AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas User Manual Model R6230 September 2017 202-11781-01 350 E.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Support Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit www.netgear.com/support to register your product, get help, access the latest downloads and user manuals, and join our community. We recommend that you use only official NETGEAR support resources. Conformity For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621. Compliance For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.
Contents Chapter 1 Hardware Overview Unpack Your Router...............................................................................................9 LED Descriptions.................................................................................................10 Ports, Buttons, and Connectors on the Back Panel.............................................11 Router Label........................................................................................................12 Position the Router..........
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Delete a QoS Rule...............................................................................................39 Delete All QoS Rule.............................................................................................39 Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug and Play..............................40 Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service.....................................................................
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Set Up Security Event Email Notifications...........................................................70 Chapter 9 Share a USB Printer Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer....................................................73 Download the ReadySHARE Printer Utility..........................................................73 Install the ReadySHARE Printer Utility................................................................
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Enable or Disable the WiFi Radios................................................................100 Set Up a WiFi Schedule.....................................................................................101 Specify WPS Settings........................................................................................101 Use the Router as a WiFi Access Point.............................................................102 Custom Static Routes.................
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas WiFi LED Is Off..............................................................................................129 You Cannot Log In to the Router........................................................................129 You Cannot Access the Internet.........................................................................129 Troubleshoot Internet Browsing.........................................................................131 Changes Are Not Saved........
Hardware Overview 1 This chapter contains the following sections: • • • • • • Unpack Your Router LED Descriptions Ports, Buttons, and Connectors on the Back Panel Router Label Position the Router Cable Your Router For more information about the topics that are covered in this manual, visit the support website at netgear.com/support. Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made available from time to time at downloadcenter.netgear.com.You can check for and download new firmware manually.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Unpack Your Router The box contains the following items. Figure 1. Package contents Table 1. Legend 1. Router 2. Ethernet cable 3. Power adapter In some regions, a CD is included in the package.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas LED Descriptions The following table describes the LEDs on the router. Table 2. LED descriptions LED Description Power LED • Solid green. The power is on, and the router is ready. • Blinking green. A firmware update is in progress. • Off. Power is not supplied to the router. • Solid green. The Internet connection is ready. • Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem. • Solid green. The wireless radio is operating.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Table 2. LED descriptions (Continued) LED Description USB LED WPS LED • Solid green. A USB device is connected and is ready. • Blinking. A USB device is plugged in and is trying to connect. • Off. No USB device is connected, or someone clicked the Safely Remove Hardware button and it is now safe to remove the attached USB device. The WPS LED blinks green during the WPS process and then lights solid green. • Blinking for two minutes.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas • Internet WAN port. Use the yellow Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 WAN port to connect the router to a modem. • Reset button. Pressing this button resets the router. If the Reset button is pressed for at least seven seconds and the Power LED blinks green, the router returns to its factory settings. • Power On/Off button. Press the Power On/Off button to provide power to the router. • DC power connector.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas • - Computers - Base of a cordless phone - 2.4 GHz cordless phone - 5 GHz cordless phone Place the router away from large metal surfaces, large glass surfaces, insulated walls, and items such as these: - Solid metal door - Aluminum studs - Fish tanks - Mirrors - Brick - Concrete If you are using adjacent access points, use different radio frequency channels to reduce interference.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 4. Connect the power adapter to your router and plug the power adapter into an outlet. 5. If the Power LED does not light, press the Power On/Off button on the back panel of the router.
