NETGEAR R7500 User manual

Quick Start
Nighthawk X4
AC2350 Smart WiFi Router
Model R7500
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.
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
AC2350 Smart WiFi Router
Ethernet cable
Power adapter
Antennas (4)
September 2014

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 product 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.
Follow the genie steps to connect to the
Internet.
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
LEDs
The LEDs on the top of the router light to indicate router activity:
Power
Internet
2.4 GHz WiFi
5 GHz WiFi
USB 3.0 port 1
USB 3.0 port 2
eSATA port
Ethernet ports 1–4
WiFi On/O button with LED
WPS button with LED
You can use the LED O/On switch on the rear panel of the router
to turn the LEDs on the top of the router on or o.
Note: The Power LED stays lit even if the LED O/On switch is in the o
position.
LED O/On switch

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.

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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.
b. If you removed the batteries, replace them.
c. 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

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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 product
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
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):

7
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.

8
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.

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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.

10
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.

11
Prioritize with Dynamic Quality of Service
Dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) helps improve your router’s
Internet trac management capabilities through better application
and device identification, bandwidth allocation, and trac
prioritization techniques. Dynamic QoS resolves trac congestion
when you have limited Internet bandwidth and competing demands.
If your Internet download and upload speed is 250 Mbps or less
and you like gaming and streaming video, then you can benefit from
enabling Dynamic QoS.
Note: If you use a gigabit Internet connection, or your Internet
download and upload speed is 300 Mbps or faster, then you don’t
need to use Dynamic QoS.
¾To enable Dynamic 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 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 Dynamic QoS.
The Dynamic QoS screen displays:
5. Select the Enable Dynamic QoS check box.
6. Specify your Internet bandwidth.
You must specify your Internet bandwidth so that Dynamic QoS
can perform bandwidth allocation and trac prioritization.

12
To allow Speedtest to detect your Internet bandwidth
(recommended):
a. For more accurate Speedtest results, make sure that no
other devices are accessing the Internet.
b. Click the Speedtest button.
Speedtest determines your Internet bandwidth.
7. Click the Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
A link displays on the bottom of the screen to view bandwidth
utilization. Clicking the link displays the Attached Devices
screen. For more information, see the user manual, which
is available online at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or
through a link in the router’s user interface.

13
Share Storage Devices on the Network
ReadySHARE lets you access and share storage devices, such as
a USB or eSATA storage device, connected to the router. (If your
storage device has special drivers, it is not compatible.)
¾To access the storage device from a Windows computer:
1. Connect a USB or eSATA storage device to the appropriate port
on the router.
If your storage device has a power supply, you must use it when
you connect the device to the router.
When you connect the storage device to the router’s port, it
might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By
default, the device is available to all computers on your local
area network (LAN).
2. Launch a web browser from a computer that is connected to
the network.
3. Enter the \\readyshare in the address field of the browser.
A window automatically opens and displays the files and folders
on the device.

14
¾To access the storage device from a Mac:
1. Connect a USB or eSATA storage device to the appropriate port
on the router.
If your storage device has a power supply, you must use it when
you connect the device to the router.
When you connect the storage device to the router’s port, it
might take up to two minutes before it is ready for sharing. By
default, the device is available to all computers on your local
area network (LAN).
2. On a Mac that is connected to the network, launch Finder and
select Go > Connect to Server.
3. Enter the smb://readyshare in the Server Address field.
4. Click the Connect button.
5. When prompted, select the Guest radio button.
If you set up access control on the router and you allowed your
Mac to access the network, select the Registered User radio
button and enter admin for the name and password for the
password. For more information about access control, see the
user manual, which is available online at
http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or through a link in the
router’s user interface.
6. Click the Connect button.
A window automatically opens and displays the files and folders
on the device.

15
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) or
an eSATA storage device to the router for centralized, continuous,
and automatic backup.
Note: The following operating systems support ReadySHARE Vault:
• Windows XP SP3
• Windows 7
• Windows 8
• Windows 8.1
¾To back up your Windows computer:
1. Connect a USB HDD or eSATA storage device to the appropriate
port on the router.
2. Download ReadySHARE Vault from
www.netgear.com/readyshare and install it on each Windows
computer.
3. Launch ReadySHARE Vault.
4. Use the dashboard or the Backup tab to set up and run your
backup.

16
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.

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More Premium Features
Your router lets you do the following and more:
• Play music from a storage device 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 storage device that is connected to the router. 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.

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d. Select ADVANCED > ReadySHARE > ReadySHARE
Storage > Media Server.
e. Make sure that the Enable iTunes Server (Music Only)
check box is selected.
f. Enter the passcode and click the Allow Control button.
g. Click the Apply button.
Your changes are saved.
On your iPhone or iPad, the ReadySHARE music library displays
in the Remote app. You can play this music to Airplay devices.
VPN Service
VPN service allows you remote access to your home network with
a secure connection. Aer you set up VPN service, you can use
VPN to access the router’s storage device and media and to access
your Internet service at home. To set up VPN service, follow these
high-level steps:
1. Specify the VPN service.
2. Install OpenVPN soware on your computer.
3. Use a VPN tunnel.
These steps are explained in detail in the user manual, which is
available online at http://downloadcenter.netgear.com or through a
link in the router’s user interface.