NETGEAR WAC104 User manual

User Manual
802.11ac Wireless Access Point
Model WAC104
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 E. Plumeria DriveJuly 2021
San Jose, CA 95134, USA202-11698-05

Support and Community
Visit netgear.com/support to get your questions answered and access the latest
downloads.
You can also check out our NETGEAR Community for helpful advice at
community.netgear.com.
Regulatory and Legal
Si ce produit est vendu au Canada, vous pouvez accéder à ce document en français
canadien à https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.
(If this product is sold in Canada, you can access this document in Canadian French at
https://www.netgear.com/support/download/.)
For regulatory compliance information including the EU Declaration of Conformity, visit
https://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
For NETGEAR’s Privacy Policy, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/privacy-policy.
By using this device, you are agreeing to NETGEAR’s Terms and Conditions at
https://www.netgear.com/about/terms-and-conditions. If you do not agree, return the
device to your place of purchase within your return period.
Do not use this device outdoors.
Applicable to 6 GHz devices only: Only use the device indoors. The operation of 6 GHz
devices is prohibited on oil platforms, cars, trains, boats, and aircraft, except that
operation of this device is permitted in large aircraft while flying above 10,000 feet.
Operation of transmitters in the 5.925-7.125 GHz band is prohibited for control of or
communications with unmanned aircraft systems.
Trademarks
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR, and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
2
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

Revision History
CommentsPublish DatePublication Part
Number
We added information about the initial set up page and changed the steps to
log in to the local browser user interface (UI) for all tasks in this UM.
Chapter 1 : We changed: Hardware Overview of the Access Point on page 7,
Top panel with LEDs on page 10, and AP label on page 12. We added Additional
documentation on page 9 and Safety instructions and warnings for an indoor
access point on page 13.
Chapter 2: We changed Connect and log in to the AP for initial configuration
on page 19, including the subsections, and Connect a WiFi or wired device to
the AP’s network after installation on page 29, including the subsections. We
added About logging in to the local browser UI on page 18 and Find the IP
address of the AP when you cannot use aplogin.net on page 24.
Chapter 3: We changed Manage the basic WiFi settings and WiFi security of
the WiFi network on page 33.
Chapter 4: We changed Update the firmware of the AP on page 47, including
the subsections. We added Change the local device password on page 52 and
Enable password recovery or change the recovery questions on page 53.
Chapter 5: No changes (other than general changes that we applied throughout
the entire manual).
Chapter 6: We changed Quick tips for troubleshooting on page 83, Power LED
remains blinking green on page 85, Troubleshoot the WiFi connectivity on page
86, Troubleshoot Internet browsing on page 87, and You cannot log in to the
AP’s local browser UI on page 88.
Appendix: We changed Factory default settings on page 92 and Technical
specifications on page 93.
General: We made multiple other changes and improvements, and we
reorganized the information in some chapters.
July 2021202-11698-05
We updated the operating frequency ranges for the 5 GHz band in Technical
specifications on page 93.
January 2018202-11698-04
The DHCP client of the access point is now enabled by default.
The default WiFi security is now WPA and WPA2 mixed mode and the default
WiFi passphrase is sharedsecret.
The access point now supports the www.aplogin.net URL.
To document this new behavior, we made changes to the following sections:
AP label on page 12
Set up and connect the AP to your router on page 17
Connect and log in to the AP for initial configuration on page 19
Log in to the AP after you complete the initial log-in process on page 26
Connect a WiFi or wired device to the AP’s network after installation on page
29
View or change the basic WiFi settings on page 33
Change the IP address settings of the AP on page 57
We made very minor changes to multiple other sections.
July 2017202-11698-03
First publication.November
2016
202-11698-02
and
202-11698-01
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802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Overview of the Access Point
Additional documentation...................................................................9
Unpack the AP.......................................................................................9
Top panel with LEDs...........................................................................10
Back panel...........................................................................................11
Position the antennas.........................................................................11
AP label................................................................................................12
Safety instructions and warnings for an indoor access point........13
Chapter 2 Install and Access the AP in Your Network
Position your AP..................................................................................16
Set up and connect the AP to your router.......................................17
About logging in to the local browser UI........................................18
Connect and log in to the AP for initial configuration...................19
Connect over WiFi using a computer or mobile device...........19
Connect over Ethernet using a computer connected to the same
network............................................................................................21
Connect over Ethernet using a directly connected computer..23
Find the IP address of the AP when you cannot use aplogin.net..24
Log in to the AP after you complete the initial log-in process......26
Change the language........................................................................27
Set the time zone and adjust the daylight saving time..................28
Connect a WiFi or wired device to the AP’s network after
installation...........................................................................................29
Join a WiFi network on the AP.....................................................29
Use Wi-Fi Protected Setup to join the WiFi network of the AP.30
Connect to the AP through an Ethernet cable...........................30
Chapter 3 Manage the Basic WiFi Network Settings
Manage the basic WiFi settings and WiFi security of the WiFi
network................................................................................................33
View or change the basic WiFi settings.......................................33
Configure WEP legacy WiFi security...........................................39
Configure WPA and WPA2 Enterprise WiFi security.................41
Control the WiFi radios......................................................................43
Use the WiFi On/Off button..........................................................44
4

