NETGEAR WNR834 User guide

December 2006
208-10074-01
v2.0
NETGEAR, Inc.
4500 Great America Parkway
Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA
Wireless Router Setup
Manual

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© 2006 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Contents
Getting to Know Your Wireless Router................................................................................1
Unpacking Your New Router .............................................................................................1
Hardware Features ............................................................................................................3
Positioning Your Wireless Router ......................................................................................4
Installing Your Wireless Router ..........................................................................................5
Updating Your Router Firmware ........................................................................................6
Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard...................................................................7
Using the Smart Wizard .....................................................................................................7
Accessing Your Router After Installation and Checking for New Firmware .......................8
Installing Your Router Manually
(Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users) .....................................................................................13
Connecting Your Wireless Router ....................................................................................13
Verifying Your Connection ...............................................................................................16
Setting Up Your Router for Internet Access .....................................................................17
Checking for New Firmware ............................................................................................19
Configuring Your Wireless Settings and Security Options ...............................................21
Setting Up Your Wireless Computers ..............................................................................22
Troubleshooting...................................................................................................................25
Basic Setup Checklist ......................................................................................................25
Checking Basic Router Functions ...................................................................................26
Troubleshooting Login Problems .....................................................................................27
Checking the Internet Service Connection ......................................................................27
Obtaining an Internet IP Address ....................................................................................28
Using the Ping Utility to Troubleshoot ..............................................................................30
Default Configuration ..........................................................................................................33
Default Configuration Settings .........................................................................................33
Restoring the Default User Name and Password ............................................................34

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Related Documents..............................................................................................................35
Registration and Certifications............................................................................................37

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™
NEXT® Wireless 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 “Unpacking Your New Router” on
page 1). Then, read the section on “Positioning Your Wireless Router” on page 4 to ensure that you
have selected the best location to install your router.
Unpacking Your New Router
Your 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 User 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. Carefully peel off the protective film covering both sides of your router (see Figure 1).
2. Set up your wireless router by inserting the tabs of the stand (supplied with your router) into
the slots on the bottom of your router as shown in Figure 2. Then, remove the protective film
covering the LED panel of the router.
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).
Figure 1
Figure 2
To ensure proper heat dissipation and for router stability, it is important that you
connect the stand and place your router in an upright position.

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.
Front Panel
The various lights on the front panel indicate the operating status of the router. A description of
LED behavior is included in Figure 3.
Back Panel
Figure 4 describes the port connections on the back panel of the wireless router.
Figure 3
Power
On – Amber The router is performing the power-on self-test diagnostic.
On – Green The power is on and the router is ready.
Fast blink – Green A software update is in progress.
Slow blink – Green There is a problem with the wireless router software.
Off Power is not being supplied to the router.
Internet
On – Amber No IP address acquired.
On – Green The wireless router has acquired an Internet address.
Blink – Green Data is being communicated with the Internet.
Off No Ethernet cable is connected to the modem.
Wireless
On – Blue The wireless interface is enabled.
Blink – Blue Data is being communicated over the wireless network.
Off The wireless interface is turned off.
LAN (Ports 1–4)
On – Green The local port is connected to a 100 Mbps device.
Blink – Green Data is being transmitted at 100 Mbps.
On – Amber The local port is connected to a 10 Mbps device.
Blink – Amber Data is being transmitted at 10 Mbps.
Off No link is detected on this port.

4 Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
Router Label
The label on the back of the wireless router shows the router’s MAC address, serial number, and
factory default login information.
The color of the ports on the router are color-coded for ease of set up. They distinguish your
Internet port from the other four ports that connect to the wired computer(s) which make up your
LAN.
Positioning Your Wireless Router
The wireless 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
Figure 4
Figure 5
1. Factory Default Restore setting. Press Restore for approximately
5 seconds to reset the router to the factory default settings.
2. Four Local Area Network (LAN) 10/100 Mbps Ethernet ports for
connecting the router to your local computers.
3. Internet/Wide Area Network (WAN) Ethernet port for connecting
the router to a cable or DSL modem.
4. AC power adapter outlet for connecting the power adapter.

