NETGEAR WAC104 User manual

802.11ac Wireless Access
Point Model WAC104
User Manual
October 2016
202-11698-01
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA

Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product.You can visit 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 official NETGEAR support resources.
Conformity
For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621.
Compliance
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
Trademarks
©NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.Any non-NETGEAR
trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
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802.11acWireless Access

Contents
Chapter 1 Hardware Overview of the Access Point
Unpack the Access Point.......................................................................................6
Top Panel With LEDs.............................................................................................6
Back Panel.............................................................................................................7
Position the Antennas............................................................................................8
Product Label.........................................................................................................9
Chapter 2 Install and Access the Access Point inYour Network
Position Your Access Point...................................................................................11
Connect the Access Point toYour Router or Network..........................................12
Connect the Access Point toYour Router........................................................12
Connect the Access Point to a Network With a DHCP Server........................14
Connect the Access Point With a Static IP Address toYour Network..............16
Log In to the Access Point After Setup to View or Change Settings....................19
Change the Language.........................................................................................20
Change the admin Password...............................................................................21
Set Up Password Recovery.................................................................................21
Set the Time Zone and Adjust the Daylight Saving Time.....................................22
Connect to the Access Point’s Network After Installation.....................................23
Connect to the Access Point Through an Ethernet Cable...............................23
Join the WiFi Network of the Access Point......................................................23
Manual Method...........................................................................................23
Wi-Fi Protected Setup Method...................................................................24
Chapter 3 Manage the BasicWiFi Network Settings
Manage the Basic WiFi Settings and WiFi Security of the WiFi Network.............27
View or Change the Basic WiFi Settings.........................................................27
Configure WEP Legacy WiFi Security.............................................................33
Configure WPA and WPA2 Enterprise WiFi Security.......................................35
Control the WiFi Radios.......................................................................................37
Use the WiFi On/Off Button.............................................................................37
Enable or Disable the WiFi Radios..................................................................37
Chapter 4 Manage the Access Point and Monitor theTraffic
Update the Firmware of the Access Point............................................................40
Check for New Firmware and Update the Access Point..................................40
Manually Upload New Firmware and Update the Access Point......................41
Manage the Configuration File of the Access Point.............................................42
Back Up the Settings.......................................................................................42
Restore the Settings........................................................................................43
Recover the admin Password..............................................................................43
Return the Access Point to Its Factory Default Settings......................................44
3

Use the Reset Button......................................................................................45
Erase the Settings...........................................................................................45
Change the IP Address Settings of the Access Point..........................................46
View Devices Currently on the Network...............................................................48
View the Status and Statistics of the Access Point..............................................49
View Information About the Access Point and the IP and WiFi Settings.........49
View the Traffic Statistics.................................................................................52
Change the Traffic Statistics Polling Frequency...............................................54
View or Clear the Logs.........................................................................................54
Chapter 5 Manage the Advanced WiFi Features
Add a WiFi Schedule............................................................................................57
Manage Access to the WiFi Network Through a WiFi Access List.......................58
Manage the WPS Settings...................................................................................60
Manage Advanced WiFi Settings.........................................................................62
Set Up a WiFi Distribution System.......................................................................63
Set Up the WiFi Base Station..........................................................................64
Set Up a WiFi Repeater..................................................................................65
Chapter 6Troubleshooting
Quick Tips for Troubleshooting.............................................................................69
Troubleshoot With the LEDs.................................................................................70
Power LED Is Off.............................................................................................70
Power LED Remains Blinking Green...............................................................70
WiFi LED Is Off................................................................................................71
Troubleshoot the WiFi Connectivity......................................................................71
Troubleshoot Internet Browsing...........................................................................72
You Cannot Log In to the Access Point................................................................72
Changes Are Not Saved......................................................................................73
Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility................................................73
Test the LAN Path to Your Access Point..........................................................73
Test the Path From Your Computer to a Remote Device.................................74
Appendix A Factory Default Settings andTechnical Specifications
Factory Settings...................................................................................................76
Technical Specifications.......................................................................................77
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802.11acWireless Access

