Netgear N 300 Manual

							Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 7
Installing Your Wireless Router
To help you set up your router and get on the Internet quickly, the Resource CD contains a Smart 
Wizard™ Installation Assistant. The Installation Assistant walks you through the steps required to 
connect your router, modem, and PC(s); configure your wireless settings; and enable wireless 
security for your network. When you have finished, you will be Internet ready!
You can set up your wireless router using one of two methods:
•Smart Wizard Setup: The Smart Wizard Installation Assistant setup is available on your 
Resource CD. See “Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard” on page 9 to use the 
Smart Wizard Installation Assistant. 
– This is the easiest option. The wizard guides you through the setup process. It automates 
many of the steps and verifies that the steps have been successfully completed.
– Smart Wizard requires a PC running Microsoft Windows.
•Manual Setup: If you cannot or prefer not to use the Smart Wizard Installation Assistant, see  
“Manually Installing Your Router” on page 12. For example, if you are connecting to a Mac, 
are using a Linux operating system, or are technically knowledgeable, select this option. If you 
choose to use this option and install your router manually, for best results, install and set up 
your router in this order:
1. Install and connect your wireless router to your network (see “Connecting Your Wireless 
Router” on page 13).
2. Set up your wireless router for Internet access (see “Setting Up Your Router for Internet 
Access” on page 17).
NETGEAR does not recommend or support adding a NETGEAR router behind 
another router, or replacing a gateway with a NETGEAR router.
If you have a Macintosh or Linux system, you need to use the manual installation 
method (see  “Manually Installing Your Router” on page 12).
Before running the Smart Wizard Installation Assistant on a corporate PC to 
set up your home router, check with your company’s network support staff. 
Corporate network settings or Virtual Private Network (VPN) client 
software might conflict with the default settings of a home router. If you are 
unsure about whether there might be a conflict, use a different computer. 
						

							Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 8
3. Configure your wireless network and select wireless security settings to protect your 
wireless network (see “Configuring Your Wireless Network” on page 21).
Updating Your Router Firmware
NETGEAR is always improving the operability and features included with your router. To make it 
easy for you to receive the best, most up-to-date features of your router, NETGEAR provides a 
variety of methods for updating your product. 
• The Smart Wizard Installation Assistant lets you check for and install updates as part of the 
setup activity (see “Using the Smart Wizard” on page 9).
• The router includes an update feature that lets you check for and install updates. You must log 
in to the router to use this feature see “Setting Up Your Router for Internet Access” on 
page 17, or the online User Manual). 
						

							Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard 9
Installing Your Router
Using the Smart Wizard
The Smart Wizard setup procedure should take about 15 minutes to complete. Before using the 
Smart Wizard, ensure that:
• You are using a PC with Windows Vista, Windows 2000, or Windows XP with Service Pack 
2, and with a wired Ethernet connection, not a wireless connection.
• You have an Internet service connection through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• You have the configuration information provided by your ISP. 
Using the Smart Wizard 
The NETGEAR Smart Wizard takes you through the procedure to connect your router, modem, 
and PC(s). It then helps you to configure your wireless settings and enable wireless security for 
your network.
 The Smart Wizard guides you through the setup process by automating many of the 
steps. At each step in the setup process, the Smart Wizard checks to ensure that the steps you 
perform are successfully completed.
To set up your router using the Smart Wizard:
1.
Insert the Resource CD into your Windows PC. The CD will automatically start and detect the 
language you are using on your PC. Select a different language option, if you prefer. 
2.In the CD’s menu, click Setup to start the Smart Wizard. 
3.When the Smart Wizard prompts you about updates, click Yes to check for updates for your 
router, or No, to update later (for more information, see “Setting Up Your Router for Internet 
Access” on page 17, or the online User Manual).
4.Follow the remaining instructions and prompts. 
If the CD does not automatically start, browse the CD and double-click on .  
						

							Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard 10
The Smart Wizard guides you through installing your router, connecting your router to the 
Internet, configuring your wireless network settings, and selecting the optimum security 
protection for your network. If you choose not to select a security option during installation, 
you can always access the router’s user interface later to select a security option (see 
“Configuring Your Wireless Network” on page 21).
At the close of installation, the Smart Wizard places a file containing your settings 
(Router_Setup.html) on your computer’s desktop, so you can conveniently view the settings 
later. It also places a Router Login icon on the desktop, providing a shortcut for you to access 
the router’s user interface.
You are now connected to the Internet.
To set up additional wireless computers in your network to access the router and connect to the 
Internet, see “Configuring Your Wireless Network” on page 21.
To ensure optimum performance of your high-speed wireless router, the 
wireless adapter card for each computer in your network should support the 
same technology as your router. For more information, see the online User 
Manual.
Figure 6
Internet
••••••
••
. + 8 
						

							Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard 11
Accessing Your Router After Installation
The Smart Wizard only appears when you first install the router or when the router is in its factory 
default state (for example, if you have reset the router to its default factory settings). If you want to 
change the settings after installing and configuring your router using the Smart Wizard, you must 
open a browser window and log in to the router. You will also be prompted to check for new router 
firmware. For more information, see “Configuring Your Wireless Network” on page 21. 
						

							Manually Installing Your Router12
Manually Installing Your Router
Before installing and connecting your router manually, review the list below and make sure that 
you have all of the necessary information.
• Internet service connection through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• The configuration information your ISP gave you. Depending on how your Internet account 
was set up, you might need the following information to set up your wireless router and access 
the Internet: 
– Host and domain name
– Internet login name and password (frequently an email address and password)
– Domain Name Server (DNS) addresses
– Fixed or static IP address
Your ISP should have provided you with all the information needed to connect to the Internet. 
If you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP. 
• If you have cable modem service, make sure that you are using the same computer on which 
you first set up your Internet account.
If you have not already done so:
• Check the package contents of your router to ensure that it is complete (see “Unpacking Your 
New Router” on page 1”).
• Select an optimum location for your wireless router after reviewing the guidelines presented in 
“Positioning Your Wireless Router” on page 6.”
Use the procedures in this topic if you are an advanced user, or a user of Macintosh 
and Linux systems. 
						

							Manually Installing Your Router13
Connecting Your Wireless Router 
Before you install your wireless router, make sure that the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) Property 
settings on your computer are set to “automatically obtain an IP address” using DHCP and “Obtain 
DNS server address automatically.” You can check these settings by looking at the TCP/IP 
Properties of your Internal Network Connections, which are accessible through the Control Panel 
of your computer. If you are unsure about this, refer to the documentation for your computer or see 
the link to TCP/IP Addressing in  “Related Documents” on page 39.
If you are replacing an existing router, disconnect it completely from your network and set it aside 
before starting to install your new router. Then, skip to step 5 in the following procedure
To connect the wireless router, the computer, and the modem:
1.
Turn off your computer.
2.Turn off and unplug the cable or DSL broadband modem.
3.Locate the cable (A) that connects your computer to the modem.
4.Disconnect the cable at the modem end only (B). You will connect it to the router later.
NETGEAR does not recommend or support adding a NETGEAR router behind 
another router, or replacing a gateway with a NETGEAR router. 
Figure 7
A
B 
						

							Manually Installing Your Router14
5.Locate the Ethernet cable that came with your NETGEAR product. Securely insert one end of 
the Ethernet cable into your modem (C) and the other end into the Internet port of the wireless 
router (D). (The cable and the Internet port label are color coded.)
6.Locate the cable (A) that is still attached to your computer (see step 4). Securely insert that 
cable into a port on the router, such as port 4 (E), as shown in Figure 9.
 
7.Connect any additional wired PCs to your router by inserting an Ethernet cable from a PC into 
one of the three remaining LAN ports. 
Figure 8
Figure 9
 
Internet
Internet 
1 
2 
3 
4 
 C
D
 
1 
2 
3 
4 
Internet 
A
E 
						

							Manually Installing Your Router15
8.Review that your network is now set up (as shown in Figure 10); you are ready to start your 
network.
 
9.Start your network in the correct sequence, as described below.
To start your network:
1.
Plug in and turn on the cable or DSL modem. Wait 2 minutes.
2.Plug the end of the power adapter’s cord into the wall or a power strip, and into the power 
adapter outlet of your wireless router (F). Wait 1 minute.
Figure 10
Failure to start or restart your network in the correct sequence could prevent you 
from accessing the Internet.
Internet
••••••
••
. + 8 
						

							Manually Installing Your Router16
3.Turn on your computer. It will take several minutes for your router to establish a connection 
with your computer and your Internet provider. 
Verifying Your Connection
Verify that your router is connected correctly by checking the wireless router status lights (as 
illustrated in Figure 12).
Figure 11
For DSL customers, if software logs you in to the Internet, do not run that 
software. You might need to go to the Internet Explorer Tools menu, Internet 
Options, Connections tab and select “Never dial a connection.”
 
1 
2 
3 
4 
Internet 
F