NETGEAR WNDR3300f User Manual

Wireless Router Setup Manual

NETGEAR, Inc.

4500 Great America Parkway Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA

July 2008 208-10148-02 v1.1

Trademarks

NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are registered trademarks, and RangeMax and Smart Wizard are trademarks of NETGEAR. Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective holders.

Statement of Conditions

In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to make changes to the products described in this document without notice.

NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) or circuit layout(s) described herein.

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router................................................................................1

Unpacking Your New Wireless Router .......................................... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ..1

Hardware Features ............................................................................................................2

Positioning Your Wireless Router ......................................................................................6

Installing Your Wireless Router ..........................................................................................7

Updating Your Router Firmware ............ ... .........................................................................8

Installing Your Wireless Router Using

Smart Wizard...........................................................................................................................9

Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users).............. 11

Connecting Your Wireless Router .................................................................................... 11

Verifying Your Connection ...............................................................................................14

Setting Up Your Router for Internet Access ........................ ... .... ... ... ... .... ... ... ... ... .............15

Configuring Your Wireless Network for Internet Access.................................................19

Accessing Your Router After Installation and Checking for New Firmware .....................19

Configuring Your Wireless Settings and Security Options ...............................................21

Testing Basic Wireless Connectivity ................................................................................25

Troubleshooting...................................................................................................................27

Basic Setup Checklist ......................................................................................................27

Checking Your Basic Router Functions ...........................................................................28

Troubleshooting Login Problems .....................................................................................30

Checking The Internet Service Connection .....................................................................31

Troubleshooting Connectivity Using the Ping Utility ........................................................33

Technical Specifications .....................................................................................................37

Default Configuration Settings .........................................................................................37

Restoring the Default Password and Configuration Settings .............. .... ... ... ... ................40

Related Documents..............................................................................................................41

Contents iii

iv Contents

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router

Congratulations on your purchase of the NETGEAR® RangeMax™ Dual Band Wireless-N Router WNDR3300.

Before you begin installing your router, check the package contents (see “Unpacking Your New

Wireless Router” on page 1). Become familiar with the front and back panels o f your router—

especially the LEDs—and the important information on the router label (see “Hardware Features”

on page 2). Then, read the section on “Positioning Your Wireless Router” on page 6 to ensure that

you have selected the best location to install your router.

Unpacking Your New Wireless Router

The product package should contain the following items:

• The wireless router

• A snap-on stand for your wireless router

• An AC power adapter (varies by region)

• A yellow Ethernet cable

•The Resource CD, which includes: – The Smart Wizard™ Installation Assistant (Autorun.exe)

– A PDF version of this manual – A link to the online User Manual

• Warranty and Support Information cards

If any of the parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer. Keep the carton, including the original packing materials, in case you need to return the product for repair.

To prepare your router for installation:

Carefully peel off the protective film covering the sides of your router.

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 1

Wireless Router Setup Manual

2. Set up your wireless router by inserting the router into the stand supplied with your router.

Figure 1

3. Place your router in an area suitable for installation (near an AC power outlet and accessible to

the Ethernet cables for your wired computers).

Hardware Features

Before you install and connect your router, take a moment to become familiar with the front and back panels of the router—especially the LEDs on the front panel.

2 Getting to Know Your Wireless Router

Wireless Router Setup Manual

Front Panel

Figure 2

You can use the status lights on the front of the wireless router to verify various conditions.

Table 1. Status Light Descriptions

Item Function Activity Description

Power Solid Green Power is supplied to the router.

Fast Blink Green The unit is starting up, or the restore factory settings button is being

pushed to restore the factory default settings.

Slow Blink Green

Off Power is not supplied to the router.

2.4 GHz

Mode

5 GHz

Mode

Internet Off No Ethernet cable is connected to the modem.

Solid Amber

Solid Green

Blinking Amber/ Blinking Green

Solid Blue

Off 11n mode at 5 GHz is off

Blinking Blue Data is being communicated over the wireless network.

Solid Amber The Ethernet cable conne ction to the modem has been detected.

Firmware is corrupted. See “Checking Basic Router Functions” on

page 28 for instructions on restoring your router firmware.

The unit is operating in Legacy G mode at 2.4 GHz (5 GHz Mode [item 3] is also on).

The unit is operating in 11n mode at 2.4 GHz (5 GHz Mode [item 3] is off).

Data is being communicated over a wireless network.

The unit is operating in 11n mode at 5 GHz (2.4 GHz Mode [item 2] is also on, amber).

(2.4 GHz Mode [item 2] is on, green).

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Table 1. Status Light Descriptions (continued)

Item Function Activity Description

Blinking Amber Initializing connection and obtaining an IP address. Solid Green An IP address has been received; ready to transmit data. Blinking Green Data is being transmitted and received.

