Delete a Port Forwarding Entry
To delete a port forwarding entry:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3. Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering.
   The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.

5. Leave the Port Forwarding radio button selected.

6. In the table, select the radio button next to the service name.

7.  Click the Delete Service button.
   The service is deleted.

Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public
If you host a web server on your local network, you can use port forwarding to allow web requests from anyone on the Internet to reach your web server.
To make a local web server public:

1. Assign your web server either a fixed IP address or a dynamic IP address using DHCP address reservation.
   In this example, your router always gives your web server an IP address of 192.168.1.33.

2.  On the Port Forwarding/Port Triggering page, configure the router to forward the HTTP service to the local address of your web server at 192.168.1.33.
   HTTP (port 80) is the standard protocol for web servers.

3. (Optional) Register a host name with a Dynamic DNS service and specify that name on the Dynamic DNS page of the router.
   Dynamic DNS makes it much easier to access a server from the Internet because you can type the name in the Internet browser. Otherwise, you must know the IP address that the ISP assigned, which typically changes.

How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule
The following sequence shows the effects of a port forwarding rule:

1. When you type the URL www.example.com in your browser, the browser sends a web page request message with the following destination information:
   • Destination address. The IP address of www.example.com, which is the address of your router.
   • Destination port number. 80, which is the standard port number for a web server process.

2. Your router receives the message and finds your port forwarding rule for incoming port 80 traffic.

3. 3. The router changes the destination in the message to IP address 192.168.1.33 and sends the message to that computer.

4. Your web server at IP address 192.168.1.33 receives the request and sends a reply message to your router.

5. Your router performs Network Address Translation (NAT) on the source IP address and sends the reply through the Internet to the computer or WiFi device that sent the web page request.

Port Triggering
Port triggering is a dynamic extension of port forwarding that is useful in these cases:
• An application must use port forwarding to more than one local computer (but not simultaneously).
• An application must open incoming ports that are different from the outgoing port.
With port triggering, the router monitors traffic to the Internet from an outbound “trigger” port that you specify. For outbound traffic from that port, the router saves the IP address of the computer that sent the traffic. The router temporarily opens the incoming port or ports that you specify in your rule and forwards that incoming traffic to that destination. Port forwarding creates a static mapping of a port number or range of ports to a single local computer. Port triggering can dynamically open ports to any computer when needed and close the ports when they are no longer needed.
Note: If you use applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, real-time communications such as instant messaging, or remote assistance (a feature in Windows XP), enable Universal Plug and Play (UPnP).

Add a Port Triggering Service
To add a port triggering service:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering.
   The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays.

5.  Select the Port Triggering radio button.
   The page adjusts.

6. Click the Add Service button.

7. In the Service Name field, type a descriptive service name.

8. From the Service User menu, select a user option:
   • Any (the default) allows any computer on the Internet to use this service.
   • Single address restricts the service to a particular computer.

9. From the Service Type menu, select TCP or UDP or TCP/UDP (both).
   If you are not sure, select TCP/UDP.

10.  In the Triggering Port field, enter the number of the outbound traffic port that will open the inbound ports.

11. In the Connection Type, Starting Port, and Ending Port fields, enter the inbound connection information.

12. Click the Apply button.
    The service is now in the Portmap Table. You must enable port triggering before the router uses port triggering. See Enable Port Triggering on page

Enable Port Triggering
To enable port triggering:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

3.  Enter the router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

4.  Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering.
   The Port Forwarding/Port Triggering page displays.

5. Select the Port Triggering radio button.

6. Clear the Disable Port Triggering check box.
   If this check box is selected, the router does not use port triggering even if you specified port triggering settings.

7. In the Port Triggering Timeout field, enter a value up to 9999 minutes.
   This value controls how long the inbound ports stay open when the router detects no activity. This value is required because the router cannot detect when the application terminates.

8. Click the Apply button.
   Your settings are saved.

Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat
Some application servers, such as FTP and IRC servers, send replies to multiple port numbers. Using port triggering, you can tell the router to open more incoming ports when a particular outgoing port starts a session.
An example is Internet Relay Chat (IRC). Your computer connects to an IRC server at destination port 6667. The IRC server not only responds to your originating source port but also sends an “identify” message to your computer on port 113. Using port  triggering, you can tell the router, “When you initiate a session with destination port 6667, you must also allow incoming traffic on port 113 to reach the originating computer.” The following sequence shows the effects of this port triggering rule:

