Cannot get in to router settings

[VJOGuy]

Hello,

No matter what I try, I cannot seem to get to the Admin log in screen for my Nighthwak router.  Whether I use routerlogin.net (or .com), or 192.168.1.1, I am consistently taken to the Netgear.com website instead.

I'm on a Mac running OSX 10.15.7.  The issue happens with Microsoft Edge, Safari, Firefox, and Brave browsers.  Here are the things I've tried to rectify it.  While I have a VPN available, it is turned off during the attempts listed below:

1.  With each browser, I've cleared the cache and all data from each one.  Then tried logging in to the router.  No luck

2.  With each browser, clearing their cache and data from each.  Closing them.  Rebooting the computer.  Opening the browser back up and trying.  No luck

3.  Uninstalling an reinstalling the browsers.  No luck

How can I access my router settings to perform functions not available on the Nighthawk app?

Thank you!

Chris

[michaelkenward]

What firmware version do you have on the device?

A number is more useful than "the latest". (It may not be by the time people read this.) There can also be newer versions, or "hot fixes", that do not show up if you check for new firmware in the browser interface.

It might also help if you told people what the modem is in front of this router, if there is one. The model number could be useful. Is it, by any chance, also a router, with a set of LAN ports on the back?

The reason for asking is that a lot of people turn up here trying to put a router behind a modem that is also a router. That can complicate troubleshooting.

[wcalifas]

did you try loggin in through your cell phone's browser, I've done it with my router numerous times. Just type the 192.168.1.1 when you're connected to the wifi.

[VJOGuy]

According to the app, the Firmware version is V1.0.4.68_10.1.75  Whenever I check for updates (weekly), it always says this is the latest version.  Hence my report of using the latest version.  

The modem in front of the router is a Nokia 5G21-12W-A High Speed Internet Gateway.  It is in fact a router with a set of LAN ports in the back.  However, none of the router signals are in use.  And the only LAN port in use is the ethernet cable connecting the modem, to the router.

I'm not sure what exactly that all tells you about the fact that web browsers on my Mac don't permit me to access the Netgear router settings.  But I'd love a solution to it.  

Thanks

[VJOGuy]

Thanks for replying.

Yes, I did actually try this as well.  It's odd...using my iPad or iPhone, I will get prompted for the Seraial Number, and then asked to enter a new password.  But then it keeps me in that loop....telling me to enter the serial number, and then update my password.  It will never progress past that.

Super frustrating!  But I appreciate the idea!  Any others are certainly welcomed!

[michaelkenward]

---

@VJOGuy wrote:

According to the app, the Firmware version is V1.0.4.68_10.1.75  Whenever I check for updates (weekly), it always says this is the latest version.  Hence my report of using the latest version.  

Sadly, "check for updates" does not always find the latest version. It can miss newer updates, especially any "HotFix" that has yet to reach the update server. Hence the question.

The only reliable check is to visit the support pages for your hardware.

---

@VJOGuy wrote:

The modem in front of the router is a Nokia 5G21-12W-A High Speed Internet Gateway.  It is in fact a router with a set of LAN ports in the back.  However, none of the router signals are in use.  And the only LAN port in use is the ethernet cable connecting the modem, to the router.

You have two routers on your network. (The "gateway word usually means modem/router.) That you don't use the wifi is irrelevant. The router bit of the Nokia is still active.

Two routers on your network can cause headaches. For example, you can end up with local address problems. Among other things, the other router can misdirect addresses that the Netgear router usually handles, such as routerlogin.net or the usual IP address for a router, 192.168.1.1.

This explains some of the other drawbacks.

What is Double NAT? | Answer | NETGEAR Support

Unless you have specific reasons for using two routers – to create two separate networks for example – it is often easier to use just one router and then to set up the second router as a wifi access point. Netgear advises this, as does just about every site you will visit.

It may be possible to put the modem/router into modem only (bridge) mode and then to use the second device as the router. Sometimes it is easier to put the second router into AP mode. But that has its own drawbacks:

Disabled Features on the Router when set to AP Mode | Answer | NETGEAR Support

[VJOGuy]

Thanks!

I just spoke to support for my modem and they say it does not have bridge mode capability.

Is AP mode for the Netgear router the next best option?

If so, that brings us full circle back to the original question of how to gain access to the Netgear routers settings? I presume AP mode is not something that the Nighthawk app can manage?