LAN

(Ports 1–4)

a. On amber (default setting) signifies a 5 GHz interference-free Wireless-N and legacy 2.4 GHz 802.11g network. NETGEAR

recommends this if you have Dual Band clients (Dual Band Wireless-N laptops, Dual Band Wireless-N adapters) and/or 802.11 b/g laptops to connect.

b. On green signifies a 2.4 GHz Wireless-N network. NETGEAR recommends this if you have only 2.4 GHz Wireless-N clients

(most adapters are 2.4 GHz, if not specified as Dual Band) AND/OR 802.11 b/g laptops to connect.

c. On blue signifies a 5 GHz interference-free network.

Solid Green The LAN port has detected a 100 Mbps link with an attached device. Blinking Green Data is being transmitted at 100 Mbps. Solid Amber The LAN port has detected a 10 Mbps link with an attached device. Blinking Amber Data is being transmitted at 10 Mbps. Off No link is detected on this port.

For more information on modes, see “Configuring Your Wireless Settings and

Security Options” on page 21, and the online User Manual, available on the

Resource CD.

Back Panel

The rear panel of the WNDR3300 router contains the items in the list that follows the figure.

Figure 3

4 Getting to Know Your Wireless Router

Wireless Router Setup Manual

The back of the wireless router includes:

1. Four local (LAN) 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports for connecting the router to local computers

2. Internet (WAN) Ethernet port for connecting the router to a cable or DSL modem

3. Restore factory settings button

4. AC power adapter outlet

Top Panel

Figure 4

The top of the wireless router includes a dome that performs two functions:

1. Antenna display lights. The lights identify the activity of the eight internal antennas, flashing to show which combination of antennas is receiving the strongest signals. These status lights are off by default but can be turned on.

2. Push 'N' Connect (WPS). The dome acts as a push-button for the router to enable WPS security with other WPS-enabled devices. Pushing on the dome for over 5 seconds opens a 2minute window for the router to connect with other WPS-enabled devices.

Before using these WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) push-button procedures, verify that your device (a notebook, adapter, or other device) supports WPS.

To use the WPS method to implement security, see “Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to

Configure Your Wireless Network” on page 23.

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To turn the antenna display lights on or off:

Push the dome for less than 2 seconds, then release. If lights are off, they will turn on.

2. Push the dome for less than 2 seconds, then release. If lights are on, they will turn off.

Router Label

View the label on the bottom of the wireless router to identify the serial number, port connectors, status lights, and default login information.

Figure 5

Positioning Your Wireless Router

The wireless router lets you access your network from virtually 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 must pass through may limit the range. For best results, place your router:

• Near the center of the area where your computers and other devices will operate, preferably within line of sight to your wireless devices.

• Accessible to an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables for wired computers.

• In an elevated location such as a high shelf, keeping the number of walls and ceilings between the wireless router and your other devices to a minimum.

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• Away from electrical devices which are potential sources of interference, such as ceiling fans, home security systems, microwaves, or the base for a cordless phone.

• Away from any large metal surfaces, such as a solid metal door or aluminum studs. Large expanses of other materials such as glass, insulated walls, fish tanks, mirrors, brick, and concrete can also affect your wireless signal.

Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance degradation or an inability to wirelessly connect to the Internet.

Installing Your Wireless Router

To help you set up your router and get on the Internet quickly, the Resource CD contains a Smart Wizard™. The Smart Wizard walks you through the steps required to connect your router, microfilters, and PC(s); configure your wireless settings; and enable wireless security for your network. When you have finished, you will be Internet ready!

If you have a Macintosh or Linux system, you need to use the manual installation method (see “Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and

Linux Users)” on page 11).

You can set up your wireless router using one of two methods:

• Smart Wizard Setup: The Smart Wizard setup is available on your Resource CD. See

“Installing Your Wireless Router Using Smart Wizard” on page 9 to use the Smart Wizard.

– This is the easiest option. The wizard guides you through the setup process. It automates

many of the steps and verifies that the steps have been successfully completed.

– Smart Wizard requires a PC running Microsoft Windows.

Before running the Smart Wizard on a corporate PC to set up your home router, check with your company’s network support staff. Corporate network settings or Virtual Private Network (VPN) client software may conflict with the default settings of a home router. If you are unsure about whether there might be a conflict, use a different computer.

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• Manual Setup: If you cannot or prefer not to use the Smart Wizard, see “Installing Your

Wireless Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)” on page 11. For example, if

you are connecting to a Mac, are using a Linux operating system, or are technically knowledgeable, select this option. If you choose to use this option and install your router manually, for best results, install and set up your router in this order:

1. Install and connect your wireless router to your network (see “Connecting Your Wireless

Router” on page 11).

