NETGEAR WNDR3300v1 - RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N... User guide

November 2007
208-10148-01
v1.0
NETGEAR, Inc.
4500 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA
Wireless Router Setup
Manual

ii
Trademarks
NETGEAR and the NETGEAR logo are registered trademarks, and RangeMax and Smart Wizard 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.
© 2007 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.

Contents iii
Contents
Getting to Know Your Wireless Router................................................................................1
Unpacking Your New Wireless Router ...............................................................................1
What You Need Before You Begin .....................................................................................8
Updating Your Router Firmware ........................................................................................9
Two Setup Methods: Smart Wizard Setup or Manual Setup .............................................9
Smart Wizard Setup ..........................................................................................................9
Manual Setup ..................................................................................................................10
Product Registration, Support, and Documentation ........................................................15
Accessing the Wireless Router after Installation and Checking for New Firmware .........16
Setting Up and Testing Basic Wireless Connectivity .......................................................18
Implementing Appropriate Wireless Security ...................................................................20
Help with Troubleshooting..................................................................................................21
Basic Troubleshooting .....................................................................................................21
Troubleshooting Connectivity Using the Ping Utility ........................................................26
Default Configuration ..........................................................................................................29
Default Configuration Settings .........................................................................................29
Restoring the Default Password and Configuration Settings ...........................................32
Related Documents..............................................................................................................33

iv Contents

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 1
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Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
Congratulations on your purchase of the NETGEAR® RangeMax™ Dual Band Wireless-N
Router WNDR3300.
Before you begin installing your router, check the package contents (see Unpacking Your New
Wireless Router). Become familiar with the front and back panels of your router—especially the
status lights—and the important information on the router label (see “Bottom Label” on page 8).
Unpacking Your New Wireless Router
The product package should contain the following items:
• The wireless router
• A snap-on stand for your wireless router
• An AC power adapter (varies by region)
• A yellow Ethernet cable
•TheResource CD, which includes:
– The Smart Wizard™ Installation Assistant (Autorun.exe)
– A PDF version of this manual
– A link to the online Reference 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.
To prepare your router for installation:
1. Carefully peel off the protective film covering the sides of your router.

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2. Set up your wireless router by inserting the router into the stand supplied with your router.
3. Place your router in an area suitable for installation (near an AC power outlet and accessible to
the Ethernet cables for your wired computers).
Figure 1

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Router Front Panel
You can use the status lights on the front of the wireless router to verify various conditions.
Figure 2
Table 1. Status Light Descriptions
Item Function Activity Description
1Power On green solid Power is supplied to the router.
Blinking The unit is starting up, or the restore factory settings button is being
pushed to restore the factory default settings.
Off Power is not supplied to the router.
22.4 GHz
Mode On amberaThe unit is operating in Legacy G mode at 2.4 GHz (5 GHz Mode [item 3] is also on).
On greenbThe unit is operating in 11n mode at 2.4 GHz
(5 GHz Mode [item 3] is off).
Blinking Data is being communicated over the wireless network.
35 GHz
Mode On bluecThe unit is operating in 11n mode at 5 GHz (2.4 GHz Mode [item 2] is also on, amber).
Off 11n mode at 5 GHz is off
(2.4 GHz Mode [item 2] is on, green).
Blinking Data is being communicated over the wireless network.

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4Internet Amber off No Ethernet cable is connected to the modem.
Amber on The Ethernet cable connection to the modem is good.
Amber blinking Packets are being transmitted and received from a modem or other
network device, but no IP address has been received.
Green off No IP address has been received.
On IP address has been received.
Blinking IP address has been received, and data is being transmitted and
received.
5LAN Green The LAN port has detected a 100 Mbps link with an attached device.
Amber The LAN port has detected a 10 Mbps link with an attached device.
a. On amber (default setting) signifies a 5 GHz interference-free Wireless-N and legacy 2.4 GHz 802.11g network. NETGEAR
recommends this if you have Dual Band clients (Dual BandWireless-N laptops, Dual Band Wireless-N adapters) and/or 802.11
b/g laptops to connect.
b. On green signifies a 2.4 GHz Wireless-N network. NETGEAR recommends this if you have only 2.4 GHz Wireless-N clients
(most adapters are 2.4 GHz, if not specified as Dual Band) AND/OR 802.11 b/g laptops to connect.
c. On blue signifies a 5 GHz interference-free nework.
For more information on modes, see “To change modes if you notice interference:” on
page 19, and the online Reference Manual, available on the Resource CD.
Table 1. Status Light Descriptions (continued)
Item Function Activity Description

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Router Back Panel
The rear panel of the WNDR3300 router contains the items in the list that follows the figure.
The back of the wireless router includes:
1. Four local (LAN) 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports for connecting the router to local computers
2. Internet (WAN) Ethernet port for connecting the router to a cable or DSL modem
3. Restore factory settings button
4. AC power adapter outlet
Figure 3
4132