Connect to the Network and Access the Router 2 You can connect to the router’s WiFi networks or use a wired Ethernet connection. This chapter explains the ways you can connect and how to access the router and log in.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Connect to the Network You can connect to the router’s network through a wired or WiFi connection. If you set up your computer to use a static IP address, change the settings so that it uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP). Wired Connection You can connect your computer to the router using an Ethernet cable and join the router’s local area network (LAN). To connect your computer to the router with an Ethernet cable: 1.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Types of Logins Separate types of logins serve different purposes. It is important that you understand the difference so that you know which login to use when. Several types of logins are associated with the router: • ISP login. The login that your ISP gave you logs you in to your Internet service. Your service provider gave you this login information in a letter or some other way. If you cannot find this login information, contact your service provider.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 3. Launch a web browser. The page that displays depends on whether you accessed the router before: • • The first time you set up the Internet connection for your router, the browser goes to http://www.routerlogin.net and the Configuring the Internet Connection page displays. If you already set up the Internet connection, enter http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field for your browser to start the installation process. 4.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The BASIC Home page displays. Install the Router With the NETGEAR Up App With the NETGEAR Up app, you can easily install your router. The app automatically updates the router to the latest firmware, allows you to personalize your WiFi network, and even helps register your router with NETGEAR. The NETGEAR Up app is available for iOS and Android mobile devices. To install your router using the NETGEAR Up app: 1. Cable your router. 2.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas • Automatically repair common WiFi network problems. • Easily manage router features like Live Parental Controls, guest access, Internet traffic meter, speed test, and more. To use the genie app to access the router: 1. Visit the NETGEAR genie web page at NETGEAR.com/genie. 2. Follow the onscreen instructions to install the app on your smartphone, tablet, or computer. 3. Launch the genie app. The genie app dashboard page displays.
Specify Your Internet Settings 3 Usually, the quickest way to set up the router to use your Internet connection is to allow the genie to detect the Internet connection when you first access the router with a web browser. You can also customize or specify your Internet settings.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Use the Internet Setup Wizard You can use the Setup Wizard to detect your Internet settings and automatically set up your router. The Setup Wizard is not the same as the pages that display the first time you connect to your router to set it up. To use the Setup Wizard: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 4. Select Internet. The Internet Setup page displays. 5. In the Does your Internet connection require a login? section, leave the No radio button selected. 6. If your Internet connection requires an account name or host name, click the Edit button in the Account Name section and enter the account name. 7. If your Internet connection requires a domain name, type it in the Domain Name (If Required) field.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 4. Select Internet. The Internet Setup page displays. 5. In the Does your Internet connection require a login? section, select the Yes radio button. 6. From the Internet Service Provider menu, select the encapsulation method: PPPoE, L2TP, or PPTP. 7. In the Login field, enter the login name that your ISP gave you. This login name is often an email address. 8. In the Password field, type the password that you use to log in to your Internet service. 9.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas To set up an IPv6 Internet connection: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6. The IPv6 page displays. 5.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Auto Detect. The page adjusts. The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Connection Type. This field indicates the connection type that is detected. • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select Auto Config. The page adjusts. The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas To set up an IPv6 Internet connection by using a 6to4 tunnel: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection In pass-through mode, the router works as a Layer 2 Ethernet switch with two ports (LAN and WAN Ethernet ports) for IPv6 packets. The router does not process any IPv6 header packets. To set up a pass-through IPv6 Internet connection: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas • Primary DNS Server. The primary DNS server that resolves IPv6 domain name records for the router. • Secondary DNS Server. The secondary DNS server that resolves IPv6 domain name records for the router. Note If you do not specify the DNS servers, the router uses the DNS servers that are configured for the IPv4 Internet connection on the Internet Setup page. (See Manually Set Up the Internet Connection on page 22.) 7.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN. This field shows the IPv6 address that is acquired for the router’s WAN (or Internet) interface. The number after the slash (/) is the length of the prefix, which is also indicated by the underline (_) under the IPv6 address. If no address is acquired, the field displays Not Available. • Router’s IPv6 Address on LAN.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > IPv6. The IPv6 page displays. 5. From the Internet Connection Type menu, select PPPoE. The page adjusts. The router automatically detects the information in the following fields: • Router’s IPv6 Address on WAN.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas • Secured. In secured mode, which is the default mode, the router inspects both TCP and UDP packets. • Open. In open mode, the router inspects UDP packets only. 12. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Change the MTU Size The maximum transmission unit (MTU) is the largest data packet a network device transmits. When one network device communicates across the Internet with another, the data packets travel through many devices along the way.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The WAN Setup page displays. 5. In the MTU Size field, enter a value from 64 to 1500. 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. If you suspect an MTU problem, a common solution is to change the MTU to 1400. If you are willing to experiment, you can gradually reduce the MTU from the maximum value of 1500 until the problem goes away. The following table describes common MTU sizes and applications. Table 3.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VLAN / IPTV Setup. The VLAN/IPTV Setup page displays. 5. Select the Enable VLAN Tag check box. 6. Click the Add button. The page adjusts. 7. Specify the settings as described in the following table.