1. You open an IRC client program to start a chat session on your computer.
2. Your IRC client composes a request message to an IRC server using a destination port number of 6667, the standard port number for an IRC server process. Your computer then sends this request message to your router.
3. Your router creates an entry in its internal session table describing this communication session between your computer and the IRC server. Your router stores the original information, performs Network Address Translation (NAT) on the source address and port, and sends this request message through the Internet to the IRC server.
4. Noting your port triggering rule and observing the destination port number of 6667, your router creates another session entry to send any incoming port 113 traffic to your computer.
5. The IRC server sends a return message to your router using the NAT-assigned source  port (for example, port 33333) as the destination port and sends an “identify” messageto your router with destination port 113.
6.  When your router receives the incoming message to destination port 33333, it checks its session table to see if a session is active for port number 33333. Finding an active session, the router restores the original address information replaced by NAT and sends this reply message to your computer.
7. When your router receives the incoming message to destination port 113, it checks its session table and finds an active session for port 113 associated with your computer. The router replaces the message’s destination IP address with your computer’s IP address and forwards the message to your computer.
8. When you finish your chat session, your router eventually senses a period of inactivity in the communications. The router then removes the session information from its session table and incoming traffic is no longer accepted on port numbers 33333 or 113.

Troubleshooting

This chapter provides information to help you diagnose and solve problems you might experience with your modem router. If you do not find the solution here, check the NETGEAR support site at netgear.com/support for product and contact information.
The chapter contains the following sections:

• Quick tips
• Troubleshoot with the LEDs
• You cannot log in to the router
• You cannot access the Internet
• Troubleshoot Internet browsing
• Changes are not saved
• Troubleshoot WiFi connectivity
• Troubleshoot your network using the ping utility

Quick tips
This section describes tips for troubleshooting some common problems.
Sequence to restart your network
If you must restart your network, follow this sequence:
1. Turn off and unplug the modem router.
2. Plug in the modem router and turn it on. Wait two minutes.
Check the power adapter and Ethernet cable connections
If the modem router does not start, make sure that the power adapter cable is securely plugged in.
If the Internet connection does not function, make sure that the coax cable is securely plugged in. The Online LED on the modem router is lit if the modem router is receiving a signal from the ISP.
If the LAN connections do not function, make sure that the Ethernet cables are securely plugged in. If one or more powered-on computers are connected to the modem router by an Ethernet cable, the corresponding numbered router LAN port LEDs light.
Check the WiFi settings
Make sure that the WiFi settings on the WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device and the modem router match exactly. The WiFi network name (SSID) and WiFi security settings of the modem router and the computer or mobile device must match exactly.
WiFi passwords are case sensitive.
If you set up an access control list, you must add the MAC address of each computer and mobile device to the modem router’s access control list.
Check the network settings
If your computer or mobile device cannot connect to the modem router, make sure that the network settings of the computer or mobile device are correct. Computers and mobile devices must use network IP addresses on the same network as the modem router. By default, almost all computers and mobile devices are set up to obtain an IP address automatically using DHCP.
Some Internet service providers require you to use the MAC address of the computer initially registered on the account, but this is an unusual situation. You can view the MAC address on the Attached Devices page of the router web interface.

Troubleshoot with the LEDs
By default, the modem router uses standard LED settings.

Standard LED behavior when the router is powered on
After you turn on power to the modem router, verify that the following sequence of events occurs:

1. When power is first applied, verify that the Power LED is lit.
2. After about two minutes, verify the following:
   • The Power LED is lit.
   • The Downstream LED is lit.
   • The Upstream LED is lit.
   • The Online LED is lit.
   • The WiFi LED is lit (unless you turned off the WiFi radio).

You can use the LEDs on the front panel of the modem router for troubleshooting.

Power LED is off or blinking
This could occur for a number of reasons. Check the following:

• Make sure that the power adapter is securely connected to your modem router and securely connected to a working power outlet.
• Make sure that you are using the power adapter that NETGEAR supplied for this product.
• If the Power LED blinks slowly and continuously, the modem router firmware is corrupted. This can happen if a firmware update is interrupted, or if the modem router detects a problem with the firmware. If the error persists, it is likely that a hardware problem exists. For recovery instructions, or help with a hardware problem, contact Technical Support at netgear.com/support.

LEDs never turn off
When the modem router is turned on, the LEDs light for about 10 seconds and then turn off. If all the LEDs stay on, this indicates a fault within the modem router.
If all LEDs are still lit one minute after power-up, do the following:

• Cycle the power to see if the modem router recovers.
• Press and hold the Reset button for at least 5 seconds to return the modem router to its factory settings.

If the error persists, a hardware problem might be the cause. Contact Technical Support at netgear.com/support.

