Configuring Your Wireless Network

22

2.

Check that the wireless adapter on each computer can support the mode and security option

that you selected. (If you have a question, see the online

User Manual

or review the settings

you selected in

“Setting Your SSID and Wireless Security” on page 21

).

3.

Check that the security settings on each wireless device match the security settings of the

router. For example, if you selected a security option requiring a passphrase, then the same

passphrase must be used for each wireless computer.

4.

Check that each wireless computer has a wireless link and is able to obtain an IP address by

DHCP from the router.

To access the Internet from any computer connected to your wireless router, launch a browser such

as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox. You should see the wireless router’s Internet

LED blink, indicating communication to the ISP.

Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to Configure Your Wireless

Network

If your wireless clients support Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), you can use this feature to connect

the wireless client securely and easily to the router. Look for the

symbol on your client

device.

1

Select Apple Menu > Control Panels and select Network Connections. Check

the Wireless Connections Properties and ensure that TCP/IP Properties are set

to Obtain an IP address automatically.

NETGEAR’s Push 'N' Connect feature is based on the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS)

standard. All other Wi-Fi-certified and WPS-capable products should be compatible

with NETGEAR products that implement Push 'N' Connect.

1. For a list of other Wi-Fi-certified products available from NETGEAR, go to

.

Configuring Your Wireless Network

23

You can use WPS in one of two ways:

•

If the router’s SSID and security option have already been set (see

“Setting Your SSID and

Wireless Security” on page 21

), a wireless device can be connected to your wireless network

quickly and simply by using WPS. In this case, the existing wireless settings are transmitted to

the WPS-capable device.

•

If the router’s wireless options have not yet been configured (the router is in its default state),

WPS automatically configures the SSID and wireless security settings for the router and then

transmits these settings to the wireless device, such as a wireless PC.

The first method is explained here. For more information on the second method, see the

User

Manual

.

If your network consists of WPS capable devices and non-WPS capable devices, NETGEAR

suggests that you set up your wireless network and security settings first using the manual or

traditional method (see

“Setting Your SSID and Wireless Security” on page 21

), and use WPS

only for adding additional WPS capable devices.

To add a wireless device using WPS:

1.

Press the WPS button on your router. The router will start transmitting its wireless settings.

You have 2 minutes to press a corresponding WPS button on your wireless device.

2.

On your wireless device, either:

•

Press an external WPS button on the outside of the device or,

•

Open the WPS utility on the device and follow the instructions to connect using WPS.

The WPS LED on the router will continue to blink during the 2-minute window. If no connection

is made, when the LED stops blinking it will turn off.

Then, to access the Internet, launch a browser (such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla

Firefox) from the device. You should see the wireless router’s Internet LED blink, indicating

communication with the ISP.

The only security setting that doesn’t work with WPS is WEP with shared-key

authentication.

When one device is connected successfully, the WPS LED will remain on. As you

connect subsequent devices, even if the connection fails, the WPS LED remains on

because wireless security is still on.

Configuring Your Wireless Network

24

For more information on setting up your wireless network and configuring your wireless security

settings, see the

User Manual

. A link to the online

User Manual

is on your

Resource CD.

Troubleshooting

25

Troubleshooting

If you have difficulties accessing the Internet, use the Basic Setup Checklist to make sure that you

have connected and set up your router correctly. If your basic setup is correct, then look for your

problem in one of the subsequent sections.

Basic Setup Checklist

The following items are the most common errors made when initially setting up a router. Carefully

review the checklist to make sure that you have followed the recommended procedures.

•

Be sure you always start your network in this sequence:

1.

Turn off and unplug the modem from the power outlet. Next, turn off the wireless router

and computer.

2.

Turn on the modem and wait 2 minutes.

3.

Turn on the wireless router and wait 1 minute.

4.

Turn on the computer.

•

Make sure the Ethernet cables are securely plugged in

.

–

The Internet status light on the wireless router will be lit if the Ethernet cable to the

wireless router from the modem is plugged in securely and the modem and wireless router

are both turned on (see

“Connecting Your Wireless Router” on page 12

).

–

For each powered-on computer connected to the wireless router with a securely plugged-

in Ethernet cable, the corresponding wireless router LAN port status light will be lit. The

label on the back of the wireless router identifies the number of each LAN port (see

“LAN

(Ports 1–4)” on page 3

).

•

Make sure the network settings of the computer are correct.

–

LAN connected computers

must

be configured to obtain an IP address automatically using

DHCP. For more information, see the links in

“Related Documents” on page 36

.

For more information, refer to the online

User Manual.

A link to this document is

included on the

Resource CD

, and is also available from the router interface, after the

router is installed. Click

Documentation

on the main menu.

Troubleshooting

26

–

Some cable modem services 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.” 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 after turning the router on, reset the router according to

the instructions in

“Restoring the Default Password and Configuration Settings” on page 35

.

Checking Basic Router Functions

After you turn on power to the router, check that the following sequence of events has occurred:

1.

When power is first applied, verify that the power light is on (see

“Front Panel” on page 2

for

an illustration).

2.

Verify that the power light turns amber within a few seconds, indicating that the self-test

procedure is running.

3.

After approximately 1 minute, verify that:

a.

The color of the power light changes to green.

b.

The LAN port lights are lit for any local ports that are connected.

If a port’s light is lit, a link has been established to the connected device. If a LAN port is

connected to a 100 Mbps device, verify that the port’s light is green. If the port is 10

Mbps, the light will be amber.

c.

The Internet port is connected and its light is lit.

4.

If you have enabled wireless security, verify that the Push 'N' Connect status light is lit

(otherwise the Push 'N' Connect status light should be off).

If the correct behavior does not occur, check for a remedy from the following list:

•

Power Light Not On.

If the Power and other lights are off (see

“Connecting Your Wireless

Router” on page 12

), check the following:

–

Make sure that the power cord is properly connected to your router and that the power

adapter is properly connected to a functioning power outlet.

–

Check that you are using the power adapter supplied by NETGEAR for this product.

If the error persists, you have a hardware problem and should contact technical support.

•

Power Light Blinks Green Slowly and Continuously.

The router firmware is corrupted.