NETGEAR Nighthawk X4 R7500 User manual

Installation
Nighthawk X4
AC2350 Smart WiFi Router
Model R7500
Trademarks
NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and Connect with Innovation are trademarks and/or registered
trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other
countries. Information is subject to change without notice. © NETGEAR, Inc. All rights
reserved.
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.
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:
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134 USA
May 2014
AC2350 Smart WiFi Router
Ethernet cable
Power adapter
Antennas (4)

Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product.
Aer 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 ocial 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.
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 for the best
WiFi performance.
NETGEAR recommends that you
position all of the antennas vertically,
as shown.
2. Prepare your modem.
Unplug your modem’s power. If it has 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 router 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.
7. Get the genie app.
Download the free genie app from
www.NETGEAR.com/genie.
Easily share media, files, and printers on the
network from your smartphone, tablet, or
laptop.
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.
Ethernet cable
Router
Ethernet cable
DSL or cable
Internet
Modem Power
adapter
You can use this diagram to connect your router or follow the detailed instructions in this booklet.

1
Contents
Install Your Router....................................................................................................... 2
LEDs................................................................................................................................ 6
WiFi Network Name and Password......................................................................... 7
Join the WiFi Network................................................................................................ 8
View or Change the Router Settings...................................................................... 9
Prioritize with Quality of Service ..........................................................................12
Share a USB Drive on the Network.......................................................................14
ReadySHARE Vault Backup App.............................................................................16
Share a USB Printer...................................................................................................17
More Premium Features ..........................................................................................18
NETGEAR genie App .................................................................................................20

2
Install Your Router
Make sure that your Internet service is active before you install
your router.
¾To install your router:
1. Attach 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 has 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 o and is cabled only to
the wall jack for your Internet service.
3. Connect your modem.
a. Plug in, then turn on your modem.
a. If you removed the batteries, replace them.
b. With the yellow Ethernet cable that came with the router,
connect your modem to the yellow Internet port on your
router.
Modem
DSL or cable
Internet
Router
Ethernet cable
Modem
Internet
DSL or
cable

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/O button on the
rear panel of the router.
5. Connect a computer.
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, use the WiFi settings on the router
label.
Power adapter
Internet
Internet
DSL or
cable
Modem
Router
DSL or
cable
Modem
Router
Ethernet
cable
Ethernet
cable
Power adapter
Ethernet
cable

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 LAN Ethernet ports on the router, or that you are
connected to your WiFi network.
• Make sure that the router has 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
LEDs
The LEDs on the top of the router light to indicate router activity:
Power
Internet
2.4 GHz WiFi
5 GHz WiFi
USB 1 (USB 3.0 port)
USB 2 (USB 3.0 port)
eSATA
Ethernet ports 1–4
WiFi On/O button with LED
WPS button with LED

7
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):

8
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 for 3–5 seconds.
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 so-ware 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.

9
View or Change the Router Settings
Aer 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.

10
3. Enter admin for the user name and password for the
password.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.
5. Type your old password and type the new password twice.
6. To be able to recover the password, select the Enable
Password Recovery check box.
NETGEAR recommends that you enable password recovery.
7. Select two security questions and provide answers to them.
8. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
Recover a Forgotten admin Password
The default password for the admin user name is password. If you
changed the password and enabled the password recovery feature,
you can retrieve this password.
¾To retrieve a forgotten admin password:
1. Launch a web browser.
2. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
3. Click the Cancel button.
If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to enter the
serial number of the router. The serial number is on the product
label.
4. Enter the serial number of the router.
The serial number is on the product label.
5. Click the Continue button.

11
A screen displays requesting the answers to your security
questions.
6. Enter the saved answers to your security questions.
7. Click the Continue button.
A screen displays your recovered password.
8. Click the Login again button.
A login screen displays.
9. With your recovered password, log in to the router.
Find a Forgotten WiFi Security Password
The preset WiFi password is on the product label. If you changed
your WiFi password and forgot what it is, log in to the router to
view its current WiFi password.
¾To connect to the router and view its WiFi password:
1. Use an Ethernet cable to connect your computer to a black
Ethernet port on the router.
2. Launch a web browser.
3. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field.
A login screen displays.
4. Enter the router user name and password.
The default user name is admin and the default password is
password. You can use the default credentials if you did not
change them.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
5. Select Wireless Settings.
The Security Options section of the screen displays your WiFi
password.

