Netgear R6900 Nighthawk Ac1900 Smart Wifi Router User Manual

							Use WPS to Add a Device to the WiFi Network
WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) lets you connect a computer or WiFi device to the router’s network without entering
the WiFi network passphrase or key. Instead, you use a WPS button or enter a PIN to connect.
If y
ou use the push button method, the WiFi device that you are trying to connect must provide either a physical
button or a software button. If you use the PIN method, you must know the PIN of the WiFi device that you are trying
to connect.
WPS supports WPA and WPA2 WiFi security. If your router network is open (no WiFi security is set, which is not
the default setting for the router), connecting with WPS automatically sets WPA + WPA2 WiFi security on the router
network and generates a random passphrase. You can view this passphrase (see Specify Basic WiFi Settings on
page 
163).
Use WPS With the Push Button Method
For you to use the push button method to connect a WiFi device to the router’s WiFi network, the WiFi device that
you are trying to connect must provide either a physical button or a software button. You can use the physical button
and software button to let a WiFi device join only the main WiFi network, not the guest WiFi network. To let a WiFi device join the router’s main WiFi network using WPS with the push button method: 1.
Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter 
http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select 
ADVANCED > WPS Wizard.
The page displays a description of the WPS method.
5. Click the 
Next button. By default, the 
Push Button (recommended) radio button is selected.
Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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							6.
Either click the   button onscreen or press the WPS button on the right side panel of the router.
F
or two minutes, the router attempts to find the WiFi device (that is, the client) that you want to join the router’s
main WiFi network.
During this time, the WiFi LED on the top panel of the router blinks white.
7. Within two minutes, go to the WiFi device and press its WPS button to join the router’s main WiFi network without
entering a password.
After the router establishes a WPS connection, the WiFi LED lights solid white and the Add WPS Client page
displays a confirmation message.
8. To verify that the WiFi device is connected to the router’s main WiFi network, select BASIC > Attached Devices.
The WiFi device displays onscreen.
Use WPS With the PIN Method
To use the PIN method to connect a WiFi device to the router’s WiFi network, you must know the PIN of the WiFi
device that you are trying to connect. To let a WiFi device join the router’s WiFi network using WPS with the PIN method: 1.
Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter 
http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select 
ADVANCED > WPS Wizard.
The page displays a description of the WPS method.
5. Click the Next button.
The Add 

WPS Client page adjusts.
The 
Push Button (recommended) radio button is selected by default. Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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							6.
Select the PIN Number radio button. 7.
In the 
Enter Clients’ PIN field, enter the PIN number of the WiFi device.
8. Click the Next button.
F

or four minutes, the router attempts to find the WiFi device (that is, the client) that you want to join the router’s
main WiFi network.
During this time, the WiFi LED on the top panel of the router blinks white.
9. Within four minutes, go to the WiFi device and use its WPS software to join the network without entering a
password.
When the router establishes a WPS connection, the WiFi LED lights solid white and the Add WPS Client page
displays a confirmation message.
10. To verify that the WiFi device is connected to the router’s main WiFi network, select BASIC > Attached Devices.
The WiFi device displays onscreen.
Specify Basic WiFi Settings The router comes with preset security. This means that the WiFi network name (SSID), network key (password),
and secur

ity option (encryption protocol) are preset in the factory. You can find the preset SSID and password on
the router label. The preset SSID and password are uniquely generated for every device to protect and
maximize your WiFi security.
Note
We recommend that you do not change your preset security settings. If y
ou change your preset security settings,
make a note of the new settings and store it in a safe place where you can easily find it.
If you use a WiFi computer to change the SSID or other WiFi security settings, you are disconnected when you click
the Apply button. To avoid this problem, use a computer with a wired connection to access the router. Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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							To specify basic WiFi settings:
1.
Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select 
Wireless. You can specify the settings for the 2.4 GHz band and for the 5 GHz band.
Your 
router might display information that is different from this example.
5. From the 
Region menu, select your region.
In some locations, you cannot change this setting.
6. To control the SSID broadcast, select or clear the Enable SSID Broadcast check box. Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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							When this check box is selected, the router broadcasts its network name (SSID) so that it displays when you
scan f
or local WiFi networks on your computer or WiFi device.
7. To change the network name (SSID), type a new name in the 
Name (SSID) field.
The name can be up to 32 char
acters long and it is case-sensitive. The default SSID is randomly generated and
is on the router’s label. If you change the name, make sure to write down the new name and keep it in a safe
place
.
8. To change the WiFi channel, select a number from the Channel
 menu.
In some regions, not all channels are available. Do not change the channel unless you experience interference
(shown by lost connections or slow data transfers). If this happens, experiment with different channels to see
which is the best.
When you use multiple access points, it is better if adjacent access points use different channels to reduce
interference. The recommended channel spacing between adjacent access points is four channels (for example,
use Channels 1 and 5, or 6 and 10).
9. Click the 
Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
If you connected over WiFi to the network and you changed the SSID, you are disconnected from the network.
10. Make sure that you can connect over WiFi to the network with its new settings.
If you cannot connect over WiFi, check the following:
•Is your computer or WiFi device connected to another WiFi network in your area? Some WiFi devices
automatically connect to the first open network without WiFi security that they discover.
• Is your computer or WiFi device trying to connect to your network with its old settings (before you changed
the settings)? If so, update the WiFi network selection in your computer or WiFi device to match the current
settings for your network.
Change the WiFi Mbps Settings The data rate for high-speed transmissions is commonly identified as megabits per second (Mbps). By default, the
router is set to operate with up to 600 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz WiFi band and up to 1,300 Mbps in the 5 GHz WiFi band.
You can select slower settings.To change the WiFi Mbps settings: 1.
Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter 
http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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							The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select Wireless. Your router might display information that is different from this example.
5. For the 2.4 GHz WiFi band, in the Wireless Network (2.4GHz b/g/n) section, select a setting from the Mode
men

