NETGEAR R6300v2 User manual

R6300v2 S m a r t WiFi
R o u t e r
U s e r M an u al
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA

R6300
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©2012 NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, stored in a retrieval system, or translated
into any language in any form or by any means without the written permission of NETGEAR, Inc.
T echnical Support
Thank you for choosing NETGEAR. To register your product, get the latest product updates, or get support online,
visit us at http://support.netgear.com.
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR
Phone (Other Countries): See support information card.
T rademarks
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. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective
holders. © 2012 NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
Statement of Conditions
To improve 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.

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1. Hardware
Se tu p
Ge t t i n g t o k n o w y o u r r o u t e r
The NETGEAR R6300 WiFi Router delivers next-generation WiFi at gigabit speeds. It offers the
ultimate mobility for WiFi devices with speeds up to three times faster than 802.11n.
Compatible with next-generation WiFi devices, and backward compatible with 802.11 a/b/g and n
devices, it enables HD streaming throughout your home. The R6300 with simultaneous
dual-band WiFi technology offers speeds up to 4501 to 13002 Mbps and avoids interference,
ensuring top WiFi speeds and reliable connections. This makes it ideal for larger homes with
multiple devices. In addition, four Gigabit Ethernet ports offer ultra-fast wired connections.
Wirelessly access and share a USB hard drive and USB printer using the two USB 2.0 ports.
If you already set up your router, you can skip this chapter. If you have not done that yet, this
chapter covers the hardware setup. Chapter 3, genie Basic Settings, explains how to set up your
Internet connection.
This chapter contains the following sections:
• Unpack Your Router
• Position Your Router
• Hardware Features
For information about ReadySHARE features in your product, see Chapter 5, USB Storage, and
www.netgear.com/readyshare.
The NETGEAR genie® app provides easy installation from an iPad, tablet, computer, or
smartphone. It includes a personal dashboard, allowing you to manage, monitor, and repair your
home network. NETGEAR customers can download the app at www.netgear.com/genie or from
the Google Play or App Store.
For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the Support website at
http://support.netgear.com.
1. Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE standard 802.11 specifications. Actual data throughput and wireless coverage will vary. Network
conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual
data throughput rate and wireless coverage. NETGEAR makes no express or implied representations or warranties about this product’s compatibility
with any future standards. 802.11ac 1300 Mbps is approximately 3x faster than 802.11n 450 Mbps.
2. Up to 1300 Mbps wireless speeds achieved when connecting to other 802.11ac 1300 Mbps devices.

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Unpack Y our R outer
Open the box and remove the router, cables, and installation guide.
Ethernet cable
Power adapter
Dual Band WiFi Router
Power cord
Figure 1. Check the package contents
Your box contains the following items:
• R6300 smart WiFi Router
• AC power adapter and power cord (plug varies by region)
• Category 5 (Cat 5) Ethernet cable
• Installation guide with cabling and router setup instructions
If any parts are incorrect, missing, or damaged, contact your NETGEAR dealer. Keep the
carton and original packing materials, in case you need to return the product for repair.
Position Y our R outer
The 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 passes through can limit the range. For
best results, place your router:
• Near the center of the area where your computers and other devices operate, and
preferably within line of sight to your wireless devices.
• So it is accessible to an AC power outlet and near Ethernet cables for wired computers.

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• In an elevated location such as a high shelf, keeping the number of walls and ceilings
between the router and your other devices to a minimum.
• Away from electrical devices that are potential sources of interference. Equipment that
might cause interference includes ceiling fans, home security systems, microwaves,
computers, the base of a cordless phone, or 2.4 GHz 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.
When you use multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different radio
frequency channels to reduce interference. The recommended channel spacing between
adjacent access points is five channels (for example, use Channels 1 and 6, or 6 and 11).
Hardware Features
Before you cable your router, take a moment to become familiar with the front, side, and back
panels and the label. Pay particular attention to the LEDs on the front panel.
Front and Side P anel
The router front panel has the status LEDs and icons shown in the following figure.
WiFi On/Off button
WPS button
USB port
LEDs
Figure 2. Router, front and side view

