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  6. Why do I need to always have the latest firmware on my NETGEAR
Why do I need to always have the latest firmware on my NETGEAR

FAQs Why do I need to always have the latest firmware on my NETGEAR User manual

  • Hello, I'm your chat assistant. I've analyzed the user manual for the NETGEAR Nighthawk X6 R8000 WiFi Router. This document explains how to set up the router, use it with various devices, and leverage its features like Tri-Band WiFi and Smart Connect, VPN, and USB storage options. I am ready to answer any questions you have about this device!
  • Why do I need to always have the latest firmware on my NETGEAR product?
    What is the class of antenna used on the R8000?
    How does the Nighthawk X6 WiFi Router support speeds up to 600 Mbps on 2.4 GHz?
    What does it mean when my LAN port LED is showing amber color?
    What does it mean when the Power LED is blinking amber and white?
FAQs:
Why do I need to always have the latest firmware on my NETGEAR product?
Having the latest firmware will help increase the stability, functionality and performance of your
product. The new and most up-to-date firmware will likely correct issues as well as potentially
add new and improved features to the product.
What is the class of antenna used on the R8000?
It is an omnidirectional antenna and vertical position is suggested for better wireless coverage.
How does the Nighthawk X6 WiFi Router support speeds up to 600 Mbps on 2.4 GHz?
The Nighthawk X6 Tri - Band Router boosts WiFi speeds on 2.4 GHz with support for 256
QAM. This is a specific mode-Turbo QAM supported by 802.11ac chipset manufacturers such as
Broadcom. We expect more and more WiFi clients based on 802.11ac chipset to support this
mode. This will help ensure that even when you connect on the 2.4 GHz band with these
802.11ac devices you have a 33% faster connection.
I see my LAN port LED showing amber color. What does that mean?
If the device you connected is only capable of 10/100 Mbps Fast Ethernet LAN connection, the
LAN port lights amber to show that it connected at a slower speed than what is supported by the
router. If your device has a Gigabit Ethernet port, the LAN port lights white.
Why is the Power LED blinking amber and white?
The R8000 is currently in AP mode. This is normal behavior. If you want to put the R8000 to
router mode, please go ahead and perform a factory reset on the device. Once you go through the
installation process again, please make sure to select "No" if you see the screen below and
continue with setup.
What is WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup)?
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a standard for easy and secure establishment of a wireless
network. WPS will automatically configure a wireless network with a network name (SSID) and
strong WPA data encryption and authentication.
Does the Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band Router support USB 3.0 port?
The Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band Router has two USB ports. Both the USB 3.0 port and USB 2.0 are
located on the rear panel of the router. We recommend using the USB 2.0 port for connecting
slower devices such as a USB printer and the USB 3.0 port for connecting faster devices like
USB 3.0 hard drives.
When I plug in my USB storage to Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band Router, I don't see the USB
LED lit. What does that mean?
That means Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band Router does not recognize your USB storage. It may have
an interoperability issue. Please try to plug the USB storage device into other USB port, and see
if it works.
How to restore the factory default settings?
Use a pointed object such as a pen or a paper clip to press and hold the Restore Factory
Settings button, located on the rear part of the router, for over five seconds until the
Power LED blinks amber.
Release the Restore Factory Settings button, and wait for the router to reboot. The factory
default settings are restored so that you can access the router from your web browser
using the default username and password.
Does the R8000 support IPv6?
Yes, IPv6 is supported.
What is the maximum number of music files supported for iTunes server?
The maximum number of music files supported is 10,000. Please keep in mind that the only
music files are supported.
Does it require to scan all music again when the HDD is unplugged and replug?
Yes, the music files will need to be rescanned.
How long does it take to scan music files on ReadySHARE?
It could take minutes depending on the number of music files on your ReadySHARE HDD. For
10,000 files, it could take up to an hour.
What is the maximum number of concurrent clients that can connect to the VPN service?
It supports a maximum of up to 4 concurrent VPN clients.
Does the R8000 USB 3.0 port support multiple drives i.e. 2-4 bay enclosures?
It should be able to support the hub if the drive has an external power supply as if it has multiple
drives. The Nighthawk X6 might not be able to supply the power to those drives. That means the
R8000 support multiple drives only if the drive has its own external power supply.
Does the R8000 have SPI firewall?
The router has SPI firewall built-in but it cannot be customized. It cannot be enabled or disabled
because it is not available even in the UI.
What is the Tri-Band WiFi ?
Your router comes with 3 WiFi Bands ( 2.4GHz + 2x 5GHz). Smart Connect feature enables the
router to intelligently choose the best 5GHz band to connect your dual band device to give you
the best WiFi performance.
What is Smart Connect?
Smart Connect balances your 5 GHz WiFi connections into two different radio bands: the 5 GHz
radio 1 band and the 5 GHz radio 2 band. The router uses Smart Connect to choose the best radio
band for your device to give you the best WiFi performance.
