Configuring Your Wireless Network

22

Configuring Your Wireless Network

This section describes additional configuration and testing for your network, after you have

performed basic installation of the Wireless Router.

For a wireless connection, the router and each wireless computer must use the same SSID, also

called the wireless network name, and the same wireless security. NETGEAR strongly

recommends that you use wireless security.

Specifying Wireless Settings

The Wireless Settings screen lets you set your wireless network connections, specify your network

name (SSID), and set the wireless security option for your router. To configure the wireless

network, you can either manually specify your network name and your wireless security settings

(see

“Setting Your SSID and Wireless Security Manually” on page 23

) or, if the clients in your

network are WPS capable, you can use Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) to automatically transmit

your WPA/WPA2 security settings to the client device (see

“Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to

Configure Your Wireless Network” on page 24

).

For a complete overview of all the security configurations that can be implemented on this router,

see the online

User Manual

.

Indoors, computers can connect over wireless networks at a range of several hundred

feet. This can allow others outside of your immediate area to access your network.

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.

If you configure the router from a wireless computer and you change the router’s

SSID, channel, or security settings, you will lose your wireless connection when

you click

Apply

. You must then change your computer’s wireless settings to match

the router’s new settings. To avoid this situation, use a computer that is connected

to the router with an Ethernet cable.

Configuring Your Wireless Network

23

Setting Your SSID and Wireless Security Manually

To specify the wireless settings, you must know the following:

•

SSID (wireless network name). The default SSID for the router is

NETGEAR

.

•

The wireless mode (802.11g/b, or 802.11n) that each wireless adapter supports.

•

Wireless security option. The router’s default security setting is

None,

but NETGEAR

strongly recommends that you use wireless security.

To successfully implement wireless security, check each wireless device to determine which

wireless security option they support. Your N300 Wireless router and all wireless devices

connected to your N300 Wireless router must have the same security. For details on the various

security options, see the

User Manual.

A link to the

User Manual

is on your

Resource CD

To set up basic wireless connectivity:

1.

Log in to the N300 Wireless router by entering

http://www.routerlogin.net

or

in the address field of your browser. Enter the default user name

of

admin

and default password of

password.

Click

Enter.

2.

On the main menu, select

Wireless Settings

to display the Wireless Settings screen which

includes your

Wireless Network

and

Security Options

settings.

3.

Select a Wireless Network

Name (SSID).

The default SSID is

NETGEAR

.

4.

Set the

Region

. Select the region where the router is located. (In the United States, the region

is preconfigured by default.)

5.

Select a

Channel

. Usually it is not necessary to change the default channel settings unless you

experience interference.

6.

Leave the wireless

Mode

set to its default setting.

7.

By default, your

Security Options

are set to None. You can configure your security now (see

“Setting Your SSID and Wireless Security Manually” on page 23

or

“Using Push 'N' Connect

(WPS) to Configure Your Wireless Network” on page 24

) or you can complete configuring

and testing your basic Wireless Settings and then configure security.

8.

Click

Apply

to save your changes.

The SSID of any wireless adapters must match the SSID you configure in the

N300 Wireless router. If they do not match, you will not get a wireless

connection.

Configuring Your Wireless Network

24

To set up your computers for wireless connectivity:

1.

Program the wireless settings of each computer or wireless adapter to have the same SSID

(wireless network name) as the router.

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 previously).

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 N300 Wireless router, launch a

browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer or Firefox. You should see the N300 Wireless

router’s Internet status light 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 configure

the router’s SSID and security settings and, at the same time, connect a wireless client securely

and easily to the router (computers that will connect wirelessly to the router are clients). Look for

the

symbol on your client device.

1

WPS will automatically configure the SSID and wireless

security settings for the router (

only

if the router is in its default state) and transmit these settings

to the wireless client at the same time.

However, if the router has already been configured using one of the following methods:

•

Manually, and either WPS-PSK or WPA2-PSK security has been enabled and an SSID

selected; or

For a Windows PC, go to the Control Panel and select Network Connections.

For an Apple PC, select 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.

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

.

Configuring Your Wireless Network

25

•

Push 'N' Connect has been used to configure the router and establish a connection between the

router and a client when the router is in its default state;

then additional wireless clients can be connected quickly and simply by using the WPS method of

connecting to the wireless network. In this case, the router preserves its existing wireless settings

(SSID and security) and transmits them to the WPS-capable client.

1

If you install a NETGEAR adapter that supports WPS, follow its installation procedures to guide

you through establishing a wireless secure connection using WPS.

The following instructions assume that you are using Push 'N' Connect to configure the router for

the first time (or the router is in its default state) and you are connecting to a WPS-capable device.

(For more information on setting up a mixed network of WPS-capable and non-WPS-capable

devices, see the online

User Manual

.)

To configure the router and create a secure network connection between router and client:

1.

Press the Push 'N' Connect button on the front of your router. The router WPS button will start

to blink:

•

The router will enable WPA/WPA2 security with a PSK security password and will create

a random SSID.

•

It will then transmit its SSID and security settings to your client device.

•

A message should display on your client device noting the connection status.

2.

Go to your client device and follow the instructions on your client device networking utility

for connecting to the router. You have approximately 2 minutes to complete your connection.

If no connection is detected:

•

The WPS light will blink intensely for a few seconds and then cease blinking.

•

Neither the SSID nor the WPA/WPA2 security settings will be configured on the router.

•

A “not successful” message should display on your client device. (The WPS detection

may have timed out; try again.)

If a connection is established:

If you choose to use Push 'N' Connect (WPS), the security methods supported are

WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK. WEP with Shared key authentication is not supported

by WPS.

1. Push 'N' Connect can also be used to connect additional wireless clients if security is set to None.

Configuring Your Wireless Network

26

•

The WPS light will cease blinking.

•

The router will have generated an SSID, implemented WPA/WPA2 wireless security

(including a PSK security password), and transmitted these settings to the client; the client

now shares the same security settings as the router.

•

A “Success” message should display on your client device.

After configuring wireless security on your router, either by using

“Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS)

to Configure Your Wireless Network” on page 24

, or by setting up wireless security manually (see

“Setting Your SSID and Wireless Security Manually” on page 23

), you can add additional clients

to your network by using the Push 'N' Connect button or by logging in to your wireless router.

To add additional clients to your network using the WPS button:

1.

Press the WPS push-button on the router.

2.

The router will attempt to communicate with the client; you have 2 minutes to enable WPS

from the client device using the client’s WPS networking utility.

•

If no connection is detected:

–

The client device networking utility screen should display a message confirming that

WPS did not establish a connection with the N300 Wireless router.

–

No security settings were transmitted or configured on the client device.

•

If a connection is established:

–

The client device networking utility screen should display a message confirming that

the wireless client was successfully added to your wireless network.

–

The N300 Wireless router’s SSID and wireless security settings were successfully

transmitted to the client; the client now shares the same security settings as the router.

To add additional clients to your network using WPS from the router menu:

1.

Log in to the N300 Wireless router by entering

http://www.routerlogin.net

or

in the address field of your browser. Enter the default user name

of

admin

and default password of

password.

Click

Enter.

2.

On the router main menu, select

Add a WPS Client

. The Add WPS Client wizard screen

displays. Click

Next.