Netgear orporated 14100257 N300 Wireless Router User Manual JWNR2010v5 N300 Wireless Router
Netgear Incorporated N300 Wireless Router JWNR2010v5 N300 Wireless Router
Contents
- 1. user manual
- 2. user manual statement
user manual
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
April 2014
202-11392-01
N300 Wireless Router
User Manual
Models:
JWNR2010v5
WNR2020
WNR614
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N300 Wireless Router
Support
Thank you for selecting NETGEAR products.
After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product at
https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. NETGEAR
recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR website. For product updates and web support, visit
http://support.netgear.com.
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR.
Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at http://support.netgear.com/general/contact/default.aspx.
Compliance
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
Trademarks
NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and Connect with Innovation are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Information is subject to change without notice.
© NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
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Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Setup
Hardware Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Front Panel LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Back Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Position Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Cable Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Verify the Cabling . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Chapter 2 Connect to the Network and Access the Router
Connect to the Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Wired Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
WiFi Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Types of Logins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Use a Web Browser to Access the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
NETGEAR genie Automatic Internet Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Log In to the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings
Use the Internet Setup Wizard . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Manually Set Up the Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Change the MTU Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Chapter 4 Networking
View or Change WAN Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Set Up a Default DMZ Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Change the Router’s Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Change the LAN TCP/IP Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Specify the IP Addresses that the Router Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Reserve LAN IP Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Specify Basic WiFi Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Change the WiFi Security Option . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Set Up a Guest Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Control the Wireless Radio. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Enable or Disable the Wireless Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
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N300 Wireless Router
Set Up a Wireless Schedule . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Set up a Wireless Access List . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Specify WPS Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Wireless Distribution System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
Set Up the Base Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
Set Up a Repeater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Static Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
View Devices Currently on the Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48
Improve Network Connections with Universal Plug and Play. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Chapter 5 Manage Your Network
Update the Router Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52
Change the admin Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Recover the admin Password. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
View Router Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
View the Internet Connection Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
Display Internet Port Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
View the Internet Connection Status. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
View Wireless Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
View Guest Network Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Reboot the Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Manage the Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Back Up Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61
Restore Configuration Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Erase Configuration Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
Forgotten Passwords. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
admin Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
WiFi Passwords . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
WiFi Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
Changes Not Saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Troubleshoot with the LEDs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Apply Power to the Router and Check the LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
All LEDs Remain Lit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
Power LED Is Off or Blinking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Power LED Stays Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Internet LEDs Is Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
WiFi LED Is Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
Cannot Log In to the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
The Router Cannot Access the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
Troubleshoot Internet Browsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Troubleshoot a PPPoE Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Test the LAN Path to Your Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Test the Path from Your Computer to a Remote Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
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N300 Wireless Router
Troubleshoot IP Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Appendix A Supplemental Information
Factory Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
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1
1. Hardware Setup
If you have not already set up your new router using the installation guide that comes in the box,
this chapter walks you through the hardware setup.
This chapter contains the following sections:
•Hardware Features
•Position Your Router
•Cable Your Router
•Verify the Cabling
For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at
http://support.netgear.com.
Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made available from time to time at
downloadcenter.netgear.com. Some products can regularly check the site and download new
firmware, or you can check for and download new firmware manually. If the features or behavior
of your product does not match what is described in this guide, you might need to update your
firmware.
Hardware Setup
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N300 Wireless Router
Hardware Features
Before you cable your router, take a moment to become familiar with the product label and
the front and back panels. Pay particular attention to the LEDs on the front panel.
Front Panel LEDs
The router front panel has the following status LEDs.
Table 1. Front panel LED descriptions
LED Description
Power • Solid green. The power is on, and the router is ready.
• Blinking green. A firmware update is in progress.
• Off. Power is not supplied to the router.
Internet • Solid green. An IP address was received; the router is ready to transmit data.
• Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.
WiFi • Solid green. The wireless radio is operating.
• Off. The wireless radio is off.
Ethernet ports 1–4 • Solid green. The Ethernet port has detected a 100 Mbps link with an attached
device.
• Off. The Ethernet port has not detected a link with an attached device.
Back Panel
The back panel has the following ports, button, and connector.
Table 2. Back panel port, button, and connector descriptions
Port or Connector Description
Ethernet ports Four local area networks (LAN) Ethernet ports for connecting the router to
your local computers.
Internet port Ethernet port for connecting the router to a cable broadband modem or DSL
broadband modem. The Internet port is also referred to as the WAN port.
AC power connector AC power connector to connect the power adapter to the router.
WPS/Reset button This button is a WPS and Reset button:
• WPS button to connect computer or WiFi devices to the router’s network.
For more information, see WiFi Connection on page 12.
• Reset button to return the router to its factory settings.
For more information, see Factory Settings on page 76.
Hardware Setup
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N300 Wireless Router
Position Your Router
The router lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your wireless
network. However, the operating distance or range of your wireless connection can vary
significantly depending on the physical placement of your router. For example, the thickness
and number of walls the wireless signal passes through can limit the range.
Additionally, other wireless access points in and around your home might affect your router’s
signal. Wireless access points are routers, repeaters, WiFi range extenders, or any other
device that emits a wireless signal for network access.
To position your router:
1. Place your router near the center of the area where your computers and other devices
operate, and within line of sight to your wireless devices.
2. Make sure that the router is within reach of an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables
for wired computers.
3. Place the router in an elevated location, minimizing the number walls and ceilings between
the router and your other devices.
4. Place the 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
5. Place the router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, and insulated walls
such as these:
•Solid metal doors
•Aluminum studs
•Fish tanks
•Mirrors
•Brick
•Concrete
To prepare your router for installation:
1. Carefully peel off the protective film covering your router.
2. Place your router in a suitable area for installation (near an AC power outlet and accessible
to the Ethernet cables for your wired computers).
Hardware Setup
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N300 Wireless Router
Cable Your Router
The installation guide that came in the box has more details about installation.The following
illustration shows typical cable connections for a router.
Y
our router might look different than
t
he router shown in this diagram.
Modem Router
Internet
Ethernet cable
Ethernet cable
(not included)
Figure 1. Router cable connections
To cable your router:
1. Prepare your modem.
Unplug your modem’s power. If it has a battery backup, remove the battery.
2. Connect the modem.
Plug in your modem. Put the battery back in. Then cable the modem to the router’s
Internet port
3. Connect the power adapter cord that came in the package to the power input on the rear
panel of the router and plug it in to an electrical outlet.
The Power LED lights.
4. Connect a computer or wireless device.
You have two options:
•Connect with WiFi. To connect with WiFi, use the WiFi network name and password
on the product label.
•Connect with an Ethernet cable. Use an Ethernet cable to connect a computer to
one of the Ethernet LAN ports on the rear panel of the router.
Hardware Setup
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N300 Wireless Router
Verify the Cabling
Verify that your router is cabled correctly and the cables are attached securely by checking
the router LEDs:
•The Power LED is lit solid green when the router is turned on.
•The WiFi LED is lit solid green.
•The Internet LED is lit solid green.
•The Ethernet LEDs (1 through 4) are lit solid green or solid amber for any
computers cabled to the router by an Ethernet cable.
For information about troubleshooting with the LEDs, see Troubleshoot with the LEDs on
page 67.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
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N300 Wireless Router
Connect to the Network
You can connect to the 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 router using an Ethernet cable and join the router’s
local area network (LAN).
To connect your computer to the router with an Ethernet cable:
1. Make sure that the router has 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.
WiFi Connection
You can connect to the 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 router has power (its Power LED is lit).
2. Check the WPS instructions for your computer or wireless device.
3. Press the WPS/Reset button on the rear panel of the 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 wireless device connects to the WiFi network.
To find and select the WiFi network:
1. Make sure that the router has power (its Power LED is lit).
2. On your computer or wireless device, find and select the WiFi network.
The WiFi network name is on the product label.