Enable or disable the WiFi radios................................................44
Chapter 4 Manage the AP and Monitor the Traffic
Update the firmware of the AP.........................................................47
Check for new firmware and update the AP...............................47
Download new firmware and update the AP.............................49
Manage the configuration file of the AP..........................................50
Back up the settings.......................................................................50
Restore the settings.......................................................................51
Change the local device password..................................................52
Enable password recovery or change the recovery questions.....53
Recover the local device admin password......................................54
Return the AP to its factory default settings....................................55
Use the Reset button.....................................................................55
Erase the settings...........................................................................56
Change the IP address settings of the AP.......................................57
View devices on the network............................................................59
View the status and statistics of the AP............................................60
View information about the AP and the IP and WiFi settings....61
View the traffic statistics................................................................64
Change the traffic statistics polling frequency...........................65
View or clear the logs.........................................................................66
Chapter 5 Manage the Advanced WiFi Features
Add a WiFi schedule..........................................................................69
Manage access to the WiFi network through a WiFi access list....71
Manage the WPS settings..................................................................73
Manage advanced WiFi settings......................................................75
Set up a WiFi distribution system.....................................................76
Set up the WiFi base station.........................................................78
Set up a WiFi repeater...................................................................79
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
Quick tips for troubleshooting..........................................................83
Troubleshoot with the LEDs..............................................................84
Power LED is off.............................................................................85
Power LED remains blinking green.............................................85
WiFi LED is off.................................................................................86
Troubleshoot the WiFi connectivity.................................................86
Troubleshoot Internet browsing.......................................................87
You cannot log in to the AP’s local browser UI...............................88
Changes are not saved......................................................................89
Troubleshoot your network using the ping utility..........................89
Test the LAN path to your AP.......................................................89
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802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

Test the path from your computer to a remote device.............90
Appendix A Factory Default Settings and Technical Specifications
Factory default settings......................................................................92
Technical specifications.....................................................................93
6
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

1
Hardware Overview of the Access
Point
The NETGEAR 802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104, in this manual referred
to as the AP, supports dual-band concurrent operation at 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz with
combined throughput of 1.2 Gbps (300 Mbps at 2.4 GHz and 867 Mbps at 5 GHz). The
AP can be used in a standalone configuration connected to a router in a small network
or integrated in a larger network.
IMPORTANT: The steps in this manual apply only if you update your AP firmware to
version 1.0.4.15 or a later version and then reset the AP to factory defaults. For more
information, see About logging in to the local browser UI on page 18. If your AP is
running a firmware version earlier than version 1.0.4.15 and you do not update to version
1.0.4.15 or a later version, see the old user manual, which you can download by visiting
netgear.com/support/download/. However, we strongly recommend that you download
and install the latest firmware as soon as possible.
The chapter contains the following sections:
• Additional documentation
• Unpack the AP
• Top panel with LEDs
• Back panel
• Position the antennas
• AP label
• Safety instructions and warnings for an indoor access point
IMPORTANT: The AP provides WiFi and LAN connectivity but is a bridge and not a
router. Therefore, do not connect the AP directly to your DSL or cable modem. You
must connect the AP to a router or, if your network includes a DHCP server, to a switch
or hub that is connected to the DHCP server. (For more information, see Set up and
connect the AP to your router on page 17.)
7

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. If the features or behavior of your product does not match what is described
in this guide, you might need to update your firmware.
8

Additional documentation
The following documents are available at netgear.com/support/download/:
•Installation guide for firmware version 1.0.4.15 and later versions
•Installation guide for firmware versions earlier than version 1.0.4.15
•User manual for firmware versions earlier than version 1.0.4.15
•Data sheet
Unpack the AP
The package contains the AP, Ethernet cable, power adapter (localized to the country
of sale), and installation guide.
Figure 1. WAC104 package contents
User Manual9Hardware Overview of the
Access Point
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

