Do More Nighthawk X8 AC5300 Tri-Band WiFi Router Model R8500
WiFi Network Name and Password The preassigned 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 label on the router. We recommend that you use the preassigned WiFi settings because you can check the label if you forget them. You can also log in to the router to change these settings.
Join the WiFi Network You can either use Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) or select your router’s WiFi network and type its password. Join the WiFi Network Using WPS 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. ¾¾ To join the network using WPS: 1. Press the WPS button on the router for three to five seconds. The WPS LED on the button blinks. 2.
Join the WiFi Network Using the Router’s WiFi Settings Use the router’s WiFi network name and password to connect your computer or WiFi device to the router’s network through WiFi. If you did not change the router’s WiFi network name and password, use the router’s preassigned WiFi network name and password, which are on the label on the router. ¾¾ To select your network and enter its password: 1. On your computer or other WiFi device, open the WiFi connection manager that manages your WiFi connections.
View or Change the Router Settings After you use the NETGEAR installation assistant to set up the router, you can log in to the router to view or change its settings. Log In to the Router ¾¾ To log in to the router: 1. Connect a computer or WiFi device to the router. You can connect using a wired connection or a WiFi connection: • To connect using a wired connection, use an Ethernet cable (not included) to connect an Ethernet port on your computer to an Ethernet port on the router.
Change the WiFi Network Name and Password The router’s preset WiFi network name (SSID) and password are on the label on the router. If you want to change your router’s WiFi network name and password, log in to the router. ¾¾ To change the router’s WiFi network name and password: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network and visit www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 2. Enter the router user name and password.
Change the admin Password ¾¾ To change the admin password: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network and visit www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 2. Enter admin for the user name and password for the password. The BASIC Home page displays. 3. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password. The Set Password page displays. 4. Type your old password and type the new password twice. 5.
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. ¾¾ To retrieve a forgotten admin password: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network and visit www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 2. Click the Cancel button. If password recovery is enabled, you are prompted to enter the serial number of the router.
Access a USB Device on the Network ReadySHARE lets you access and share a USB storage device connected to the router’s USB ports. (If your USB device uses special drivers, it is not compatible.) ¾¾ To access the USB storage device from a Windows computer: 1. Connect your USB storage device to a USB port on the router. To get the best USB device access speed, use the blue USB 3.0 port on the router. It might take up to two minutes before the USB storage device is ready for sharing. 2.
¾¾ To access the USB storage device from a Mac: 1. Connect your USB storage device to a USB port on the router. To get the best USB device access speed, use the blue USB 3.0 port on the router. It might take up to two minutes before the USB storage device is ready for sharing. 2. On a Mac that is connected to the network, launch Finder and select Go > Connect to Server. The Connect to server window opens. 3. Enter the smb://readyshare in the Server Address field and click the Connect button. 4.
Enable Dynamic Quality of Service Dynamic Quality of Service (QoS) resolves Internet traffic congestion when Internet bandwidth is limited by using better application and device identification, bandwidth allocation, and traffic prioritization techniques. If you like gaming and streaming videos, 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.
4. Select the Enable Dynamic QoS check box. 5. Specify your Internet bandwidth. You can use Speedtest to detect your Internet bandwidth or you can enter your Internet bandwidth manually. We recommend that you use Speedtest. To use Speedtest to detect your Internet bandwidth, do the following: a. b. For more accurate Speedtest results, make sure that no other devices are accessing the Internet. Click the Speedtest button. Speedtest determines your Internet bandwidth. 6. Click the Apply button.
Enable Smart Connect Smart Connect selects the fastest WiFi band for your device. For Smart Connect to work, the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands must use the same WiFi network name (SSID) and network key (password). ¾¾ To enable Smart Connect: 1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the network and visit www.routerlogin.net. A login window opens. 2. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin and the default password is password.
Set Up Ethernet Port Aggregation Ethernet aggregation lets you combine two Gigabit Ethernet ports to improve the aggregated file transfer speed. If a device supports Ethernet aggregation, you can use the Ethernet aggregate ports 1 and 2 to cable the device that supports Ethernet port aggregation to the router. Note: Ethernet port aggregation is also referred to as link aggregation, teaming port, and port trunking. ¾¾ To set up Ethernet port aggregation: 1.
3. Set up Ethernet port aggregation on the device that is connected to Ethernet port 1 and port 2 on the router. For information about how to set up Ethernet port aggregation on your device, see the documentation that came with your device. For information about viewing the status of the Ethernet port aggregation, see the user manual, which is available online at downloadcenter.netgear.com or through a link in the router’s user interface.
2. Create a remote access genie account: a. Connect your computer to the router’s network. b. Launch the genie app. c. Select Router Settings. The Router Login page displays. d. From the Login as menu, select Remote Access. e. Click the Sign up link. f. Complete the fields to create an account. 3. Log in to your remote access genie account. The genie app determines if the router is registered with your genie account. If the router is not registered, follow the onscreen instructions.
Remotely Access Your Router With ReadyCLOUD ReadyCLOUD allows you to remotely access files on a USB storage device connected to the router. For more information about using ReadyCLOUD, see the ReadyCLOUD user manual for routers, which is available online at downloadcenter.netgear.com. ¾¾ To set up your ReadyCLOUD account and register your router: 1. Create a ReadyCLOUD account: a. Visit readycloud.netgear.com and click the Sign In link. The Sign In page displays.
d. Select the ReadyCLOUD radio button. The ReadyCLOUD page displays. e. Enter your ReadyCLOUD user name and password and click the Register button. The router is now registered with your ReadyCLOUD account. 3. After registration, visit readycloud.netgear.com and use your ReadyCLOUD user name and password to sign in to your account. The ReadyCLOUD page displays the router that you registered and the contents of the USB storage device that is connected to the router.
Back Up With ReadySHARE Vault Your router comes with free backup software for all the Windows computers in your home. Connect a USB hard disk drive (HDD) to the USB port on your 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, and Windows 10 ¾¾ To back up your Windows computer: 1. Connect a USB HDD to a USB port on the router. 2. Download ReadySHARE Vault from netgear.
Print Wirelessly With ReadySHARE Printer ReadySHARE Printer lets you connect a USB printer to the USB port on the router and print wirelessly. Download ReadySHARE Printer from netgear.com/readyshare and install it on your computer. Support Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit www.netgear.com/support to register your product, get help, access the latest downloads and user manuals, and join our community. We recommend that you use only official NETGEAR support resources.
