Setting Up Netgear
Routers For Your Home Network
Getting
to Know Netgear Routers
The Front
Panel:
The front panel
of the NETGEAR router includes these status lights.
You can use the
status lights to verify connections. Viewed from left to right,
the table below describes the lights on the front panel of
the router.
Netgear
Router Status Light Descriptions
| Label |
Activity |
Description |
| Power |
On Green Solid
Off |
Power is supplied to the router.
Power is not supplied to the router. |
| Test |
Blinking
Off |
The router is performing its diagnostic test.
The router successfully completed its diagnostic test. |
| Internet |
On
Blink |
The Internet port has detected a link with an attached device.
Data is being transmitted or received by the Internet port. |
| LAN |
On (Green)
Blink (Green)
On (Yellow)
Blink (Yellow) Off |
The LAN (local area network) port has detected link with a 100 Mbps device.
Data is being transmitted or received at 100 Mbps. The Local port has detected
link with a 10 Mbps device.
Data is being transmitted or received at 10 Mbps. No link is detected on
this port. |
Netgear Router
Rear Panel
Viewed from left to right, the rear
panel contains the following features:
- AC power adapter
outlet for 5 V DC @ 1 A output, 20W maximum
- Factory Default
Reset push button for Restoring the Default Configuration
and Password
- Internet (WAN)
Ethernet port for connecting the router to a cable or DSL
modem
- Four Local
(LAN) 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports for connecting the router
to the local computers Power 4 LAN Ports Internet Reset
4 3 2 1 Button Port
Connecting the
NETGEAR Router to the Internet For Home Networking
Follow these instructions
to set up your router...
Prepare to Install
Your Netgear Router
- For Cable Modem
Service: When you perform the router setup steps be sure
to use the computer you first registered with your cable
ISP.
- For DSL Service:
You may need information such as the DSL login name/e-mail
address and password in order to complete the router setup.
Before
proceeding with the router installation, you may
want to familiarize yourself with the contents of the Setup
CD, especially the manual and the tutorials for configuring
computers for home networking.
Now you're ready...
First, Connect
the Router to Your Home Network
1. CONNECT
THE ROUTER, THE COMPUTER, AND THE MODEM
a. Turn off your
computer. (If you are not sure how to do this, then I recommend
getting one of my computer mini-courses to help you get started).
b. Turn off the
cable or DSL broadband modem and unplug it. (If there is no
power button, just unplug your modem).
c. Locate the Ethernet
cable (Cable 1 in the diagram) that connects your PC to the
modem. It's the one that looks like an oversized phone jack
as shone in diagram "A".
Disconnect the Ethernet
cable from the computer
d.
Disconnect the cable at the computer end only, point A in
the diagram above.
e.
Look at the label on the bottom of the Netgear Computer Router.
Locate the Internet port. Securely insert the Ethernet cable
from your modem (Cable 1 in the diagram below) into the Internet
port of the router as shown in point B of the diagram below.
Connect the Netgear
Router to the modem
Note: Place the router in a safe, accessible
location, preferably somewhere that is not too hot
and can get some airflow. The stand provided with the router
provides a convenient, space-saving way of installing your
netgear computer router to your home network. Avoid stacking
it on other electronic equipment.
f. Securely insert
the blue cable that came with your router (the blue NETGEAR
cable in the diagram below) into a LAN port on the router
such as LAN port 4 (point C in the diagram), and the other
end into the Ethernet port of your computer (point D in the
diagram).
Connect the computer
to the router .
Your network cables
are connected and you are ready to restart your network.
2. RESTART
YOUR NETWORK IN THE CORRECT SEQUENCE
Warning:
Be sure to follow proper restart procedures, failure
to restart your network in the correct sequence could prevent
you from connecting to the Internet.
a. First, plug
in and turn on the broadband modem and wait 2 minutes.
b. Now, plug in
the power cord to your Netgear router and wait 1 minute.
c. Last, turn on
your computer
Verify the connections
according to the status lights on the router
d. Check the router
status lights to verify the following:
- Power:
The power light should turn solid green. If it does not,
see “Troubleshooting Tips”
below.
- Test:
The test light should be off. The test light blinks when
the router is first turned on then goes off. If after 2
minutes it is still on, see the Troubleshooting Tips below.
- Internet:
The Internet port light should be lit. If not, make sure
the Ethernet cable is securely attached to the router Internet
port and the modem, and the modem is powered on.
- LAN:
A LAN light should be lit. Green indicates your computer
is communicating at 100 Mbps; yellow indicates 10 Mbps.
If a LAN light is not lit, check that the Ethernet cable
from the computer to the router is securely attached at
both ends, and that the computer is turned on.
Use the Smart
Wizard to Configure Your Router
For DSL customers,
if your Internet service provider had you install software
logs you in to the Internet, do not run that software.
If such software automatically starts when you open a browser,
you may need to go to the Internet Explorer Tools menu, Internet
Options, Connections tab page where you can select “Never
dial a connection.”
1. From the Ethernet
connected computer you just set up, open a browser such as
Internet Explorer or Netscape® Navigator.
Router welcome screen
In its factory
default state, the router will display the NETGEAR Smart Wizard
welcome page. Click OK to proceed.
Note:
If you do not see this page, type http://www.routerlogin.net
in the browser address bar and click Enter.
If you still cannot
connect to the router, verify your computer networking setup.
It should be set to obtain both IP and DNS server addresses
automatically, which is usually so. For help with this, please
see the Basic Home Networking Solutions or email me with your
question. You can also go to our mini-courses page for extra
help.
2. Follow the Smart
Wizard prompts to connect to the Internet.
Note:
The configuration assistant only appears when the
router is in its factory default state. After you
configure the router, it will not appear again. You can always
connect to the router configuration menu to change its settings.
To do so, open a browser and go to http://www.routerlogin.net.
Then, when prompted, enter admin as the user
name and password for the password both in
lower case letters.
You
are now connected to the Internet!
Troubleshooting
Tips
Here are some tips
for correcting simple problems you may have. Be sure to restart
your network in this sequence:
1) Turn off the
modem, netgear router, and computer
2) Turn on the
modem, wait two minutes
3) Turn on the
netgear router and wait 1 minute
4) Turn on the
computer.
Make sure
the Ethernet cables are securely plugged in.
• The Internet
status light on your Netgear Router will be lit if the Ethernet
cable from the modem is plugged in securely to the router
and the modem and both are turned on.
• For each powered
on computer (in your home network) connected to the netgear
router with a securely plugged in Ethernet cable, the corresponding
router LAN port status light will be lit. The label on the
bottom of the router identifies the number of each LAN port.
Make sure
the network settings of the computer are correct.
• Computers connected
to the router must be configured to obtain IP and DNS addresses
automatically via DHCP. For help with this, please see the
animated tutorials on the CD or the Setup Manual on the CD
or one of the many other helpful resources on www.best-home-networking-solutions.com
website.
• Some cable modem
ISPs require you to use the MAC address of the computer registered
on the account. If so, in the Router MAC Address section of
the Basic Settings menu, select, “Use this Computer’s MAC
Address.” The router will then capture and use the MAC address
of the computer that you are now using. You must be using
the computer that is registered with the ISP. Click Apply
to save your settings. Restart the network in the correct
sequence.
Check the
router status lights to verify correct router operation.
If the Power light
does not turn solid green within 2 minutes of turning the
router on, reset the router as described in the Setup
Manual on the CD.
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