NETGEAR Nighthawk CAX80 User manual

Quick Start
AX8 WiFi Cable Modem Router
Model CAX80
Download the Nighthawk app to get started
For more information about the Nighthawk app, visit Nighthawk-app.com.
Set up your modem router and activate your Internet service with the
Nighthawk app.
If you don’t want to use the Nighthawk app, set up your modem router using
the instructions in Set up using the modem router web interface, and activate
your Internet service using the instructions in Activate your Internet service.
LED Description
Power • Solid white. The modem router is receiving power and is functioning
normally.
• Off. The modem router is not receiving power.
• Solid red. The modem router is too warm and might overheat.
Downstream • Solid amber. One downstream channel is locked.
• Solid white. Two or more downstream channels are locked.
• Blinking white. The modem router is scanning for a downstream
channel.
• Off. No downstream channel is locked.
Upstream • Solid amber. One upstream channel is locked.
• Solid white. Two or more upstream channels are locked.
• Blinking white. The modem router is scanning for a upstream channel.
• Off. No upstream channel is locked.
Online • Solid white. The modem router is online.
• Blinking white. The modem router is synchronizing with the cable
provider’s cable modem termination system (CMTS).
• Off. The modem router is ofine.
Multi-Gig
Ethernet
The LED color indicates the speed: blue for a 2.5 Gbps Ethernet connection,
white for a 1 Gbps Ethernet connection, and amber for a 100 Mbps Ethernet
connection.
• Solid. A powered-on device is connected to the port.
• Blinking. The port is sending or receiving trafc.
• Off. No device is connected to this port.
Ethernet The LED color indicates the speed: white for a Gigabit Ethernet connection
and amber for a 100 Mbps or a 10 Mbps Ethernet connections.
• Solid. A powered-on device is connected to the Ethernet port.
• Blinking. The port is sending or receiving trafc.
• Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port.
2.4 GHz radio • Solid white. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
• Blinking white. The modem router is sending or receiving WiFi trafc.
• Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.
5 GHz radio • Solid white. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is operating.
• Blinking white. The modem router is sending or receiving WiFi trafc.
• Off. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.
LED Description
USB • Solid white. A USB device is connected and ready.
• Blinking white. A USB device is plugged in and trying to connect.
• Off. No USB device is connected.
WPS button Pressing this button lets you use WPS to join the WiFi network without typing
the password
WiFi button Pressing this button for two seconds turns the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz WiFi
radios on and off.
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit
https://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 ofcial NETGEAR support resources.
For regulatory compliance information, visit
https://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
Customer-owned cable modems might not be compatible with certain cable
networks. Check with your cable Internet provider to conrm that this NETGEAR
cable modem is allowed on your cable network.
If you are experiencing trouble installing your modem router, contact NETGEAR at
1-866-874-8924. If you are experiencing trouble connecting your router, contact
the router manufacturer.
Note to CATV system Installer- This reminder is provided to call the CATV systems
installer’s attention to Section 820-93 of the National Electrical Code, which
provides guidelines for proper grounding and in particular, species that coaxial
cable shield shall connected to the grounding system of the building, as close to
the point of cable entry as practical
Support
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134, USA
NETGEAR INTERNATIONAL LTD
Floor 1, Building 3
University Technology Centre
Curraheen Road, Cork,
T12EF21, Ireland

1. Collect your cable Internet service provider (ISP) account information.
Collect your ISP account information, such as your account mobile phone
number, user name, password, and account number.
2. Turn off and disconnect existing modems and routers.
If you are replacing a modem that is currently connected in your home,
unplug the modem and plug the new modem router into the same outlet.
3. Connect a coaxial cable.
Use a coaxial cable to connect the coaxial cable connector on the
modem router to the cable wall outlet.
Set up using the modem router web interface
4. Connect the power adapter.
Connect the power adapter to modem router and plug the power adapter
into an electrical outlet.
The startup procedure takes about one minute. When it is complete, the
Power LED lights solid white.
5. Wait for the Online LED to light solid white.
This process might take up to 10 minutes.
Note: When the Online LED lights, your modem router is still not connected
to the Internet. You must activate your modem router with your ISP.
6. Connect your computer or mobile device to the modem router with Ethernet
or WiFi:
• Ethernet. Use an Ethernet cable to connect a computer to an Ethernet
port on the modem router.
• WiFi. Use the WiFi network name (SSID) and password on the product
label to connect.
7. Launch a web browser and set up your modem router.
Enter routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1 in the address eld of the web
browser.
Follow the prompts. You are asked to do the following:
• Agree to the Terms and Conditions
• Change your modem router’s admin credentials and set up security
questions
• Set up your WiFi network name and password
8. Make sure that you can log in to the modem router web interface after the
setup.
In a new web browser window, enter routerlogin.net or 192.168.1.1 and
then enter the modem router admin user name and password.
If the BASIC Home page displays, you are ready to activate your Internet
service.
Package contents
Cable modem router
Ethernet cable
Power adapter
December 2019
Activate your Internet service
Before you start the self-activation process, collect the following information:
• Your ISP account information
• Cable modem router model number, which is CAX80
• Cable modem router serial number (on the product label)
• Cable modem router MAC address (on the product label)
The following table lists contact information for ISPs that support your cable
modem router.
Cable Internet
Provider
Contact Information
Cox https://www.cox.com/activate
1-888-556-1193
Mediacom https://support.mediacomcable.com/
1-855-Mediacom (1-855-633-4226)
Optimum https://install.optimum.com/JointInstall/
1-877-810-6750
Sparklight https://support.sparklight.com/
1-877-692-2253
Spectrum https://activate.spectrum.net/
1-833-267-6094
Xnity https://register.xnity.com/
https://www.xnity.com/support/articles/activate-purchased-modem
1-800-XFINITY (1-800-934-6489)
Note: Your ISP’s contact information might change. You can also find the contact
information in your monthly Internet service billing statement.
1. Visit your ISP’s website and follow the onscreen instructions to activate your
Internet service.
2. To determine the accurate Internet speed, visit your ISP’s speed test website
and perform a speed test.
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any
non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
A sticker on the side of your
modem router displays
the preset WiFi network
name,password, and QR code.
Your Preset Wireless Settings
WiFi Network Name (SSID):
Network Key (Password):
Ethernet port
Coaxial cable
connector
Power connector