Netgear orporated 08400093 Users Manual
Wireless Router Setup
Manual
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134 USA
August 2008
208-10149-04
v1.0
© 2008 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
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.
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Contents
Getting to Know Your Wireless Router ................................................................................ 1
Unpacking Your New Wireless Router ............................................................................... 1
Hardware Features ............................................................................................................ 3
Positioning Your Wireless Router ......................................................................................5
Installing Your Wireless Router .......................................................................................... 5
Updating Your Router Firmware ........................................................................................ 6
Installing Your Wireless Router Using Smart Wizard ......................................................... 7
Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users) ................ 9
Connecting Your Wireless Router ...................................................................................... 9
Verifying Your Connection ............................................................................................... 12
Setting Up Your Router for Internet Access ..................................................................... 13
Configuring Your Wireless Network for Internet Access ................................................. 17
Accessing Your Wireless Router after Installation and Checking for New Firmware ....... 17
Configuring Your Wireless Settings and Security Options ............................................... 19
Testing Basic Wireless Connectivity ................................................................................23
Troubleshooting...................................................................................................................25
Basic Setup Checklist ...................................................................................................... 25
Checking Basic Router Functions ................................................................................... 26
Troubleshooting Login Problems ..................................................................................... 28
Checking the Internet Service Connection ...................................................................... 29
Troubleshooting Connectivity Using the Ping Utility ........................................................31
Default Configuration and Technical Specifications ........................................................ 35
Default Configuration Settings ......................................................................................... 35
Restoring the Default Password and Configuration .........................................................36
Technical Specifications ...................................................................................................37
Related Documents..............................................................................................................39
Registration and Certifications............................................................................................ 41
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Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
Congratulations on your purchase of a NETGEAR® high-speed wireless router, the RangeMax™
Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500.
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 of your router—
especially the LEDs—and the important information on the router label (see “Hardware Features”
on page 3). Then, read the section on “Positioning Your Wireless Router” on page 5 to ensure that
you have selected the best location to install your router.
Unpacking Your New Wireless Router
Your 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.
Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 1
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Wireless Router Setup Manual
To prepare your router for installation:
1. Carefully peel off the protective film covering both sides of your router.
Figure 1
2. Set up your wireless router by inserting the tabs of the stand (supplied with your router) into
the slots on the bottom of your router as shown in Figure 2. Then, remove the protective film
covering the front panel of the router.
Figure 2
3. Place your router in a suitable area for installation (near an AC power outlet and accessible to
the Ethernet cables for your wired computers).
To ensure proper heat dissipation and for router stability, it is important that you
connect the stand and place your router in an upright position.
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Wireless Router Setup Manual
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.
Front Panel
You can use the LEDs on the front of the router to verify various conditions.
Power
On – Amber The router is performing the power-on self-test diagnostic.
On – Green The power is on and the router is ready.
Blink fast– Green A software update is in progress.
Blink slow– Green The firmware is corrupt. See “Restore the wireless router
firmware:” on page 27 for instructions on restoring your
firmware.
Off Power is not being supplied to the router.
Internet
On – Amber No IP address acquired.
On – Green The wireless router has acquired an Internet address.
Blink – Green Data is being communicated with the Internet.
Off No Ethernet cable is connected to the modem.
Wireless
On – Blue The wireless interface is enabled.
Blink – Blue Data is being communicated over the wireless network.
Off The wireless interface is turned off.
LAN (Ports 1–4)
On – Green The local port is connected to a 1000 Mbps device.
Blink – Green Data is being transmitted at 1000 Mbps.
On – Amber The local port is connected to a 10/100 Mbps device.
Blink – Amber Data is being transmitted at 10/100 Mbps.
Off No link is detected on this port.
WPS button/light
On – Green WPS wireless security is being enabled.
Blink – Green Device is in the 2 minute interval to synchronize security.
Blink – Amber There is an error in enabling WPS security.
Off WPS is not being set or enabled.
Figure 3
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Wireless Router Setup Manual
RangeMax™ Wireless-N Gigabit Router WNR3500
Back Panel
Figure 4 describes the port connections on the back panel of the wireless router.
1. Antenna light on/off push button. The lights on top of the router
identify the activity of the eight internal antennas, flashing to show
which combination of antennas is receiving the strongest signals.
These antenna lights are off by default but can be turned on.
2. Factory default reset button. Press the reset button with a sharp
object for approximately 20 seconds to reset the router to the
factory default settings.
3. Four Local Area Network (LAN) 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet ports
for connecting the router to your local computers.
4. Internet/Wide Area Network (WAN) Ethernet port for connecting
the router to a cable or DSL modem.
5. AC power adapter outlet for connecting the power adapter.
Figure 4
Router Label
The label on the back of the wireless router shows the router’s MAC address, serial number,
security PIN, and factory default login information.
The ports on the router are color-coded to distinguish your Internet port from the other four ports
that connect to the wired computer(s) on your LAN.
Figure 5
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Wireless Router Setup Manual
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.
• 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, modem,
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 9).
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” to use the Smart Wizard.
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– 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.
– The 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.
• 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 9. For example, if you
are connecting to a Macintosh, 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 9).
2. Set up your wireless router for Internet access (see “Setting Up Your Router for Internet
Access” on page 13).
3. Configure your wireless network and select wireless security settings to protect your
wireless network (see “Configuring Your Wireless Settings and Security Options” 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.
These options are discussed later in “Restoring the Default Password and Configuration” on
page 36.
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Installing Your Wireless
Router Using Smart
Wizard
Prepare the following before you set up your Product Family:
• Internet service.
• The configuration information your Internet Service Provider (ISP) gave you. Depending on
how your Internet account was set up, you might need one or more of these settings for the
wireless router to access the Internet:
– Host and domain names
– Internet login name and password (frequently an e-mail 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, you can ask your ISP to provide it.
• For cable modem service, 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 through the setup process by automating 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 set up process takes about 20 minutes to complete.
To install your router using the Smart Wizard:
1.
Insert the Resource CD into your 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.
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Wireless Router Setup Manual
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. When the Welcome screen appears, click Setup to start the Smart Wizard. Follow the
instructions and prompts to complete the installation.
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 main menu later to select a security option (see “Setting
Your SSID and Wireless Security Manually” on page 19or “Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to
Configure Your Wireless Network” on page 21.
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).
The Smart Wizard places a Router_Setup.html file containing your settings on your
computer’s desktop, so you can conveniently view the settings at any time. It also places the
Router login shortcut on the desktop for you to access the router’s main menu.
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 main menu.
The factory default state is restored when you use the restore factory settings button.
See “Restoring the Default Password and Configuration” on page 36 for more
information about this feature.
8 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 service connection through 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 cable modem service, make sure that you are using the same computer on which
you first set up your Internet account.
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 5.”
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) 9
Wireless Router Setup Manual
of your computer. If you are unsure about this, refer to the documentation for your computer or see
the link to TCP/IP Addressing in “Related Documents” on page 39.
If you are replacing an existing router, disconnect it completely from your network
and set it aside before starting to install your new router.
There are two steps to setting up your wireless router:
1. Connect the Product Family to the ADSL or cable modem, and connect a computer to the
Product Family.
2. Configure the Product Family to use your Internet service.
To connect your wireless router:
Connect the wireless router, the computer, and the modem.
1.
a. Turn off your computer.
b. Turn off and unplug the cable or ADSL broadband modem.
c. Locate the Ethernet cable (1) that connects your computer to the modem.
1
2
Figure 6
2. Disconnect the cable at the modem end only (2). You will connect it to the router later.
10 Installing Your Wireless Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)
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