User manual
Table Of Contents
- Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Tri-Band WiFi Router
- Contents
- 1. Hardware Setup
- 2. Connect to the Network and Access the Router
- 3. Specify Your Internet Settings
- 4. Optimize Performance
- 5. Control Access to the Internet
- 6. Tri-Band WiFi Connections
- 7. Share USB Devices Attached to the Router
- 8. Access USB Devices Through the Internet
- 9. Use the Router as a Media Server
- 10. Share a USB Printer
- 11. Network Settings
- Set Up a Default DMZ Server
- Change the Router’s Device Name
- Change the LAN TCP/IP Settings
- Specify the IP Addresses That the Router Assigns
- Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router
- Reserve LAN IP Addresses
- Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections
- Specify Basic WiFi Settings
- Change the WiFi Password or Security Level
- Set Up a Guest Network
- Control the Wireless Radios
- Set Up a Wireless Schedule
- Specify WPS Settings
- 12. Manage Your Network
- 13. Use VPN to Access Your Network
- 14. Specify Internet Port Settings
- 15. Troubleshooting
- Sequence to Restart Your Network
- Check Ethernet Cable Connections
- Wireless Settings
- Network Settings
- Standard LED Behavior When the Router is Powered On
- Power LED Is Off or Blinking
- Power LED Stays Amber
- LEDs Never Turn Off
- Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off
- WiFi LED Is Off
- Cannot Log In to the Router
- Cannot Access the Internet
- Changes Not Saved
- Wireless Connectivity
- Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility
- A. Supplemental Information
Tri-Band WiFi Connections
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Nighthawk X6 AC3200 Tri-Band WiFi Router
For example, if three mobile devices are connected to one 5 GHz band, the fourth device is
automatically connected to the other 5 GHz band.
Internet
Printer
Legacy devices
Dual-band WiFi devices
IP camera
Dual-band AC WiFi devices
iPad Phone
Fast
2.4 WiFi band
Up to 600 Mbps
Faster
5 GHz WiFi Band 1
Up to 1.3 Gbps
Fastest
5 GHz WiFi Band 2
Up to 1.3 Gbps
MacBook Pro MacBook Air
iPhone
Desktop computer
Figure 9. Load balancing in a tri-band WiFi network
Slower devices like printers, older computers, or an IP camera connect to the 2.4 GHz band.
Having two 5 GH bands prevents overloading when many devices use WiFi at the same time.
Benefits of Tri-Band WiFi
The tri-band WiFi network outperforms the dual-band network in several ways:
• More bandwidth is available.
Even with more devices connected to the network, because the connections are spread
across two dif
ferent bands, each device gets a larger share of the available WiFi
bandwidth. The computers in Figure 8, A tri-band network has two dedicated 5 GHz
bands on page 60 have a 1,300 Mbps capacity. They share a 5 GHz WiFi band, and each
has a WiFi connection speed of 650 Mbps, compared to 325 Mbps shown in Figure 7,
Dual-band WiFi network with one 5 GHz WiFi band on page 59.
• Smart Connect directs WiFi traf
fic to the appropriate lane.
With Smart Connect, older devices do not slow down faster devices.
• The router uses load balancing to avoid network congestion in each WiFi band.
With load balancing, you don’t have to share your WiFi connection with as many devices.