For Smart Connect to work, both 5 GHz radio bands must use the same wireless network name
(SSID) and network key (password). That means when you connect to the router with WiFi, you
see only one 5 GHz SSID that connects to both 5 GHz radio bands.
Note: If you enable Smart Connect and the SSID and password for both 5 GHz radio bands do
not match, the WiFi settings for 5 GHz radio 1 overwrites the WiFi settings for 5 GHz radio 2. If
you disable Smart Connect you can setup separate WiFi network name and password for the two
5GHz bands.
To enable or disable Smart Connect:
1. Launch a web browser from a computer or WiFi device that is connected to the router’s
network.
2. Enter http://www.routerlogin.net or http://www.routerlogin.com. A login screen displays.
3. Enter the router user name and password. The user name is admin and the default
password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC
Home screen displays.
4. Select Wireless.
Should the VPN feature still work if I have IPv6 connection?
It should work as long as it is a static IP address. Just make sure that the WAN IP is accessible
from the Internet, whether it is IPv4 or IPv6. If you are using dynamic DNS, it is recommended
to have the plus or premium account.
What other VPN clients will work with the VPN service of the R8000?
Only OpenVPN clients for Windows,Mac and Linux (and not Iphone/Android) will currently
work with our VPN service. OpenVPN is not compatible with IPSec, IKE, PPTP, or L2TP.
How do I get the latest firmware?
During installation via the browser based genie, the Nighthawk X6 Tri-Band Router looks for the
latest firmware and automatically installs it. In addition, the firmware on the GUI also supports
auto firmware upgrade. The firmware will check the latest firmware on web site every time when
you login into the GUI. We also recommend installing genie app on your PC/MAC/Smartphone
to get an alert when new firmware is available.
How do I upgrade the firmware manually?
Note: Do not upgrade the firmware using a wireless connection. Please perform firmware
upgrade with "wired" or Ethernet connection only.
1. Write down all the settings which you changed from the default values, since you may
need to reenter them manually.
2. Download the firmware version you want to upgrade on your Nighthawk WiFi Router.
Put this firmware at convenient place such as your desktop.
3. Log in to the router using a Web browser. The URL is http://www.routerlogin.net.
4. Click ADVANCED tab.
5. Select Administration > Firmware Upgrade.
6. Click Browse and find the file you just downloaded.
7. Click Upload.
Do not interrupt the upgrade while the router does this step.
I cannot connect through VPN to my router. How should I troubleshoot?
Please check the items below for troubleshooting:
VPN client software is running under administrator mode.
You are connecting by VPN from outside the home through Internet to your home
router's VPN server. You can't make a VPN connection within your LAN network,
through your LAN port or Wireless LAN.
Make sure to change the Open VPN Virtual Internet name to NETGEAR-VPN > Please
refer to Chapter 12 in the User Manual for more detailed instructions.
Why can I not play music on my iPhone and iPad from iTunes server using Apple Remote?
Apple Remote is not designed to play music locally. It is designed just as a remote control to
play music to Airplay devices. If you want to use Apple Remote with the NETGEAR iTunes
Server, make sure you have an Airplay device ready, such as Apple TV or Airplay ready
receivers.
Why is the QoS option on the R7000 not available on the R8000?
NETGEAR is currently working on a much more feature rich QoS feature which will be
available on a later firmware release in early Q1 2015.
Is the WDS/Repeater mode available on the R8000?
Currently, the WDS/Repeater mode feature can only be supported without security. Therefore,
we have removed this feature from the R8000.
Does the R8000 have an internal cooling fan?
No, it does not have one. The R8000 has a netting or mesh covering. This helps the router to stay
cool and for the heat to dissipate properly.
How much power does the R8000 consume?
The R8000 uses 12v-5A power supply. The maximum power draw could be up to 60 watts.
However, the usage can be lower due to the number of devices connected to ti and the
functionality that is running on the router. Not to mention, the router has many power savings
features that can help reduce power consumption such as green power supply, auto-sensing
gigabit Ethernet ports, wireless On/Off switch, and wireless scheduling.
What WiFi Adapter should I be using with R8000? I don't see a USB Tri-Band Adapter
anywhere. Do I need it?
The R8000 is a Tri-Band router but it does not require a Tri-Band adapter. It means it can
broadcast three separate frequencies ( one 2.5Ghz and two 5.0GHz) as long the wireless client
can detect one or both it will work.
After upgrading the firmware on the R8000 to v1.0.2.44 or higher, why do I not see the
"Edit" option under Access Control anymore?
Due to the implementation of the dynamic QoS feature on v1.0.2.44 and higher, the "Edit"
option is now moved under "Attached Devices" option under the Basic tab. You can edit your
devices there..
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