Thanks!

[michaelkenward]

---

@VJOGuy wrote:

I just spoke to support for my modem and they say it does not have bridge mode capability.

---

Pity. Seems to be a bit of a beef among some users.

5G Nokia Bridge Mode | T-Mobile Community

---

@VJOGuy wrote:
Is AP mode for the Netgear router the next best option?

If so, that brings us full circle back to the original question of how to gain access to the Netgear routers settings? I presume AP mode is not something that the Nighthawk app can manage?

---

AP mode is the easiest option.

The manual describes how to set that up. Visit the support pages:

Support | NETGEAR

Feed in your model number and check the documentation for your hardware.

Check the section in the manual Use the Router as a Wireless Access Point.

After you have got the device up and running in AP mode, you can access its management graphical user interface by tracking down its IP address and aiming a browser at that. You might even be able to do that in its current configuration. That works for my AP devices.

[VJOGuy]

Thanks for the efforts made to try and help me to this point.  Yes, there is MUCH talk about the modem (it's cylindrical and silver, so on the Facebook chat about the problems, it's referred to by all as "the trashcan").  

So the Netgear manual instructions say to connect the modem's LAN jack to the Netgear Router's LAN jack via the ethernet cable.  (turns out, it was already configured that way).  Since my iMac browsers won't let me in to the router settings, I tried it on my iPad.  First I ensured that the WiFI was the one from the Netgear router.  Then, I used routerlogin.net.  In Safari, I get a "Safari cannot open the page because it could not connect to the server" message.  When I use Safari and 192.168.1.1 to try to log in, the search never completes....it just times out.

I tried it with Brave (browser) on my iPad, and I was able to log in to the settings (makes no sense to me why so many other browsers don't allow me to log in, but this one does?).  

So, the "good news" is that I was able to finally get in to the settings this way, and complete all of the steps.  

The last step was to log out of the settings, and then back in.  And don't you know it?  I can't log back in now!  Same thing as before...inputting 192.168.1.1 has the browser searching and not going anywhere.  And routerlogin.net or .com keeps taking me back to the Netgear.com website, instead of the router settings!  

I don't get it!!  What do you think is going on?

[antinode]

> [...] Whenever I check for updates (weekly), it always says this is
> the latest version. [...]

   Not as reliable, in general, as checking the available downloads, but
true in this case.  In general:

   Visit http://netgear.com/support , put in your model number, and look
for Downloads.  (For older versions, under Firmware and Software
Downloads, look for "View Previous Versions".)  Find the kit(s).
Download the kit(s) you want.  Read the "Release Notes" file for
instructions.  (In the User Manual, look for "firmware", and,
especially, for a topic like "Manually Upload Firmware to the Router".)
When that fails because of a deficient User Manual, try:

      https://kb.netgear.com/23960

> [...] the Netgear manual instructions say to connect the modem's LAN
> jack to the Netgear Router's LAN jack via the ethernet cable. [...]

   Huh?  _Which_ "the Netgear manual" says _what_, exactly?  "the
Netgear Router's _LAN_ jack"?

   If you're having trouble getting into "http://routerlogin.net" on the
R8000P when it's configured as a router, then you might try not
connecting any modem to the R8000P.  That should avoid many types of
DNS and other problems.  (See, for example:
https://community.netgear.com/t5/x/x/m-p/2021905 )

   When you connect your Mac to the R8000P (LAN Ethernet port or
wireless), does that interface get a proper IP configuration?

   If you've progressed to configuring the R8000P as a wireless access
point, then...

   When you configure the R8000P as a wireless access point, it should,
by default, get a new/different LAN IP address from your main router,
using DHCP.  When that happens, you'll need to ask your main router
about the devices which are connected to it to learn the new/different
LAN IP address of the R8000P-as-WAP.  Most likely, you'll want to
reserve a particular (memorable) address for the R8000P-as-WAP (on the
main router), so that it will always get the same address, and you won't
need to hunt for it every time you want to talk to the thing.

   There's some chance that the usual "routerlogin" names will still
work, if your client device is connected directly to the R8000P-as-WAP,
but its new/different LAN IP address should work from anyplace on your
LAN.

[VJOGuy]

Sorry...I don't follow a lot of what you've provided.  I'm a bit of a novice if it's not clear already.

