Netgear R6700 Nighthawk Ac1750 Smart Wifi Router Dual Band Gigabit User Manual

							350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134 
USAJuly 2014
202-11361-01
Nighthawk 
AC1750
 
Smart WiFi  Router
Model R6700
User Manual 
						

							 
2 Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router 
Support
Thank you for selecting NETGEAR products. 
After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product at https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. NETGEAR recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR website. For product updates and web support, visit http://support.netgear.com.
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR.
Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at http://support.netgear.com/general/contact/default.aspx.
Compliance
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
Trademarks
NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and Connect with Innovation are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. 
and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Information is subject to change without notice. © NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved. 
						

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Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Setup
Unpack Your Router  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
Attach the Antennas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9
Top and Front Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
Rear Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
Position Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
Cable Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
Chapter 2 Connect to the Network and Access the Router
Connect to the Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
Wired Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
WiFi Connection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
Label . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
Types of Logins  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
Use an Internet Browser to Access the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
NETGEAR genie Automatic Internet Setup  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
Log In to the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
Change the Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
Access the Router with NETGEAR genie App  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
Chapter 3 Specify Your Internet Settings
Use the Internet Setup Wizard  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
Manually Set Up the Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
Specify an Internet Connection Without a Login . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
Specify an Internet Connection That Uses a Login  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
Specify IPv6 Internet Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
Requirements for Entering IPv6 Addresses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
Use Auto Detect for an IPv6 Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
Use Auto Config for an IPv6 Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29
Set Up an IPv6 6to4 Tunnel Internet Connection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
Set Up an IPv6 Pass Through Internet Connection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
Set Up an IPv6 Fixed Internet Connection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
Set Up an IPv6 DHCP Internet Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
Set Up an IPv6 PPPoE Internet Connection  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
Maximum Transmission Unit  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
Change the MTU Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
Common MTU Sizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39 
						

							 
4 Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router 
Chapter 4 Optimize Performance
Prioritize Internet Traffic with Quality of Service  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Optimize Internet Gaming with Upstream QoS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Add Upstream QoS Rules . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
Set Up QoS for Applications and Online Gaming  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
Set Up QoS for a Router LAN Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
Set Up QoS for a MAC Address. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
Edit an Upstream QoS Policy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
Delete an Upstream QoS Policy  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
Optimize Video Streaming with Downstream QoS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
Add Downstream QoS Rules by Keyword . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
Add a Downstream QoS Rule by Device  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Improve Network Connections with Universal Plug and Play . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
Wi-Fi Multimedia Quality of Service  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
Chapter 5 Control Access to the Internet
Set Up Parental Controls  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
Control Access to Your Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  59
Use Keywords to Block Internet Sites  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
Delete Keywords from the List to Be Blocked  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
Block Services from the Internet  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  62
Schedule When to Block Internet Sites and Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
Avoid Blocking on a Trusted Computer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
Set Up Security Event Email Notifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
Chapter 6 Share USB Drives Attached to the Router
USB Drive Requirements  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68
Access a USB Device on the Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  68
Back Up Windows Computers with ReadySHARE Vault . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  70
Back Up Mac Computers with Time Machine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
Set Up a USB Hard Drive on a Mac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
Prepare to Back Up a Large Amount of Data  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
Use Time Machine to Back Up onto a USB Hard Drive  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
Control Access to the USB Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
Use FTP Within the Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  74
View Network Folders on a USB Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
Add a Network Folder on a USB Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  76
Edit a Network Folder on a USB Drive  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77
Approve USB Devices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
Safely Remove a USB Drive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  79
Chapter 7 Access the Router’s USB Drive Through the Internet
Access the USB Drive Through the Internet  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  82
Set Up FTP Access Through the Internet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  82
Access the USB Drive Through the Internet with FTP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  83 
						

							 
5  Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router
Dynamic DNS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
Your Personal FTP Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  84
Set Up a New Dynamic DNS Account. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  85
Specify a DNS Account That You Already Use  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  86
Change the Dynamic DNS Settings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  88
Set Up Your Personal FTP Server  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  88
Chapter 8 Use the Router as a Media Server
Specify ReadyDLNA Media Server Settings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  90
Play Music from a USB Drive with iTunes Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  90
Play Media from a USB Drive on TiVo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  92
Chapter 9 Share a USB Printer
Install the Printer Driver and Cable the Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  96
Download the ReadySHARE Printer Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  96
Install the ReadySHARE Printer Utility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  97
Use the Shared Printer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  98
View or Change the Status of a Printer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  99
Use the Scan Feature of a Multifunction USB Printer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100
Change NETGEAR USB Control Center Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 101
Chapter 10 Specify Network Settings
Disable LED Blinking or Turn Off LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
View WAN Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
Set Up a Default DMZ Server  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
Change the Router’s Device Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Change the LAN TCP/IP Settings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
Specify the IP Addresses That the Router Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 109
Disable the DHCP Server Feature in the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Reserve LAN IP Addresses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
Edit a Reserved LAN IP Address  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
Delete a Reserved LAN IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Use the WPS Wizard for WiFi Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Specify Basic WiFi Settings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Change the WiFi Security Option  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
Set Up a Guest Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
How the Router Manages Wireless Clients  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Airtime Fairness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
Implicit Beamforming . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Control the Wireless Radios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
Use the WiFi On/Off Button . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Enable or Disable the Wireless Radios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 120
Set Up a Wireless Schedule  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 121
Specify WPS Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122
Use the Router as a Wireless Access Point . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 123
Set Up the Router in Bridge Mode  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124 
						