1
Hardware Overview of the Access Point
The NETGEAR 802.11acWireless Access Point Model WAC104, in this manual referred to as the access point,
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 access point can be used in a standalone configuration connected
to a router or integrated in a network.
The chapter contains the following sections:
•Unpack the Access Point on page 6
•Top Panel With LEDs on page 6
•Back Panel on page 7
•Position the Antennas on page 8
•Product Label on page 9
IMPORTANT:
The access point providesWiFi and LAN connectivity but is a bridge and not a router.
Therefore, do not connect the access point directly to your DSL or cable modem.
You must connect the access point 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 Connect the Access Point toYour Router or Network on page 12.)
For more information about the topics that are covered in this manual, visit the support website
at netgear.com/support.
Note
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.
Note
5

Unpack the Access Point
The package contains the access point, Ethernet cable, power adapter (localized to the country of sale),
and installation guide.
Figure 1. WAC104 package contents
Top Panel With LEDs
The status LEDs are located on the top panel of the access point.
Hardware Overview of the Access Point
6
802.11ac Wireless Access

Table 1. LED descriptions
DescriptionLED
•Solid green. The access point is ready.
•Solid green temporarily, blinking green temporarily, and finally solid green. The access
point is starting or was reset to factory default settings and is restarting.
For more information about resetting the access point to factory default settings, see Return
the Access Point to Its Factory Default Settings on page 44.
•Blinking green. The access point is starting or upgrading firmware.
If the Power LED is blinking green at any other time, see Power LED Remains Blinking Green
on page 70.
•Off. Power is not supplied to the access point.
Power
•Solid green. (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) is ready for use. By default, the WPS LED lights solid
green when the power is on.
•Blinking green for two minutes. Someone pressed the WPS button on the access point to
join the WiFi network.
For more information, see Wi-Fi Protected Setup Method on page 24.
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 37.
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
Back Panel
The back panel of the access point provides ports, buttons, and a DC power connector.
Hardware Overview of the Access Point
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802.11ac Wireless Access

Figure 2. Access point back panel
Viewed from left to right, the back panel contains the following components:
•WPS button. Press the WPS button to join the access point’s WiFi network without typing the WiFi
password. For more information, see Wi-Fi Protected Setup Method on page 24.
•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 access point to Ethernet devices.
You can use one of the LAN ports to connect the access point to a router, network switch, or network
hub (see Connect the Access Point to Your Router or Network on page 12). You can use the other LAN
ports to connect the access point to Ethernet devices such as computers.
•Reset button. Press the Reset button to reset the access point to factory default settings. For more
information, see Use the Reset Button on page 45.
•Power On/Off button. Press the Power On/Off button to provide power to the access point.
•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 access point’s antennas perpendicular to each other, that is, at a 90-degree angle.
Figure 3. Examples of recommended antenna positions
Hardware Overview of the Access Point
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802.11ac Wireless Access

Product Label
The product label on the bottom panel of the access point shows the default login information, default WiFi
network names (SSIDs), serial number, and MAC address of the access point.
Figure 4. Access point label
Hardware Overview of the Access Point
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802.11acWireless Access

2
Install and Access the Access Point in
Your Network
This chapter describes how you can install and access the access point in your network.
The chapter contains the following sections:
•PositionYour Access Point on page 11
•Connect the Access Point toYour Router or Network on page 12
•Log In to the Access Point After Setup to View or Change Settings on page 19
•Change the Language on page 20
•Change the admin Password on page 21
•Set Up Password Recovery on page 21
•Set the Time Zone and Adjust the Daylight Saving Time on page 22
•Connect to the Access Point’s Network After Installation on page 23
10

PositionYour Access Point
The access point lets you access your network anywhere within the operating range of your WiFi network.
However, the operating distance or range of your WiFi connection can vary significantly depending on the
physical placement of your access point. For example, the thickness and number of walls the WiFi signal
passes through can limit the range.
Additionally, other WiFi access points in and around your home might affect your access point’s signal.WiFi
access points are routers, repeaters, WiFi range extenders, and any other device that emits a WiFi signal
for network access.
Position your access point according to the following guidelines:
•Place your access point near the center of the area where your computers and other devices operate
and within line of sight to your WiFi devices.
•Make sure that the access point is within reach of an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables for wired
computers.
•Place the access point in an elevated location, minimizing the number walls and ceilings between the
access point and your other devices.
•Place the access point away from electrical devices such as these:
-Ceiling fans
-Home security systems
-Microwaves
-Computers
-Base of a cordless phone
-2.4 GHz cordless phone
-5 GHz cordless phone
•Place the access point 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
If you are using adjacent access points, use different radio frequency channels to reduce interference.
Install and Access the Access Point inYour Network
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802.11acWireless Access