Top panel with LEDs
The status LEDs are located on the top panel of the AP.
Figure 2. Overview of the LEDs
Table 1. LED descriptions
DescriptionLED
Solid green. The AP is ready.
Solid green temporarily, blinking green temporarily, and finally solid green. The
AP is starting or was reset to factory default settings and is restarting. For more
information about resetting the AP to factory default settings, see Return the AP to its
factory default settings on page 55.
Blinking green. The AP is starting or upgrading firmware. If the Power LED is blinking
green at any other time, see Power LED remains blinking green on page 85.
Off. Power is not supplied to the AP.
Power
Solid green. (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is ready for use. By default, the WPS LED is off.
Blinking green for two minutes. Someone pressed the WPS button on the AP to join
the WiFi network. For more information, see Use Wi-Fi Protected Setup to join the WiFi
network of the AP on page 30.
WPS
Solid green. One or both WiFi radios are operating.
Blinking green. One or both WiFi radios are sending or receiving traffic.
Off. Both WiFi radios are off. For more information, seeControl the WiFi radios on page
43.
WiFi
Ethernet LAN ports 1–4:
Solid green. A powered-on Ethernet device is connected to the LAN port.
Blinking green. The LAN port is sending or receiving traffic.
Off. No powered-on Ethernet device is connected to the LAN port.
LAN
User Manual10Hardware Overview of the
Access Point
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

Back panel
The back panel of the AP provides ports, buttons, and a DC power connector.
Figure 3. AP back panel
Viewed from left to right, the back panel contains the following components:
•WPS button. Press the WPS button to join the AP’s WiFi network without typing the
WiFi password. For more information, see Use Wi-Fi Protected Setup to join the WiFi
network of the AP on page 30.
•WiFi On/Off button. Press the WiFi On/Off button for two seconds to turn the WiFi
radios on or off.
•LAN ports 1–4. Four Gigabit Ethernet RJ-45 LAN ports to connect the AP to Ethernet
devices. You can use one of the LAN ports to connect the AP to a router, network
switch, or network hub (see Set up and connect the AP to your router on page 17).
You can use the other LAN ports to connect the AP to Ethernet devices such as a
printer and desktop computers.
•Reset button. Press the Reset button to reset the AP to factory default settings. For
more information, see Use the Reset button on page 55.
•Power On/Off button. Press the Power On/Off button to provide power to the AP.
•DC power connector. Connect the power adapter that came in the product package
to the DC power connector.
Position the antennas
Although you can swivel the antennas in any direction, for best performance, we
recommend that you position the AP’s antennas perpendicular to each other, that is, at
a 90-degree angle.
User Manual11Hardware Overview of the
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802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

Figure 4. Examples of recommended antenna positions
AP label
The AP label on the bottom panel of the AP shows the default login information, serial
number and MAC address of the AP, and other information. Depending on when you
purchased your AP, the label might also show the default WiFi network names (SSIDs)
and default WiFi passphrase.
The following figure is an example. The label on your AP might look differently.
Figure 5. AP label
If the label does not show the defaults SSIDs and default WiFi passphrase, use the
following information:
•The default SSID in the 2.4 GHz radio band is NETGEAR_11N with the default WiFi
passphrase sharedsecret.
•The default SSID in the 5 GHz radio band is NETGEAR_11AC with the default WiFi
passphrase sharedsecret.
User Manual12Hardware Overview of the
Access Point
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

Safety instructions and warnings for an
indoor access point
Use the following safety guidelines to ensure your own personal safety and to help
protect your system from potential damage.
To reduce the risk of bodily injury, electrical shock, fire, and damage to the equipment,
observe the following precautions:
•This product is designed for indoor use only in a temperature-controlled and
humidity-controlled environment. Note the following:
-For more information about the environment in which this product must operate,
see the environmental specifications in the appendix or the data sheet.
-If you want to connect the product over an Ethernet cable to a device located
outdoors, the outdoor device must be properly grounded and surge protected,
and you must install an Ethernet surge protector inline between the indoor
product and the outdoor device. Failure to do so can damage the product.
-Before connecting the product to outdoor cables or wired outdoor devices, see
https://kb.netgear.com/000057103 for additional safety and warranty information.
Failure to follow these guidelines can result in damage to your NETGEAR product,
which might not be covered by NETGEAR’s warranty, to the extent permissible by
applicable law.
•Do not service the product except as explained in your product documentation.
Some devices should never be opened.
•If any of the following conditions occur, unplug the product from its power source,
and then replace the part or contact your trained service provider:
- Depending on your product, the power adapter, power adapter cable, power
adapter plug, or PoE Ethernet cable is damaged.
-An object fell into the product.
- The product was exposed to water.
- The product was dropped or damaged.
-The product does not operate correctly when you follow the operating
instructions.
•Keep the product away from radiators and heat sources. Also, do not block cooling
vents.
User Manual13Hardware Overview of the
Access Point
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

