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fghjkgjklkgjkl's avatar
fghjkgjklkgjkl
Follower
Dec 25, 2020

Netgear Nighthawk requires internet to setup?

just curious if it's possible to set it up without internet. the only time we can get it to function is only if we use a mobile app, which isn't possible anymore as we do not have access to data in our area. if we don't use the app, it perpetually blinks, and I haven't found a way to get it to work using desktop. is it because it is connected to a modem? maybe if I connected it directly to my PC somehow I could configure it? idk, this is the only modem I've encountered where the only way I can seem to get it to set up is to already have wifi, which makes absolutely no sense as it is, in itself, a wifi router. unless there is some other method I don't know about. please enlighten me. thanks.

1 Reply

  • antinode's avatar
    antinode
    Guru
    Dec 26, 2020

    > Netgear Nighthawk [...]

     

       Not a model number.  Look for "Model" on the product label.

     

    > [...] requires internet to setup?

     

       No.  That would make it useless to many users.

     

       Is this a new installation, or what?  Any history might be
    interesting.  To what is your (unspecified) "Netgear Nighthawk"
    connected?

     

    > [...] if we don't use the app, it perpetually blinks, and I haven't
    > found a way to get it to work using desktop. [...]

     

       "it"?  _What_, exactly, "perpetually blinks"?  The whole router?
    Some LED indicator or other?  What happens if you do (now) "use the
    app"?  Which "the app"?

     

    > [...] we do not have access to data in our area. [...]


       Does that mean that you don't actually know whether it would now work
    with "the app"?

     

       "haven't found a way" is not a useful problem description.  It does
    not say what you did.  It does not say what happened when you did it.
    As usual, showing actual actions (commands) with their actual results
    (error messages, LED indicators, ...) can be more helpful than vague
    descriptions or interpretations.

     

    > [...] maybe if I connected it directly to my PC somehow I could
    > configure it? [...]

     

       Maybe if you took the obvious first step, you might make better
    progress:

     

          https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RTFM

     

       Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your (actual) model number,
    and look for Documentation.  Get the User Manual.  Read.  Look for the
    LED descriptions and "Troubleshoot".


       If the router's Power indicator is what "perpetually blinks", then
    you may be a candidate for the TFTP recovery scheme.  See, for example:

     

          https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/1622096#M102004