Optimize Internet Streaming With QoS 4 You can use Quality of Service (QoS) to assign high priority to Internet streaming, applications, and services. We recommend that you enable this feature only if you use streaming Internet. When QoS assigns a high priority to streaming video, it also assigns lower priority to the rest of your Internet traffic. That means other tasks like downloading content from the Internet take longer.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Turn On Internet Access QoS To turn on Internet access QoS: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > QoS Setup. The QoS Setup page displays. 5. Select the Turn Internet Access QoS On check box. 6. Select the Add Rules QoS by Service radio button. The page adjusts. 7. In the Applications menu, select an application or service. 8.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Your settings are saved. Delete a QoS Rule To delete a QoS rule: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Improve Network Connections With Universal Plug and Play Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) helps devices such as Internet appliances and computers access the network and connect to other devices as needed. UPnP devices can automatically discover the services from other registered UPnP devices on the network.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service (WMM QoS) prioritizes WiFi voice and video traffic over the WiFi link. WMM QoS is automatically enabled for the router. WMM QoS prioritizes WiFi data packets from different applications based on four access categories: voice, video, best effort, and background. For an application to receive the benefits of WMM QoS, WMM must be enabled for both it and the client running that application.
Share USB Storage Devices Attached to the Router 5 This chapter describes how to access and manage storage devices attached to your router. ReadySHARE lets you access and share USB storage devices connected to the router. (If your storage device uses special drivers, it is not compatible.) Note The USB ports on the router can be used only to connect USB storage devices like flash drives or hard drives or a printer. Do not connect computers, USB modems, CD drives, or DVD drives to the router USB port.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas USB Device Requirements The router works with most USB-compliant external flash and hard drives. For the most up-to-date list of USB devices that the router supports, visit kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/18985/~/readyshare-usb-drives-compatibility-list. Some USB external hard drives and flash drives require you to load the drivers onto the computer before the computer can access the USB storage device.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Access a Storage Device Connected to the Router From a Windows Computer To access the USB storage device from a Windows computer: 1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your router. If your USB storage device uses a power supply, you must use it when you connect the USB storage device to the router. When you connect the USB storage device to the router’s port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The USB storage device is mapped to the drive letter that you specified. Access a Storage Device That Is Connected to the Router From a Mac From a computer or device on the network, you can access a storage device that is connected to the router. To access the device from a Mac: 1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your router. If your USB storage device uses a power supply, you must use it when you connect the USB storage device to the router.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas When you connect the USB storage device to the router's USB port, it might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By default, the USB storage device is available to all computers on your local area network (LAN). 3. Download ReadySHARE Vault from netgear.com/readyshare and install it on each Windows computer. 4. Launch ReadySHARE Vault. 5. Use the dashboard or the Backup tab to set up and run your backup.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas To prepare to back up a large amount of data: 1. Upgrade the operating system of the Mac computer. 2. Verify and repair the backup disk and the local disk. 3. Verify and repair the permissions on the local disk. 4. Set Energy Saver: a. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences. The System Preferences window displays. b. Select Energy Saver. The Energy Saver page displays. c. Click the Power Adapter tab. d.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 5. Type smb://routerlogin.net and click the Connect button. 6. When prompted, select the Registered User radio button. 7. Enter admin for the name and password for the password and click the Connect button. A list of USB devices connected to your router displays. 8. From the Apple menu, select System Preferences. The System Preferences window displays. 9. Select Time Machine. The Time Machine window displays. 10.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas View or Change Network Folders on a Storage Device You can view or change the network folders on a storage device connected to the router. To view or change network folders: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > USB Storage > ReadySHARE Storage. The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays. 5. In the Available Network Folders section, select the USB storage device. 6. Click the Create Network Folder button. The Add Folder window opens.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Approve USB Storage Device For more security, you can set up the router to share only USB devices that you approve. To approve USB devices: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > USB Storage > ReadySHARE Storage. The USB Storage (Advanced Settings) page displays. 5. In the Available Network Folders sections, select the USB storage device. 6. Click the Safely Remove USB Device button.