							 
6 Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router 
Set Up a Wireless Distribution System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
Set Up the Base Station . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
Set Up a Repeater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
Chapter 11 Manage Your Network
Update the Router Firmware . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Change the admin Password  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
Set Up Password Recovery  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133
Recover the admin Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
View Router Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Display Internet Port Statistics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135
Check the Internet Connection Status  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 137
View Logs of Router Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Monitor Internet Traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
Create Custom Static Routes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 140
Edit a Static Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Delete a Static Router  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
View Devices Currently on the Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
Manage the Router Configuration File . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Back Up Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 144
Restore Configuration Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Erase the Current Configuration Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Remote Management . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
Chapter 12 Use VPN to Access Your Network
Set Up a VPN Connection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149
Specify VPN Service in the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Install OpenVPN Software on Your Computer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
Use a VPN Tunnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
Use VPN to Access the Router’s USB Drive and Media  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 154
Use VPN to Access Your Internet Service at Home  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Set Up VPN Client Internet Access in the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
Block VPN Client Internet Access in the Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Use a VPN Tunnel to Access Your Internet Service at Home  . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
Chapter 13 Specify Internet Port Settings
Set Up Port Forwarding to a Local Server . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
Add a Custom Port Forwarding Service  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
Edit a Port Forwarding Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
Delete a Port Forwarding Entry  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Application Example: Make a Local Web Server Public . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
How the Router Implements the Port Forwarding Rule  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
Set Up Port Triggering  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Add a Port Triggering Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
Enable Port Triggering  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Application Example: Port Triggering for Internet Relay Chat . . . . . . . . . . . 165 
						

							 
7  Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router
Chapter 14 Troubleshooting
Quick Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Sequence to Restart Your Network  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Check Ethernet Cable Connections  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Wireless Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Network Settings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Troubleshoot with the LEDs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Standard LED Behavior When the Router Is Powered On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Power LED Is Off or Blinking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Power LED Stays Amber  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
LEDs Never Turn Off. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
WiFi LED Is Off  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Cannot Log In to the Router. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
Cannot Access the Internet  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
Troubleshoot PPPoE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172
Troubleshoot Internet Browsing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173
Changes Not Saved . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Wireless Connectivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
Test the LAN Path to Your Router . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Test the Path from Your Computer to a Remote Device . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Appendix A Supplemental Information
Factory Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Technical Specifications  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180 
						

							8
1
1.   Hardware Setup
The Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router delivers combined WiFi connection speeds up to 
AC1750 (450 Mbps1 at 2.4 GHz 802.11n and 1300 Mbps2 at 5 GHz 802.11ac). Nighthawk is 
ideal for bandwidth-hungry activities such as online gaming and video streaming, powered by a 
dual-core 1 GHz processor. High-powered amplifiers with antennas provide WiFi coverage 
anywhere around your home, inside or out. 
For gamers, Nighthawk supports upstream Quality of Service (QoS) optimized for online game 
play with game consoles like Xbox. For uninterrupted HD streaming media, Nighthawk features 
downstream QoS to identify and prioritize streaming traffic from websites like Netflix, YouTube, 
and Hulu Plus.
Nighthawk provides fast central storage, backup, and streaming to every device in your home 
with the USB 3.0 port (10 times faster than USB 2.0). Sharing content across your network is 
easy, whether you’re accessing stored photos and music or printing wirelessly. Stream your 
stored media files anywhere on the network to DLNA screens. Share your music to 
AirPlay-compatible devices from the USB hard drive connected to the router. Use the free 
NETGEAR ReadySHARE Vault app to back up your Windows computers to a USB hard drive 
connected to Nighthawk.
This chapter contains the following sections:
•Unpack Your Router 
•Attach the Antennas 
•Top and Front Panels 
•Rear Panel 
•Position Your Router 
•Cable Your Router 
For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at 
http://support.netgear.com.
1. Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specifications. Actual data throughput and wireless coverage will vary. Network 
conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual 
data throughput rate and wireless coverage. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product’s compatibility 
with any future standards. 802.11ac 1300 Mbps is approximately 3x faster than 802.11n 450 Mbps.
2. Up to 1300 Mbps wireless speeds achieved when you are connecting to other 802.11ac 1300 Mbps devices. 
						

							Hardware Setup 9
 Nighthawk AC1750
 Smart WiFi Router
Unpack Your Router
Your package contains the following items.
Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi Router 
Antennas (3) Ethernet cable
Power adapter
Figure 1. Package contents
Attach the Antennas
The router comes with three antennas.
To attach the antennas:
1.  Align the antennas with the antenna posts on the router.
2. Attach the antennas on the threaded antenna posts.
3.  Position the antennas for the best WiFi performance.
NETGEAR recommends that the center antenna be vertical and that you aim \
the others 
outward at 45-degree angles, as shown. 
						

							Hardware Setup 10
Nighthawk AC1750
 Smart  WiFi Router 
Top and Front Panels
Status LEDs are located on top and a USB 3.0 port is located on the fron\
t.
USB 3.0 port
Figure 2. Router top and front view
Table 1.  LED and button descriptions  
LEDDescription
Power
•  Solid amber . The router is starting.
•  Blinking amber . The 
 firmware is upgrading or the  Reset button was pressed.
•  Solid white . The 
 router is ready.
•  Blinking white . The 
 firmware is corrupted. 
•  Off. Power is not supplied to the router.
Internet
•  Solid white . The Internet connection is ready.
•  Solid amber . 
 The router detects an Ethernet cable connection to the modem.
•  Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.
2.4 GHz 
Wireless
•  Solid white . The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
•  Blinking . The 
 router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
•  Off. 
The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.
5 GHz Wireless
•  Solid white . The 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
•  Blinking . The 
 router is sending or receiving WiFi traffic.
•  Off. The 
 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.
Guest WiFi
•  Solid white . The guest WiFi is operating.
•  Off. The 
 guest WiFi is off.