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Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

laceoak
Aspirant

Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

When using my PC, the #1 device indicator light on the router is white.  Normally, when the PC is in sleep mode, that indicator light goes out.  Now it won't go out...it changes to red.  Does anyone know what this means, and how to determine what the problem is?

Thanks to anyone who can help.

Message 1 of 8

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microchip8
Master

Re: Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

No, the colored light (red/orange) indicates there's a connection at 10 or 100 Mbps. White indicates a 1 Gbps connection. The only conclusion is that the network chip is active while in sleep mode. As I said, this is needed for WoL. My NAS also goes into red color when I turn it off and when I want to turn it back on, I just send a magic packet (WoL) to it and it boots up

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Message 6 of 8

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microchip8
Master

Re: Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

Your device goes in low-power mode on the NIC which can be used to Wake On LAN (WoL). You can turn that functionality off in the BIOS of the PC (look in PCIe options if in UEFI mode or WoL when in BIOS mode)

Message 2 of 8
antinode
Guru

Re: Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

> [...] R6700.3 [...]

 

   "R6700v3"?  Look for "Model" on the product label.  Firmware
version?  Connected to what?

 

> [...] Normally, when the PC is in sleep mode, that indicator light
> goes out. Now it won't go out...it changes to red. [...]

 

   Apparently, something about your (unspecified) "the PC", or its
"sleep mode", has changed.  Or your memory is faulty.

 

> [...] Does anyone know what this means, [...]

 

   People who have read the R6700v3 User Manual might have a clue.
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.  I'll assume that that your "red" is what Netgear
calls "amber".


   In many cases, a dormant-looking computer keeps its Ethernet
interface active in a stand-by (lower-power, lower-speed) mode, which
can cause the amber port-status LED on the router.  This allows the
computer to respond to Wake-on-LAN requests.  Typically, there's no
(other) activity in that situation.

 

> [...] and how to determine what the problem is?

 

   What "problem"?

 

   If the amber LED on the router really bothers you, then you could
insert a cheap gigabit network switch in the line connecting the router
to "the PC".  That should move the annoying LED behavior from the router
to the network switch (without adding any other value).

Message 3 of 8
laceoak
Aspirant

Re: Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

Thank you for taking the time to reply.  I have read the user manual, however, this issue is not addressed.  It is a Nighthawk AC1750 Smart WiFi router, model R6700v3.  As you say, I'm not aware of any particular problem as a result of this, but the colored light seems to indicate there is problem that hasn't surfaced yet...like a warning light.  Other than a factory reset, I've tried everything else, so that may be required.  Many thanks.

Message 4 of 8
laceoak
Aspirant

Re: Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

Thanks for the reply. I appreciate your help.

 

Message 5 of 8
microchip8
Master

Re: Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

No, the colored light (red/orange) indicates there's a connection at 10 or 100 Mbps. White indicates a 1 Gbps connection. The only conclusion is that the network chip is active while in sleep mode. As I said, this is needed for WoL. My NAS also goes into red color when I turn it off and when I want to turn it back on, I just send a magic packet (WoL) to it and it boots up

Message 6 of 8
laceoak
Aspirant

Re: Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

I didn't know that...interesting.  Many thanks for your helpfulness.  I appreciate your time.

Message 7 of 8
antinode
Guru

Re: Nighthawk model R6700.3 Red indicator light

 

> [...] I have read the user manual, [...]

 

   I believe you.  Thousands wouldn't.  Page 12:

 

      Ethernet ports 1-4

 

      The LED color indicates the speed: white for Gigabit Ethernet
      connections and amber for 100 Mbps or 10 Mbps Ethernet
      connections.

Message 8 of 8
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