Are you saying that I have a new IP address as a result of the changes I made?  When I google "how to find my IP address, it shows me what my IP address is.  When I copy/paste that in to the browser, it says "This site can't be reached".  

But before we drift off in to the reeds, here's what I don't understand in the info provided:

You're asking about what manual.  The one the previous person told me to.  In this case, it's the Netgear R8000 User Manual".  

You mentioned not having any modem connected to the router, and that should work to avoid any DNS issues.  How does one get in to the settings without the modem, or surf the web for that matter?  I don't follow.

You asked if my current configuration gets a proper IP configuration?  I don't know how to tell.  I can google my IP address and it provides me with one, if that's what you mean?  

For this paragraph you wrote, I don't know how to find the IP address, or how to reserve one for that matter...

" When you configure the R8000P as a wireless access point, it should,
by default, get a new/different LAN IP address from your main router,
using DHCP.  When that happens, you'll need to ask your main router
about the devices which are connected to it to learn the new/different
LAN IP address of the R8000P-as-WAP.  Most likely, you'll want to
reserve a particular (memorable) address for the R8000P-as-WAP (on the
main router), so that it will always get the same address, and you won't
need to hunt for it every time you want to talk to the thing.
"

Can I ask you to please "dumb this down" for me?

Again, the main issue where I'm stuck , and the main problem I want to solve is that I still cannot gain access to my Netgear router's settings.

Thank you

[antinode]

> Are you saying that I have a new IP address as a result of the changes
> I made? [...]

   _You_, personally, do not have an IP address.  All your _gizmos_
should have at least one IP address: one for each network interface.

   An R8000P-as-router (or your main Nokia router) has two IP addresses:
one for its WAN/Internet interface, and one for its LAN interface.  An
R8000P-as-WAP has only one IP address, for its LAN interface.  (A
typical client computer/device would have one address for its (one)
network interface.)

   By default (under normal circumstances), the LAN IP address of an
R8000P-as-router is "192.168.1.1", and those "routerlogin" names should
be resolved to that address.

   The LAN IP address of an R8000P-as-WAP is, by default, obtained from
the main router, using DHCP, as explained above.  That is, just like any
other client device which you connected to your main router.  When
configured as a WAP, a router like this gets pretty stupid, and acts
more like a client device than like a full-function router.

> [...] When I google "how to find my IP address, it shows me what my IP
> address is. [...]

   Again, not _your_ (personal) IP address.  That is (or should be) the
IP address of the WAN/Internet interface of your main router.  That's
not what you want to talk to.

> [...] How does one get in to the settings without the modem, or surf
> the web for that matter? [...]

   Your main router has its own little management web site, built in.
You don't need an Internet connection to talk to your own router.  (To
"surf the web", generally, you _do_ need an Internet connection.)

   The R8000P has its own little management web site, built in, too.  If
it's configured as a full-function router, then you'd normally be able
to talk to it at (its LAN interface at) "192.168.1.1".  If it's
configured as a WAP, then its WAN/Internet port is repurposed as a
(special) LAN port, so it has no WAN/Internet address, and its LAN
interface will get some new/different IP address, as explained above.
And you should be able to talk to it at that new/different address, if
only you could figure out what that new/different address is.

> The modem in front of the router is a Nokia 5G21-12W-A High Speed
> Internet Gateway. [...]

   Again, that's a modem+router, not a simple "modem".

   I know nothing about it, but I'd be willing to bet that it provides
some kind of report on the devices which are connected to it.  Netgear
would call it an "Attached Devices" report.  I'd look for something like
"connected devices" or "DHCP clients", or some such thing.  _That_ is
where you should be able to find the R8000P-as-WAP and its new/different
LAN IP address.

   When you've found it, if you put _that_ address into a web browser,
then you should be able to talk to the management web site of the
R8000P-as-WAP.

> Can I ask you to please "dumb this down" for me?

   You can ask, but there may not be much more I can do to it.

> [...] I still cannot gain access to my Netgear router's settings.

   Got it.  As I've said, "When you configure the R8000P as a wireless
access point, [and so on...]".  Your main router is the place to look
for that new/different address.

> [...] I don't know how to find the IP address, [...]

   See above.

> [...] or how to reserve one for that matter...

   Again, that's a Nokia router question, and you can do the Web search
about as easily as I can for its user manual.  If you look in the R8000P
User Manual for "Address Reservation", then you can see how you'd do
that if the R8000P were your main router.  On the Nokia router, such
address reservations might be found under the DHCP server configuration
stuff (wherever that might be).

