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Forum Discussion
Cannot download Nighthawk because it needs a WiFi connection
My Netgear Nighthawk X6S died, so I bought a new AX5400. I attempted to set it up, but ran into a brick wall. Apparently this router cannot be set up without using the Nighthawk app on my iPhone. However, I live way out in the country where we have no cellphone signals, so I get telephone connection through WiFi. Hence:
1. I must first download the Nighthawk app to my iPhone
2. To download the Nighthawk app, I must have a network connection.
3. To have a network connection for my iPhone, I must first have a WiFi connection.
4. Go to 1
I'm getting nowhere in this loop.
Now, one solution would be to drive into town, get a signal, and download the Nighthawk app -- but that would take a while. Is there any other way to break out of this loop?
4 Replies
- Have you tried http://routerlogin.net or http://192.168.1.1 in a browser?
I'll try that right now, but first I must disconnect my computer from the direct Ethernet connection I am using in lieu of the WiFi connection. SO everything shuts down, then I go through the long restart sequence. Thanks!
OK, I tried your suggestion, and it didn't work. So my wife ran down to the valley, downloaded the Nighthawk app onto her iPhone, and brought it home. We then encountered a series of obstacles; it appears that Nighthawk just doesn't want to work. I managed to barge through most of them (it cost a certain amount of pulled hair), but now I can't get over the brick wall for "Trying to connect to router". The iPhone has the correct password for the router and claims that it has a connection -- but it can't actually do anything with the connection. I'm still struggling. I've got to sign off here (this connection is through Ethernet) and resuming bashing my head against the brick wall. I'll check back after I've bloodied my head sufficiently.
Thanks for your help. And remember Crawford's Second Law of Software Design: "When in doubt, shoot the programmer!"
ChrisCrawford wrote:
My Netgear Nighthawk X6S died, so I bought a new AX5400. I attempted to set it up, but ran into a brick wall. Apparently this router cannot be set up without using the Nighthawk app on my iPhone.
Contrary to the exhortations from Netgear, I have yet to come across a Netgear router that cannot be set up with an Ethernet connection. It is the only way that many of use would consider doing that.
You can even use a mobile device without the app to set up and manage things. If you can connect to the wifi from a router – perhaps using the default SSID and password on the label – you can aim the browser on your mobile at the usual addresses that microchip8 suggested.
Let's start with your device, which AX5400 did you buy?
AX5400 is not a unique Netgear model number. Many devices come with the AC/AX tag, but it is essentially a label that Netgear, and others, attach to hardware to describe wifi speeds.
Look at the label on the device for the Model Number. And, if there is one, include the "V" bit to show the hardware version. If there is no V number, then you have V1.
Then dig out the manual. Visit the support pages:
Support | NETGEAR
Feed in your model number and check the documentation for your hardware.
Check the sections in the manualUse a web browser to access the router
and
Manually set up the Internet connection
There may also be some helpful videos on what to do.
You may have done that already. I can't tell from your message.
I mention it because Netgear gave up on supplying paper manuals and CD versions some years ago and people sometimes miss the downloads.The use of the Ethernet connection gives you many more options for setting up a router. Very little demands the use of an app.
