Installation Guide

ManualsBrandsNETGEAR ManualsAccess PointNETGEAR WAX618 Insight Managed WiFi 6 AX3000 Access Point

NETGEAR, Inc.

350 East Plumeria Drive

San Jose, CA 95134, USA

Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any

non‑NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference

purposes only.

November 2022

NETGEAR INTERNATIONAL LTD

Floor 6, Penrose Two

Penrose Dock, Cork,

T23 YY09, Ireland

Installation Guide

Insight Managed WiFi 6 AX3000 Access Point

Model WAX618

Access Point Model WAX618

Package contents

NOTE: You can power up the WAX618 by connecting it to a PoE+ switch, or you can

purchase a power adapter separately.

Overview

Power/Cloud LED

LAN LED

2.4 GHz WLAN LED

5 GHz WLAN LED

DC power connector

LAN PoE+ port

Reset button

1. Connect to power and Internet

Power up the WAX618 access point (AP) by connecting the LAN PoE+ port to a PoE+ switch that

supplies 802.3at power (PoE+), or to a power adapter.

Make sure that the AP has Internet connectivity:

• If you connect the AP to a switch, make sure that the switch has Internet connectivity.

• If you use a power adapter to provide power, use an Ethernet cable to connect the

LANPoE+ port on the AP to a router or other network device on a network with Internet

connectivity.

Mounting plate

3 Phillips head screws

and anchors for

mounting

CAUTION: Terms of Use

This device must be professionally installed. It is the installer’s responsibility to follow local

country regulations including operations within legal frequency channels, output power

and DFS requirements. Vendor or Reseller or Distributor is not responsible for illegal

wireless operations. Please see Device’s Terms and Conditions for more details.

The WAX618 LAN PoE+ port supports Ethernet speeds up to 2.5 Gbps within your LAN when

connected to 2.5 Gbps equipment,. The preceding gures show a NETGEAR MS510TXUP

switch, which supports speeds of 2.5 Gbps and higher, as well as PoE+. If your Internet

connection, modem, router, and switch support a speed of 2.5 Gbps, the AP’s Internet

connection also functions at 2.5Gbps. Otherwise, the Internet connection functions at 1 Gbps,

which is a common speed.

After starting up and during setup, the AP’s LEDs can light in these colors:

Power/Cloud

Slow blinking amber: The AP is starting, the rmware is being

upgraded, or the AP is trying to get an IP address.

Solid green: The AP started up, and functions either as a standalone

AP or as an Insight‑discovered AP that is not currently connected to

the Insight cloud.

Solid blue: The AP functions in Insight mode and is connected to the

Insight cloud.

LAN

(one of two

speed options)

Solid or blinking green: The LAN 1 port detects a speed of 2.5 Gbps.

Solid or blinking amber: The LAN 1 port detects a speed of less than

2.5 Gbps, such as 1 Gbps (which is a common speed).

2.4 GHz WLAN

5 GHz WLAN

Solid green: The radio is operating without clients.

Solid blue: The radio has at least one connected client.

Blinking blue: The radio is processing trafc.

For more information about the LEDs, see the user manual, which you can download by visiting

netgear.com/support/download.

Metal bracket with

T‑bar, lock screw,

and 4 short screws

Sample connections for a NETGEAR Insight setup

WA X618

2.5 Gbps PoE+ switch

Router

WiFi clients with Insight Cloud

Portal or Insight app access

Internet

WA X618

Insight cloud

NOTE: The AP receives an IP address from a DHCP server (or a router that functions as a

DHCP server) in your network. If your network does not include a DHCP server, the AP uses

its default IP address: 192.168.0.100.

2. Getting Started with NETGEAR Insight

Your new Insight‑manageable device comes with Insight included, offering remote management

of all Insight manageable devices on your network and real-time network status notications.

Choose the type of account you want:

• Insight Premium supports a single admin and multiple locations

• Insight Pro supports multiple admin roles, and organizations in addition to locations

Use either of these options to access Insight and onboard your Insight device:

• Insight Cloud Portal is your go‑to management platform with an extensive set of tools and

options including the Topology Viewer. Onboard devices by entering serial numbers and

complete conguration in one place. Pro accounts can use bulk upload to onboard multiple

devices at once.

• NETGEAR Insight app is a convenient way to monitor your network on the go, and offers an

alternative way to onboard devices by scanning the barcode.