[VJOGuy]

I appreciate the time and effort made to provide a simplified explanation!

Because I've received a variety of information, and have made changes (many of which I do not understand the functionality of), and becaue I cannot locate the new IP address created as a result of the most recent changes, I'm contemplating doing a factory reset of the Netgear modem, and starting over.

Does that sound like a reasonable step, given that I have no way to connect to the Netgear router's interface (or at least it's not responding, if I do)?

[michaelkenward]

---

@VJOGuy wrote:

Because I've received a variety of information, and have made changes (many of which I do not understand the functionality of), and becaue I cannot locate the new IP address created as a result of the most recent changes, I'm contemplating doing a factory reset of the Netgear modem, and starting over.

Does that sound like a reasonable step, given that I have no way to connect to the Netgear router's interface (or at least it's not responding, if I do)?

---

That sounds like a sensible strategy to me.

You now know that your problem is having two routers on your network.

Your first move should be to put your R8000 into wireless access point mode. In that case any of these strange settings you have applied probably don't apply.

So, reset the R8000 and follow the instructions in the manual (see above) to put the thing into AP mode.

Here are some useful things to read:

What is the difference between router mode and AP mode? | Answer | NETGEAR Support

How do I change my NETGEAR router to AP mode after setting it up? | Answer | NETGEAR Support

Disabled Features on the Router when set to AP Mode | Answer | NETGEAR Support

[antinode]

> [...] becaue I cannot locate the new IP address created as a result of
> the most recent changes, [...]

   Did you look at the management web site of the Nokia router?  If you
don't do that then you "cannot locate" squat, because that's where the
info resides.

> [...] I'm contemplating doing a factory reset of the Netgear modem,
> and starting over. [...]

   Fine with me, but it's not obvious (to me) that that would solve the
fundamental problem.  When you put the R8000P into WAP mode, it'll get a
new/different LAN IP address, which you'll still need to get from the
(DHCP server in the) Nokia router.

> That sounds like a sensible strategy to me.

   No doubt.

> [...] put the thing into AP mode.

   And end up with the same problem as before: Not knowing the
new/different LAN IP address of the R8000P-as-WAP.

> Here are some useful things to read:

   I wouldn't expect any of them to get you further than you are
already.  You still need to talk to the Nokia router to get the
new/different LAN IP address of the R8000P-as-WAP.  I would be amazed if
any Netgear documents help with that.

> You now know that your problem is having two routers on your network.

   No, you absolutely do not know that.  When you configure the R8000P
as a WAP, it ceases to be a router, and your Nokia router will be your
one-and-only router.

   General advice: Be careful.  Some people can pack an amazing amount
of useless and/or bad information into a small space.

[VJOGuy]

I have no problems accessing the modem settings!  They are starightforward!  The ONLY IP address anywhere within the settings is under someting called "Ethernet: Subnet Mask".  Entering it to the browser provides zero access, and an eventual error message of "This site can't be reached because the (IP address) took too long".  

I appreciate the suggestion that the answer lies within my modem's configuration/settings.  But I'm afraid that other than this "Subnet Mask" IP formatted address, there is no such information available.  And the "Subnet Mask" doesn't connect to anythig when I try it.

[antinode]

> I have no problems accessing the modem settings! [...]

   Swell.  Did you also manage to find a user manual for it, where you
might find some useful info?

> [...] The ONLY IP address anywhere within the settings is under
> someting called "Ethernet: Subnet Mask". [...]

   That's not an IP address.  "anywhere"?

> [...] there is no such information available. [...]

   "I can't find it" and "there is no such information available" are
spelled differently for a reason.  My quick Web search for "Nokia
5G21-12W-A" found:

      https://www.t-mobile.com/support/public-files/attachments/T-Mobile%20High-Speed%20Internet%20Gateway...

> [...] I'd look for something like "connected devices" [...]

   Still true.

   Woah!  I've never seen one in real life, so I know nothing, but
"Viewing connected devices" looks promising to me.  (Who'd've guessed?)

      2. Swipe left to display the Devices screen.

   This stuff is not quantum mechanics, but you might need to do some
orderly research, rather than bumbling around, expecting everything to
be intuitive.