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Top Panel
The top of the wireless router includes a dome that performs two functions:
1. Antenna display lights.The lights identify the activity of the eight internal antennas, flashing
to show which combination of antennas is receiving the strongest signals. These status lights
are off by default but can be turned on.
To turn the antenna display lights on or off:
a. Push the dome for less than 2 seconds, then release. If lights are off, they will turn on.
b. Push the dome for less than 2 seconds, then release. If lights are on, they will turn off.
2. Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). 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.
To connect to another device using WPS:
a. Open the networking utility of the device that supports WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) and
follow the utility’s instructions for when to proceed to step b.
Figure 4
Before using these WiFi Protected Setup (WPS) push-button procedures, verify that
your device (a notebook, adapter, or other device) supports WPS. If you do not have
any other WPS-enabled devices, there is no need to open the 2 minute period when
security will be disabled, or to configure your router security for WPS.

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b. Push the wireless router’s dome for 5 seconds, then release. The dome lights should begin
to blink.
c. While the dome lights are blinking, you have 2 minutes to enable WPS on the device you
are trying to connect with the router. The blinking ceases when one of these two
conditions occurs:
– WPS is enabled between the router and the other device you are connecting to.
– The 2-minute window period expires for establishing a WPS connection. Whether or
not a connection is established, your router security and SSID (service set
identification key) are now configured for WPS.
The lights return to off or antenna display, depending on how you have set them.
d. If after enabling WPS you need to connect a device that does not include WPS
functionality, you will need to first log in to the router and obtain the security key. For
more information, refer to “Accessing the Wireless Router after Installation and Checking
for New Firmware” on page 16, and the online Reference Manual, available as a link on
the Resource CD.
e. If you want to disable WPS, you have to reset your router to factory default settings. For
information about resetting to the default settings, see “Restoring the Default Password
and Configuration Settings” on page 32.
While the router is in WPS enable mode (a maximum of 2 minutes), wireless
security is not enabled. Indoors, computers can connect over wireless networks
at a range of several hundred feet. Unlike wired network data, your wireless
data transmissions can extend beyond your walls, and anyone with a
compatible adapter can receive them, allowing others outside your immediate
area to access your network. For more information about security, see the
Reference Manual that is available from a link on the Resource CD as well as a
link in the main menu of your router.

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Bottom Label
View the label on the bottom of the wireless router to identify the serial number, port connectors,
status lights, and default login information.
What You Need Before You Begin
Prepare the following before you set up your router:
• Internet service.
• The configuration information your Internet Service Provider (ISP) gave you. Depending on
how your Internet account was set up, you might need one or more of these settings for the
wireless router to access the Internet:
– Host and domain names
– Internet login name and password (frequently an e-mail 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, you can ask your ISP to provide it.
• For cable modem service, use the computer you first used to set up your Internet service.
Figure 5

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Updating Your Router Firmware
NETGEAR is always improving the operability and features included with your router. To make it
easy for you to receive the best, most up-to-date features of your router, NETGEAR provides a
variety of methods for updating your product.
• The Smart Wizard installation assistant lets you check for and install updates as part of the
setup activity.
• The router includes an update feature that lets you check for and install updates. You must be
logged in to the router to use this feature.
These options are discussed in “Accessing the Wireless Router after Installation and Checking for
New Firmware” on page 16.
Two Setup Methods: Smart Wizard Setup or Manual
Setup
You have two methods available for setting up your wireless router:
•Smart Wizard setup. This option is the easiest. The wizard guides you through the setup
process, automates many of the steps, and verifies that necessary conditions exist and that
steps you perform have been successfully completed. This option requires a PC running
Microsoft Windows.
•Manual setup. This option is best if you cannot use the wizard on the CD, are replacing an
existing wireless router, or are technically knowledgeable. Follow the instructions in this
manual to set up your wireless router.
Use the setup option that best suits you.
Smart Wizard Setup
The wizard setup process takes about 20 minutes to complete.
1. Insert the NETGEAR CD into a Windows PC. The CD automatically starts and detects the
language that you are using on your PC. Accept the language option, or change to a different
language.
If the CD does not automatically start, browse the CD and double-click Autorun. Be
sure to double-click the Autorun file that begins with an uppercase A.

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2. When the Welcome screen displays, click Setup to start the Smart Wizard. Follow the wizard
instructions.
3. When you are asked to log in, refer to the bottom label for the default login information, or see
the steps in “Connecting Your Wireless Router”.
Manual Setup
There are two steps to setting up your wireless router:
1. Connect the router to the ADSL or cable modem, and connect a computer to the router.
2. Configure the router to use your Internet service.
Connecting Your Wireless Router
To connect your wireless router:
1. Connect the wireless router, the computer, and the modem.
a. Turn off your computer.
b. Turn off and unplug the cable or ADSL broadband modem.
Your computer has to be set to automatically get its TCP/IP network settings from
the router through DHCP. This is usually the case. If you are unsure about this, use
the wizard on the CD, which automatically takes care of this for you, or refer to the
documentation for your computer.