Online LED is Off
If the Online LED is off and the modem router is connected to the coax cable, try the following:

•  Make sure that the coax cable connections are secure at the modem router and at the wall jack.

• Make sure that your cable Internet provider provisioned your cable Internet service.
  Your provider can verify that the signal quality is good enough for modem router service.

• Remove any excess splitters that are on your cable line.

Ethernet LAN port LEDs are off
If the Ethernet port LEDs do not light when an Ethernet connection is made, check the following:

• Make sure that the Ethernet cable connections are secure at the modem router and computer.
• Make sure that power is turned on to the connected modem router or computer.
• Be sure that you are using the correct cable.

WiFi LED is off
If the WiFi LED stays off, check to see if someone pressed the WiFi On/Off button on the modem router. This button turns the WiFi radios in the modem router on and off.
If someone disabled the WiFi radios by using the router web interface, the WiFi LED also stays off. The WiFi LED is lit when the WiFi radios are turned on.
Note: if the LED On/Off button is in the off position, all LEDs are off except the Power LED.
You cannot log in to the router

If you are unable to log in to the modem router from a computer or mobile device on your local network, check the following:

• If you are using an Ethernet-connected computer, check the cable connection between the computer and the modem router.

•  If you are using a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device, check the WiFi connection between the computer or mobile device and the modem router.

•  Make sure that you are using the correct login information. The user name is admin.
  The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. Make sure that Caps Lock is off when you enter this information. If you forget the admin password and you set up the password recovery feature, see Recover the admin password on page 66 for the procedure.

• Try quitting the browser and launching it again.

• Make sure that Java, JavaScript, or ActiveX is enabled in your browser. If you are using Internet Explorer, click the Refresh button to be sure that the Java applet is loaded.

• Make sure that the IP address of your computer or mobile device is in the same subnet as the modem router. If you are using the recommended addressing scheme, the IP address of your computer or mobile device is in the range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254.

• If the IP address of your computer or mobile device is shown as 169.254.x.x, the computer or mobile device could not reach the modem router’s DHCP server and the Windows or Mac operating system generated and assigned an IP address. Such an autogenerated IP address is in the range of 169.254.x.x. If your IP address is in this range, check the connection from the computer or mobile device to the modem router, and reboot your computer or mobile device.
  • If your modem router’s IP address was changed and you do not know the current IP address, clear the modem router’s configuration to factory defaults. This sets the modem router’s IP address to 192.168.1.1.
  Tip: If the router is in access point mode or bridge mode and you do not know the IP address that is assigned to it, first try to use an IP scanner application to detect the IP address. (IP scanner applications are available online free of charge.) If you can detect the IP address, you don’t need to reset the router to factory default settings.

• If you are attempting to set up your NETGEAR modem router as a replacement for an ADSL gateway in your network, the modem router cannot perform many gateway services. For example, the router cannot convert ADSL or cable data into Ethernet networking information. NETGEAR does not support such a configuration.

You cannot access the Internet
When your modem router cannot access the Internet and your Online LED is on, activate your modem router by registering the cable MAC address of your modem router with your cable Internet provider. For instructions for registering, see Install and Activate
Your Modem Router on page 14.
If you already activated the modem router and can access it, but not the Internet, check to see if the modem router can obtain a WAN IP address from your Internet service provider (ISP). Unless your ISP provides a fixed IP address, your router requests an IP address from the ISP. You can determine whether the request was successful using the modem router web interface.

To check your IP address:

1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network.

2.  Select an external site such as https://www.netgear.com/.

3.  Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
   A login window opens.

4.  Enter the modem router admin user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
   The BASIC Home page displays.

5.  Click the ADVANCED tab.
   The ADVANCED Home page displays.

6.  Check to see that an IP address is shown for the Internet port. If 0.0.0.0 is shown, your modem router did not obtain an IP address from your ISP.
   If your modem router is still unable to obtain an IP address from the ISP, the problem might be one of the following:
   • Your cable modem router hasn’t activated successfully. Contact your ISP.
   • Your cable modem router doesn’t connect to the proper cable outlet. Make sure the Online LED is lit.

If your modem router obtained an IP address, but your computer does not load any web pages from the Internet, it might be for one or more of the following reasons:

• Your computer might not recognize any DNS server addresses.
  Typically, your ISP provides the addresses of one or two DNS servers for your use.
  If you entered a DNS address during the modem router’s configuration, reboot your computer, and verify the DNS address. You can configure your computer manually with DNS addresses, as explained in your operating system documentation.