Use Dynamic DNS to Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet 6 With Dynamic DNS, you can use the Internet to access USB devices attached to the router’s USB ports when you’re not home.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Set Up and Manage Dynamic DNS Internet service providers (ISPs) assign numbers called IP addresses to identify each Internet account. Most ISPs use dynamically assigned IP addresses. This means that the IP address can change at any time. You can use the IP address to access your network remotely, but most people don’t know what their IP addresses are or when this number changes.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Your Personal FTP Server With your customized free URL, you can use FTP to access your network when you aren’t home through Dynamic DNS. To set up your FTP server, you must register for a NETGEAR Dynamic DNS (DDNS) service account and specify the account settings. See Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account on page 55.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Dynamic DNS. The Dynamic DNS page displays. 5. Select the Use a Dynamic DNS Service check box. 6. From the Service Provider menu, select NETGEAR. You can select another service provider. 7. Select the No radio button. 8. In the Host Name field, type the name that you want to use for your URL. The host name is sometimes called the domain name. Your free URL includes the host name that you specify and ends with mynetgear.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 12. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. 13. To verify that your Dynamic DNS service is enabled in the router, click the Show Status button. A message displays the Dynamic DNS status. Change the Dynamic DNS Settings You can change the settings for your Dynamic DNS account. To change your settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Access USB Storage Devices Through the Internet You can access USB storage devices through the Internet when you’re not home. To access devices from a remote computer: 1. Launch a web browser on a computer that is not on your home network. 2. Connect to your home router: • • To connect with Dynamic DNS, type the DNS name. To use a Dynamic DNS account, you must enter the account information on the Dynamic DNS page.
Use the Router as a Media Server This chapter contains the following sections: • • Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings Play Music From a Storage Device With iTunes Server 59 7
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings By default, the router acts as a ReadyDLNA media server, which lets you view movies and photos on DLNA/UPnP AV-compliant media players, such as Xbox360, Playstation, and NETGEAR media players. To specify media server settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas also use the Apple Remote app from an iPhone or iPad to play music on any AirPlay devices, such as Apple TV or AirPlay-supported receivers. Supported music file formats are MP3, AAC, and FLAC. The maximum number of music files supported is 10,000. Set Up the Router’s iTunes Server With iTunes You can play music from a USB device that is connected to your router with iTunes on your Windows or Mac computer using Home Sharing.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Set Up the Router’s iTunes Server With the Remote App You can play music from a USB device that is connected to your router on your iPhone or iPad using the Apple Remote app. To set up the router’s iTunes server to play music on your iPhone or iPad: 1. Connect a USB storage device to a USB port on your router. 2. If your USB storage device uses a power supply, connect it. You must use the power supply when you connect the USB storage device to the router.
Control Access to the Internet 8 The router comes with a built-in firewall that helps protect your home network from unwanted intrusions from the Internet.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Set Up Parental Controls To set up Parental Controls, you must download the NETGEAR genie app on your mobile device. For more information about the NETGEAR genie app, visit NETGEAR.com/genie. After you set up and enable Parental Controls, you can change the web filtering level for each device on the network through the network map page on the genie app. To set up Parental Controls: 1. Connect your mobile device to your router’s WiFi network. 2.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 6. Select an access rule: • • Allow all new devices to connect. With this setting, if you add a new device, it can access your network. You don’t need to enter its MAC address on this page. We recommend that you leave this radio button selected. Block all new devices from connecting.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas • Specify XXX to block http://www.badstuff.com/xxx.html. • Specify .com if you want to allow only sites with domain suffixes such as .edu or .gov. • Enter a period (.) to block all Internet browsing access. 7. Click the Add Keyword button. The keyword is added to the keyword list. The keyword list supports up to 32 entries. 8. Click the Apply button. Keyword blocking takes effect.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Block Services From the Internet You can block Internet services on your network based on the type of service. You can block the services all the time or based on a schedule. To block services: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Delete Keywords From the Blocked List To delete keywords from the list: 1. Launch a web browser from a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is admin. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Block Sites.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 6. In the Trusted IP Address field, enter the IP address of the trusted computer. 7. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Manage Network Access Control Lists You can use access control to block or allow access to your network. To manage devices that are allowed or blocked: 1. Launch a web browser from a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. 2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Security > Schedule. The Schedule page displays. 5. Specify when to block keywords and services: • Days to Block.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 8. In the Outgoing Mail Server Port Number section, select the Auto Detection port number or the Specific Port Number radio button: You might be able to find this information in the configuration window of your email program. If you leave this field blank, log and alert messages are not sent. 9. In the Send to This E-mail Address field, type the email address to which logs and alerts are to be sent. This email address is also used for the From address.