u.
Up to 600 Mbps is the default setting, which allows 802.11n, 802.11g, and 802.11b WiFi devices to join the
netw

ork. The other settings are Up to 289 Mbps and 
Up to 54 Mbps.
6. For the 5GHz WiFi band, in the Wireless Network (5GHz a/n/ac) section, select a setting from the Mode menu.
Up to 1300 Mbps is the default setting, which allows 802.11ac, 802.11n, and 802.11a WiFi devices to join the
netw

ork. The other settings are 
Up to 600 Mbps and Up to 289 Mbps.
7. Clic
k the 
Apply button.
Your settings are saved. Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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							Change the WiFi Password or Security Level
Your router comes with preset WPA2 or WPA security. The password that you enter to connect to your network is
unique to your router and is on the router label. We recommend that you use the preset security, but you can change
the settings. Do not disable security. If the WiFi Mbps setting is Up to 54 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz radio band (see Change the WiFi
Mbps Settings on page 165), the WEP legacy security option is also available.
Note
T
o change the WPA settings: 1.
Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter 
http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select 
Wireless.
The Wireless Settings page displays.
5. Under Security Options, select a WPA option.
The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security and is the default setting.
The 
Passphrase field displays.
6. In the Passphrase field, enter the network key (password).
It is a te

xt string from 8 to 63 characters.
7. Write down the new password and keep it in a secure place for future reference.
8. Click the Apply button.
Y

our settings are saved.
Set Up a Guest WiFi Network Guest networks allow visitors at your home to use the Internet without using your WiFi security key. You can add a
guest network for the 2.4 GHz WiFi band and the 5.0 GHz WiFi band. Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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							To set up a guest network:
1.
Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select 
Guest Network. Your router might display information that is different from this example.
5. Scroll to the section of the page for the guest WiFi network that you want to set up.
The default guest WiFi network names (SSIDs) are as follows:
•NETGEAR-Guest
 is for the 2.4 GHz WiFi band.
• NETGEAR-5G-Guest
 is for the 5 GHz WiFi band.
6. Select the 
Enable Guest Network check box.
7. Leave the Enable SSID Broadcast check box selected. Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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							Allowing the router to broadcast its WiFi network name (SSID) makes it easier to find your network and connect
to it. If you clear this check box, that creates a hidden network.
8. Give the guest network a name.
The guest network name is case-sensitive and can be up to 32 characters. You then manually configure the
WiFi devices in your network to use the guest network name in addition to the main SSID.
9. For the WiFi channel and mode, leave the default settings selected.
10. Select a security option.
The WPA2 options use the newest standard for the strongest security. WPA2 is the default setting. If the WiFi Mbps setting is Up to 54 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz radio band of the main WiFi network
(see Change the WiFi Mbps Settings on page 165), the WEP legacy security option is also
available for the guest WiFi network.
Note
11. Click the Apply button.
Y

our settings are saved.
Specify How the Router Manages WiFi Clients A 

WiFi client is any computer or WiFi device that connects to the router’s WiFi network. The router uses airtime
f

airness and implicit beamforming to manage its WiFi clients. These features are enabled by default, but you can
disable them.
Disable Airtime Fairness
Airtime fairness ensures that all clients receive equal time on the network. Network resources are divided by time,
so if five clients are connected, they each get one-fifth of the network time. The advantage of this feature is that your
slowest clients do not control network responsiveness. This feature is enabled by default, but you can disable it.
To disable airtime fairness: 1.
Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter 
http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select 
ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings. Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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							The Wireless Settings page displays.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and clear the Enable AIRTIME FAIRNESS check box.
6. Clic
k the 
Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
If you connected over WiFi to the network, you are disconnected from the network and must reconnect.
Disable Implicit Beamforming
Implicit beamforming contrasts with explicit beamforming, which means that your router actively tracks clients and
directs power to the router antenna closest to the client. Explicit beamforming works whether or not the client supports
beamforming. Implicit beamforming means that the router can use information from client devices that support
beamf

orming to improve the WiFi signal. This feature is enabled by default, but you can disable it.
To disable airtime fairness: 1.
Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network.
2. Enter 
http://www.routerlogin.net.
A login window opens.
3. Enter the 
router user name and password.
The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive.
The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select 
ADVANCED > Advanced Setup > Wireless Settings.
The 
Wireless Settings page displays.
5. Scroll to the bottom of the page and clear the 
Enable Implicit BEAMFORMING check box.
6. Clic
k the 
Apply button.
Your settings are saved.
If you connected over WiFi to the network, you are disconnected from the network and must reconnect.
Control the WiFi Radios The router’s internal WiFi radios broadcast signals in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ranges. By default, they are on so that
you can connect over WiFi to the router. When the WiFi radios are off, you can still use an Ethernet cable for a LAN
connection to the 
router.
You can turn the WiFi radios on and off with the WiFi On/Off button on the 
router, or you can log in to the router
and enab
le or disable the WiFi radios. If you are close to the router, it might be easier to press its WiFi On/Off button. Manage the WiFi Network Settings
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