NETGEAR DGN3500 - Wireless-N Gigabit Router User guide

November 2009
208-10345-02
v1.0
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
RangeMax Wireless-N DSL
Gigabit Modem Router
Setup Manual

ii
©2009 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
Trademarks
NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Microsoft, Windows, and Windows NT are
registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks
of their respective holders.
Statement of Conditions
In the interest of improving internal design, operational function, and/or reliability, NETGEAR reserves the right to
make changes to the products described in this document without notice.
NETGEAR does not assume any liability that may occur due to the use or application of the product(s) or circuit
layout(s) described herein.

iii
Contents
Modem Router Setup Manual DGN3500
Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
Unpacking Your New Router .............................................................................................1
Hardware Features ............................................................................................................3
Router Front Panel ......................................................................................................3
Router Back Panel ......................................................................................................5
Modem Router Dome ..................................................................................................6
Router Label ................................................................................................................7
Positioning Your Wireless Router ...............................................................................7
Installing Your Wireless-N Modem Router ........................................................................8
Installing Your Router Using the
Smart Wizard
Using the Smart Wizard ...................................................................................................10
Accessing Your Router After Installation .........................................................................11
Installing Your Router Manually
(Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)
Understanding ADSL Microfilters ....................................................................................13
ADSL Microfilter ........................................................................................................13
ADSL Microfilter with Built-In Splitter ........................................................................13
Connecting Your Wireless-N Modem Router ..................................................................14
Verifying Your Connection ...............................................................................................17
Setting Up Your Router for Internet Access ....................................................................18
Configuring Your Wireless Network
Specifying Wireless Settings ...........................................................................................21
Setting Your SSID and Wireless Security Manually ..................................................22
Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to Configure Your Wireless Network .......................23
Testing Basic Wireless Connectivity ................................................................................26

iv
Troubleshooting
Basic Functioning ............................................................................................................28
Power LED Not On ....................................................................................................29
Power LED is Red .....................................................................................................29
LAN or Internet Port LEDs Not On ............................................................................29
Troubleshooting the Web Configuration Interface ...........................................................30
Troubleshooting the ISP Connection ...............................................................................31
ADSL link ..................................................................................................................31
Obtaining an Internet IP Address ..............................................................................32
Troubleshooting PPPoE or PPPoA ...........................................................................33
Troubleshooting Internet Browsing ...........................................................................33
Troubleshooting a TCP/IP Network Using the Ping Utility ...............................................34
Testing the LAN Path to Your Router ........................................................................34
Testing the Path from Your Computer to a Remote Device ......................................35
Restoring the Default Configuration and Password .........................................................35
Technical Specifications
General Specifications .....................................................................................................36
Default Configuration .......................................................................................................37
Related Documents
Registration and Certifications

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 1
Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
Congratulations on your purchase of a NETGEAR® high-speed wireless router, the RangeMax
Wireless-N DSL Gigabit Modem Router .
Before you begin installing your router, check the package contents (see “Unpacking Your New
Router” on page 1). Become familiar with the front and back panels of your router—especially the
LEDs—and the important information on the router label (see “Hardware Features” on page 3).
Then, read the section on “Positioning Your Wireless Router” on page 7 to ensure that you have
selected the best location to install your router.
This chapter describes how to set up the wireless-N modem router on your Local Area Network
(LAN) and connect to the Internet. It describes how to set up your wireless-N modem router for
Internet access and configure basic wireless connectivity.
Unpacking Your New Router
Your router should contain the following items:
• Wireless-N Modem Router
• A snap-on stand for your modem router
• AC power adapter (varies by region)
• A yellow Category 5 (Cat 5) Ethernet cable
• Telephone cable with RJ-11 connector
• Microfilters (quantity and type vary by region)
•Resource CD, including:
– The Smart Wizard™ Installation Assistant (Autorun.exe)
– A PDF version of this manual
– A link to the online Setup Manual
• Warranty and Support Information cards
If any of the parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer. Keep the
carton, including the original packing materials, in case you need to return the product for repair.

2 Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
To prepare your router for installation:
1. Orient your wireless-N modem router so that the NETGEAR logo is toward the top.
2. Insert the tabs of the stand into the slots on the bottom of your router as shown in Figure 1.
3. Place your router in a suitable area for installation (near an AC power outlet and accessible to
the Ethernet cables for your wired computers).
The wireless-N modem router has internal wireless antennas. For optimal wireless
network performance, use the stand (included in the package) to position your
wireless-N modem router upright with the NETGEAR logo at the top. This position
also ensures proper heat dissipation and stability.
Figure 1
Position the router with the
NETGEAR logo at the top.