Share a USB Printer 9 The ReadySHARE Printer utility lets you share a USB printer that is connected to the USB port on your router. You can share this USB printer among the Windows and Mac computers on your network. For more information about the features available in the NETGEAR USB Control Center, see the ReadySHARE Printer User Manual, which is available at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer Some USB printer manufacturers (for example, HP and Lexmark) request that you do not connect the USB cable until the installation software prompts you to do so. To install the driver and cable the printer: 1. On each computer on your network that shares the USB printer, install the driver software for the USB printer. If you cannot locate the printer driver, contact the printer manufacturer. 2.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Some firewall software, such as Comodo, blocks NETGEAR USB Control Center from accessing the USB printer. If you do not see the USB printer displayed onscreen, you can disable the firewall temporarily to allow the utility to work. 5. Select the printer and click the Connect button. The printer status changes to Manually connected by Mycomputer. Now only the computer that you are using can use this printer. 6. Click the Disconnect button.
Manage Your Network 10 This chapter describes the router settings for administering and maintaining your router and home network.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Update the Router Firmware You can log in to the router and check if new firmware is available, or you can manually load a specific firmware version to your router. Check for New Firmware and Update the Router The router firmware (routing software) is stored in flash memory. You might see a message at the top of the router pages when new firmware is available.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Note We recommend that you connect a computer to the router using an Ethernet connection to upload the firmware. To manually upload a firmware file to your router: 1. Download the firmware for your router from the NETGEAR Download Center, save it to your desktop, and unzip the file if needed. Note The correct firmware file uses an .img or .chk extension. 2. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 3.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password. The Set Password page displays. 5. Type the old password in the Old Password field. 6. Type the new password in the Set Password and Repeat New Password fields.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas To recover your router admin password: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Click the Cancel button. If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to enter the serial number of the router. The serial number is on the label on the router. 4. Enter the serial number of the router. 5. Click the Continue button.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Click the ADVANCED tab. The ADVANCED Home page displays. 5. In the Internet Port pane, click the Show Statistics button. The Show Statistics window opens and displays following information: • System Up Time.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 4. Click the ADVANCED tab. The ADVANCED Home page displays. 5. In the Internet Port pane, click the Connection Status button. The Connection Status window opens and displays the following information : • IP Address. The IP address that is assigned to the router. • Subnet Mask. The subnet mask that is assigned to the router. • Default Gateway. The IP address for the default gateway that the router communicates with. • DHCP Server.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 5. To customize the logs, scroll down and clear or select the check boxes in the Include in Log section. 6. To refresh the log screen, click the Refresh button. 7. To clear the log entries, click the Clear Log button. 8. To email the log immediately, click the Send Log button. 9. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. View Devices Currently on the Network You can view all computers or devices that are currently connected to your network.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Traffic Meter. The Traffic Meter page displays. 5. Select the Enable Traffic Meter check box. 6.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Back Up Settings To back up the router’s configuration settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Restore Configuration Settings To restore configuration settings that you backed up: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Remote Management. The Remote Management page displays. 5. Select the Turn Remote Management On check box. 6. In the Allow Remote Access By section, specify the external IP addresses to be allowed to access the router’s remote management. Note For enhanced security, restrict access to as few external IP addresses as practical. Select one of the following: • • • Only This Computer.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas To download the latest genie app for your computer or mobile device, visit NETGEAR.com/genie. For more information about how to set up remote access using the genie app, see the genie app user manual, which is available at downloadcenter.netgear.com/.