2. Set up your wireless router for Internet access (see “Setting Up Your Router for Internet

Access” on page 15).

3. Configure your wireless network and select wireless security settings to protect your

wireless network (see “Configuring Your Wireless Network for Internet Access” on

page 19).

Updating Your Router Firmware

NETGEAR is always improving the operability and features included with your router . To make it easy for you to receive the best, most up-to-date features of your router, NETGEAR provides a variety of methods for updating your product.

• The Smart Wizard installation assistant lets you check for and install updates as part of the setup activity.

• The router includes an update feature that lets you check for and install updates. You must be logged in to the router to use this feature (see the User Manual for details).

These options are discussed in “Accessing Your Router After Installation and Checking for New

Firmware” on page 19.

8 Getting to Know Your Wireless Router

Installing Your Wireless Router Using

Smart Wizard

Prepare the following before you set up your router make sure that:

• You have Internet service through your Internet Service Provider (ISP).

• You are using a PC with Windows Vista, Windows 2000, or Windows XP with Service Pack 2.

• Your PC has a wired Ethernet connection (not a wireless connection).

• For cable modem service, that you use the computer you first used to set up your Internet service.

The NETGEAR Smart Wizard takes you through the procedure to connect your router and PC(s). It then helps you to configure your wireless settings and enable wireless security for your network. The Smart Wizard guides you throug h the setup an d configurati on process by au tomating many of the steps. At each step in the setup process, the Smart Wizard checks to ensure that the steps you perform are successfully completed.

The wizard setup process takes about 20 minutes to complete.

To set up your router using the Smart Wizard:

Insert the Resource CD into a Windows PC. The CD automatically starts and detects the language that you are using on your PC. Accept the language option, or change to a different language.

If the CD does not automatically start, browse the CD and double-click Autorun.exe. Be sure to double-click the Autorun file that begins with an uppercase A.

2. From the CD menu, click Setup to start the Smart Wizard.

3. When the Smart Wizard prompts you to Check for Firmware Updates, click Yes to check the

NETGEAR website for new router firmware; or check No to check for updates later (see

“Accessing Your Router After Installation and Checking for New Firmware” in Chapter 1).

4. Follow the instructions and prompts to complete the installation.

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Wireless Router Setup Manual

The Smart Wizard guides you through installing your router, connecting your router to the Internet, configuring your wireless network settings, and selecting the optimum security protection for your network. If you choose not to select a security option during installation, you can always access the router’s user interface later to select a security option (see “Setting

Your SSID and Wireless Security Manually” on page 21 or “Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to Configure Your Wireless Network” on page 23).

To ensure optimum performance of your high-speed wireless router, the wireless adapter card for each computer in your network should support the same technology as your router (see the online User Manual for more information).

You are now connected to the Internet!

After connecting to the Internet, you can:

• Log in to the router and check for new firmware. Refer to the bottom label for the default login information, or see the steps in “Accessing Your Router After Installation and Checking for

New Firmware” on page 19.

• Set up additional wireless computers in your network for Internet access (see “Configuring

Your Wireless Settings and Security Options” on page 21).

For advanced features not covered in this manual, see the User Manual on your Resource CD. A link to the online User Manual also is available from the router interface.

The factory default state is restored when you use the restore factory settings button. See “Restoring the Default Password and Configuration Settings” on page 40 for more information about this feature.

10 Installing Your Wireless Router Using Smart Wizard

Installing Your Wireless Router Manually

(Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)

Before installing and connecting your router manually, review the list below and make sure that you have all of the necessary information.

• Internet ADSL or cable modem service connection to an Internet Service Provider (ISP).

• The configuration information your ISP gave you. Depending on how your Internet account was set up, you might need the following information to set up your wireless router and access the Internet:

– Host and Domain Name – Internet Login Name and Password (frequently an email address and password) – Domain Name Server (DNS) Addresses – Fixed or Static IP Address Your ISP should have provided you with all the information needed to connect to the Internet.

If you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP.

If you have not already done so:

• Check the package contents of your router to ensure that it is complete (see “Unpacking Your

New Wireless Router” on page 1”).

• Select an optimum location for your wireless router after reviewing the guidelines presented in

“Positioning Your Wireless Router” on page 6.”

Connecting Your Wireless Router

Before you install your wireless router, make sure that the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Property settings on your computer are set to “automatically obtain an IP address” using DHCP and “Obtain DNS server address automatically.” You can check these settings by looking at the TCP/IP Properties of your Internal Network Connections, which are accessible through the Control Panel

Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users) 11

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