3. Join the WiFi network and enter the WiFi password.
The password is on the product label.
Your wireless device connects to the WiFi network.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
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N300 Wireless Router
Types of Logins
Separate types of logins have different purposes. It is important that you understand the
difference so that you know which login to use when.
Types of logins:
•Internet service login. The login that logs you in to your Internet service. Your service
provider gave you this login information in a letter or some other way. If you cannot find
this login information, contact your service provider.
•WiFi network login. Your router is preset with a unique wireless network name (SSID)
and password for wireless access. This information is on the product label.
•Router login.This logs you in to the router interface as admin from a web browser.
Use a Web Browser to Access the Router
When you connect to the network (either with WiFi or with an Ethernet cable), you can use a
web browser to access the router to view or change its settings. The first time you access the
router, NETGEAR genie automatically checks to see if your router can connect to your
Internet service.
NETGEAR genie Automatic Internet Setup
You can set up your router with the NETGEAR genie automatically, or you can use the genie
menus and screens to set up your router manually. Before you start the setup process, get
your ISP information and make sure that the computers and devices in the network have the
settings described here.
When your Internet service starts, your Internet service provider (ISP) typically gives you all
the information needed to connect to the Internet. For DSL service, you might need the
following information to set up your router:
•The ISP configuration information for your DSL account
•ISP login name and password
•Fixed or static IP address settings (special deployment by ISP; this setting is rare)
If you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP to provide it. When your Internet
connection is working, you no longer need to launch the ISP login program on your computer
to access the Internet. When you start an Internet application, your router automatically logs
you in.
NETGEAR genie runs on any device with a web browser. Installation and basic setup takes
about 15
minutes to complete.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
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N300 Wireless Router
To use NETGEAR genie to set up your router:
1. Make sure that your computer or wireless device is connected to the router with an
Ethernet cable (wired) or wirelessly with the preset security settings listed on the product
label.
Note: If you want to change the router’s WiFi setting, use a wired connection
to avoid being disconnected when the new WiFi settings take effect.
2. Launch a web browser.
The screen that displays depends on whether you have accessed the router before:
•The first time you set up the Internet connection for your router, the browser goes to
http://www.routerlogin.net, and the NETGEAR genie screen displays.
•If you already used the NETGEAR genie, type http://www.routerlogin.net in the
address field for your browser to display the NETGEAR genie screen.
3. Follow the onscreen instructions.
NETGEAR genie guides you through connecting the router to the Internet.
4. If the browser cannot display the web page, do the following:
•Make sure that the computer is connected to one of the four LAN Ethernet ports or
wirelessly to the router.
•Make sure that the router has full power, and that its Power LED is lit white.
•Close and reopen the browser or clear the browser cache.
•Browse to http://www.routerlogin.net.
•If the computer is set to a static or fixed IP address (this setting is uncommon),
change it to obtain an IP address automatically from the router.
5. If the router does not connect to the Internet, do the following:
a. Review your settings. Make sure that you selected the correct options and typed
everything correctly.
b. Contact your ISP to verify that you have the correct configuration information.
c. Read Chapter 6, Troubleshooting. If problems persist, register your NETGEAR
product and contact NETGEAR technical support.
Log In to the Router
When you first set up your router, NETGEAR genie automatically starts when you launch a
web browser on a computer that is connected to the router. If you want to view or change
settings for the router, you can use genie again.
To log in to the router:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router
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N300 Wireless Router
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
16
3
3. Specify Your Internet Settings
Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow the genie
to detect the Internet connection when you first access the router with a web browser. You can
also customize or specify your Internet settings.
This chapter contains the following sections:
•Use the Internet Setup Wizard
•Manually Set Up the Internet Connection
•Change the MTU Size
Specify Your Internet Settings
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N300 Wireless Router
Use the Internet Setup Wizard
You can use the Setup Wizard to detect your Internet settings and automatically set up your
router. The Setup Wizard is not the same as the genie screens that display the first time you
connect to your router to set it up.
To use the Setup Wizard:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup Wizard.
5. Select the Yes radio button.
If you select No, you are taken to the Internet Setup screen (see Manually Set Up the
Internet Connection ).
6. Click the Next button.
The Setup Wizard searches your Internet connection for servers and protocols to
determine your ISP configuration.
Specify Your Internet Settings
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N300 Wireless Router
Manually Set Up the Internet Connection
You can view or change the router’s Internet connection settings.
Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login
To specify the Internet connection settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select Internet.
You might need
to scroll to view
all the settings.
5. For the Does your Internet connection require a login setting, leave the No radio
button selected.
6. If your Internet connection requires an account name or host name, type it in the Account
Name (If Required) field.
7. If your Internet connection requires a domain name, type it in the Domain Name (If
Required) field.
Specify Your Internet Settings
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N300 Wireless Router
For the other sections in this screen, the default settings usually work, but you can
change them.
8. For the Internet IP Address setting, select one of the following radio buttons:
•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 router to which your router
connects.
9. For the Domain Name Server (DNS) Address setting, select one of the following radio
buttons:
•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
DNS server address is available, enter it also.
10. For the Router MAC Address setting, select one of the following radio buttons:
•Use Default Address. Use the default MAC address.
•Use Computer MAC Address. The router captures and uses the MAC address of the
computer that you are now using. You must use the one computer that the ISP allows.
•Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use.
11. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
12. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection.
If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see Chapter 6,
Troubleshooting.
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login
To view or change the basic Internet setup:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
Specify Your Internet Settings
20
N300 Wireless Router
4. Select Internet.
You might need
to scroll to view
all the settings.
5. In the Does your Internet connection require a login section of the screen, select the
Yes radio button.
The screen adjusts.
6. In the Internet Service Provider list, select the encapsulation method PPPoE, PPPoA, or
L2TP.
7. In the Login field, enter the login name your ISP gave you. This login name is often an email
address.
8. In the Password field, type the password that you use to log in to your Internet service.
9. If your ISP requires a service name, type it in the Service Name (if Required) field.
10. In the Connection Mode drop-down list, select Always On, Dial on Demand, or Manually
Connect.
11. To change the number of minutes until the Internet login times, out, in the Idle Timeout (In
minutes) field, type the number of minutes.
This is how long the router keeps the Internet connection active when no one on the
network is using the Internet connection. A value of 0 (zero) means never log out.
12. In the Internet IP Address section, select one of the following radio buttons:
•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 router to which your router
connects.
Specify Your Internet Settings
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N300 Wireless Router
13. In the Domain Name Server (DNS) Address section, select one of the following radio
buttons:
•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
DNS server address is available, enter it also.
14. In the Router MAC Address section of the screen, select one of the following radio buttons:
•Use Default Address. Use the default MAC address.
•Use Computer MAC Address. The router captures and uses the MAC address of the
computer that you are now using. You must use the one computer that the ISP allows.
•Use This MAC Address. Enter the MAC address that you want to use.
15. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
16. Click the Test button to test your Internet connection.
If the NETGEAR website does not display within one minute, see Chapter 6,
Troubleshooting.
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 has 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
-America Online’s DSL service
•You use VPN and have severe performance problems.
•You used a program to optimize MTU for performance reasons, and now you have
connectivity or performance problems.
Specify Your Internet Settings
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N300 Wireless Router
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 wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen 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 change is 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
Specify Your Internet Settings
23
N300 Wireless Router
until the problem goes away. The following table describes common MTU sizes and
applications.
Table 3. Common MTU sizes
MTU Application
1500 The largest Ethernet packet size. This setting is typical for connections that do not use
PPPoE or VPN, and is the default value for NETGEAR routers, adapters, and switches.
1492 Used in PPPoE environments.
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 have large email attachments, for example.