Connect the Access Point to Your Router or Network
The access point functions as a WiFi access point and LAN switch for Internet access but does not provide
routing services such as NAT and a DHCP server. Do not directly connect the access point to your DSL or
cable modem. Instead, connect the access point to your router or to a switch or hub that is connected to a
DHCP server in your network. Basically, the access point functions as a bridge between your router or DHCP
server and the access point’s LAN and WiFi clients.
The following sections describe how you can connect the access point to your router or network:
•Connect the Access Point to Your Router on page 12
•Connect the Access Point to a Network With a DHCP Server on page 14
•Connect the Access Point With a Static IP Address to Your Network on page 16
To set up your access point, follow the procedure in one of these sections.
Connect the Access Point to Your Router
The easiest way to set up and start using the access point is to connect it to a router.
By default, the DHCP client of the access point is disabled, so the access point does not receive an IP
address from the router’s DHCP server and you can use the default access point IP address to log in to the
access point web management interface. However, because the access point functions as a bridge between
your router and the access point’s LAN and WiFi clients, these clients do receive an IP address from the
router.
After setup, if you want to access the access point web management interface (also referred to as user
interface) to change the settings, you must use the default access point IP address 192.168.0.100.
If you do want the access point to receive an IP address from the router’s DHCP
server, you must enable the access point’s DHCP client (see Connect the Access
Point to a Network With a DHCP Server on page 14) and log in to the access point
web management interface over the IP address that the DHCP server assigns to the
access point.
Note
Figure 5. Connect the access point to a router
Install and Access the Access Point in Your Network
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802.11ac Wireless Access

To connect the access point to a router and log in to the access point:
1. Connect the Ethernet cable that came in the package to one of the access point’s Ethernet ports.
You can use any of the four LAN ports on the access point.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to a LAN port on your router.
3. Power on the access point.
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.
For the next step, you can use WiFi to connect your WiFi device to the access point or you can use a
computer and an Ethernet cable to connect to a LAN port on the access point.
4. Connect to the access point by doing one of the following:
•Connect your WiFi device to the access point by using one of the WiFi network names (SSIDs) on
the product label. A network key or password is not required.
For more information, see Join the WiFi Network of the Access Point on page 23.
•Connect a computer to a LAN port on the access point by doing the following:
a. Record the IP address and subnet mask of your computer so that you can reinstate these IP
address settings when you complete the configuration of the access point.
b. Temporarily change the IP address on your computer to 192.168.0.210 with 255.255.255.0 as
the subnet mask.
(You can actually use any IP address in the 192.168.0.2–192.168.0.254 range, with the exception
of IP address 192.168.0.100, which is the default access point IP address.)
For more information about changing the IP address on your computer, see the help or
documentation for your computer.
c. Use another Ethernet cable (not provided) to connect your computer to a LAN port on the access
point.
5. To customize the features of the access point, log in to the access point by doing the following:
a. Open a web browser from the computer that is connected to the access point.
b. Enter 192.168.0.100 in the address field of the web browser.
Because the DHCP client of the access point is disabled by default, the access point does not
receive an IP address from the router’s DHCP server and you must the default IP address of the
access point.
c. When prompted, enter admin for the user name and password for the password.
The access point’ web management interface displays.
6. Change the settings as needed.
For more information, see the sections in this manual.
Install and Access the Access Point in Your Network
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802.11ac Wireless Access

Connect the Access Point to a Network With a DHCP Server
If your network includes a DHCP server or you want to let your router’s built-in DHCP server assign an IP
address to the access point, you must enable the access point’s DHCP client.
After setup, to access the access point web management interface (also referred to as user interface), you
must use the IP address that the network’s DHCP server or router’s built-in DHCP server assigns to the
access point. (You can no longer use the default access point IP address.)
Figure 6. Connect the access point to a network with a DHCP server
To connect the access point to a network or router with a DHCP server and log in to the
access point:
1. Connect the Ethernet cable that came in the package to one of the access point’s Ethernet ports.
You can use any of the four LAN ports on the access point.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to an Ethernet port on a switch or hub, which must be connected to
the DHCP server in your network.
If you want to use your router’s built-in DHCP server, connect the other end of the cable to a LAN port
on your router.
3. Power on the access point.
Install and Access the Access Point in Your Network
14
802.11ac Wireless Access