[VJOGuy]

Thanks for patiently and clearly providing guidance on this.  I truly appreciate it.  The other respondent on this thread could use some support with decency!

But that's not your problem.   So, thank you again!

[michaelkenward]

---

@VJOGuy wrote:

The other respondent on this thread ...

---

Not sure who that is supposed to be, I chip in only to suggest a possible solution to finding things on the network.

You say that you have no problem "no problems accessing the modem settings", that should also allow you to discover the other devices on your local network.

Without a manual for your modem/router it is hard to tell what features it has, but the browser based graphical user interface on most modem/routers I have seen also has some sort of "connected devices" section. Look for that and you should be able to find the IP address of your R8000P and everything else on your network.

Netgear also has its own desktop utility for finding that sort of thing.

genie | Product | Support | NETGEAR

[schumaku]

---

@VJOGuy wrote:

So the Netgear manual instructions say to connect the modem's LAN jack to the Netgear Router's LAN jack via the ethernet cable.  (turns out, it was already configured that way).  Since my iMac browsers won't let me in to the router settings, I tried it on my iPad.  First I ensured that the WiFI was the one from the Netgear router.  Then, I used routerlogin.net.  In Safari, I get a "Safari cannot open the page because it could not connect to the server" message.  When I use Safari and 192.168.1.1 to try to log in, the search never completes....it just times out.

I tried it with Brave (browser) on my iPad, and I was able to log in to the settings (makes no sense to me why so many other browsers don't allow me to log in, but this one does?).  

The last step was to log out of the settings, and then back in.  And don't you know it?  I can't log back in now!  Same thing as before...inputting 192.168.1.1 has the browser searching and not going anywhere.  And routerlogin.net or .com keeps taking me back to the Netgear.com website, instead of the router settings!  

---

ALmost everything more than strange. And honestly, not much Netgear router things going on here. Three things come into my mind:

1. ref. the routerlogin.com/.net ... of your MacOS system or any other system is configured to use secured DNS (encrypted DNS) the Netgear router will never "see" the DNS query and you will end on the Netgear landing page instead.

2. 192.168.1.1 isn't a search ... if the browser does start a search instead of heading to the IP, do't jnow what to say - it should be taken as an URL by the browser. try http://192.168.1.1/ instead  

3. Is it possible your iMac and your mobile devices are connected, or can connect to the other router? 

[VJOGuy]

Thank you for the reply and suggestions.

1.  Is there some way to get around this "DNS" settings?  Something I can try to test this possibility?  It does seem that the router does not see when I attempt to gain access to it's settings.  

2.  Inserting the http:// didn't work.  My browser immediately removes the "http://" as soon as I hit the enter key.  Still, I waited to see if it might connect, but it timed out.

3.  I have been checking to see if the wifi settings have changed to the Nokia modem/router's settings.  They have not.  They continue to be connected to the network I set up on the Netgear router.  

It sounds like the one idea here that might be worth going in to more is the one about DNS settings.  As you can probably tell, I'm a novice, trying to figure this stuff out in my (very limited) spare time.  Is there something I can try?  I don't even know what to google...."disable DNS settings"?  "bypass DNS settings"?  "alternate DNS settings"?  Any/all suggestions would be most appreciated!  

Thanks for your efforts/suggestions!

[schumaku]

---

@VJOGuy wrote:

So the Netgear manual instructions say to connect the modem's LAN jack to the Netgear Router's LAN jack via the ethernet cable.  (turns out, it was already configured that way). 

Sometimes it's in the fine print .... this is definitively wrong! The Netgear router Internet/WAN pot must be connected to the modem Ethernet port (whatever the marking says there). This could explain the off effects you experience. Sorry this required a second reading...

Once done so, restart everythig. First power-up the cable modem (let it boot and allow some minute), then the router, then the computer and the wireless devices.

[VJOGuy]

GOT IT!  Turns out that the settings to gain access to the router are held in the modem's app (on my iPhone).  The IP address was changed (but not located in the modem, as another posted suggested by "swiping" to view").  It's viewed by first connecting the wifi to the modem, and then using an app on the iPhone to connect to the modem's settings.  It was there that I could locate it.  But not by using a browser.  

So I won't have to reset as I feared.  Going back to the beginning of your suggestions tonight, and will try to start over.

Thanks again!

[VJOGuy]

Please don't apologize!  I appreciate all of the help!