6

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router R4500

Changes Not Saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Wireless Connectivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .113

Wireless Signal Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Restore the Factory Settings and Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Test the LAN Path to Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Test the Path from Your Computer to a Remote Device . . . . . . . . . . . 115

Appendix A

Supplemental Information

Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118

Appendix B

Notification of Compliance

Index

7

1

1.

Hardware Setup

Getting to know your router

The N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router R4500 provides you with an easy and secure way

to set up a wireless home network with fast access to the Internet over a high-speed digital

subscriber line (DSL) or through a cable broadband service provider. It is compatible with all

major DSL Internet service providers and cable broadband service providers, lets you block

unsafe Internet content and applications, and protects the devices (computers, gaming

consoles, and so on) that you connect to your home network.

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.

Chapter 2, Getting Started with NETGEAR

genie

,

explains how to set up your Internet connection.

This chapter contains the following sections:

•

Unpack Your Router

•

Position Your Router

•

Hardware Features

For information about ReadySHARE features in your product, see

Chapter 5, USB Storage

, and

visit

www.netgear.com/readyshare

.

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

.

Hardware Setup

8

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router R4500

Unpack Your Router

Open the box and remove the router, cables, and installation guide.

Ethernet cable

Power adapter

N900 Wireless Router

(with stand attached)

Power cord

Figure 1. Check the package contents

Your box contains the following items:

•

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router R4500

•

AC power adapter (plug varies by region)

•

Category 5 (Cat 5E) Ethernet cable

•

Installation guide with cabling and router setup instructions

If any parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer. Keep the

carton and original packing materials, in case you need to return the product for repair.

Position Your Router

The 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 passes through can limit the range. For

best results, place your router:

•

Near the center of the area where your computers and other devices operate and

preferably within line of sight to your wireless devices.

•

So it is accessible to an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables for wired computers.

Hardware Setup

9

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router R4500

•

In an elevated location such as a high shelf, keeping the number of walls and ceilings

between the router and your other devices to a minimum.

•

Away from electrical devices that are potential sources of interference, such as ceiling

fans, home security systems, microwaves, computers, or the base of a cordless phone or

2.4 GHz 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.

To reduce interference when you use multiple access points, ensure that adjacent access

points use different radio frequency channels. The recommended channel spacing between

adjacent access points is 5 channels. (For example, use Channels 1 and 6, or 6 and 11).

Hardware Features

Before you cable your router, take a moment to become familiar with the label and the front

and back panels. Pay particular attention to the LEDs on the front panel.

Front Panel

The router front panel has the status LEDs and icons shown in the following figure.

WPS button and LED

WiFi On/Off button

Power

Internet

2.4 wireless network

5 GHz wireless network

Ethernet LAN ports 1–4

USB port 1

USB port 2

Router stand (attached)

Figure 2. Router, front view

Table 1.

Front panel LED descriptions

LED

Description

Power

•

Solid amber

. The unit is starting up after being powered on.

•

Solid green

. The power is on and the router is ready.

•

Blinking amber

. A firmware update is in progress.

•

Blinking green

. The firmware is corrupt.

•

Off

. Power is not supplied to the router.

Internet

•

Solid amber

. The IP address was not acquired.

•

Solid green

. IP address was received. The router is ready to transmit data.

•

Off

. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.

2.4 GHz

•

Solid green

. The wireless radio is operating.

•

Off

. The wireless radio is off.

5 GHz

•

Solid blue

. The wireless radio is operating.

•

Off

. The wireless radio is off.

LAN ports

1–4

•

Solid green

. The LAN port detected a 1,000 Mbps link with an attached device.

•

Solid amber

. The LAN port detected a 10/100 Mbps link with an attached device.

•

Off

. No link is detected on this port.

USB

(2 LEDs)

•

Solid green

. The router has accepted the USB device.

•

Blinking green

. The USB device is in use.

•

Off

. No USB device is connected, or the Safely Remove Hardware button was clicked, and it

is now safe to remove the attached USB device.

Hardware Setup

10

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router R4500

The WiFi On/Off and WPS buttons toggle the wireless and WPS functions on and off.

•

WiFi On/Off button

.

Pressing and holding the WiFi On/Off button for 2 seconds

turns on and off the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless radios. If the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz LEDs

are lit, the wireless radios are on. If these LEDs are off, the wireless radios are turned off

and you cannot connect wirelessly to the router.

•

WPS button

. Use this button to use WPS to add a wireless device or computer to

your wireless network. The LED below the WPS button blinks green when the router is

trying to add the wireless device or computer. The LED stays solid green when wireless

security is enabled in the router.