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.
For the next step, you can use WiFi to connect your WiFi device to the access point or you can use a
computer and an Ethernet cable to connect to a LAN port on the access point.
4. Connect to the access point by doing one of the following:
•Connect your WiFi device to the access point by using one of the WiFi network names (SSIDs) on
the product label. A network key or password is not required.
For more information, see Join the WiFi Network of the Access Point on page 23.
•Connect a computer to a LAN port on the access point by doing the following:
a. Record the IP address and subnet mask of your computer so that you can reinstate these IP
address settings later.
b. Temporarily change the IP address on your computer to 192.168.0.210 with 255.255.255.0 as
the subnet mask.
(You can actually use any IP address in the 192.168.0.2–192.168.0.254 range, with the exception
of IP address 192.168.0.100, which is the default access point IP address.)
For more information about changing the IP address on your computer, see the help or
documentation for your computer.
c. Use another Ethernet cable (not provided) to connect your computer to a LAN port on the access
point.
5. Log in to the access point by doing the following:
a. Open a web browser from the computer that is connected to the access point.
b. Enter 192.168.0.100 in the address field of the web browser.
Because the DHCP client of the access point is disabled by default, the access point cannot yet
receive an IP address from the network’s DHCP server or router’s built-in DHCP server.
A login window displays.
c. When prompted, enter admin for the user name and password for the password.
The access point web management interface displays.
6. Select Advanced Setup > IP Settings.
The page with IP settings displays.
7. Select the Get dynamically from existing router radio button.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved and the access point restarts.
9. After the access point becomes available again, to customize the features of the access point, including
changing the preset WiFi network names (SSIDs) and setting up WiFi security, log back in to the access
point by doing the following:
Install and Access the Access Point in Your Network
15
802.11ac Wireless Access

a. If you changed the IP address settings of your computer in Step 4, reinstate the IP address settings
that your computer was using before.
This step assumes that the access point is now connected to the same router or
network that your computer was connected to before you connected it with an
Ethernet cable to the access point. For you to configure the access point, the IP
addresses of your computer and the access point must be in the same IP subnet.
This requirement does not apply if you log in to the access point over a WiFi
connection.
Note
b. Open a web browser from the computer that is connected to the access point.
c. In the address field of the web browser, enter the IP address that the network’s DHCP server or
router’s built-in DHCP server assigned to the access point.
You can find this IP address by accessing the DHCP server or the router.You can also use a network
IP scanner to find the IP address of the access point in your network.It could take up to ten minutes
for the network’s DHCP server or router’s built-in DHCP server to assign the access point an IP
address.
d. When prompted, enter admin for the user name and password for the password.
The access point web management interface displays.
10. Change the settings as needed.
For more information, see the sections in this manual.
Connect the Access Point With a Static IP Address toYour
Network
For some networks, you might need to configure a static (fixed) IP address on the access point.This is an
unusual configuration that requires you to manually enter the IP address settings of the access point.
Before you can do so, you must collect the static IP address, IP subnet mask, network gateway IP address,
and the IP address of the primary DNS server, and if available in your network, the secondary DSN server.
After setup, to access the access point’s web management interface (also referred to as user interface),
you must use the static IP address that you assigned to the access point.(You can no longer use the default
access point IP address.)
Install and Access the Access Point inYour Network
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802.11acWireless Access

Figure 7. Connect the access point with a static IP address to a network
To connect the access point with a static IP address to a network and log in to the access
point:
1. Connect the Ethernet cable that came in the package to one of the access point’s Ethernet ports.
You can use any of the four LAN ports on the access point.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to an Ethernet port on a switch or hub, which must be connected to
your network.
If you want to connect the access point with a static IP address to your router, connect the other end of
the cable to a LAN port on your router.
3. Power on the access point.
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.
For the next step, you can use WiFi to connect your WiFi device to the access point or you can use a
computer and an Ethernet cable to connect to a LAN port on the access point.
Install and Access the Access Point in Your Network
17
802.11ac Wireless Access

