NETGEAR Nighthawk X4 User manual

Quick Start Package Contents
The box contains the following items.
In some regions, a resource CD is included in the package.
Installation Video
To view the Nighthawk installation video, visit
http://www.netgear.com/R7500_vid1
or use this QR code:
Nighthawk X4
AC2350 Smart WiFi Router
Model R7500v2
Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product.
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.
NETGEAR recommends that you use only the official NETGEAR support resources.
You can get the user manual online at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or through a link in
the product’s user interface.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non‑NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
Compliance
For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit
http://support.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621/.
For regulatory compliance information, visit
http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134 USA
April 2015
Router
Ethernet cable
Power adapter
(varies by region)
Antennas (4)

1. Attach the antennas.
To determine where to attach the
antennas, match the labels on the
antennas with the labels on the router.
Attach the antennas on the threaded
antenna posts.
Position the antennas vertically for the
best WiFi performance.
2. Prepare your modem.
Unplug your modem’s power. If it uses a
battery backup, remove the battery.
3. Connect your modem.
Plug in your modem. Put the battery back
in. Then cable the modem to the yellow
Internet port on the router.
4. Power on the router.
The Power LED lights amber
and then turns white when the
router is ready.
5. Connect a computer.
You can use an Ethernet cable or
connect with WiFi.
To connect with WiFi, use the WiFi
network name and password on the
product label.
6. Log in to the router.
Launch a web browser.
NETGEAR genie displays.
If you do not see genie, enter
www.routerlogin.net in the address field
of the web browser. When prompted, enter
admin for the user name and password for
the password.
Follow the genie steps to connect to the
Internet.
8. Get the user manual.
You can get the user manual online at
http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or
through a link in the product’s user interface.
Router
Ethernet cable
Cable or DSL
Internet
Modem
Power
adapter
You can use this diagram to connect your router or follow the detailed instructions in this booklet.
7. Get free apps.
During the installation process, genie
prompts you to download two free apps:
• genie app. A personal dashboard that
lets you monitor, control, and repair
your home network.
• ReadySHARE Vault app. Enables
automatic continuous backup of a
Windows computer to a USB device
that’s connected to your router.
Ethernet cable
Computer

1
LEDs
The LEDs on the top of the router light to indicate router activity:
Power
Internet
2.4 GHz WiFi
5 GHz WiFi
USB 3.0 port 1
USB 3.0 port 2
eSATA port
Ethernet ports 1–4
WiFi On/O button with LED
WPS button with LED
Rear Panel
The connections and buttons on the rear panel of the router are
shown in the following figure:
Reset button Ethernet
ports 1–4
Internet
port
Power
On/O
button
Power
connector
LED Indicator
On/O switch
USB 3.0
port 1
USB 3.0
port 2
eSATA
port

2
Install Your Router
Make sure that your Internet service is active before you install
your router.
¾To install your router:
1. Extend the antennas:
a. To determine where to attach the antennas, match the
labels on the antennas with the labels on the router.
b. Align the antennas with the antenna posts on the router.
c. Attach the antennas on the threaded antenna posts.
d. Position the antennas for the best WiFi performance.
NETGEAR recommends that you position all of the antennas
vertically, as shown.

3
2. Prepare your modem:
a. Unplug your modem’s power.
b. If the modem uses a battery backup, remove its batteries.
c. If your modem was already connected to another router,
disconnect the cable between your modem and that router.
Make sure that your modem is turned off and is cabled only to
the wall jack for your Internet service.
3. Connect your modem:
a. Plug in, then turn on your modem.
b. If you removed the batteries, replace them.
c. With the yellow Ethernet cable that came with the router,
connect your modem to the yellow Internet port on your
router.
Cable or DSL
Modem
Internet
Router
Ethernet
cable
Internet
Modem
Cable or DSL

4
4. Add power to the router:
a. Connect the power adapter to the router and plug the
power adapter into an outlet.
b. Wait for the Power LED on the front panel to light amber
and turn white.
If no LEDs are lit, press the Power On/Off button on the
rear panel of the router.
5. Connect a computer or WiFi device.
You can use an Ethernet cable to connect a computer to the
router or you can use WiFi to connect a computer or WiFi
device to the router:
• For a wired connection, use an Ethernet cable (not included)
to connect your computer to a black Ethernet port on your
router.
• To connect your computer or WiFi device to the router with
WiFi, use the WiFi settings on the product label.
Ethernet
cable
Modem
Cable or
DSL
Ethernet
cable
Internet
Power
adapter
Router
Router
Ethernet
cable
Modem
Internet
Power
adapter
Cable or
DSL
Power
adapter Computer

5
6. Launch a web browser.
The first time that you connect to the router, the genie screen
displays. Follow the genie steps to connect to the Internet.
If the genie screen does not display, try the following:
• Close and reopen the browser.
• Make sure that your computer is connected to one of the
four black Ethernet ports on the router, or that you are
connected to your WiFi network.
• Make sure that the router is receiving full power, and that
its Power LED is lit.
• If your computer is set to a static or fixed IP address (this is
uncommon), change it to obtain an IP address automatically
from the router.
If you still do not see the genie screen, log in to the router so
that genie can detect your Internet connection.
¾To log in to the router:
1. Launch a web browser.
2. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter admin for the user name and password for the
password.
The BASIC Home screen displays. If your Internet connection
is not set up yet, genie automatically detects your Internet
connection.

6
WiFi Network Name and Password
The preset WiFi network name (SSID) and password (network key)
are unique to your router, like a serial number. Because the router
automatically uses WiFi security, you don’t need to set it up. The
WiFi settings are on the product label.
NETGEAR recommends that you use the preset WiFi settings
because you can check the product label if you forget them.
NETGEAR genie lets you change these settings. If you do so, write
down the new WiFi settings and store them in a safe place.
You can write the WiFi settings from your product label in this space
for easy reference.
WiFi network name (SSID):
Network key (password):
If you change the WiFi settings, write the new settings here for
easy reference and store this booklet in a safe place.
WiFi network name (SSID):
Network key (password):

7
Join the WiFi Network
You can either use Wi‑Fi Protected Setup (WPS) or select your WiFi
network and type its password. For help with the WPS button on
your computer or WiFi device, check the instructions or online help
that came with that computer or device. Some older equipment
cannot use WPS.
¾To join the network using WPS:
1. Press the WPS button on the router.
The WPS LED on the router blinks white.
2. Within two minutes, on your computer or WiFi device, press its
WPS button or click its onscreen WPS button.
The WPS LED on the router lights solid white when the
computer or WiFi device connects to your router.
3. Repeat this process to add other computers or WiFi devices.
¾To select your network and enter its password:
1. Open the software utility that manages your WiFi connections
on the computer or WiFi device that you want to connect to
your router.
This utility scans for WiFi networks in your area.
2. Find and select your router’s WiFi network name (SSID).
The SSID is on the product label.
3. Enter the router’s password (or your custom password if you
changed it) and click the Connect button.
The password is on the product label.
4. Repeat Step 1 through Step 3 to add other computers or WiFi
devices.

8
View or Change the Router Settings
After you use genie to set up the router, you can log in to the router
to view or change its settings.
Log In to the Router
¾To log in to the router:
1. Connect a computer or WiFi device to the router.
You can use an Ethernet cable or connect with WiFi:
• For a wired connection, use an Ethernet cable (not included)
to connect your computer to a black Ethernet port on your
router.
• To connect with WiFi, select and join your WiFi network.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
4. Enter admin for the user name and password for the
password.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
Change the admin Password
¾To change the admin password:
1. Launch a web browser.
2. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.