• The modem router might not be configured as the TCP/IP gateway on your computer.
  If your computer obtains its information from the modem router by DHCP, reboot the computer and verify the gateway address.

• You might be running login software that is no longer needed.
  If your ISP provided a program to log you in to the Internet, you no longer need to run that software after installing your modem router.

Troubleshoot Internet browsing
If your modem router can obtain an IP address but your computer is unable to load any web pages from the Internet, it might be for the following reasons:

• The traffic meter is enabled, and the limit was reached.
  By configuring the traffic meter not to block Internet access when the traffic limit is reached, you can resume Internet access. If your Internet service provider (ISP) sets a usage limit, they might charge you for the overage.

• Your computer might not recognize any DNS server addresses. A DNS server is a host on the Internet that translates Internet names (such as www addresses) to numeric IP addresses.
  Typically, your ISP provides the addresses of one or two DNS servers for your use.
  If you entered a DNS address during the modem router’s configuration, restart your computer.
  Alternatively, you can configure your computer manually with a DNS address, as explained in the documentation for your computer.

• The modem router might not be configured as the default gateway on your computer.
  Restart the computer and verify that the modem router address (www.routerlogin.net) is listed by your computer as the default gateway address.

Changes are not saved
If the modem router does not save the changes that you make in the modem router web interface, do the following:

• When entering configuration settings, always click the Apply button before moving to another page or tab, or your changes are lost.
• Click the Refresh or Reload button in the web browser. It is possible that the changes occurred, but the old settings might be in the web browser’s cache.

Troubleshoot WiFi connectivity

If you are experiencing trouble connecting over WiFi to the modem router, try to isolate the problem:

• Does the WiFi device or computer that you are using find your WiFi network?
  If not, check the WiFi LED on the modem router. If it is off, you can press the WiFi On/Off button on the modem router to turn the modem router WiFi radios back on. If you disabled the modem router’s SSID broadcast, then your WiFi network is hidden
  and does not display in your WiFi client’s scanning list. (By default, SSID broadcast is enabled.)

• Does your WiFi device support the security that you are using for your WiFi network (WPA or WPA2)?

• If you want to view the WiFi settings for the modem router, use an Ethernet cable to connect a computer to a LAN port on the modem router. Then log in to the modem router, and select BASIC > Wireless.
  Note: Be sure to click the Apply button if you change settings.
  If your WiFi device finds your network but the signal strength is weak, check these conditions:

• Is your modem router too far from your computer or too close? Place your computer near the modem router but at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away and see whether the signal strength improves.

• Are objects between the modem router and your computer blocking the WiFi signal?

Troubleshoot your network using the ping utility
Most network devices and routers contain a ping utility that sends an echo request  packet to the designated device. The device then responds with an echo reply. You caneasily troubleshoot a network using the ping utility in your computer or workstation.
Test the LAN path to your router
You can ping the modem router from your computer to verify that the LAN path to your modem router is set up correctly.

To ping the modem router from a Windows-based computer:

1. From the Windows toolbar, click the Start button and select Run.
2.  In the field provided, type ping followed by the IP address of the modem router, as in this example: ping www.routerlogin.net
3. Click the OK button.
   You see a message like this one:
   Pinging with 32 bytes of data
   If the path is working, you see this message:
   Reply from < IP address >: bytes=32 time=NN ms TTL=xxx
   If the path is not working, you see this message:
   Request timed out
   If the path is not functioning correctly, one of the following problems might be occurring:
   • Wrong physical connections
   For a wired connection, make sure that the numbered LAN port LED is lit for the port to which you are connected.
   Check to see that the appropriate LEDs are lit for your network devices. If your modem router and computer are connected to a separate Ethernet switch, make sure that the link LEDs are lit for the switch ports that are connected to your computer and modem router.
   • Wrong network configuration
   Verify that the Ethernet card driver software and TCP/IP software are both installed and configured on your computer.

Verify that the IP address for your modem router and your computer are correct and that the addresses are on the same subnet.
Test the path from a Windows-based computer to a remote device

To test the path from a Windows-based computer to a remote device:

1. From the Windows toolbar, click the Start button and select Run.

2.  In the Windows Run window, type ping -n 10
   where is the IP address of a remote device such as your ISP DNS server.
   If the path is functioning correctly, messages display that are similar to those shown in Test the LAN path to your router on page 127.