•Do not spill food or liquids on your product components, and never operate the
product in a wet environment. If the product gets wet, see the appropriate section
in your troubleshooting guide, or contact your trained service provider.
•Do not push any objects into the openings of your product. Doing so can cause fire
or electric shock by shorting out interior components.
•Use the product only with approved equipment.
•If applicable to your product, allow the product to cool before removing covers or
touching internal components.
•Be sure that devices that are attached over Ethernet cables are electrically rated to
operate with the power available in your location.
•Depending on your product, use only the supplied power adapter or an Ethernet
cable that provides PoE.
If your product uses a power adapter:
-If you were not provided with a power adapter, contact your local NETGEAR
reseller.
-The power adapter must be rated for the product and for the voltage and current
marked on the product electrical ratings label.
•To help prevent electric shock, plug any system and peripheral power cables into
properly grounded power outlets.
•If applicable to your product, the peripheral power cables are equipped with
three-prong plugs to help ensure proper grounding. Do not use adapter plugs or
remove the grounding prong from a cable. If you must use an extension cable, use
a three-wire cable with properly grounded plugs.
•Observe extension cable and power strip ratings. Make sure that the total ampere
rating of all products plugged into the extension cable or power strip does not
exceed 80 percent of the ampere ratings limit for the extension cable or power strip.
•To help protect your system from sudden, transient increases and decreases in
electrical power, use a surge suppressor, line conditioner, or uninterruptible power
supply (UPS).
•Position system cables, power adapter cables, and PoE Ethernet cables carefully.
Route cables so that they cannot be stepped on or tripped over. Be sure that nothing
rests on any cables.
•Do not modify power adapters, power adapter cables, or plugs. Consult a licensed
electrician or your power company for site modifications.
•Always follow your local and national wiring rules.
User Manual14Hardware Overview of the
Access Point
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

2
Install and Access the AP in Your
Network
This chapter describes how you can install and access the AP in your network.
The chapter contains the following sections:
• Position your AP
• Set up and connect the AP to your router
• About logging in to the local browser UI
• Connect and log in to the AP for initial configuration
• Find the IP address of the AP when you cannot use aplogin.net
• Log in to the AP after you complete the initial log-in process
• Change the language
• Set the time zone and adjust the daylight saving time
• Connect a WiFi or wired device to the AP’s network after installation
Note: In this chapter, we refer to the access point as the AP.
15

Position your AP
Consider how you want to position the AP. Place it where you want to add WiFi,
positioned so the WiFi range of the AP provides an optimal coverage area for your WiFi
devices.
The WiFi range or coverage area can vary significantly depending on the physical
placement of your AP. For example, the thickness and number of walls that the WiFi
signal passes through can limit the range.
Additionally, other WiFi access points in and around your office or home might affect
your AP’s signal. WiFi access points can be routers, repeaters, WiFi range extenders,
and any other devices that emit WiFi signals.
Tips for positioning your AP:
•Place your AP so that you can connect it with an Ethernet cable to your router and
within reach of an AC power outlet.
•Place the AP near the center of the area where your computers and other devices
operate, and within a line of sight to your WiFi devices.
•Place the AP in an elevated location, minimizing the number of walls and ceilings
between the AP and your WiFi client devices.
•Place the AP away from electrical devices like these:
-Ceiling fans
- Home security systems
- Microwaves
- Computers
-Base of a cordless phone
- 2.4 GHz and 5.8 GHz cordless phones
•Place the AP 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
User Manual16Install and Access the AP in Your
Network
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