Network Settings 11 The router comes ready for WiFi, Ethernet, and USB connections. You can customize the router’s network settings. We recommend that you install the router and connect it to the Internet before you change its network settings.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas View or Change WAN Settings You can view or configure wide area network (WAN) settings for the Internet port. You can set up a DMZ (demilitarized zone) server, change the maximum transmit unit (MTU) size, and enable the router to respond to a ping to its WAN (Internet) port. To view or change the WAN settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Set Up a Default DMZ Server The default DMZ server feature is helpful when you are using some online games and videoconferencing applications that are incompatible with Network Address Translation (NAT). The router is programmed to recognize some of these applications and to work correctly with them, but other applications might not function well.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Setup > LAN Setup. The LAN Setup page displays. 5. In the Device Name field, type a new name. 6. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 7. Change the RIP settings. Router Information Protocol (RIP) allows a router to exchange routing information with other routers. a. Select the RIP direction: • Both. The router broadcasts its routing table periodically and incorporates information that it receives. • Out Only. The router broadcasts its routing table periodically. • In Only. The router incorporates the RIP information that it receives. b. Select the RIP version: • Disabled.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The LAN Setup page displays. 5. Make sure that the Use Router as DHCP Server check box is selected. 6. Specify the range of IP addresses that the router assigns: a. In the Starting IP Address field, type the lowest number in the range. This IP address must be in the same subnet as the router. b. In the Ending IP Address field, type the number at the end of the range of IP addresses. This IP address must be in the same subnet as the router. 7.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Your settings are saved. 7. (Optional) If this service is disabled and no other DHCP server is on your network, set your computer IP addresses manually so that the computers can access the router. Manage Reserved LAN IP Addresses When you specify a reserved IP address for a computer on the LAN, that computer always receives the same IP address each time it accesses the router’s DHCP server.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Edit a Reserved IP Address To edit a reserved address entry: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections The WPS Wizard helps you add a WPS-enabled device to your WiFi network without typing the WiFi password. To use the WPS Wizard: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas To specify basic WiFi settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select Wireless.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Change the WiFi Mbps Settings The data rate for high-speed transmissions is commonly identified as megabits per second (Mbps). By default, the router is set to operate with up to 300 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz WiFi band and up to 867 Mbps in the 5 GHz WiFi band. You can select slower settings. To change the WiFi Mbps settings: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. 2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 5. Under Security Options, select a WPA option. The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security. WPA2-PSK (AES) is the default setting. The Passphrase field displays. 6. In the Passphrase field, enter the network key (password). It is a text string from 8 to 63 characters. 7. Write down the new password and keep it in a secure place for future reference. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security. WPA2 is the default setting. 9. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Control the WiFi Radios The router’s internal WiFi radios broadcast signals in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ranges. By default, they are on so that you can connect over WiFi to the router. When the WiFi radios are off, you can still use an Ethernet cable for a LAN connection to the router.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Note If you turned off both WiFi radios, the WiFi On/Off LED and the WPS LED turn off. If you turned on the WiFi radios, the WiFi On/Off LED and the WPS LED light. Set Up a WiFi Schedule You can turn off the WiFi signal from your router at times when you do not need a WiFi connection. For example, you might turn it off for the weekend if you leave town. To set up the WiFi schedule: 1.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. The Router’s PIN field displays the PIN that you use on a registrar (for example, from the Network Explorer on a Vista Windows computer) to configure the router’s WiFi settings through WPS. 5.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Note To avoid interference with other routers or gateways in your network, NETGEAR recommends that you use different WiFi settings on each router. You can also turn off the WiFi radio on the other router or gateway and use this router only for WiFi client access. 8. Click the Apply button. The IP address of the router changes, and you are disconnected. 9. To reconnect, close and restart your browser and type http://www.routerlogin.net.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Static Routes. The Static Routes page displays. 5. Click the Add button. The page adjusts. 6. In the Route Name field, type a name for this static route (for identification purposes only). 7.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 7. Edit the route information. 8. Click the Apply button. Your settings are saved. Delete a Static Route To delete a static route: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in.