3.  If you do not receive replies, check the following:
   • Check to see that IP address of your modem router is listed as the default gateway for your computer. If DHCP assigns the IP configuration of your computers, this information is not visible in your computer Network Control Panel. Verify that the IP address of the modem router is listed as the default gateway.
   • Check to see that the network address of your computer (the portion of the IP address specified by the subnet mask) is different from the network address of the remote device.
   • Check to see that your cable or DSL modem is connected and functioning.
   • If your ISP assigned a host name to your computer, enter that host name as the account name on the Internet Setup page.
   • Your ISP might be rejecting the Ethernet MAC addresses of all but one of your computers.
   Many broadband ISPs restrict access by allowing traffic only from the MAC address of your broadband modem. Some ISPs additionally restrict access to the MAC address of a single computer connected to that modem. If your ISP does this, configure your
   modem router to “clone” or “spoof” the MAC address from the authorized computer.

Supplemental Information

This appendix covers the following topics:

• Factory Settings
• Technical Specifications

Factory Settings
You can return the modem router to its factory settings. Use the end of a paper clip or a similar object to press and hold the Reset button on the back of the modem router for at least seven seconds. The modem router resets, and returns to the factory configuration settings shown in the following table.
Table 5. Factory default settings

www.routerlogin.com,
www.routerlogin.net,
or 192.168.1.1
User name (case-sensitive)| admin
Local network (LAN)| LAN IP| 192.168.1.1
Subnet mask| 255.255.255.0
DHCP server| Enabled
DHCP range| 192.168.1.2 to
192.168.1.254
DHCP starting IP address| Configured by the Internet provider
DHCP ending IP address| 192.168.1.254
DMZ| Disabled
Time zone| ISP/MSO ToD (time of day) configuration
Time zone adjusted for daylight savings time| ISP/MSO ToD (time of day) server configuration
SNMP| Enabled
Cable modem firewall| Inbound (communications coming in from the Internet)| Disabled (except traffic on port 80, the HTTP port)
Outbound (communications going out to the Internet)| Enabled (all)
WiFi| WiFi communication| Enabled
---|---|---
| SSID name| See the modem
router label
Security| WPA2-PSK (AES)
Broadcast SSID| Enabled
Country/region| United States
RF channel (2.4 GHz)| Auto1
RF channel (5 GHz)| CH 153 (or manually
select Band I and 4
Channels)
Operating mode| Up to 860 Mbps at
2.4 GHz, 1801 Mbps
at 5 GHz

1 Maximum WiFi signal rate derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications. Actual throughput can vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate.

Technical Specifications
Table 6. Modem router specifications

IEEE 802.11n version 2.0
IEEE 802.11n 256 QAM IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b 2.4
GHz IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11a 5.0 GHz
Maximum computers per WiFi
network| Limited by the amount of WiFi network traffic generated
by each node (typically 50–70 nodes)
Operating frequency range| 2.4 GHz: 2.412–2.462 GHz 5 GHz: 5.18–5.24 + 5.745–5.825 GHz
802.11 security| WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, and WPA/WPA2

April 2021
202-12054-01
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134, USA

References

• English - NETGEAR Communities
• Download Center | Downloads and Documentation | NETGEAR
• Which USB drives are verified to work with NETGEAR ReadySHARE? - NETGEAR Support
• myisp.com
• mynetgear.com
• ReadySHARE USB Storage Access | NETGEAR Support
• NETGEAR Support | NETGEAR
• Community Downloads - Open Source VPN | OpenVPN
• Router Login & Setup | NETGEAR
• NETGEAR Support | NETGEAR
• badstuff.com/xxx.html
• Example Domain
• Regulatory | NETGEAR
• ReadySHARE USB Storage Access | NETGEAR Support
• NETGEAR Support | NETGEAR
• Connect to VPN Gate by Using OpenVPN Protocol
• Connect to VPN Gate by Using OpenVPN Protocol
• Spectrum - Activation Home
• English - NETGEAR Communities
• Optimum | Internet Self-Install
• How To Guide: Set Up & Configure OpenVPN Client/server VPN | OpenVPN
• Installation Guide For OpenVPN Connect Client On MacOS| OpenVPN
• MediacomCable – Mediacom Communications
• Tunnelblick | Free open source OpenVPN VPN client server software for macOS
• Pardon Our Interruption
• NETGEAR: Advanced WiFi & Networking
• NETGEAR Terms and Conditions | NETGEAR
• NETGEAR Nighthawk App | NETGEAR
• NETGEAR Support | NETGEAR
• Download Center | Downloads and Documentation | NETGEAR
• Contact Optimum, Find a Store Location | Optimum
• Spectrum.net
• Spectrum.net
• How To Activate Your Xfinity Internet and Voice Services - Xfinity Support

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