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 3
Hardware Features
Before you install and connect your router, take a moment to become familiar with the front and
back panels of the router—especially the LEDs on the front panel.
Router Front Panel
The wireless-N modem router front panel shown below contains status LEDs.
You can use the LEDs to verify various conditions.Table 1 describes each LED.
Figure 2
Table 1. LED Descriptions
Label LED Activity Description
1. Power/
Test Blinking Amber The unit is starting up after being powered on.
Solid green Power is supplied to the router.
Blinking green Firmware upgrade in progress.
Solid red POST (Power-On Self-Test) failure or device malfunction.
Blinking red Factory reset – Lights red momentarily when the reset button on the
back panel is pressed and the gateway resets to the factory defaults.
Off Power is not supplied to the router.
3
2
1 4 5 6 7

4 Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
2. LAN Ports Solid green The Local port has detected a link with a 1000 Mbps device.
Blinking green Data is being transmitted or received at 1000 Mbps.
Solid Amber The Local port has detected a link with a 10/100 Mbps device.
Blinking Amber Data is being transmitted or received at 10100 Mbps.
Off No link is detected on this port.
3. Wireless Solid Blue The wireless connection is enabled.
Blinking Blue Data is being communicated over the wireless network.
Off The wireless radio (interface) is off.
4. WPS Fast Blinking Green
Blinking Green
Off
Indicates a WPS error or the router is in the AP Setup locked state.
The WPS connection has been activated. You have ~2 minutes to
establish a connection with another device.
WPS is not being set or enabled.
5. USB Solid Green
Fast Blinking Green
Slow Blinking Green
Off
A USB device is connected to the USB port is ready to be used.
The connected USB device is in use.
The connected USB device has been detected by the router.
No USB device has been detected.
6. DSL Solid Green
Blinking Green
Off
The ADSL port is connected to your ISP.
The ADSL port is synchronizing with your ISP.
The unit is off or there is no IP connection.
7. Internet
(WAN) Solid Green
Blinking Green
Solid Red
Off
There is an Internet session. If the session is dropped due to an idle
timeout, and an ADSL connection is still present, the light will remain
green. If the session is dropped for any other reason, the light will
turn off.
Data is being transmitted over the ADSL port.
An attempt to reconnect was made, and the DHCP or PPPoE failed.
No Internet connection detected.
Table 1. LED Descriptions (continued)
Label LED Activity Description

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 5
Router Back Panel
The back panel of the wireless-N modem router contains port connections.
Viewed from left to right, the rear panel contains the following elements:
1. RJ-11 ADSL port – Connects the wireless-N modem router to an ADSL line.
2. USB host port – Connects the wireless-N modem router to a USB device.
3. Local Ethernet RJ-45 LAN ports – Connect the wireless-N modem router to the local
computers.
4. WiFi On/Off button – By default, the wireless-N modem router is set up to work as a wireless
access point. Pressing this button turns the wireless access point feature off and on. You can
also do this through the Wireless Settings screen. For more information, see the
on-line Reference Manual. A link to the Reference Manual is on the Resource CD.
5. Factory Reset – Resets the wireless-N modem router to factory defaults.
6. Power On/Off button – Powers on the wireless-N modem router.
7. AC power adapter input – Power outlet for the wireless-N modem router.
The ports on the router are color-coded to distinguish your Internet port from the other four ports
that connect to the wired computer(s) on your LAN.
Figure 3
124
5
673

6 Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
Modem Router Dome
The round, silver-colored dome on top of your wireless-N modem router activates the Wi-Fi
Protected Setup (WPS) feature and connects WPS clients. The dome acts as a push-button for the
router to enable WPS security with other WPS-enabled devices. Pushing on the dome for over 5
seconds opens a 2-minute window for the router to connect with other WPS-enabled devices. See
“Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to Configure Your Wireless Network” on page 23.
Figure 4
Dome

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 7
Router Label
The label on the bottom of the wireless-N modem router shows the router’s MAC address, serial
number, security PIN, and factory default login information.
Positioning Your Wireless Router
The wireless-N modem router lets you access your network from virtually anywhere within the
operating range of your wireless network. However, the operating distance or range of your
wireless connection can vary significantly depending on the physical placement of your router. For
example, the thickness and number of walls the wireless signal must pass through may limit the
range. For best results, place your router:
• Near the center of the area where your computers and other devices will operate, preferably
within line of sight to your wireless devices.
• Accessible to an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables for wired computers.
Figure 5
The wireless-N modem router has internal wireless antennas. For optimal wireless
network performance, use the stand (included in the package) to position your
wireless-N modem router upright with the NETGEAR logo at the top. This position
also ensures proper heat dissipation and stability.