1436 Used in PPTP environments or with VPN.
1400 Maximum size for AOL DSL.
576 Typical value to connect to dial-up ISPs.
24
4
4. Networking
This chapter includes the following sections:
•View or Change 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 Router Assigns
•Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router
•Reserve LAN IP Addresses
•Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections
•Specify Basic WiFi Settings
•Change the WiFi Security Option
•Set Up a Guest Network
•Control the Wireless Radio
•Set Up a Wireless Schedule
•Set up a Wireless Access List
•Specify WPS Settings
•Wireless Distribution System
•Static Routes
•View Devices Currently on the Network
•Improve Network Connections with Universal Plug and Play
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N300 Wireless Router
View or Change 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 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 wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
The following settings display:
•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. See Set
Up a Default DMZ Server on page 26.
•Respond to Ping on Internet Port. This feature allows your router to be discovered.
Use this feature only as a diagnostic tool or if you have a specific reason.
•MTU Size (in bytes). The normal MTU (maximum transmit unit) value for most
Ethernet networks is 1500 bytes, or 1492 bytes for PPPoE connections. Change the
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N300 Wireless Router
MTU only if you are sure that it is necessary for your ISP connection. See Change the
MTU Size on page 21.
•NAT Filtering. Network Address Translation (NAT) determines how the router
processes inbound traffic:
-Secured NAT provides a secured firewall to protect the computers on the LAN
from attacks from the Internet, but might prevent some Internet games,
point-to-point applications, or multimedia applications from functioning. By default,
the Secured radio button is selected.
-Open NAT provides a much less secured firewall, but allows almost all Internet
applications to function.
•Disable SIP ALG. Some Voice over IP (VoIP) applications do not function well with
the Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) Application Layer Gateway (ALG). Selecting the
check box to turn off the SIP ALG might enable connected VoIP devices to create and
accept a VoIP call through the router. By default, this check box is cleared.
•Disable IGMP Proxying. IGMP proxying allows computers on the LAN to receive the
multicast traffic they are subscribed to from the Internet. By default, this check box is
selected, and the IGMP proxy is disabled, preventing multicast traffic from the Internet
to the LAN. Clear the Disable IGMP Proxying check box to allow multicast traffic
from the Internet to the LAN.
•VPN Passthrough. The router supports VPN passthrough for IPSec, PPTP, and
L2TP.
-IPSec Passthrough. To enable or disable IPSec passthrough, select the Enable
or Disabled radio button.
-PPTP Passthrough. To enable or disable PPTP passthrough, select the Enable
or Disabled radio button.
•L2TP Passthrough. To enable or disable L2TP passthrough, select the Enable or
Disabled radio button.
5. Change the settings as needed.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your changes 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 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.
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N300 Wireless Router
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 router detects and discards incoming traffic from the Internet that is not a response to
one of your local computers or a service that you have configured in the Port Forwarding/Port
Triggering screen. Instead of discarding this traffic, you can have the router forward 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 wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > WAN Setup.
5. Select the Default DMZ Server check box.
6. Type the IP address.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your change is saved.
Change the Router’s Device Name
The router’s device name displays in file manager when you browse your network.
To change the router’s device name:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
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N300 Wireless Router
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
5. In the Device Name field, type a new name.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your change is saved.
Change the LAN TCP/IP Settings
The router is preconfigured to use private IP addresses on the LAN side and to act as a
DHCP server. The 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 uses, or if you have competing subnets with the same IP scheme.
To change the LAN TCP/IP settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
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N300 Wireless Router
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
5. In the IP Address field, type the IP address.
6. In the IP Subnet Mask, type the subnet mask of the router.
The IP address and subnet mask identifies which addresses are local to a specific device
and which must be reached through a gateway or router.
7. Change the RIP settings.
Router Information Protocol (RIP) allows a router to exchange routing information with
other routers.
a. In the RIP Direction list, select one of the following:
-Both. The router broadcasts its routing table periodically and incorporates
information that it receives.
-Out Only. The router broadcasts its routing table periodically.
-In Only. The router incorporates the RIP information that it receives.
b. In the RIP Version list, select one of the following:
-Disabled. This is the default setting.
-RIP-1. This format is universally supported. It is adequate for most networks,
unless you have an unusual network setup.
-RIP-2. This format carries more information. Both RIP-2B and RIP-2M send the
routing data in RIP-2 format. RIP-2B uses subnet broadcasting. RIP-2M uses
multicasting.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
If you changed the LAN IP address of the router, you are disconnected when this change
takes effect.
9. To reconnect, close your browser, relaunch it, and log in to the router
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N300 Wireless Router
Specify the IP Addresses that the Router Assigns
By default, the 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 router.
These addresses must be part of the same IP address subnet as the 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.
The router delivers the following parameters to any LAN device that requests DHCP:
•An IP address from the range that you have defined
•Subnet mask
•Gateway IP address (the router’s LAN IP address)
•DNS server IP address (the router’s LAN IP address)
To specify the pool of IP addresses that the router assigns:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
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:
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N300 Wireless Router
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 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 router.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router
By default, the 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 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 router:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
5. Clear the Use Router as DHCP Server check box.
6. Click the Apply button.
7. (Optional) If this service is disabled and no other DHCP server is on your network, set your
computer IP addresses manually so that they can access the router.
Reserve 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 router’s DHCP server. Assign
reserved IP addresses to computers or servers that require permanent IP settings.
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N300 Wireless Router
To reserve an IP address:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
5. In the Address Reservation section of the screen, 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 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 screen 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 router’s
DHCP server. Reboot the computer, or access its IP configuration and force a DHCP release
and renew.
To edit a reserved address entry:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
5. Select the radio button next to the reserved address.
6. Click the Edit button.
7. Change the settings.
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N300 Wireless Router
8. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
To delete a reserved address entry:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup.
5. Select the radio button next to the reserved address.
6. Click the Delete button.
The address is removed.
Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections
The WPS Wizard helps you add a wireless computer or device to your WiFi network without
typing the WiFi password.
To use the WPS Wizard:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > WPS Wizard.
5. Click the Next button.
6. Select the radio button for the setup method that you want to use:.
•Push button. Click the WPS button on this screen.
•PIN Number. The screen adjusts. Enter the client security PIN, and click the Next
button.
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N300 Wireless Router
7. Within two minutes, go to the client device and use its WPS software to connect to the WiFi
network.
The WPS process automatically sets up your wireless computer with the network
password when it connects. The router WPS screen 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 product label.
Note: The preset SSID and password are uniquely generated for every
device to protect and maximize your wireless security.
NETGEAR recommends that you do not change your preset security settings. 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 you use a wireless computer to change the wireless network name (SSID) or other wireless
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 router.
To specify basic wireless settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
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N300 Wireless Router
4. Select Wireless.
5. In the Region list, select your region. In some locations, you cannot change this setting.
6. 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 product label. If you change the name, make sure to
write down the new name and keep it in a safe place.
7. To change the wireless channel, select a number in the Channel list.
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).
8. To change the mode, select it from the Mode list.
9. To control the SSID broadcast, select or clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box.
When this check box is selected, the router broadcasts its network name (SSID) so that it
displays when you scan for local WiFi networks on your computer or wireless device.
10. To prevent computers and wireless devices on the network from accessing each other,
select the Enable Wireless Isolation check box.
11. 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.
12. Make sure that you can connect wirelessly to the network with its new settings.
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N300 Wireless Router
If you cannot connect wirelessly, check the following:
•Is your computer or wireless device connected to another wireless network in your
area? Some wireless devices automatically connect to the first open network without
wireless security that they discover.
•Is your computer or wireless device trying to connect to your network with its old
settings (before you changed the settings)? If so, update the wireless network
selection in your computer or wireless device to match the current settings for your
network.