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Table 1. Front panel LED descriptions
LED Description
Power • Solid amber. The router is starting up.
• Blinking amber. The firmware is upgrading, or the Reset button was pressed.
• Solid green. The router is ready.
• Blinking green. The firmware is corrupted. See www.netgear.com/support.
• Off. Power is not supplied to the router.
Internet
• Solid green. The Internet connection is ready.
• Solid amber. The Ethernet cable connection to the modem has been detected.
• Off. No Ethernet cable is connected to the modem.
Wireless
• Solid blue. The wireless radio is operating in either 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz mode.
• Blinking: The router is in WPS mode.
• Off. The wireless radios are off for both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz.
USB • Solid blue: The USB device has been accepted by the router and is ready to be used.
• Blinking blue: A second USB HDD is plugged in and is trying to connect.
• Off: No USB device is connected, someone clicked the Safely Remove Hardware button, and
it is now safe to remove the attached USB device.
The WiFi On/Off and WPS buttons toggle the WiFi and WPS functions on and off.
• WiFi On/Off button. Pressing and holding the WiFi On/Off button for 2 seconds turns the
2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wireless radios on and off. If the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz LEDs are lit,
then the wireless radio is on. If these LEDs are off, then the wireless radios are turned off
and you cannot connect wirelessly to the router.
• WPS button. You can use this button to use WPS to add a wireless device or computer
to your wireless network. The LED below the WPS button blinks green when the router is
trying to add the wireless device or computer. The LED stays solid green when wireless
security is enabled in the router.
Back P anel
The back panel has the connections shown in the following figure.
Power connector
Power On/Off
USB Ethernet Internet Reset
port LAN ports 1–4 port button

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Figure 3. Router, rear view
See Factory Settings on page 115 for information about restoring factory settings.
2. Getting Started with
NE T GEAR ge ni e
C o nn ec tin g t o t h e r o u t e r
This chapter explains how to use NETGEAR genie to set up your router after you complete
cabling as described in the installation guide and in the previous chapter.
This chapter contains the following sections:
• Router Setup Preparation
• Types of Logins and Access
• NETGEAR genie Setup
• Use NETGEAR genie after Installation
• Upgrade Router Firmware
• Router Dashboard (Basic Home Screen)
• Add Wireless Devices or Computers to Your Network
• NETGEAR genie App and Mobile genie App

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Router Setup P reparation
You can set up your router with the NETGEAR genie automatically, or you can use the genie
menus and screens to set up your router manually. Before you start the setup process, get
your ISP information, and make sure the computers and devices in the network have the
settings described here.
Use Standard TCP/IP Properties for DHCP
If you set up your computer to use a static IP address, you need to change the settings so
that it uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).
Gather ISP Information
If you have DSL broadband service, you might need the following information to set up your
router and to check that your Internet configuration is correct. Your Internet service provider
(ISP) should have provided you with all of the information needed to connect to the Internet.
If you cannot locate this information, ask your ISP to provide it. When your Internet
connection is working, you no longer need to launch the ISP’s login program on your
computer to access the Internet. When you start an Internet application, your router
automatically logs you in.
• The ISP configuration information for your DSL account
• ISP login name and password
• Fixed or static IP address settings (special deployment by ISP; this is rare)
Wireless Devices and Security Settings
Make sure that the wireless device or computer that you are using supports WPA or WPA2
wireless security, which is the wireless security supported by the router.
T ypes of Logins and Access
There are separate types of logins that have different purposes. It is important that you
understand the difference so that you know which login to use when.
• Router login logs you in to the router interface from NETGEAR genie. See Use
NETGEAR genie after Installation on page 15 for details about this login.
• ISP login logs you in to your Internet service. Your service provider has provided you with
this login information in a letter or some other way. If you cannot find this login
information, contact your service provider.
• Wireless network key or password. Your router is preset with a unique wireless
network name (SSID) and password for wireless access. This information is on the label
on the bottom of your router.