Use VPN to Access Your Network 12 You can use OpenVPN software to remotely access your router using virtual private networking (VPN). This chapter explains how to set up and use VPN access.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Set Up a VPN Connection A virtual private network (VPN) lets you use the Internet to securely access your network when you aren’t home. This type of VPN access is called a client-to-gateway tunnel. The computer is the client, and the router is the gateway. To use the VPN feature, you must log in to the router and enable VPN, and you must install and run VPN client software on the computer. VPN uses DDNS or a static IP address to connect with your router.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Install OpenVPN Software You must install this software on each Windows computer, Mac computer, iOS device, or Android device that you plan to use for VPN connections to your router. Install OpenVPN Software on Your Windows Computer You must install this software on each Windows computer that you plan to use for VPN connections to your router. To install VPN client software on your Windows computer: 1.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 10. Download and install the Open VPN software on your computer, click the openVPN-install-xxx.exe file. 11. Click the Next button. 12. Read the License Agreement and click the I Agree button. 13. Leave the check boxes selected as shown, and click the Next button.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 14. To specify the destination folder, click the Browse button and select a destination folder. 15. Click the Install button. The window displays the progress of the installation and then displays the final installation page. 16. Click the Finish button. 17. Unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and copy them to the folder where the VPN client is installed on your device.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas For more information about using OpenVPN on your Windows computer, visit https://openvpn.net/index.php/open-source/documentation/howto.html#quick. Install OpenVPN Software on Your Mac Computer You must install this software on each Mac computer that you plan to use for VPN connections to your router. To install VPN client software on your Mac computer: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the network. 2.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > VPN Service. The VPN Service page displays. 5. Make sure that the Enable VPN Service check box is selected. 6. Specify any VPN service settings on the page. For more information, see Specify VPN Service in the Router on page 107. 7.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 9. On your computer, unzip the configuration files that you downloaded and send the files to your Android device. 10. Open the files on your Android device. 11. Open the .ovpn file using the OpenVPN Connect app. For more information about using OpenVPN on your Android device, visit http://www.vpngate.net/en/howto_openvpn.aspx#android.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas To open a VPN tunnel: 1. Launch the OpenVPN application with administrator privileges. The OpenVPN icon displays in the Windows taskbar. Tip You can create a shortcut to the VPN program, then use the shortcut to access the settings and select the run as administrator check box.Then every time you use this shortcut, OpenVPN automatically runs with administrator privileges. 2. Right-click the OpenVPN icon. 3. Select Connect.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas If the local LAN and the remote LAN are using the same IP scheme, the remote router icon does not display in the Media Devices and Network Infrastructure sections. 3. To access the USB device, click the ReadySHARE icon. 4. To access media on the router’s network, click the remote router icon. Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home When you’re away from home and you access the Internet, you usually use a local Internet service provider.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas For a client device with Windows 64-bit system, the VPN client is installed at C:\Program files\OpenVPN\config\ by default. Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router By default, the router is set up to allow VPN connections only to your home network, not to the Internet service for your home network. If you changed this setting to allow Internet access, you can change it back. To allow VPN clients to access only your home network: 1.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas 3. Right-click the icon and select Connect. 4. When the VPN connection is established, launch your Internet browser.
Customize Internet Traffic Rules for Ports 13 You can use port forwarding and port triggering to set up rules for Internet traffic.You need networking knowledge to set up these features.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Port Forwarding to a Local Server If your home network includes a server, you can allow certain types of incoming traffic to reach the server. For example, you might want to make a local web server, FTP server, or game server visible and available to the Internet. The router can forward incoming traffic with specific protocols to computers on your local network.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service To add a custom service: 1. Find out which port number or range of numbers the application uses. You can usually find this information by contacting the publisher of the application or user groups or news groups. 2. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 3. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 4. Enter the router admin user name and password.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4. Select ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Port Forwarding/Port Triggering. The Port Forwarding / Port Triggering page displays. 5. Leave the Port Forwarding radio button selected as the service type. 6.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas To make a local web server public: 1. Assign your web server either a fixed IP address or a dynamic IP address using DHCP address reservation. In this example, your router always gives your web server an IP address of 192.168.1.33. 2. On the Port Forwarding/Port Triggering page, configure the router to forward the HTTP service to the local address of your web server at 192.168.1.33. HTTP (port 80) is the standard protocol for web servers. 3.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Port forwarding creates a static mapping of a port number or range of ports to a single local computer. Port triggering can dynamically open ports to any computer when needed and close the ports when they are no longer needed. Note If you use applications such as multiplayer gaming, peer-to-peer connections, real-time communications such as instant messaging, or remote assistance (a feature in Windows XP), enable Universal Plug and Play (UPnP).