Change the WiFi Security Option
Your router comes with preset WPA2 or WPA security. The password that you enter to
connect to your network is unique to your router and is on the product label. NETGEAR
recommends that you use the preset security, but you can change them. NETGEAR
recommends that you do not disable security.
To change the WPA settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select Wireless.
5. Under Security Options, select a radio button for one of the following WPA options:
•WPA-PSK [TKIP]
•WPA2-PSK [AES]
•WPA-PSK [TKIP} + WPA2-PSK [AES]
•WPA/WPA2 Enterprise
The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security, but some older
computers and wireless devices cannot use WPA2. By default, the WPA-PSK [TKIP] +
WPA2-PSK [AES] radio button is selected so that new or old computers and wireless
devices can connect to the WiFi network by using either WPA2 or WPA security.
The Passphrase field displays.
6. In the Passphrase field, enter the network key (password) that you want to use.
It is a text string from 8 to 63 characters.
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N300 Wireless Router
7. Write down the new password and keep it in a secure place for future reference.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
Set Up a Guest Network
A guest network allows visitors at your home to use the Internet without using your wireless
security key. You can add a guest network to each wireless network: 2.4 GHz b/g/n and
5.0 GHz a/n.
To set up a guest network:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select Guest Network.
5. Select any of the following wireless settings:
•Enable Guest Network. When this check box is selected, the guest network is
enabled, and guests can connect to your network using the SSID of this profile.
•Enable SSID Broadcast. If this check box is selected, the wireless access point
broadcasts its name (SSID) to all wireless stations. Stations with no SSID can adopt
the correct SSID for connections to this access point.
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N300 Wireless Router
•Allow guest to see each other and access my local network. If this check box is
selected, anyone who connects to this SSID has access to your local network, not just
Internet access.
6. Give the guest network a name.
The guest network name is case-sensitive and can be up to 32 characters. You then
manually configure the wireless devices in your network to use the guest network name in
addition to the main SSID.
7. Select a radio button for a security option.
The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security, but some older
computers and wireless devices cannot use it. NETGEAR recommends that you select
the WPA-PSK [TKIP] + WPA2-PSK [AES] radio button. This setting protects your WiFi
network and lets computers and wireless devices can connect to the WiFi network by
using either WPA2 or WPA security.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
Control the Wireless Radio
The router has an internal wireless radio that broadcasts signals in the 2.4 GHz range. By
default, it is enabled so that you can connect wirelessly to the router. When the wireless radio
is disabled, you can still use an Ethernet cable for a LAN connection to the router.
Enable or Disable the Wireless Radio
To enable or disable the wireless radio:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
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N300 Wireless Router
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
5. Select or clear the Enable Wireless Radio check box.
Clearing this check box turns off the WiFi feature of the router.
6. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
Set Up a Wireless Schedule
You can use this feature to turn off the wireless signal from your router at times when you do
not need a wireless connection. For example, you might turn it off for the weekend if you
leave town.
To set up the wireless schedule:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
The Advanced Wireless Settings screen displays.
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5. Click the Add a new period button.
6. Use the lists, radio buttons, and check boxes to set up a period during which you want to
turn off the wireless signal.
7. Click the Apply button.
The Advanced Wireless Settings screen displays.
8. Select the Turn off wireless signal by schedule check box to activate the schedule.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
Set up a Wireless Access List
You can set up a list of computers and wireless devices that are allowed to use WiFi to
connect to the router. You must enter the MAC address of each computer or device. When
you enable access control, computers and devices that are not in the list cannot connect with
WiFi.
To set up a wireless access list and turn on access control:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
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4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
5. Click the Set Up Access List button.
6. Click the Add button.
The screen adjusts.
7. Complete the Device Name and MAC Address fields.
8. Click the Add button.
The Wireless Card Access List screen displays with the device that you added in the
access list.
9. When you have finished adding devices to the access list, select the Turn Access Control
On check box.
10. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
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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 wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
The Router’s PIN field displays the PIN that you use on a registrar (for example, from the
Network Explorer on a Vista Windows computer) to configure the router’s wireless
settings through WPS.
5. (Optional) Select or clear the Disable Router’s PIN check box.
The PIN function might temporarily be disabled when the router detects suspicious
attempts to break into the router’s wireless settings by using the router’s PIN through
WPS. You can manually enable the PIN function by clearing the Disable Router’s PIN
check box.
6. (Optional) Select or clear the Keep Existing Wireless Settings check box.
By default, the Keep Existing Wireless Settings check box is selected. NETGEAR
recommends that you leave this check box selected.
If you clear this check box, the next time a new wireless client uses WPS to connect to
the router, the router wireless settings change to an automatically generated random
SSID and security key.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
Wireless Distribution System
You can set up the router to be used as a wireless base station or wireless repeater in a
wireless distribution system (WDS). A WDS lets you expand a wireless network through
multiple access points instead of using a wired backbone to link them. A wireless base station
connects to the Internet, can have wired and wireless clients, and sends its wireless signal to
an access point that functions as a wireless repeater. A wireless repeater can also have
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wired and wireless clients, but connects to the Internet through the wireless base station.
The router can function either as a base station or as a repeater:
•Wireless base station. The router acts as the parent access point, bridging traffic to and
from the child repeater access point, as well as handling wireless and wired local
computers. To configure this mode, you must know the MAC address of the child repeater
access point.
•Wireless repeater. The router sends all traffic from its local wireless or wired computers
to a remote access point. To configure this mode, you must know the MAC address of the
remote parent access point.
For you to set up a wireless network in a WDS, the following conditions must be met for both
access points:
•Both access points must use the same SSID, wireless channel, and encryption mode.
•Both access points must be on the same LAN IP subnet. That is, all the access point LAN
IP addresses are in the same network.
•All LAN devices (wired and wireless computers) must be configured to operate in the
same LAN network address range as the access points.
•The channel selection on the access points cannot be Auto (see Basic Wireless Settings
on page 28).
•The security option must be WEP (or no security). The WEP option displays only if you
select Up to 54 Mbps from the Mode list on the Wireless Settings screen (see Basic
Wireless Settings on page 28).
Set Up the Base Station
The wireless repeating function works only in hub and spoke mode. The units cannot be
daisy-chained. You must know the wireless MAC addresses of all units. First, set up the base
station and then set up the repeater.
To set up the base station:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Repeating Function.
The Wireless Repeating Function screen displays. The wireless MAC address of the
router displays onscreen.
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5. Select the Enable Wireless Repeating Function check box.
6. Select the Wireless Base Station radio button.
7. To prevent wireless clients from associating with the base station and allow LAN client
associations only, select the Disable Wireless Client Association check box.
You can leave the check box cleared if you prefer wireless clients to be able to associate
with the base stations.
8. In the Repeater MAC Address 1 through 4 fields, enter the MAC addresses for the access
points that should function as repeaters.
If your router is the base station, it can function as the “parent” for up to four other access
points.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
Set Up a Repeater
To set up the repeater to avoid conflicts with the wireless connection to the base station, use
a wired Ethernet connection.
Note: If you set up your router as a base station with a non-NETGEAR
access point as the repeater, you might need to change more
configuration settings. In particular, you should disable the DHCP
server function on the access point that functions as the repeater.
To configure the router as a repeater:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
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A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Repeating Function.
The Wireless Repeating Function screen displays. The wireless MAC address of the
router displays onscreen.
5. Select the Enable Wireless Repeating Function check box.
6. Select the Wireless Repeater radio button.
7. Complete the Repeater IP Address field.
This IP address must be in the same subnet as the base station, but different from the
LAN IP address of the base station.
8. To prevent wireless clients from associating with the repeater and allow LAN client
associations only, select the Disable Wireless Client Association check box.
You can leave the check box cleared if you prefer wireless clients to be able to associate
with the repeater.
9. In the Base Station MAC Address field, enter the MAC addresses for the access point that
will function as the base station.
10. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
11. Verify connectivity across the LANs.
A computer on any wireless or wired LAN segment of the base station or a repeater can
connect to the Internet. Any computer that is connected to the base station can share files
and printers with any other wireless or wired computer or server that is connected to a
repeater.
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Static Routes
Static routes provide more routing information to your router. Under usual circumstances, the
router has adequate routing information after it has been configured for Internet access, and
you do not need to configure more static routes. You must configure static routes only for
unusual cases such as multiple routers or multiple IP subnets on your network.
As an example of when a static route is needed, consider the following case:
•Your primary Internet access is through a cable modem to an ISP.
•You have an ISDN router on your home network for connecting to the company where
you are employed. This router’s address on your LAN is 192.168.1.100.
•Your company’s network address is 134.177.0.0.
When you first configured your router, two implicit static routes were created. A default route
was created with your ISP as the gateway, and a second static route was created to your
local network for all 192.168.1.x addresses. With this configuration, if you attempt to access a
device on the 134.177.0.0 network, your router forwards your request to the ISP. The ISP
forwards your request to the company where you are employed, and the company’s firewall
denies the request.
In this case you must define a static route, telling your router that 134.177.0.0 should be
accessed through the ISDN router at 192.168.1.100. This example assumes the following
settings:
•The Destination IP Address and IP Subnet Mask fields specify that this static route
applies to all 134.177.x.x addresses.
•The Gateway IP Address field specifies that all traffic for these addresses should be
forwarded to the ISDN router at 192.168.1.100.
•A metric value of 1 works because the ISDN router is on the LAN.
•Private is selected only as a precautionary security measure in case RIP is activated.
To set up a static route:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Static Routes.
5. Click the Add button.
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The screen adjusts:
6. In the Route Name field, type a name for this static route (for identification purposes only).
7. If you want to limit access to the LAN only, select the Private check box.
If you select Private, the static route is not reported in RIP.
8. To make this route effective, select the Active check box.
By default, the Active check box is selected.
9. Type the IP address of the final destination.
10. Type the IP subnet mask for this destination. If the destination is a single host, type
255.255.255.255.
11. Type the gateway IP address, which must be a router on the same LAN segment as the
Wireless Router.
12. Type a number from 1 through 15 as the metric value.
This value represents the number of routers between your network and the destination.
Usually, a setting of 2 or 3 works, but if this link is a direct connection, set it to 1.
13. Click the Apply button.
The route is added to the table on the Static Routes screen.
To edit a static route:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Static Routes.
The Static Routes screen displays.
5. In the table, select the radio button next to the route that you want to edit.
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6. Click the Edit button.
The Static Routes screen adjusts.
7. Edit the route information.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
To delete a static route:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Static Routes.
The Static Routes screen displays.
5. In the table, select the radio button next to the route that you want to delete.
6. Click the Delete button.
The route is removed from the table.
View Devices Currently on the Network
You can view all computers or devices that are currently connected to your network.
To view devices on the network:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
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4. Select Attached Devices.
The Wired Devices section lists devices that are connected to the router with Ethernet
cables. The Wireless Devices section lists devices that are connected to the wireless
network.
The following information is displayed:
•Status. The status of the device, Allowed or Blocked.
•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 number 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.
5. To update this screen, click the Refresh button.
Improve Network Connections with Universal Plug and
Play
Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) helps devices, such as Internet appliances and computers,
access the network and connect to other devices as needed. UPnP devices can
automatically discover the services from other registered UPnP devices on the network.
If you use applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, or real-time
communications such as instant messaging or remote assistance (a feature in Windows XP),
enable UPnP.
To enable Universal Plug and Play:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://routerlogin.net or http://192.168.0.1.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
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N300 Wireless Router
4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > UPnP.
5. Select the Turn UPnP On check box.
By default, this check box is selected. If the Turn UPnP On check box is cleared, the
router does not allow any device to automatically control router resources, such as port
forwarding.
6. Type the advertisement period in minutes.
The advertisement period specifies how often the router broadcasts its UPnP information.
This value can range from 1 to 1440 minutes. The default period is 30 minutes. Shorter
durations ensure that control points have current device status at the expense of more
network traffic. Longer durations can compromise the freshness of the device status, but
can significantly reduce network traffic.
7. Type the advertisement time to live in hops.
The time to live for the advertisement is measured in hops (steps) for each UPnP packet
sent. Hops are the steps a packet takes between routers. The number of hops can range
from 1 to 255. The default value for the advertisement time to live is 4 hops, which should
be fine for most home networks. If you notice that some devices are not being updated or
reached correctly, it might be necessary to increase this value.
8. Click the Apply button.
The UPnP Portmap Table displays the IP address of each UPnP device that is accessing
the router and which ports (internal and external) that device has opened. The UPnP
Portmap Table also displays what type of port is open and whether that port is still active
for each IP address.
To refresh the information in the UPnP Portmap table, click the Refresh button.
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5
5. Manage Your Network
This chapter describes the router settings for administering and maintaining your router and
home network.
This chapter includes the following sections:
•Update the Router Firmware
•Change the admin Password
•Recover the admin Password
•View Router Status
•View the Internet Connection Settings
•View Wireless Settings
•View Guest Network Settings
•Reboot the Router
•Manage the Configuration File
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Update the Router Firmware
The router firmware (routing software) is stored in flash memory. You might see a message at
the top of the genie screens 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 to
update your product.
To check for new firmware and update your router:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Firmware Update.
5. Click the Check button.
The 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 router locates and downloads the firmware.
7. To upload the firmware that you have downloaded from the NETGEAR support website, do
the following:
a. Click Browse, navigate to the firmware file (the file ends in .img), and select the
firmware file.
b. Click the Upload button.
WARNING:
To avoid the risk of corrupting the firmware, do not interrupt the
upgrade. For example, do not close the browser, click a link, or load
a new page. Do not turn off the router.
A progress bar shows the progress of the firmware upload process:
When the upload is complete, your router restarts. The upload process can take up to
three minutes, and the upgrade process typically takes about one minute. To determine
whether you need to reconfigure the router after upgrading, read the new firmware
release notes.
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Change the admin Password
This feature let you change the default password that is used to log in to the router with the
user name admin. This password is not the one that you use for WiFi access. The product
label shows your unique wireless network name (SSID) and password for wireless access.
To set the password for the user name admin:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
5. Type the old password, and type the new password twice.
6. To be able to recover the password, select the Enable Password Recovery check box.
NETGEAR recommends that you enable password recovery.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
Recover the admin Password
NETGEAR recommends that you enable password recovery if you change the password for
the router user name admin. Then 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 set up password recovery:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
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N300 Wireless Router
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
5. Select the Enable Password Recovery check box.
6. Select two security questions and provide answers to them.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
To recover your password:
1. In the address field of your browser, type www.routerlogin.net.
A login screen displays.
2. Click Cancel.
If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to answer two security questions.
3. Enter the saved answers to the security questions.
4. Enter the serial number of your router.
The serial number is on the product label.
View Router Status
To view router status and usage information:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
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N300 Wireless Router
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The Router Information pane displays the following information:
•Hardware Version. The router model.
•Firmware Version. The version of the router firmware. It changes if you upgrade the
router firmware.
•GUI Language Version. The localized language of the router user interface.
•LAN Port:
-MAC Address. The Media Access Control address for the Ethernet (LAN) port.
This address is the unique physical address that the Ethernet (LAN) port of the
router uses.
-IP Address. The IP address that the Ethernet (LAN) port of the router uses. The
default is 192.168.1.1.
-DHCP Server. Identifies whether the router’s built-in DHCP server is active for the
LAN-attached devices.