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NETGEAR genie Setup
NETGEAR genie runs on any device with a web browser. It is the easiest way to set up the
router because it automates many of the steps and verifies that those steps have been
successfully completed. It takes about 15 minutes to complete.
 To use NETGEAR genie to set up your router:
1. Turn the router on by pressing the On/Off button, if not done yet.
2. Make sure that your device is connected with an Ethernet cable (wired) or wirelessly (with
the preset security settings listed on the bottom label) to your router.
3. Launch your Internet browser.
• The first time you are set up the Internet connection for your router, the browser goes
to http://www.routerlogin.net, and the NETGEAR genie screen displays.
• If you already used the NETGEAR genie, type http://www.routerlogin.net in the
address field of your browser to display the NETGEAR genie screen. See Use
NETGEAR genie after Installation on page 15.
4. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete NETGEAR genie setup. NETGEAR genie
guides you through connecting the router to the Internet.
If the browser cannot display the web page:
• Make sure that the computer is connected to one of the four LAN Ethernet ports, or
wirelessly to the router.
• Make sure that the router has full power, and that its wireless LED is lit.
• Close and re-open the browser to make sure the browser does not cache the previous
page.
• Browse to http://www.routerlogin.net.
• If the 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 the router does not connect to the Internet:
1. Review your settings to be sure that you have selected the correct options and typed
everything correctly.
2. Contact your ISP to verify that you have the correct configuration information.
3. Read Chapter 10, Troubleshooting. If problems persist, register your NETGEAR product and
contact NETGEAR technical support.

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Use NETGEAR genie after Installation
When you first set up your router, NETGEAR genie automatically starts when you launch an
Internet browser on a computer that is connected to the router. You can use NETGEAR genie
again if you want to view or change settings for the router.
1. Launch your browser from a computer or wireless device that is connected to the router.
2. Type http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.
The login window displays:
a dmin
********
3. Enter admin for the router user name and password for the router password, both in
lowercase letters.
Note: The router user name and password are different from the user name
and password for logging in to your Internet connection. See Types of Logins
and Access on page 13 for more information.
Upgrade Router Firmware
When you set up your router and are connected to the Internet, the router automatically
checks for you to see if newer firmware is available. If it is, a message is displayed on the top
of the screen. See Upgrade the Router Firmware on page 71 for more information about
upgrading firmware.
Click the message when it shows up, and click Yes to upgrade the router with the latest
firmware. After the upgrade, the router restarts.
CAUTION:
Do not try to go online, turn off the router, shut down the computer, or do
anything else to the router until the router finishes restarting and the
Power LED has stopped blinking for several seconds.

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Router Dashboard (Basic Home Screen)
The router Basic Home screen has a dashboard that lets you see the status of your Internet
connection and network at a glance. You can click any of the six sections of the dashboard to
view more detailed information. The left column has the menus, and at the top there is an
Advanced tab that is used to access additional menus and screens.
Language
Menus
(Click the
Advanced
tab to view
more)
Dashboard
(Click to
view details)
Help
Figure 5. Router Basic Home screen with dashboard, language, and online help
• Home. This dashboard screen displays when you log in to the router.
• Internet. Set, update, and check the ISP settings of your router.
• Wireless. View or change the wireless settings for your router.
• Attached Devices. View the devices connected to your network.
• Parental Controls. Download and set up parental controls to prevent objectionable
content from reaching your computers.
• ReadySHARE. If you connected a USB storage device to the router, then it is displayed
here.
• Guest Network. Set up a guest network to allow visitors to use your router’s Internet
connection.
• Advanced tab. Set the router up for unique situations such as when remote access by IP
or by domain name from the Internet is needed. See Chapter 9, Advanced Settings.
Using this tab requires a solid understanding of networking concepts.
• Help & Support. Go to the NETGEAR support site to get information, help, and product
documentation. These links work once you have an Internet connection.

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Add Wireless Devices or Computers to Y our Network
Choose either the manual or the WPS method to add wireless devices and other equipment
to your wireless network. See Guest Networks on page 28 for instructions on how to set up a
guest network.
Manual Method

To connect manually:
1. Open the software that manages your wireless connections on the wireless device
(laptop computer, gaming device, iPhone) that you want to connect to your router. This
software scans for all wireless networks in your area.
2. Look for your network and select it. If you did not change the name of your network during
the setup process, look for the default Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and select it. The default
SSID is printed on the label on the bottom of the router.
3. Enter the router password and click Connect. The default router passphrase is printed on
the product label on the bottom of the router.
4. Repeat steps 1–3 to add other wireless devices.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) Method
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a standard for easily adding computers and other devices to
a home network while maintaining security. To use WPS, make sure that all wireless devices
to be connected to the network are Wi-Fi certified and support WPS. During the connection
process, the client gets the security settings from the router so that every device in the
network has the same security settings.

