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1

1.

Hardware Setup

This chapter covers the following topics:

•

Unpack Your Modem Router

•

Front Panel

•

Rear Panel

•

Position Your Gateway

•

Cable Your Modem Router

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

Hardware Setup

7

N600 WiFi Cable Modem Router Model C3700

Unpack Your Modem Router

Your package contains the following items.

Ethernet cable

Power adapter

Modem router

Figure 1. Package contents

Front Panel

The modem router has status LEDs and buttons on the front.

Power LED

Downstream LED

Upstream LED

Internet LED

WPS button / LED

WiFi On/Off button

5 GHz LED

2.4 GHz LED

Ethernet LED

USB LED

Figure 2. Modem router front view

Hardware Setup

8

N600 WiFi Cable Modem Router Model C3700

You can use the LEDs to verify status and connections. The following table lists and

describes each LED and button on the front panel of the modem router.

Table 1.

LED and button descriptions

LED

Description

WPS button with

LED

This button lets you use WPS to join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi password.

The WPS LED blinks during this process and then lights solid.

WiFi On/Off

button with LED

Pressing this button for two seconds turns the WiFi radios in the modem router on and off. If

this LED is lit, the WiFi radios are on. If this LED is off, the WiFi radios are turned off and

you cannot use WiFi to connect to the modem router.

Power

•

Green

. Power is supplied to the modem router.

•

Off

. No power is supplied to the modem router.

Downstream

•

Solid green

. One or more downstream channels are locked.

•

Blinking green

. The unit is scanning for a downstream channel.

•

Off

. No downstream channel is locked.

Upstream

•

Solid green

. One or more upstream channels are locked.

•

Blinking green

. The unit is scanning for an upstream channel.

•

Off

. No upstream channel is locked.

Internet

•

Solid green

. The modem router is online.

•

Blinking green

. The modem router is synchronizing with the cable provider’s cable

modem termination system (CMTS).

•

Off

. The modem router is offline.

2.4 GHz radio

•

Green

. The 2.4 GHz radio is on.

•

Off

. The 2.4 GHz radio is off.

5 GHz radio

•

Green

. The 5 GHz radio is on.

•

Off

. The 5 GHz radio is off.

Ethernet

•

Green

. A device is connected to an Ethernet port and powered on.

•

Off

. No device is connected to an Ethernet port.

USB

•

Green

. A USB device is connected to the port on the back panel.

•

Off

. No USB device is connected to the port on the back panel.

Hardware Setup

9

N600 WiFi Cable Modem Router Model C3700

Rear Panel

The rear panel has the connections and buttons shown the following figure.

Power adapter input

Ethernet LAN ports

Coaxial cable connector

Power On/Off button

USB port (optional)

Figure 3. Modem router rear panel

Position Your Gateway

The modem 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 modem 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 modem

router’s signal. Wireless access points are modem routers, repeaters, WiFi range extenders,

or any other device that emits a wireless signal for network access.

Position your modem router according to the following guidelines:

•

Place your modem router near the center of the area where your computers and other

devices operate, and within line of sight to your wireless devices.

Hardware Setup

10

N600 WiFi Cable Modem Router Model C3700

•

Make sure that the modem router is within reach of an AC power outlet and near Ethernet

cables for wired computers.

•

Place the modem router in an elevated location, minimizing the number walls and ceilings

between the modem router and your other devices.

•

Place the modem router away from electrical devices such as these:

-

Ceiling fans

-

Home security systems

-

Microwaves

-

Computers

-

Base of a cordless phone

-

2.4 GHz cordless phone

•

Place the modem router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, and

insulated walls such as these:

-

Solid metal door

-

Aluminum studs

-

Fish tanks

-

Mirrors

-

Brick

-

Concrete

•

(Optional) If you have adjacent access points, use different radio frequency channels to

reduce interference.

Cable Your Modem Router

The most common way to cable your modem router is the simplest, without any other routers

or gateways on the same network. You can also cable the modem router to another router or

gateway and log in to the modem router to specify this setting.