View the Internet Connection Settings
To view the Internet connection settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
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The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The Internet Port pane displays the following information:
•MAC Address. The Media Access Control (MAC) address for the Internet port. This
address is the unique physical address that the Internet (WAN) port of the router
uses.
•IP Address. The IP address that the Internet (WAN) port of the router uses. If no
address is shown or the address is 0.0.0.0, the router is not connected to the Internet.
•Connection. Shows whether the router is using a fixed or dynamic IP address on the
Internet port. If the value is DHCP, the router obtains an IP address dynamically from
the ISP or from a DHCP server on your LAN.
•IP Subnet Mask. The IP subnet mask that the Internet port of the router uses.
•Domain Name Server. The Domain Name Server address that the router uses. A
Domain Name Server translates human-language URLs such as www.netgear.com
into IP addresses.
Display Internet Port Statistics
To display Internet port statistics:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
4. The BASIC Home screen displays
5. Click the ADVANCED tab.
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6. In the Internet Port pane, click the Show Statistics button.
The following information displays:
•System Up Time. The time elapsed since the router was last restarted.
•Port. The statistics for the WAN (Internet) and LAN (Ethernet) ports. For each port,
the screen displays:
-Status. The link status of the port.
-TxPkts. The number of packets transmitted on this port since reset or manual
clear.
-RxPkts. The number of packets received on this port since reset or manual clear.
-Collisions. The number of collisions on this port since reset or manual clear.
-Up Time. The time elapsed since this port acquired the link.
-Poll Interval. The interval at which the statistics are updated in this screen.
7. To change the polling frequency, enter a time in seconds in the Poll Interval field and click
the Set Interval button.
8. To stop the polling, click the Stop button.
View the Internet Connection Status
To check the Internet connection status:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
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5. In the Internet Port pane, click the Connection Status button.
The Connection Status pop-up screen displays. The following figure shows the
connection status information for a DHCP connection.
The content of the Connection Status pop-up screen depends on the type of connection.
You can start new connections and end existing connections from this screen.
The following list describes the different types of connections and the associated settings
that display on the Connection Status pop-up screen:
DHCP Connection
The following information displays for a DHCP connection:
•IP Address. The IP address that is assigned to the router.
•Subnet Mask. The subnet mask that is assigned to the router.
•Default Gateway. The IP address for the default gateway that the router communicates
with.
•DHCP Server. The IP address for the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server that
configures the TCP/IP for all the computers that are connected to the router.
•DNS Server. The IP address of the Domain Name Service server that translates 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.
To change the router DHCP connection settings:
1. To release the router’s IP address and terminate the Internet connection, click the
Release button.
2. To let the router acquire an IP address from the DHCP server and start the Internet
connection, click the Renew button.
3. To close the Connection Status screen, click the Close Window button.
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PPPoE Connection
The Connect and Disconnect buttons in the Connection Status screen display only when
the connection mode is Manually Connect.
The following information displays for a PPPoE connection:
•Connection Time. The time that elapsed since the connection was established.
•Connection Status. The status of the connection: Connected, Disconnected, Negotiation
(---, Success), or Authentication (---, Success). --- indicates failure.
•IP Address. The IP address that is assigned to the router.
•Subnet Mask. The subnet mask that is assigned to the router.
To change the router PPPoE connection settings:
1. To establish the PPPoE connection manually, click the Connect button.
2. To terminate the PPPoE connection manually, click the Disconnect button.
3. To close the Connection Status screen, click the Close Window button.
PPTP Connection
The content of the Connection Status pop-up screen depends on the type of connection. The
Connect and Disconnect buttons in the Connection Status screen display only when the
connection mode is Manually Connect.
The following information displays for a PPTP connection:
•Connection Status. The status of the connection: Connected or Disconnected.
•IP Address. The IP address that is assigned to the router.
•Subnet Mask. The subnet mask that is assigned to the router.
To change the router PPTP connection settings:
1. To establish the PPTP connection manually, click the Connect button.
2. To terminate the PPTP connection manually, click the Disconnect button.
3. To close the Connection Status screen, click the Close Window button.
View Wireless Settings
To view the wireless settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
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The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The Wireless Settings pane displays the following information:
•Name (SSID). The wireless network name (SSID) that the router uses.
•Region. The geographic region where the router is used. It might be illegal to use the
wireless features of the router in some parts of the world.
•Channel. The operating channel of the wireless port. The default channel is Auto.
When Auto is selected, the router finds the best operating channel available.
•Mode. The wireless communication mode: Up to 54 Mbps, Up to 150 Mbps (the
default), or Up to 300 Mbps.
•Wireless AP. Indicates whether the radio of the router is enabled. If the radio is not
enabled, the WiFi LED on the front panel is off.
•Broadcast Name. Indicates whether the router is broadcasting its SSID.
•Wireless Isolation. Indicates whether wireless isolation is on or off. When it is off,
wireless clients (computers or wireless devices) that join the network can use the
Internet, but cannot access each other or access Ethernet devices on the network.
•Wi-Fi Protected Setup. Indicates whether Wi-Fi Protected Setup is configured for
this network.
View Guest Network Settings
To view the guest network settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The Guest Network pane displays the following information:
•Name (SSID). The wireless network name (SSID) that the router uses. The default
name is NETGEAR-Guest.
•Wireless AP. Indicates whether the radio of the router is enabled for the guest
network.
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•Broadcast Name. Indicates whether the router is broadcasting its SSID for the guest
network.
•Wireless Isolation. Indicates whether wireless isolation is on or off for the guest
network. When it is off, wireless clients (computers or wireless devices) that join the
guest network can use the Internet, but cannot access each other or access Ethernet
devices on the network.
•Allow guest to access My Local Network. Indicates whether wireless clients on the
guest network can access your local network, instead of only the Internet and other
wireless clients on the guest network.
Reboot the Router
To reboot the router:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
5. In the Router Information pane, click the Reboot button.
6. Click OK to confirm.
The router reboots.
Manage the Configuration File
The configuration settings of the router are stored within the 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 Settings
To back up the router’s configuration settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
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N300 Wireless Router
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
5. To save a copy of the current settings, click the Back Up button.
6. Choose a location to store the .cfg file on a computer on your network.
7. Click the OK button.
A copy of the current settings is saved.
Restore Configuration Settings
To restore configuration settings that you backed up:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
The Backup Settings screen displays.
5. To find the .cfg file, click the Browse button.
6. Select the file and then click the Restore button.
The file is uploaded to the router.
The router reboots.
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WARNING:
Do not interrupt the reboot process.
Erase Configuration Settings
Under some circumstances (for example, if you move the router to a different network), you
might want to erase the configuration and restore the factory default settings.
You can either use the Restore Factory Settings button on the back of the router (see Factory
Settings on page 76), or you can use the Erase button on the Backup Settings screen.
To erase the configuration and restore the factory default settings:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Backup Settings.
The Backup Settings screen displays.
5. Click the Erase button.
6. To confirm the action click the Yes button.
The router reboots.
WARNING:
Do not interrupt the reboot process.
Erasing sets the user name to admin, the password to password, and the LAN IP address to
192.168.1.1, and enables the router’s DHCP server.
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6
6. Troubleshooting
This chapter provides information to help you diagnose and solve problems you might have with
your router. If you do not find the solution here, visit the NETGEAR support site at
http://support.netgear.com for product and contact information.
This chapter contains the following sections:
•Forgotten Passwords
•WiFi Connections
•Changes Not Saved
•Troubleshoot with the LEDs
•Cannot Log In to the Router
•Troubleshoot IP Addresses
•The Router Cannot Access the Internet
•Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility
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Forgotten Passwords
The router user name admin lets you use a web browser to log in to the router to view or
change its settings. The router’s WiFi network name lets you connect to its WiFi network.
Both admin and the WiFi network have passwords by default.
admin Password
The default password for the router user name admin is password. If you changed it and
enabled password recovery, you can recover the password.