To use WPS to join the wireless network:
If your wireless device supports WPS (Push 'N' Connect), follow these steps:
1. Press the WPS button on the router front panel .
2. Within 2 minutes, press the WPS button on your wireless device, or follow the WPS
instructions that came with the device. The device is now connected to your router.
3. Repeat steps 1–2 to add other WPS wireless devices.

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NETGEAR genie App and Mobile genie App
The genie app is the easy dashboard for managing, monitoring, and repairing your home
network. See the NETGEAR genie App User Manual for details about these products.
Retrieve wireless password About genie
Language
Menu
Dashboard
(Click to
view
details)
Support
• Automatically repair common wireless network problems.
• Have easy access to router features like Live Parental Controls, guest access, broadband
usage meter, speed test, and more.
Use the genie mobile app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android phone:
Phone status
Log in to the router Information about
genie mobile app
Search NETGEAR
support and the connected
router

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

105
10.
T r o u b l e sh oo tin g
This chapter provides information to help you diagnose and solve problems you might have with
your router. If you do not find the solution here, check the NETGEAR support site at
http://support.netgear.com for product and contact information.
This chapter contains the following sections:
• Quick Tips
• Troubleshooting with the LEDs
• Cannot Log In to the Router
• Cannot Access the Internet
• Changes Not Saved
• Wireless Connectivity
• Restore the Factory Settings and Password
• Troubleshoot Your Network Using the Ping Utility

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Quick Tips
This section describes tips for troubleshooting some common problems
Sequence to Restart Y our Network
Be sure to restart your network in this sequence:
1. Turn off and unplug the modem.
2. Turn off the router and computers.
3. Plug in the modem and turn it on. Wait 2 minutes.
4. Turn on the router and wait 2 minutes.
5. Turn on the computers.
Check Ethernet Cable Connections
Make sure that the Ethernet cables are securely plugged in.
• The Internet LED on the router is on if the Ethernet cable connecting the router and the
modem is plugged in securely and the modem and router are turned on.
• For each powered-on computer connected to the router by an Ethernet cable, the
corresponding numbered router LAN port LED is on.
Wireless Settings
Make sure that the wireless settings in the computer and router match exactly.
• For a wirelessly connected computer, the wireless network name (SSID) and wireless
security settings of the router and wireless computer need to match exactly.
• If you set up an access list in the Advanced Wireless Settings screen, you have to add
each wireless computer’s MAC address to the router’s access list.
Network Settings
Make sure that the network settings of the computer are correct.
• Wired and wirelessly connected computers need to have network (IP) addresses on the
same network as the router. The simplest way to do this is to configure each computer to
obtain an IP address automatically using DHCP.
• Some cable modem service providers require you to use the MAC address of the
computer initially registered on the account. You can view the MAC address in the
Attached Devices screen.

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T roubleshooting with the LEDs
After you turn on power to the router, the following sequence of events should occur:
1. When power is first applied, verify that the Power LED is on.
2. Verify that the Power LED turns amber within a few seconds, indicating that the self-test is
running.
3. After approximately 30 seconds, verify the following:
• The Power LED is solid green.
• The Internet LED is on.
• A numbered Ethernet port LED is on for any local port that is connected to a
computer. This indicates that a link has been established to the connected device.
The LEDs on the front panel of the router can be used for troubleshooting.
Power LED Is Off or Blinking
• Make sure that the power cord is securely connected to your router and that the power
adapter is securely connected to a functioning power outlet.
• Check that you are using the 12V DC, 5A power adapter that NETGEAR supplied for this
product.
• If the Power LED blinks slowly and continuously, the router firmware is corrupted. This
can happen if a firmware upgrade is interrupted, or if the router detects a problem with the
firmware. If the error persists, you have a hardware problem. For recovery instructions, or
help with a hardware problem, contact technical support at www.netgear.com/support.
Power LED Stays Amber
When the router is turned on, the Power LED turns amber for about 20 seconds and then
turns green. If the LED does not turn green, the router has a problem.
If the Power LED is still amber 1 minute after you turn on power to the router:
1. Turn the power off and back on to see if the router recovers.
2. Press and hold the Reset button to return the router to its factory settings. as explained
in Restore the Factory Settings and Password on page 113.
If the error persists, you might have a hardware problem and should contact technical
support at www.netgear.com/support.