Getting to Know Your Wireless Router 5
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.
• In an elevated location such as a high shelf, keeping the number of walls and ceilings between
the wireless 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 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, modem,
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 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 7 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.
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 13).

6 Getting to Know Your Wireless Router
– Smart Wizard requires a PC running Microsoft Windows..
•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 13. 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 this option and install your router manually, 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
Router” on page 13).
2. Set up your wireless router for Internet access (see “Setting Up Your Router for Internet
Access” on page 17).
3. Check for new firmware for your router and install the latest firmware version (see
“Checking for New Firmware” on page 19).
4. Configure your wireless network and select wireless security settings to protect your
wireless network (see “Configuring Your Wireless Settings and Security Options” on
page 21)
Updating Your Router Firmware
NETGEAR is always improving the operability and features included with your router. To make it
easy for you to 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.
• NETGEAR provides a Windows software utility that will let you easily manage keeping your
NETGEAR products up to date.
These options are discussed later in this manual.
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.

Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard 7
Installing Your Router Using the Smart
Wizard
To use the Smart Wizard, you must be using a PC with 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 router, ensure that:
• You have an Internet service connection through an Internet Service Provider (ISP).
• You have the configuration information provided by your ISP.
• If you are connected through a cable modem, use the computer that you initially used to set up
your Internet account.
Using the Smart Wizard
The NETGEAR Smart Wizard takes you through the procedure to connect your router, modem,
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. 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.
2. 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 .

8 Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard
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 and Checking for New Firmware”).
You are now connected to the Internet!
To set up additional wireless computers in your network to access the router and connect to the
Internet, see “Setting Up Your Wireless Computers” on page 22.
Accessing Your Router After Installation and
Checking for New Firmware
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). After
installing and configuring your router using the Smart Wizard, you must open a browser window
and log in to the router to make any additional modifications. You will also be prompted to check
for new router firmware.
To log in to the router after installation:
1. Open a browser window and type http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field of your
browser. Press Enter.
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 User Manual for more
information).
You can enter any one of two addresses to connect to your wireless router:
http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com.

Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard 9
A login window similar to the one shown below will display.
2. When prompted, enter the default User Name and Password (admin for the router User Name
and password for the router Password), both in lowercase letters. If you changed the User
Name and Password from the defaults, then enter your new User Name and Password.
3. The Firmware Upgrade Assistant screen will display.
4. Click Yes to check for new firmware (recommended). The router will automatically check the
NETGEAR database for a new firmware image file. If no new firmware version is available,
the message “No New Firmware Version Available” will display. (If you selected “No,” you
can check for new firmware later; see “To manually check for new router firmware:” on
page 10.)
5. If new firmware is available, you will be directed to the new firmware version on the
NETGEAR website. Click Right-click and Save to Download and save the file to a location
on your hard disk.
Usually the firmware image is an “.img” file and does not need to be decompressed before you
can use it to upgrade your router. If, however, the file is a “.zip” file, then the image is
compressed and must be “unzipped” before you can use the file. On Windows machines, the
WinZip utility can be used to unzip the file.
Figure 6
The router User Name and Password are unique to the router and are not the
same as any other User Name or Password you may use to log in to your
Internet connection.