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c. Locate the Ethernet cable (1) that connects your computer to the modem.
d. Disconnect the cable at the modem (2). You will connect it to the router later.
e. Use the label on the bottom of the wireless router to locate the Internet port, which is on
the left next to the power connection.
f. Locate the Ethernet cable that came with the NETGEAR product. Securely insert that
Ethernet cable into your modem and into the Internet port of the wireless router (3).
Figure 6
Figure 7
1
2
Internet
3

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g. Locate the cable you removed from the modem in step 1c. Securely insert that cable (4)
into a LAN port on the router such as LAN port 1.
Your network cables are connected, and you are ready to start your network.
2. Start your network in the correct sequence.
a. First, plug in and turn on the cable or DSL modem. Wait 2 minutes.
b. Now, plug the power cord into your wireless router and into a power outlet. Wait 1 minute.
c. Last, turn on your computer.
Figure 8
Failure to start or restart your network in the correct sequence could prevent you
from accessing the Internet.
For DSL customers, if software logs you in to the Internet, do not run that
software. You might need to go to the Internet Explorer Tools menu, select
Internet Options, and then click the Connections tab, where you can select
Never dial a connection.
Internet
4

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d. Check the wireless router status lights to verify the following:
•Power. The Power light (1) should turn solid green. If it does not, see “Basic
Functions Are Not Working” on page 22.
•Mode. The Mode light (2) should be on: the Mode light (3) should be off.
•Internet. The Internet port light (4) should be lit. If it is not, make sure that the
Ethernet cable is securely attached to the wireless router Internet port and that the
modem, and that the modem is powered on.
•LAN. A LAN light (5) should be lit. Green indicates that your computer is
communicating at 100 Mbps; amber indicates 10 Mbps. If a LAN light is not lit, check
that the Ethernet cable from the computer to the router is securely attached at both
ends, and that the computer is turned on.
3. Connect to the wireless router by typing http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field of
your browser, and then press Enter.
Figure 9
Figure 10
Connect to the wireless router by typing any one of these three URLs in the address
field of your browser, then pressing Enter:
• http://www.routerlogin.net
• http://www.routerlogin.com
• http://192.168.1.1

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A login window like the one in the following figure opens:
4. For security reasons, the router has its own user name and password. When prompted, enter
admin for the router user name and password for the router password, both in lowercase
letters.
After logging in, if you see a window with a message about firmware upgrades, click Close
Window.
Figure 11
The router user name and password are not the same as any other user name or
password you might use to log in to your Internet connection.

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On the left, click Setup Wizard to view the following screen.
If you cannot connect to the wireless router, verify your computer networking setup. It should
be set to obtain both IP and DNS server addresses automatically, which is usually the case. For
help with this, consult the documentation that came with your computer, or see the links in
“Related Documents” on page 33.
5. Click Next. The wizard assists you with configuring your wireless router to access the
Internet.
Advanced users who want to manually configure the router can select the No radio button,
enter admin and password as the user name and password when prompted, and fill in the
required information on the Basic Settings screen (for more information about basic settings,
refer to the Reference Manual, available as a link on the Resource CD).
6. Click Done to finish.
You are now connected to the Internet! The wireless router displays its home page.
If you do not click Logout, the wireless router waits 5 minutes after there is no activity before it
automatically logs you out.
Product Registration, Support, and Documentation
Register your product at http://www.NETGEAR.com/register. Registration is required before you
can use NETGEAR’s telephone support service. Product updates and Web support are always
available by going to http://www.NETGEAR.com/support.
Documentation is available on the CD, on the support website, and on the documentation website.
When the wireless router is connected to the Internet, click the Knowledge Base or the
Figure 12

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Documentation link under Web Support to view support information or the documentation for the
wireless router.
Accessing the Wireless Router after Installation and
Checking for New Firmware
The Smart Wizard appears only 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 using the Smart Wizard, you must
open a browser window and log in to the router.
To access the router using its login name and password:
1. Connect to the wireless router by typing http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field of
your browser, and then press Enter.
2. For security reasons, the router has its own user name and password. When prompted, enter
admin for the router user name and password for the router password, both in lowercase
letters.
The factory default state is restored when you use the restore factory settings button.
See “Restoring the Default Password and Configuration Settings” on page 32 for more
information about this feature.
Figure 13
You can connect to the wireless router by typing any one of these three URLs in the
address field of your browser, then pressing Enter:
• http://www.routerlogin.net
• http://www.routerlogin.com
• http://192.168.1.1
The router user name and password are not the same as any other user name or
password you might use to log in to your Internet connection.