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LEDs Never T urn Off
When the router is turned on, the LEDs turn on for about 10 seconds and then turn off. If all
the LEDs stay on, there is a fault within the router.
If all LEDs are still on 1 minute after power-up:
• Cycle the power to see if the router recovers.
• Press and hold the Reset button to return the router to its factory settings as explained in
Restore the Factory Settings and Password on page 113.
If the error persists, you might have a hardware problem and should contact technical support
at www.netgear.com/support.
Internet or Ethernet Port LEDs Are Off
If either the Ethernet port LEDs or the Internet LED does not light when the Ethernet
connection is made, check the following:
• Make sure that the Ethernet cable connections are secure at the router and at the modem
or computer.
• Make sure that power is turned on to the connected modem or computer.
• Be sure that you are using the correct cable:
When connecting the router’s Internet port to a cable or DSL modem, use the cable that
was supplied with the cable or DSL modem. This cable could be a standard
straight-through Ethernet cable or an Ethernet crossover cable.
Wireless LEDs Are Off
If the Wireless LEDs stay off, check to see if the Wi-Fi On/Off button on the router has been
pressed. This button turns the wireless radios in the router on and off. The Wireless LEDs are
lit when the wireless radio is turned on.
The Push 'N' Connect (WPS) Button Blinks Amber
If after using the WPS function the button blinks amber, check the following:
• Make sure that you are using the button and not the router’s built-in registrar.
• Check that PIN verification has succeeded for the wireless device you are adding to the
wireless network.
• Make sure that you have not pressed the WPS button on the side of the router after
disabling the WPS feature (you logged in to the router and disabled this previously).
• Check that the router is not in the temporary AP setup locked state (if you are using the
wireless repeater function).

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Cannot Log In to the R outer
If you are unable to log in to the router from a computer on your local network, check the
following:
• If you are using an Ethernet-connected computer, check the Ethernet connection
between the computer and the router as described in the previous section.
• Make sure that your computer’s IP address is on the same subnet as the router. If you are
using the recommended addressing scheme, your computer’s address should be in the
range of 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.254.
• If your computer’s IP address is shown as 169.254.x.x, recent versions of Windows and
Mac OS generate and assign an IP address if the computer cannot reach a DHCP server.
These auto-generated addresses are in the range of 169.254.x.x. If your IP address is in
this range, check the connection from the computer to the router, and reboot your
computer.
• If your router’s IP address was changed and you do not know the current IP address,
clear the router’s configuration to factory defaults. This sets the router’s IP address to
192.168.1.1. This procedure is explained in Factory Settings on page 115.
• Make sure that your browser has Java, JavaScript, or ActiveX enabled. If you are using
Internet Explorer, click Refresh to be sure that the Java applet is loaded.
• Try quitting the browser and launching it again.
• Make sure that you are using the correct login information. The factory default login name
is admin, and the password is password. Make sure that Caps Lock is off when you
enter this information.
• If you are attempting to set up your NETGEAR router as an additional router behind an
existing router in your network, consider replacing the existing router. NETGEAR does
not support such a configuration.
• If you are attempting to set up your NETGEAR router as a replacement for an ADSL
gateway in your network, the router cannot perform many gateway services. For
example, the router cannot convert ADSL or cable data into Ethernet networking
information. NETGEAR does not support such a configuration.
Cannot Access the Internet
If you can access your router but not the Internet, check to see if the router can obtain an IP
address from your Internet service provider (ISP). Unless your ISP provides a fixed IP
address, your router requests an IP address from the ISP. You can determine whether the
request was successful using the Router Status screen.
 To check the WAN IP address:
1. Start your browser, and select an external site such as www.netgear.com.
2. Access the router interface at www.routerlogin.net.
3. Select Administration > Router Status.