To recover your password when password recovery is enabled:
1. In the address field of your browser, type www.routerlogin.net.
A login screen displays.
2. Click Cancel.
If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to answer two security questions.
3. Enter the saved answers to the security questions.
4. Enter the serial number of your router.
The serial number is on the product label.
If you changed the password and did not enable password recovery, you can use the Reset
button to return the router to its factory settings. This erases all the router’s current settings
including its Internet connection settings. For more information, see Factory Settings on
page 76.
WiFi Passwords
The router comes preset with a unique WiFi network name and WiFi password. This
information is on the product label. You can also set up a guest network to allow visitors to
access your Internet connection.
If you changed the WiFi settings and do not remember what they are, you can use a wired
Ethernet connection to log in to the router to view the WiFi settings.
To use a wired connection to view WiFi settings:
1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to an Ethernet LAN port on the router.
An Ethernet LED lights for the port where you connected the computer.
2. Launch a web browser from the connected computer.
3. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
4. Enter the router user name and password.
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The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
5. To view the WiFi settings, select Wireless.
The Wireless Network screen displays.
6. To view guest network settings, select Guest.
The Guest Network Settings screen displays.
WiFi Connections
If you are having trouble connecting wirelessly to the router, try to isolate the problem.
•The WiFi signal strength is weak.
Check these conditions:
-Is your router too far from your computer, or too close? Move your computer near the
router, but at least six feet (two meters) away, and see if the signal strength improves.
-Is your WiFi signal blocked by objects between the router and your computer?
•Your computer or wireless devices does not find your WiFi network.
Check the following:
-Is the WiFi LED on the router lit?
If this LED is off, someone might have disabled the wireless radio or set up a wireless
schedule. For more information about these settings, see Control the Wireless Radio
on page 38.
-Did you disable the router’s SSID broadcast?
If you cleared the Enable SSID Broadcast check box in the Wireless Network screen,
your wireless network is hidden and does not display in your wireless client’s
scanning list. To connect to a hidden network, you must type the network name and
the WiFi password. For more information about the SSID broadcast, see Specify
Basic WiFi Settings on page 34.
-Does your computer or wireless device support the security that you are using for
your WiFi network (WEP, WPA, or WPA2)?
For information about wireless security settings, see Specify Basic WiFi Settings on
page 34.
-Did you set up a wireless access list in the router?
If you set up an access list, you must add the MAC address for each computer and
wireless device to the list. For more information about access list settings, see Set up
a Wireless Access List on page 40.
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Changes Not Saved
If the router does not save the changes you make through the NETGEAR genie screens,
check the following:
•When you log in to the router and change the settings on a screen, always click the Apply
button before you move to another screen or tab, or your changes are lost.
•Click the Refresh or Reload button in the web browser. The changes might have
occurred, but the old settings might be in the web browser’s cache.
Troubleshoot with the LEDs
The LEDs on the front panel of the router indicate its status.
Apply Power to the Router and Check the LEDs
To apply power to the router and check the LEDs:
1. Connect the power adapter cord that came with the router and plug it in to a power
outlet.
The Power LED lights and turns amber within a few seconds. This indicates that the
self-test is running.
2. After approximately 30 seconds, verify that the LEDS are lit as follows:
•The Power LED is lit solid green.
•The WiFi LED is lit solid green.
•The Internet LED is lit solid green.
•The Ethernet LEDs (1 through 4) are lit solid green or solid amber for
any computers cabled to the router by an Ethernet cable.
3. If the LEDs do not light as expected, use the LED behavior to troubleshoot the problem.
All LEDs Remain Lit
When the router is turned on, the LEDs light for about 10 seconds and then turn off. If all the
LEDs stay lit, a fault exists within the router.
If all LEDs are still lit one minute after power-up, try the following:
•Unplug the router’s power adapter cord. Plug it in again and see if the router recovers.
•To return the router to its factory settings, press and hold the Reset button.
For more information, see Factory Settings on page 76.
If the error persists, you might have a hardware problem. Contact technical support at
www.netgear.com/support.
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N300 Wireless Router
Power LED Is Off or Blinking
If the Power LED is Off or blinking, try the following:
•Make sure that the power adapter cord is securely connected to your router and securely
connected to a functioning power outlet.
•Make sure that you are using the power adapter cord that NETGEAR supplied for this
product.
•If the Power LED blinks slowly and continuously, the router firmware is corrupted. This
situation can happen if a firmware upgrade is interrupted, or if the router detects a
problem with the firmware. If the error persists, you have a hardware problem. For
recovery instructions or help with a hardware problem, contact technical support at
www.netgear.com/support.
Power LED Stays Amber
When the router is turned on, the Power LED turns amber for about 20 seconds and
then turns green. If the LED does not turn green, the router has a problem.
If the Power LED is still amber one minute after you turn on power to the router, try the
following:
•Unplug the router’s power adapter cord. Plug it in again and see if the router recovers.
•To return the router to its factory settings, press and hold the Reset button.
For more information, see Factory Settings on page 76.
If the error persists, you might have a hardware problem. Contact technical support at
www.netgear.com/support.
Internet LEDs Is Off
If the Internet LED does not light, check the following:
•Make sure that the Ethernet cable is securely connected to the router Internet port and
the modem.
•Make sure that power is turned on to the connected modem.
•Be sure that you are using the correct cable.
When you connect the router’s Internet port to a cable or DSL broadband modem, use the
cable that was supplied with the cable or DSL broadband modem. This cable can be a
standard straight-through Ethernet cable or an Ethernet crossover cable.
WiFi LED Is Off
If the WiFi LED stays off, check to see if someone disabled the wireless radio or set up a
wireless schedule. For more information about these settings, see Control the Wireless Radio
on page 38. The WiFi LED is lit when the wireless radio is turned on.
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N300 Wireless Router
Cannot Log In to the Router
If you cannot log in to the router from a computer or wireless device on your local network,
check the following:
1. Make sure that your computer or wireless device is connected to the router’s network.
-For a WiFi connection, select the network and entered its WiFi password.
-For a wired connection, use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to an
Ethernet LAN port on the router (not the Ethernet Internet port).
2. Launch a web browser and enter www.routerlogin.net.
3. If a login prompt does not display, try the following:
a. Close the browser and launch it again.
b. Make sure that your browser has Java, JavaScript, or ActiveX enabled. If you are
using Internet Explorer, click the Refresh button to be sure that the Java applet is
loaded.
c. If you are using a wired connection, check the Ethernet connection between the
computer and the router. One of the router Ethernet LEDs lights to
show that your computer is connected.
4. If the login prompt displays, but you cannot log in, try the following:
a. Make sure that you are using the correct login information.
The user name is admin and the default password is password. Make sure that
Caps Lock is off when you enter this information.
b. If you customized the IP address scheme that the router uses, see Troubleshoot IP
Addresses on page 73.
The Router Cannot Access the Internet
If you can log in to your router, but it cannot access the Internet, see if the router can obtain
an 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 see if the request was
successful using the Router Status screen.
If you are attempting to set up your NETGEAR router as a replacement for an ADSL gateway
in your network, the 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.
??? Should they first try the Setup Wizard before they go through all of this?
To check the WAN IP address:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
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N300 Wireless Router
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The Router Status screen displays.
5. In the Internet Port pane, check that an IP address is shown for the Internet port.
If 0.0.0.0 is shown, your router has not obtained an IP address from your ISP.
For more information about the Internet Port pane, see Internet Port Pane on page 77.
6. If your router cannot obtain an IP address from the ISP, try to force your cable or DSL
broadband modem to recognize your new router by restarting your network in this order:
a. Unplug and turn off the cable or DSL broadband modem.
b. Unplug the router.
c. Plug in the cable or DSL broadband modem and turn it on.
d. Wait two minutes.
e. Plug in the router and wait two minutes.