If you are using adjacent access points, use different radio frequency channels to reduce
interference (see Manage the basic WiFi settings and WiFi security of the WiFi network
on page 33).
Set up and connect the AP to your router
The AP functions as a WiFi access point and LAN switch for Internet access but does
not provide routing services such as NAT and does not include a DHCP server. Basically,
the AP functions as a bridge between your existing router and the AP’s LAN and WiFi
clients, which receive an IP address from or through the router.
The easiest way to set up and start using the AP is to connect it to your router. If your
network includes an independent DHCP server, connect the AP to a switch or hub that
is connected to the DHCP server.
Note: Do not directly connect the AP to your DSL or cable modem.
By default, the DHCP client of the AP is enabled, so the AP receives an IP address from
your router (almost any router functions as a DHCP server) or from a DHCP server in
your network.
Figure 6. Connect the AP to a router
User Manual17Install and Access the AP in Your
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802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

To connect the AP to a router (or switch or hub that is connected to a DHCP server):
1. Connect the Ethernet cable that came in the package to one of the AP’s Ethernet
ports.
You can use any of the four LAN ports on the AP.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to a LAN port on your router (or switch or hub
that is connected to a DHCP server).
3. Power on the AP.
The Power LED lights solid green. If the Power LED does not light, press the Power
On/Off button.
Wait for the WiFi LED to light solid green. If the WiFi LED does not light, press the
WiFi On/Off button.
4. Log in to the AP by using one of the methods that are described in Connect and log
in to the AP for initial configuration on page 19.
About logging in to the local browser UI
IMPORTANT: The steps to log in to the local browser user interface (UI) of your AP
depend on the firmware version that your AP is running.
The steps in this manual apply only if you update your AP firmware to version 1.0.4.15
or a later version and then reset the AP to factory defaults. If you already reset the AP
to factory defaults after you updated to version 1.0.4.15, and you update the AP to a
version later than 1.0.4.15, you do not need to reset the AP to factory defaults again.
If your AP is running a firmware version earlier than version 1.0.4.15 and you do not
update to version 1.0.4.15 or a later version, see the old user manual, which you can
download by visiting netgear.com/support/download/.
IMPORTANT: We strongly recommend that you download and install the latest firmware
as soon as possible.
User Manual18Install and Access the AP in Your
Network
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

Connect and log in to the AP for initial
configuration
After you set up the AP, you can use several methods to connect and log in to the AP
for initial configuration.
You can use WiFi to connect your WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device such as a
tablet or smartphone to the AP or you can use a computer and an Ethernet cable to
connect to a LAN port on the AP. If you connect the AP to your network (for example,
through a switch or hub), you can also connect to the AP over Ethernet using a computer
that is connected to the same network as the AP.
The following sections describe how you can connect to the AP:
•Connect over WiFi using a computer or mobile device on page 19
•Connect over Ethernet using a computer connected to the same network on page
21
•Connect over Ethernet using a directly connected computer on page 23
To connect to the AP for initial configuration, follow the procedure in one of these
sections.
Connect over WiFi using a computer or mobile device
This section describes how to connect to the AP for the first time over WiFi using a
WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device. With this method, it does not matter whether
the AP received an IP address from the router or a DHCP server or if the AP functions
with its default IP address of 192.168.0.100.
User Manual19Install and Access the AP in Your
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802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104

To connect to the AP over WiFi using a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device:
1. Connect a WiFi-enabled computer or mobile device to the AP either by using the
manual method or the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) method:
•Manual method: Do the following:
a. Open the software utility that manages your WiFi connections.
The utility scans for all WiFi networks in your area.
b. Find and select one of the AP’s default WiFi network names (SSIDs), which
are NETGEAR_11N and NETGEAR_11AC.
If you cannot find the SSIDs, press the WiFi On/Off button on the back panel
of the AP, wait one minute, and see if the utility displays one or both of the
SSIDs.
c. Type the default WiFi passphrase, which is sharedsecret.
•WPS method: Do the following:
a. For help with the WPS button on your device, check the instructions or online
help that came with that device. (Some older equipment cannot use WPS.)
b. Press the WPS button on the back panel of the AP.
c. Within two minutes, on your computer or mobile device, press its physical
WPS button or click its onscreen WPS button.
Your computer or mobile device connects to the AP’s WiFi network.
2. Launch a web browser and enter http://www.aplogin.net or
http://www.aplogin.com in the address field.
These URLs are the same as the IP address 192.168.0.100.
A login window displays.
3. Enter the AP user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and
password are case-sensitive.
The initial set up page displays. This page displays only the first time that you log in
to the local browser user interface (UI).
4. Set up a new admin password (also called the local device password) and specify
answers to two security questions (you can choose the questions).
The new admin password replaces the default password password, so we
recommend that you write down your new password or save it in another way.
User Manual20Install and Access the AP in Your
Network
802.11ac Wireless Access Point Model WAC104