For more information on Insight, visit the NETGEAR website:

• netgear.com/business/services/insight/subscription/

• kb.netgear.com/000061848

3. Log In or Create an Insight account

Your NETGEAR account is also your Insight account. You can use your NETGEAR account

credentials to log in as an Insight Premium user, or if you upgrade to an Insight Pro account, as

an Insight Pro user.

If you do not already have an NETGEAR Insight account, you can create an account now. For

information about creating an Insight Premium or Pro account, or upgrading an existing Insight

Premium to a Pro account, visit kb.netgear.com/000044343.

Insight Cloud Portal

insight.netgear.com

4. Onboard your device to NETGEAR Insight

Choose the method that you want to use to onboard your device:

• A. Onboard via the NETGEAR Insight Cloud portal

• B. Onboard via the NETGEAR Insight app

B. Onboard via the NETGEAR Insight app

1. Connect your mobile device to the AP’s setup SSID (WiFi network name) using one of these

methods:

• Scan the QR code: Scan the QR code on the AP label to connect to the setup SSID.

• Connect manually: The setup SSID is on the AP label and is shown in the format

NETGEARxxxxxx‑SETUP, where xxxxxx are the last six digits of the AP’s MAC address.

The default WiFi passphrase is sharedsecret.

2. Open the NETGEAR Insight app.

3. Enter the email address and password for your account and tap LOG IN.

4. Add a new network location where you want to add the AP by tapping the Next button, and

then tapping OK. You can also select an existing network location.

The device admin password that you entered for the new network location replaces the

existing admin password on all devices that you add to the network location.

In most situations, Insight detects the AP automatically, which can take several minutes.

5. To add the AP to your network location, do one of the following:

• If the AP is automatically detected and listed in the Insight Manageable Devices section,

tap the icon for the AP, and then tap the ADD DEVICE button.

• If the AP is not automatically detected, or you prefer to use another method to add the

AP, tap the + icon in the top bar, and do one of the following:

- Tap the SCAN BARCODE OR QR CODE button, and then scan the AP’s code.

- Tap the Enter Serial Number and MAC Address link, and then manually enter the

AP’s serial number and MAC address.

6. If prompted, name the AP and tap the Next button.

A. Onboard via the NETGEAR Insight Cloud portal

1. Make sure that the AP is connected to the Internet.

2. On a computer or tablet, scan the QR code for the Insight Cloud Portal or visit

insight.netgear.com/.

3. Enter the email address and password for your NETGEAR account and click the NETGEAR

4. For Insight Pro, select the organization to which you want to add the AP.

5. Select the network location, or create a new network location.

6. Click the + (Add Device) button.

NOTE: Insight Pro users can either add a single device or add multiple Insight managed

devices by uploading a device list as a CSV le.

7. In the Add New Device pop‑up page, enter the AP’s serial number and MAC address, and

then click Go.

8. After Insight veries that the AP is a valid product, you can optionally change the device

name of the AP, and then click Next.

When the AP is successfully added to the portal, a page displays a conrmation that setup is in

progress.

Results

The AP automatically updates to the latest Insight rmware and Insight location conguration.

This might take up to 10 minutes, during which time the AP restarts.

The AP is now connected to the Insight cloud‑based management platform. The Power/Cloud

LED lights solid blue.

If the AP does not show as Connected in Insight, visit kb.netgear.com/000065137.

Summary of content (2 pages)

PAGE 1
Package contents Mounting plate Installation Guide Insight Managed WiFi 6 AX3000 Access Point Metal bracket with T‑bar, lock screw, and 4 short screws Model WAX618 1. Connect to power and Internet 2. Getting Started with NETGEAR Insight 1. Make sure that the AP is connected to the Internet. Power up the WAX618 access point (AP) by connecting the LAN PoE+ port to a PoE+ switch that supplies 802.3at power (PoE+), or to a power adapter.
PAGE 2
Mounting options Mount the AP to a T-bar You can mount the AP to a wall or to a ceiling with a 15/16 in. (24 mm) T‑bar, or you can install the AP freestanding on a flat surface. 1. Slide the T‑bar partially into the metal bracket. We recommend that you use a flat Ethernet cable so that the cable fits in the narrow space between the AP and the surface on which it is mounted or placed. 2. Attach the metal bracket to the ceiling bar. 3. Push the T‑bar over the ceiling bar.