8 Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
• In an elevated location such as a high shelf, keeping the number of walls and ceilings between
the wireless-N modem router and your other devices to a minimum.
• Away from electrical devices which are potential sources of interference, such as ceiling fans,
home security systems, microwaves, or the base for a cordless phone.
• Away from any large metal surfaces, such as a solid metal door or aluminum studs. Large
expanses of other materials such as glass, insulated walls, fish tanks, mirrors, brick, and
concrete can also affect your wireless signal.
Installing Your Wireless-N Modem Router
To help you set up your router and get on the Internet quickly, the Resource CD contains a Smart
Wizard™. The Smart Wizard walks you through the steps required to connect your router,
microfilters, and PC(s); configure your wireless settings; and enable wireless security for your
network. When you have finished, you will be Internet ready!
You can set up your wireless-N modem router using one of two methods:
•Smart Wizard Setup: The Smart Wizard setup is available on your Resource CD. See
“Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard” on page 10 to use the Smart Wizard.
– This is the easiest option. The wizard guides you through the setup process. It automates
many of the steps and verifies that the steps have been successfully completed.
– Smart Wizard requires a PC running Microsoft Windows..
Failure to follow these guidelines can result in significant performance degradation
or an inability to wirelessly connect to the Internet.
If you have a Macintosh or Linux system, you need to use the manual installation
method (see “Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)”
on page 12).
Before running the Smart Wizard on a corporate PC to set up your home
router, check with your company’s network support staff. Corporate
network settings or Virtual Private Network (VPN) client software may
conflict with the default settings of a home router. If you are unsure about
whether there might be a conflict, use a different computer.

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 9
•Manual Setup: If you cannot or prefer not to use the Smart Wizard, see “Installing Your
Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)” on page 12. For example, if you are
connecting to a Mac, are using a Linux operating system, or are technically knowledgeable,
select this option.
If you choose to use the manual setup option, for best results, install and set up your router in
this order:
1. Install and connect your wireless router to your network (see “Connecting Your Wireless-
N Modem Router” on page 14).
2. Set up your wireless router for Internet access (see “Setting Up Your Router for Internet
Access” on page 18).
3. Configure your wireless network and select wireless security settings to protect your
wireless network (see “Configuring Your Wireless Network” on page 21).

Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard 10
Installing Your Router Using the
Smart Wizard
To use the Smart Wizard, you must be using a PC with Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows
2000, or Windows XP with Service Pack 2. The Smart Wizard setup procedure should take about
15 minutes to complete. Before using the Smart Wizard to set up your wireless-N modem router,
ensure that:
• You have an ADSL Internet service connection through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• You have the configuration information provided by your ISP.
Using the Smart Wizard
The NETGEAR Smart Wizard takes you through the procedure to connect your router, ADSL
microfilters, and PC(s). It then helps you to configure your wireless settings and enable wireless
security for your network. The Smart Wizard guides you through the setup process by automating
many of the steps. At each step in the setup process, the Smart Wizard checks to ensure that the
steps you perform are successfully completed.
To install your router using the Smart Wizard:
1. Locate the ADSL settings information provided by your Internet Service Provider.
2. Insert the Resource CD into your Windows PC. The CD will automatically start and detect the
language you are using on your PC. Select a different language option, if you prefer.
3. When the Welcome screen appears, click Setup to start the Smart Wizard. Follow the
instructions and prompts to complete the installation.
If the CD does not automatically start, browse the CD and double-click on .

Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard 11
The Smart Wizard guides you through installing your router, connecting your router to the
Internet, configuring your wireless network settings, and selecting the optimum security
protection for your network. If you choose not to select a security option during installation,
you can always access the router’s user interface later to select a security option (see
“Accessing Your Router After Installation” on page 11).
You are now connected to the Internet!
To set up additional wireless computers in your network for router access and to connect to the
Internet, see “Configuring Your Wireless Network” on page 21.
Accessing Your Router After Installation
The Smart Wizard only appears when you first install the router or when the router is in its factory
default state (for example, if you have reset the router to its factory default settings). If you want to
change the settings after installing and configuring your router, you can click the desktop
shortcut—a preconfigured shortcut placed on your desktop at installation—to open the
router management interface.1Optionally, you can also open a browser window and log in to the
router. After logging in, you can:
• Set up other wireless computers on your network, see “Configuring Your Wireless Network”
on page 21.
• Change settings and configure wireless security, see “Specifying Wireless Settings” on
page 21.
For advanced features that are not covered in this manual, see the Reference Manual on your
Resource CD. A link to the on-line Reference Manual also is available from the router interface.
To ensure optimum performance of your high-speed wireless router, the
wireless adapter card for each computer in your network should support the
same technology as your router (see the online Reference Manual for more
information).
1. The shortcut icon is installed on your desktop only when using the Smart Wizard installation method.

Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users) 12
Installing Your Router Manually
(Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)
Before installing and connecting your router manually, review the list below and make sure that
you have all of the necessary information.
• Internet ADSL service connection through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• The configuration information your ISP gave you. Depending on how your Internet account
was set up, you may need the following information to set up your wireless-N modem router
and access the Internet:
– Host and Domain Name
– Internet Login Name and Password (frequently an email address and password)
– Domain Name Server (DNS) Addresses
– Fixed or Static IP Address
Your ISP should have provided you with all the information needed to connect to the Internet.
If you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP.
• ADSL Microfilters (see “Understanding ADSL Microfilters” on page 13).
• Your computers set to DHCP enabled.
If you have not already done so:
• Check the package contents of your router to ensure that it is complete (see “Unpacking Your
New Router” on page 1”).
• Select an optimum location for your wireless-N modem router after reviewing the guidelines
presented in “Positioning Your Wireless Router” on page 7.”

Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users) 13
Understanding ADSL Microfilters
ADSL technology uses the same wires as your telephone service. However, ADSL adds signals to
the telephone lines which create noise in the telephone service. You must use ADSL microfilters to
filter out these signals before they reach your telephone.
ADSL Microfilter
Each device such as a telephone, fax machine, answering machine, or caller ID display will require
an ADSL microfilter.
ADSL Microfilter with Built-In Splitter
Use an ADSL microfilter with built-in splitter when there is a single wall outlet which must
provide connectivity for both the wireless-N modem router and telephone equipment.
If you purchased the wireless-N modem router in a country where a microfilter is not
included, you must acquire one.
Figure 6
Do not connect the wireless-N modem router to the ADSL line through a
microfilter unless the microfilter is a combination microfilter/splitter specifically
designed for this purpose. Doing so will prevent block your connection to the
Internet. If you have any doubts about this, connect the wireless-N modem router
directly to the ADSL line.
Figure 7

14 Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)
Connecting Your Wireless-N Modem Router
Before you install your wireless-N modem router, make sure that the Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)
Property settings on your computer are set to “automatically obtain an IP address” using DHCP
and “Obtain DNS server address automatically.” You can check these settings by looking at the
TCP/IP Properties of your Internal Network Connections, which are accessible through the
Control Panel of your computer. If you are unsure about this, refer to the documentation for your
computer or see the link to TCP/IP Addressing in “Related Documents” on page 39.
To connect the wireless-N modem router, the ADSL filter and the computer:
1. Connect an ADSL filter as shown below.
• Install an ADSL filter for every telephone that uses the same phone line as your wireless-
N modem router. Select the appropriate filter(s) for your wireless setup.
If you are replacing an existing router, disconnect it completely from your network
and set it aside before starting to install your new router.
If you purchased the DGN3500 in a country where an ADSL filter is not
included, you must acquire one. However, no filter is required if you have a
dedicated ADSL line.
1. One-Line Filter: Use with a phone or fax machine.
2. Splitter: Use with a one-line filter to share an outlet with a phone and the wireless-N
modem router.
3. Two-Line Filter with Splitter: Use to share an outlet with a phone and the wireless-N
modem router.
Figure 8
12
3

Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users) 15
•Two-Line Filter Example. Insert the two-line filter into the phone outlet and connect the
phone to the phone line connector (A), as shown in Figure 9.
2. Connect the wireless-N modem router to the ADSL filter. Using the included phone cable with
RJ-11 jacks, connect the ADSL port (B)of the wireless-N modem router to the ADSL port (C)
of the two-line filter, as shown in Figure 10.
Figure 9
To use a one-line filter with a separate splitter, insert the splitter into the phone
outlet, connect the one-line filter to the splitter, and connect the phone to the
filter.
A

16 Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)
.
3. Connect the Ethernet cable (D)from a wireless-N modem router LAN port to the Ethernet
adapter in your computer, as shown in Figure 11.
4. Connect the power adapter to the wireless-N modem router and plug it in to a power outlet.
Figure 10
Improperly connecting a filter to your wireless-N modem router will block
your ADSL connection.
C
B