NETGEAR Nighthawk AX4 User Manual

Table 1. LED descriptions
DescriptionLED and Button
Solid white. The router is ready.
Blinking white. The router is not ready, firmware is upgrading, or the Reset
button was pressed.
Off. Power is not supplied to the router.
Power LED
Solid white. The Internet connection is ready.
Blinking white. The port is sending or receiving traffic.
Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.
Internet LED
The LED color indicates the speed: white for Gigabit Ethernet connections and
amber for 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet connections.
Solid white. The router detected a 1 Gbps link with a powered-on device.
Blinking white. The port is sending or receiving traffic at 1 Gbps.
Solid amber. The router detected a 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps link with a powered-on
device.
Blinking amber. The port is sending or receiving traffic at 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps.
Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port.
Ethernet LEDs for ports 1–4
Solid white. A USB device is connected and is ready.
Blinking white. A USB device is plugged in and is trying to connect.
Off. No USB device is connected, or someone clicked the Safely Remove
Hardware button and it is now safe to remove the attached USB device.
USB 3.0 port LED
Pressing the WiFi button for two seconds turns WiFi LED and WiFi radios on and
off.
If this LED is lit, the WiFi radios are on. If this LED is off, the WiFi radios are turned
off and you cannot use WiFi to connect to the router.
WiFi LED
Pressing the WPS button lets your WPS-enabled device join your router's WiFi
network without typing the WiFi password. The WPS LED blinks white during
the WPS process and then lights solid white when the WPS-enabled device
connects to your router's WiFi network.
WPS LED
Note: If the LED On/Off switch on the rear panel is moved to the Off position, all the
LEDs except the Power LED are turned off.
User Manual10Hardware Setup
Nighthawk AX4 4-Stream AX3000 WiFi Router

NETGEAR Nighthawk AX4 Specifications

General

WiFi Performance	AX3000 (600 + 2400 Mbps)
WiFi Range	Medium to large homes
Processor	Dual-core processor
USB Ports	1 x USB 3.0
Number of Antennas	4
Beamforming	Yes
MU-MIMO	Yes
OFDMA	Yes
WiFi Technology	802.11ax
Ethernet Ports	4 LAN) Gigabit Ethernet ports
Security	WPA3
Memory	256MB RAM and 128MB Flash

Summary

Hardware Setup

Unpack Your Router

Details on the router, power adapter, and Ethernet cable included in the package.

Top Panel LEDs and Buttons

Description of status LEDs and buttons located on the top panel of the router.

Rear Panel Components

Identification and description of connectors and buttons on the router's rear panel.

Router Placement Guidelines

Recommendations for optimal router placement to maximize WiFi range and performance.

Connecting Your Router

Step-by-step instructions for connecting the router to a modem and power source.

Connecting to the Network and Accessing the Router

Connecting to the Router Network

Ways to connect to the router's network via wired, WiFi, or WPS connection.

Types of Logins

Explanation of different login types: ISP, WiFi, NETGEAR account, and router login.

Accessing the Router via Web Browser

Instructions on using a web browser to access and configure the router's settings.

Nighthawk App for Router Management

Guide to installing and using the Nighthawk app for router setup and management.

Specifying Your Internet Settings

Using the Internet Setup Wizard

Step-by-step guide to automatically set up the router's Internet connection using the wizard.

Manually Setting Up Internet Connection

Instructions for manually configuring Internet connection settings without a login.

Configuring IPv6 Internet Connections

Steps to set up an IPv6 Internet connection if the router does not detect it automatically.

Managing MTU Size

Explanation of MTU concepts and how to change the MTU size for network performance.

Controlling Internet Access

Access Control for Internet Access

Enabling and configuring access control to allow or block devices from accessing the Internet.

Blocking Internet Sites with Keywords

Using keywords to block specific Internet sites, with options for schedule-based blocking.

Blocking Internet Services

Methods to block specific Internet services based on type, time, or IP address.

Setting Up Security Event Email Notifications

Configuring the router to send email notifications for security events and activity logs.

Managing Network Settings

Configuring WAN Settings

Viewing and configuring wide area network (WAN) settings for the Internet port.

Changing LAN TCP/IP Settings

Modifying the router's local area network (LAN) IP address and subnet mask settings.

Specify Basic WiFi Settings

Specifying essential WiFi settings like network name (SSID) and security options.

Changing WiFi Password and Security

Updating the WiFi network password and selecting security protocols like WPA3.

Setting Up a Guest WiFi Network

Enabling and configuring a separate WiFi network for guests with custom security settings.

Controlling WiFi Radios

Enabling or disabling the router's WiFi radios to manage wireless signal broadcast.

Optimizing Router Performance

Using Dynamic QoS for Traffic Management

Enabling and configuring Dynamic Quality of Service to optimize Internet traffic management.

Improving Network Connections with UPnP

Enabling Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) for easier device discovery and network access.

Enabling or Disabling AX WiFi

Configuring the AX WiFi feature to improve network capacity, speed, and range.

Enabling or Disabling Smart Connect

Using Smart Connect to automatically select the fastest WiFi band for connected devices.

Managing Your Router

Updating Router Firmware

Checking for and installing new router firmware to enhance performance and security.

Changing the Admin Password

Procedure to change the router's administrative password for enhanced security.

Checking Internet Connection Status

Steps to verify the router's current Internet connection status and IP address information.

Managing Router Configuration Files

Backing up, restoring, or erasing router configuration settings.

Resetting to Factory Default Settings

Instructions for restoring the router to its original factory default settings.

Sharing USB Storage Devices

USB Device Requirements

Information on compatible USB storage devices and supported file system types.

Connecting a USB Storage Device

Steps to connect a USB storage device to the router's USB port for sharing.

Accessing USB Storage from Windows

Guide to accessing router-connected USB storage from a Windows-based computer.

Safely Removing USB Storage Devices

Procedure for safely disconnecting a USB storage device from the router to prevent data loss.

Using VPN to Access Your Network

Setting Up a VPN Connection

Establishing a virtual private network (VPN) connection for secure remote network access.

Installing OpenVPN Software

Instructions for installing OpenVPN client software on Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android devices.

Accessing Router USB Devices via VPN

Using a VPN connection to access USB storage devices and media connected to the router.

Allowing VPN Clients Internet Access

Configuring the router to allow VPN clients to access the Internet through the home network.

Managing Port Forwarding and Triggering

Setting Up Port Forwarding

Configuring rules to forward specific incoming Internet traffic to local servers or applications.

Adding Custom Port Forwarding Service

Adding custom port forwarding rules for applications not listed in the default services.

Enabling Port Triggering

Configuring port triggering to dynamically open ports for specific application traffic.

Troubleshooting Router Issues

Restarting Your Network Sequence

Step-by-step guide on how to properly restart your network equipment.

Troubleshooting Router LEDs

Interpreting router LED status indicators for diagnosing problems.

Resolving Login Issues

Steps to troubleshoot problems preventing login to the router's web interface.

Troubleshooting Internet Access

Diagnosing and resolving issues when the router cannot access the Internet.

Supplemental Information

Router Factory Default Settings

Details of the router's default configuration settings for various features.

Technical Specifications of the Router

Comprehensive list of the router's technical specifications, including hardware and protocols.