4. Connect to the access point by doing one of the following:
•Connect your WiFi device to the access point by using one of the WiFi network names (SSIDs) on
the product label. A network key or password is not required.
For more information, see Join the WiFi Network of the Access Point on page 23.
•Connect a computer to a LAN port on the access point by doing the following:
a. Record the IP address and subnet mask of your computer so that you can reinstate these IP
address settings later.
b. Temporarily change the IP address on your computer to 192.168.0.210 with 255.255.255.0 as
the subnet mask.
(You can actually use any IP address in the 192.168.0.2–192.168.0.254 range, with the exception
of IP address 192.168.0.100, which is the default access point IP address.)
For more information about changing the IP address on your computer, see the help or
documentation for your computer.
c. Use another Ethernet cable (not provided) to connect your computer to a LAN port on the access
point.
5. Log in to the access point by doing the following:
a. Open a web browser from the computer or WiFi device that is connected to the access point.
b. Enter 192.168.0.100 in the address field of the web browser.
Because you did not yet configure a static IP address, you must enter the default access point IP
address.
c. When prompted, enter admin for the user name and password for the password.
The access point web management interface displays.
6. Select Advanced Setup > IP Settings.
The page with IP settings displays.
7. Select the Use fixed IP Address (not recommended) radio button.
8. Enter the IP address information that you collected in the IP Address, IP Subnet Mask, Gateway IP
Address, Primary DNS, and Secondary DNS fields.
9. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved and the access point restarts.
10. After the access point becomes available again, to customize the features of the access point, including
changing the presetWiFi network names (SSIDs) and setting upWiFi security, log back in to the access
point by doing the following:
Install and Access the Access Point inYour Network
18
802.11acWireless Access

a. If you changed the IP address settings of your computer in Step 4, reinstate the IP address settings
that your computer was using before.
This step assumes that the access point is now connected to the same router or
network that your computer was connected to before you connected it with an
Ethernet cable to the access point. For you to configure the access point, the IP
addresses of your computer and the access point must be in the same IP subnet.
This requirement does not apply if you log in to the access point over a WiFi
connection.
Note
b. Open a web browser from the computer or WiFi device that is connected to the access point.
c. In the address field of the web browser, enter the static IP address that you configured on the access
point.
d. When prompted, enter admin for the user name and password for the password.
The access point web management interface displays.
11. Change the settings as needed.
For more information, see the sections in this manual.
Log In to the Access Point After Setup to View or Change
Settings
After you set up the access point, you can view or change the settings for the access point.
To log in to the access point web management interface:
1. Open a web browser from a computer that is connected to the same network as the access point or to
the access point directly through an Ethernet cable or WiFi connection.
If you did not enable the access point’s DHCP client or configure a static IP address
when you connected the access point to your router or network (see Connect the
Access Point to Your Router or Network on page 12), the access point uses its default
IP address of 192.168.0.100. In this situation, you must temporarily change the IP
address on your computer to 192.168.0.210 with subnet mask 255.255.255.0 so that
the IP addresses of your computer and the access point are in the same IP subnet.
This requirement does not apply if you log in to the web management interface over
a WiFi connection.
Note
2. Enter the IP address that is assigned to the access point.
If you did not enable the DHCP client on the access point or did not assign a static IP address, enter
the default access point IP address 192.168.0.100.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the access point user name and password.
Install and Access the Access Point in Your Network
19
802.11ac Wireless Access

The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The Home page displays a dashboard that lets you see the status of your access point at a glance.You
can click the IP Settings,Wireless Settings (2.4GHz b/g/n), or Wireless Settings (5GHz a/n/ac)
heading to view more detailed information. For more information, see View Information About the Access
Point and the IP and WiFi Settings on page 49. The left column displays the main menu.
Change the Language
By default, the language is set as Auto. You can change the language.
To change the language:
1. Open a web browser from a computer that is connected to the same network as the access point or to
the access point directly through an Ethernet cable or WiFi connection.
2. Enter the IP address that is assigned to the access point.
If you did not enable the DHCP client on the access point or did not assign a static IP address, enter
the default access point IP address 192.168.0.100.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the access point user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are
case-sensitive.
The Home page displays.
4. In the upper right corner, select a language from the menu.
5. When prompted, click the OK button to confirm this change.
Install and Access the Access Point in Your Network
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802.11ac Wireless Access