6

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500

Chapter 10

Troubleshooting

Quick Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Sequence to Restart Your Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Check Ethernet Cable Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Wireless Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Network Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .105

Troubleshooting with the LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

Power/Test LED Is Off or Blinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

Power/Test LED Stays Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .106

LEDs Never Turn Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Wireless LEDs Are Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

The Push 'N' Connect (WPS) Button Blinks Amber . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .107

Cannot Log In to the Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

Cannot Access the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .108

Troubleshooting PPPoE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

Troubleshooting Internet Browsing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .110

Changes Not Saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Wireless Connectivity. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Wireless Signal Strength . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Restore the Factory Settings and Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .111

Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

Test the LAN Path to Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .112

Test the Path from Your Computer to a Remote Device . . . . . . . . . . .113

Appendix A

Supplemental Information

Factory Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .114

Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .116

Appendix B

Notification of Compliance

Index

7

1

1.

Hardware Setup

Getting to know your router

The N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500 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). It is compatible with all major DSL Internet service providers, lets you

block unsafe Internet content and applications, and protects the devices (PCs, 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 3, Genie Basic Settings

,

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

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 WNDR4500

Unpack Your Router

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

Figure 1. Check the package contents

Your box should contain the following items:

•

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500

•

AC power adapter (plug varies by region)

•

Category 5 (Cat 5) 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 WNDR4500

•

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, PCs, 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.

When you use multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different radio

frequency channels to reduce interference. 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

Wireless On/Off button

Power

Internet

2.4 wireless network

5 GHz wireless network

Etherent 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/Test

•

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 has not been acquired.

•

Solid green

. An IP address has been received; ready to transmit data.

•

Off

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

2.4 GHz

•

Solid blue

. 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 has detected a 1,000 Mpbs link with an attached device.

•

Solid amber

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

•

Off

. No link is detected on this port.

USB

(2 LEDs)

•

Solid

. The USB device had been accepted by the router and is ready to be used.

•

Blinking

. The USB device is in use.

•

Off

. No USB device is connected, or the Safely Remove Hardware button has been clicked

and it is now safe to remove the attached USB device.

Hardware Setup

10

N900 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router WNDR4500

The WLAN and WPS buttons toggle the WLAN and WPS functions on and off.

•

WLAN On/Off button

. Pressing and holding the wireless LAN button for 2 seconds

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

are lit, then the wireless radio is on. If these LEDs are off, then the wireless radios are

turned off and you cannot connect wirelessly to the router.

•

WPS button

. You can 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.