12
Prioritize with Quality of Service
Quality of Service (QoS) is an advanced feature that can be used
to prioritize some types of trac ahead of others. The router can
provide QoS prioritization over the wireless link and on the Internet
connection.
¾To enable QoS:
1. Launch a web browser.
2. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The default user name is admin and the default password is
password. You can use the default credentials if you did not
change them.
The BASIC Home screen displays.
4. Select Quality of Service.
The Quality of Service screen displays:
5. Select the Enable Quality of service check box.

13
6. Specify your Internet bandwidth:
• If you want to let Speedtest detect your Internet
bandwidth, select the Let Speedtest detect my Internet
bandwidth (recommended) radio button and click the
Speedtest button.
Speedtest determines your Internet download and upload
speed.
• If you want to define your Internet bandwidth yourself,
select the I want to define my Internet bandwidth radio
button and type the download and upload speeds in the
corresponding fields.
7. Click the Apply button.
The router prioritizes the bandwidth to the devices connected
to the network and the Click here to see bandwidth
utilization by device and application link displays.

14
Share a USB Drive on the Network
ReadySHARE lets you access and share a USB drive connected to
the router USB port. (If your USB drive has special drivers, it is not
compatible.)
¾To access the USB drive from a Windows computer:
1. Insert your USB storage drive into a blue USB 3.0 port on the
router.
2. If your USB drive has a power supply, you must use it when you
connect the USB drive to the router.
When you connect the USB drive to the router USB port, it
might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By
default, the USB drive is available to all computers on your local
area network (LAN).
3. Select Start > Run.
4. Enter \\readyshare in the dialog box.
5. Click the OK button.

15
¾To access the USB drive from a Mac:
1. Insert your USB storage drive into a blue USB 3.0 port on the
router.
2. If your USB drive has a power supply, you must use it when you
connect the USB drive to the router.
When you connect the USB drive to the router USB port, it
might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By
default, the USB drive is available to all computers on your local
area network (LAN).
3. Select Go > Connect to Server.
4. Enter smb://readyshare as the server address.
5. Click the Connect button.

16
ReadySHARE Vault Backup App
Your router comes with free backup soware for all the Windows
computers in your home. Connect a USB hard disk drive (HDD)
to the USB port on your router for centralized, continuous, and
automatic backup.
¾To back up your Windows computer:
1. Connect a USB HDD to a USB port on the router.
For best performance, connect a USB 3.0 HDD to a blue USB
3.0 port on the router.
2. Install the genie app on each Windows computer.
3. Download ReadySHARE Vault from
www.netgear.com/readyshare and install it on each Windows
computer.
4. Launch ReadySHARE Vault.
5. To set up and run your backup, click the Dashboard or the
Backup tab.

17
Share a USB Printer
You can connect a USB printer to a USB port on the router and print
wirelessly.
¾To set up ReadySHARE Printer:
1. Connect the USB printer to a USB port on the router with a USB
printer cable.
2. On each computer that will share the printer, do the following:
a. Install the current USB printer driver soware (available
from the printer manufacturer).
b. Download the NETGEAR USB Control Center utility from
www.netgear.com/readyshare.
c. Select the language.
3. If prompted, select the printer and click the Connect button
for each computer.
4. When the first computer connects, the status changes to
Manually connected by xxx.
For each computer, when you complete Step 3, the printer
status displays as Available.

18
More Premium Features
Your router lets you do the following and more:
• Play music from a USB Drive with iTunes Server.
• Set up a secure VPN Service connection to your home network.
• Create a personal FTP server with a custom URL.
iTunes Server
iTunes Server lets you play music with your Windows or Mac iTunes
app from a USB drive that is connected to the router USB port. You
can also use the Apple Remote from iPhone and iPad to play music
on any AirPlay devices, such as Apple TV or AirPlay-supported
receivers.
¾To specify iTunes server settings:
1. On your iPhone or iPad, find and connect to the WiFi network.
2. Launch the Remote App.
3. Click the Add a Device button.
A passcode displays.
4. Specify the passcode in the router.
a. Launch a web browser.
b. Enter www.routerlogin.net in the address field of the
browser.
A login screen displays.
c. Enter the router user name and password.
The default user name is admin and the default password
is password. You can use the default credentials if you did
not change them.
The BASIC Home screen displays.