10 Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard
To upgrade your router:
1. If the Router Upgrade screen does not display automatically, select Router Upgrade under
Maintenance on the main menu. The Router Upgrade screen will then display.
2. Click Browse and locate the unzipped firmware image that you downloaded to your PC (the
file will end in “.img”).
3. Once you have selected the file, click Upload to send the software to the router. The upload
process will take several minutes. When the software upload process is complete, the router
will restart.
4. After the router has restarted, select Router Status under the Maintenance menu. Check the
Firmware Version to verify that your router now has the new software installed.
If you are unable to successfully upgrade using this method, refer to the online Reference
Manual available through the Documentation link on the router main menu (or through a link
on the Resource CD) for other ways to upgrade the router.
If you selected the No radio box during installation, and want to check for new firmware later,
follow the procedure below. It is advisable to determine the firmware version currently running on
your router before you check for updates on the NETGEAR website. Then go to the NETGEAR
website and select the model number for this router. If a later version of the firmware is available,
upload the firmware to your computer and upgrade your router.
To manually check for new router firmware:
1. Open a browser window and type http://www.routerlogin.net in the address field of your
browser. Press Enter.
2. When prompted, enter the default User Name and Password (admin for the router User Name
and password for the router Password), both in lowercase letters. If you changed the User
Name and Password from the defaults, then enter your new User Name and Password.
3. Select Router Status under the Maintenance menu on your router interface. When the
Router Status screen displays, note the version number of your router firmware.
4. Go to http://www.NETGEAR.com/support and select Downloads from the menu bar.
5. From the Product Selection pull-down menu, select your router model number. The Product
Support page for your router will display.
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! When the Ready
light stops blinking, wait a few seconds more before using the router.

Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard 11
6. Under Downloads, check the most recent Firmware Version offered against the Firmware
Version shown on your Router Status screen.
7. If a the version on the NETGEAR website is more recent, click on the version number. Then,
click Right-click and Save to Download and save the file to a location on your hard disk.
8. Follow the procedure in “To upgrade your router:” to complete the upgrade process.

12 Installing Your Router Using the Smart Wizard

Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users) 13
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 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 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.
• If you have cable modem service, make sure that you are using the same computer on which
you first set up your Internet account.
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 router after reviewing the guidelines presented in
“Positioning Your Wireless Router” on page 4.”
Connecting Your Wireless Router
Before you install your wireless 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

14 Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)
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 35.
To connect the wireless router, the computer, and the modem:
1. Turn off your computer.
2. Turn off and unplug the cable or DSL broadband modem.
3. Locate the Ethernet cable (A) that connects your computer to the modem.
4. Disconnect the cable at the modem end only (B). You will connect it to the router later.
5. Locate the Ethernet cable that came with your NETGEAR product. Securely insert one end of
the Ethernet cable into your modem and the other end into the Internet port of the wireless
router (C). (The Ethernet cable and the Internet port label are color coded.)
If you are replacing an existing router, disconnect it completely from your network
and set it aside before starting to install your new router.
Figure 7
A
B

Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users) 15
6. Locate the Ethernet cable (D) that is attached to your computer (see Step 3). Securely insert
that cable into a LAN port on the router, such as LAN port 1 (E), as shown in Figure 9.
7. Connect any additional wired PCs to your router by inserting an Ethernet cable from a PC into
one of the three remaining LAN ports.
When your network cables are connected as shown in Figure 9, you are ready to start your
network. Start your network in the correct sequence, as described below.
Figure 8
Figure 9
Failure to start or restart your network in the correct sequence could prevent you
from accessing the Internet.
C
D
E

16 Installing Your Router Manually (Advanced, Mac, and Linux Users)
To start your network:
1. Plug in and turn on the cable or DSL modem. Wait 2 minutes.
2. Plug the power cord into your wireless router and into a power outlet. Wait 1 minute.
3. Turn on your computer. It will take several minutes for your router to establish a connection
with your computer and your Internet provider.
Verifying Your Connection
Verify that your router is connected correctly by checking the wireless router status lights (as
illustrated in Figure 10).
For DSL customers, if software logs you in to the Internet, do not run that
software. You may need to go to the Internet Explorer Tools menu, Internet
Options, Connections tab and select “Never dial a connection.”
Figure 10
•Power. The power light should turn solid green. If it does not, see
“Checking Basic Router Functions” on page 26.
•Wireless. The wireless light should be lit after turning on the
router.
•Internet. The Internet port light should be lit. If it is not, make sure
the Ethernet cable is securely attached to the wireless router Internet
port and the modem, and that the modem is powered on.
•LAN. A LAN light should be lit for each connected computer on
your network. Green indicates that your computer is communicating at
100 Mbps; amber indicates communication at 10 Mbps. If a LAN light is
not lit for each connected Ethernet cable, make sure that the Ethernet
cable from the computer to the router is securely attached at both ends,
and that the computer is turned on.