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Enable Port Triggering To enable port triggering: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or mobile device that is connected to the router network. 2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 3. Enter the router admin user name and password. The user name is admin. The password is the one that you specified the first time that you logged in. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 4.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Translation (NAT) on the source address and port, and sends this request message through the Internet to the IRC server. 4. Noting your port triggering rule and observing the destination port number of 6667, your router creates another session entry to send any incoming port 113 traffic to your computer. 5.
Troubleshooting 14 This chapter provides information to help you diagnose and solve problems you might experience with your router. If you do not find the solution here, check the NETGEAR support site at http://support.netgear.com for product and contact information.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Quick Tips This section describes tips for troubleshooting some common problems. Sequence to Restart Your Network If you must restart your network, follow this sequence: 1. Turn off and unplug the modem. 2. Turn off the router. 3. Plug in the modem and turn it on. Wait two minutes. 4. Turn on the router and wait two minutes. Check Ethernet Cable Connections If your device does not power on, make sure that the Ethernet cables are securely plugged in.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Standard LED Behavior When the Router Is Powered On After you turn on power to the router, verify that the following sequence of events occurs: 1. When power is first applied, verify that the Power LED is lit. 2. After about two minutes, verify the following: • • • The Power LED is solid green. The Internet LED is lit. The WiFi LED is lit unless you turned off the WiFi radio. You can use the LEDs on the front panel of the router for troubleshooting.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas When you connect the router’s Internet port to a modem, use the cable that was supplied with the modem. This cable can be a standard straight-through Ethernet cable or an Ethernet crossover cable. WiFi LED Is Off If the WiFi LED stays off, check to see if someone pressed the WiFi On/Off button on the router. This button turns the WiFi radios in the router on and off. The WiFi LED is lit when the WiFi radios are turned on.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas A login window opens. 4. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 5. Click the ADVANCED tab. The ADVANCED Home page displays. 6. Check to see that an IP address is shown for the Internet port. If 0.0.0.0 is shown, your router did not obtain an IP address from your ISP.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Troubleshoot Internet Browsing If your router can obtain an IP address but your computer is unable to load any web pages from the Internet, it might be for the following reasons: • The traffic meter is enabled, and the limit was reached. By configuring the traffic meter not to block Internet access when the traffic limit is reached, you can resume Internet access. If your ISP sets a usage limit, they might charge you for the overage.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas If your WiFi device finds your network but the signal strength is weak, check these conditions: • Is your router too far from your computer or too close? Place your computer near the router but at least 6 feet (1.8 meters) away and see whether the signal strength improves.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Test the Path From Your Computer to a Remote Device To test the path from your computer to a remote device: 1. From the Windows toolbar, click the Start button and select Run. 2. In the Windows Run window, type ping -n 10 where is the IP address of a remote device such as your ISP DNS server. If the path is functioning correctly, messages display that are similar to those shown in Test the LAN Path to Your Router on page 132. 3.
Supplemental Information This chapter includes technical information about your router.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Factory Settings You can return the router to its factory settings. Use the end of a paper clip or a similar object to press and hold the Reset button on the back of the router for at least seven seconds. The router resets and returns to the factory configuration settings shown in the following table. Table 4. Factory default settings Feature Router login Internet connection Local network (LAN) Firewall Default setting User login URL www.routerlogin.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Table 4. Factory default settings (Continued) Feature Wireless Default setting Wireless communication Enabled SSID name See router label Security WPA2-PSK (AES) Broadcast SSID Enabled Transmission speed Auto Country/region United States in the US RF channel Auto for 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Operating mode Up to 300 Mbps at 2.4 GHz 1 Up to 867 Mbps at 5 GHz 1 Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE Standard 802.11 specifications.
AC1200 Smart WiFi Router with External Antennas Table 5. Router specifications (Continued) Feature Description Radio data rates Auto Rate Sensing Data encoding standards ® • IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4 GHz • IEEE 802.11a/n/ac 5.0 GHz ® Maximum computers per wireless network Limited by the amount of WiFi network traffic generated by each node (typically 50–70 nodes). Operating frequency range AC1200 WiFi 802.11 security 3 • Up to 300 Mbps @ 2.