If your router is still unable to obtain an IP address from the ISP, the problem might be one of
the following:
•Your Internet service provider (ISP) might require a login program.
Ask your ISP if it requires PPP over Ethernet (PPPoE) or some other type of login. If your
ISP requires a login, the login name and password might be set incorrectly.
•Your ISP might check for your computer’s host name.
Assign the computer host name of your ISP account as the account name in the Internet
Setup screen.
•Your ISP allows only one Ethernet MAC address to connect to Internet and might check
for your computer’s MAC address. In this case, do one of the following:
-Inform your ISP that you have bought a new network device, and ask them to use the
router’s MAC address.
-Configure your router to clone your computer’s MAC address.
Troubleshoot Internet Browsing
If your 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:
•Your computer might not recognize any DNS server addresses.
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N300 Wireless Router
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 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.
•Your computer might not have the router configured as its TCP/IP gateway.
If your computer obtains its information from the 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 (such as WinPoET), you no
longer need to run that software after installing your router. If you use Internet Explorer as
your browser, you might need to select Tools > Internet Options, click the Connections
tab, and select the Never dial a connection check box. Other browsers have similar
options.
Troubleshoot a PPPoE Internet Connection
To troubleshoot a PPPoE Internet connection:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the
network.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Click the ADVANCED tab.
The Router Status screen displays.
5. On the Internet Port pane, click the Connection Status button.
For more information, see Connection Status on page 79. If the fields show valid
information, including valid IP addresses, your PPPoE connection is up and working.
If any of the fields show incomplete information, or no valid IP address, you can attempt
to reconnect by clicking the Connect button. The router continues to attempt to connect
indefinitely.
If you cannot connect after several minutes, you might be using an incorrect service name,
user name, or password. There might also be a provisioning problem with your ISP.
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Note: Unless you connect manually, the router does not authenticate using
PPPoE until data is transmitted to the network.
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 can troubleshoot a
network by using the ping utility on your computer or workstation.
Test the LAN Path to Your Router
You can ping the router from your computer to verify that the LAN path to your router is set up
correctly.
To ping the router from a computer running Windows:
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 router, as in this example:
ping www.routerlogin.net
3. Click the OK button.
You should see a message like this one:
Pinging <IP address > 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, you might have one of the following problems:
•Wrong physical connections
For a wired connection, make sure that the numbered Ethernet port LED is lit for the port
to which you are connected.
Check that the appropriate LEDs are on for your network devices. If your 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 router.
•Wrong network configuration
Verify that the Ethernet card driver software and TCP/IP software are both installed and
configured on your computer.
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Verify that the IP address for your router and your computer are correct and that the
addresses are on the same subnet.
Test the Path from Your Computer to a Remote Device
After verifying that the LAN path works correctly, test the path from your computer to a remote
device.
1. From the Windows toolbar, click the Start button and select Run.
2. In the field provided, type:
ping -n 10 <IP address>
where <IP address> is the IP address of a remote device such as your ISP DNS server.
If the path is functioning correctly, replies like those examples shown in Test the LAN Path to
Your Router on page 72 are displayed.
If you do not receive replies, try the following:
•Check that your computer has the IP address of your router listed as the default gateway.
If a DHCP server assigns the IP configuration of your computer, this information is not
visible on your computer’s Network Control Panel. Verify that the IP address of the 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 that your cable or DSL broadband modem is connected and functioning.
•If your ISP assigned a host name to your computer, enter that host name as the account
name in the Internet Settings screen.
•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, but some ISPs additionally restrict access to the MAC address of a
single computer connected to that modem. If this is the case, configure your router to clone
or spoof the MAC address from the authorized computer.
Troubleshoot IP Addresses
By default, the router is set up to automatically assign IP addresses to network clients. The
router’s IP address is 192.168.1.1 unless you changed it. Wired and wirelessly connected
computers must have network IP addresses on the same network as the router. The simplest
way to meet this requirement is to configure each computer to obtain an IP address
automatically using DHCP.
If you customized the IP address settings of your router and you’re having trouble with
network connections, check the following:
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N300 Wireless Router
•Make sure that your computer’s IP address is on the same subnet as the router. If you are
using the recommended addressing scheme, your computer’s address is in the range of
192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254.
If your computer’s IP address is shown as 169.254.x.x, recent versions of Windows and
Mac OS generate and assign an IP address if the computer cannot reach a DHCP server.
These autogenerated addresses are in the range of 169.254.x.x. If your IP address is in
this range, check the connection from the computer to the router, and reboot your
computer.
•If your router’s IP address was changed and you do not know the current IP address,
clear the router’s configuration to factory defaults. This sets the router’s IP address to
192.168.1.1. This procedure is explained in Factory Settings on page 76.
Supplemental Information
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N300 Wireless Router
Factory Settings
You can return the router to its factory settings. Use the end of a paper clip or some other
similar object to press and hold the WPS/Reset button on the back panel of the router for at
least four seconds. The router resets, and returns to the factory settings that are shown in the
following table.
Table 4. Router factory default settings
Feature Default Behavior
Router login User login URL www.routerlogin.com or www.routerlogin.net
User name (case-sensitive) admin
Login password (case-sensitive) password
Internet
connection
WAN MAC address Use default hardware address
WAN MTU size 1500
Port speed AutoSensing
Local area
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
Time zone United States is Pacific Time; otherwise, varies by region
Time zone adjusted for daylight
saving time
Disabled
Wireless Wireless communication Enabled
SSID name Preset. For information, see the product label.
Network key (password)
Broadcast SSID Enabled
Transmission speed Auto
Note: Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE
Standard 802.11 specifications. Actual throughput varies.
Network conditions and environmental factors, including
volume of network traffic, building materials and
construction, and network overhead lower actual data
throughput rate.
Country/region United States in the US; otherwise, varies by region
RF channel Auto
Operating mode Up to 300 Mbps
Supplemental Information
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N300 Wireless Router
Technical Specifications
Table 5. Router specifications
Feature Description
Data and routing protocols TCP/IP, RIP-1, RIP-2, DHCP, PPPoE, PPTP, Bigpond, Dynamic DNS, UPnP, and
SMB
Power adapter • North America: 120V, 60 Hz, input
• UK, Australia: 240V, 50 Hz, input
• Europe: 230V, 50 Hz, input
• All regions (output): 12 VDC @ 1A, output
Dimensions 217.74 x 147.73 x 34.92 mm (8.57 x 5.81 x 1.37 in.)
Weight 0.41 kg (0.91 lb)
Operating temperature 0° to 40°C (32º to 104ºF)
Operating humidity 90% maximum relative humidity, noncondensing
Electromagnetic emissions FCC Part 15 Class B
VCCI Class B
EN 55 022 (CISPR 22), Class B C-Tick N10947
LAN 10BASE-T or 100BASE-Tx, RJ-45
WAN 10BASE-T or 100BASE-Tx, RJ-45
Wireless Maximum wireless signal rate complies with the IEEE 802.11 standard. See the
entry for Transmission speed in Table 4 on page 76.
Radio data rates Auto Rate Sensing
Data encoding standards IEEE 802.11n version 2.0
IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11b 2.4 GHz
Maximum computers per
wireless network
Limited by the amount of wireless network traffic generated by each node
(typically 50–70 nodes)
Operating frequency range 2.412–2.462 GHz (US)
2.412–2.472 GHz (Japan)
2.412–2.472 GHz (Europe ETSI)
802.11 security WEP, WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK + WPA2-PSK mixed mode,
WPA/WPA2 Enterprise
Wireless
(continued)
20/40 MHz coexistence Enabled
Data rate Best
Output power Full
Table 4. Router factory default settings (continued)
Feature Default Behavior