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Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber

Bj63
Tutor

Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber

I have AC1200 R610 wifi router. The internet LED light is just staying amber the entire time. I still have internet but it's been rather stuttery ever since getting a firmware update from NETGEAR. Does the LED light not being green all the time matter? 

Message 1 of 14
plemans
Guru

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber

what modem is it connected to? 

 

Message 2 of 14
Bj63
Tutor

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber

It's connected to a CM600. All the lights on that unit are green. 

Message 3 of 14
plemans
Guru

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber

From looking at the manual, the internet light is either off or green. Are you sure you're looking at the correct one? 

LED Description

Power LED

Solid green. The power is on, and the router is ready.
Blinking green. A firmware update is in progress.
Off. Power is not supplied to the router.
WiFi LED
Solid green. The wireless radio is operating.
Off. The wireless radio is off.
Internet LED
Solid green. The Internet connection is ready.
Off. No Ethernet cable is connected between the router and the modem.
Ethernet ports 1–4
LED
Solid green. A powered-on device is connected to the Ethernet port.
Off. No device is connected to this Ethernet port.

Message 4 of 14
Bj63
Tutor

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber

I found that in the manual as well, which is why I am confused. I am quite positive I am looking at the correct light. All the others on the wifi router are green, the one that shows I have internet is amber/orange. But I still have internet, which is confusing. 

Message 5 of 14

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber


@Bj63 wrote:

I have AC1200 R610 wifi router. The internet LED light is just staying amber the entire time. I still have internet but it's been rather stuttery ever since getting a firmware update from NETGEAR. Does the LED light not being green all the time matter? 


How fast is your Internet service? If you ever get an Internet service that is faster than 100 Mbps (probably faster the 95 Mbps in reality) you won't see the benefit.

 

The R6100 is one of Netgear's bottom of the range router. According to Netgear's manual for this device, not always the most reliable source of information, the LAN and WAN ports support only 10BASE-T or 100BASE-TX. That makes it slower than many newer internet services and most modern network hardware.

 

Your modem has an Ethernet connection that runs at 1000 Mbps. Connecting it to a 100 Mbps router throws away a lot of speed and probably hobbles your wifi in the process.

 

Message 6 of 14
Bj63
Tutor

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber

According to my service provider I have 300Mbps. If you're saying my router/modem is lack luster..I would like to know what option would be best as I am only using what was provided. 

Message 7 of 14

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber


@Bj63 wrote:

According to my service provider I have 300Mbps. If you're saying my router/modem is lack luster..I would like to know what option would be best as I am only using what was provided. 


Your ISP is delivering 300 Mbps. You will never get anything faster than 100 Mbps out of the R6100 router. Your CM600 modem, on the other hand, can handle up to 1000 Mbps.

 

The specifications say:

 

LAN and WAN 10BASE-T or 100BASE-Tx, RJ-45

 

Just about any other router you buy will have at least 1000BASE-Tx. Your modem can deliver that.

 

Be prepared for a massive increase in the speed of your Internet service with a new router.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Message 8 of 14
Bj63
Tutor

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber

So new wifi router will increase my speed? Just to clarify. I'm quite tech illiterate. If that is the case, thanks very much! 

Message 9 of 14

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber


@Bj63 wrote:

So new wifi router will increase my speed?


Yes.

 

It should go up from something like 95-100 Mbps out of the router to around 300 Mbps, perhaps a bit higher. (ISPs often "over provision".)

 

If you would like to try it before you spend any money, and you have a wired computer, a laptop say, that you can connect to the Ethernet port on the modem, you can run a speed test there. Just plug into the modem and run a test.

 

Not only would a new router make your Ethernet connection three times faster, it will improve the wifi.

 

At the moment, no matter how fast you can connect to your wifi, it will never carry traffic at more than 100 Mbps because that is the fastest that things can get between your network and the outside world.

 

No need to spend a fortune, anything will be a massive improvement over the R6120.

Message 10 of 14
plemans
Guru

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber


@Bj63 wrote:

So new wifi router will increase my speed? Just to clarify. I'm quite tech illiterate. If that is the case, thanks very much! 


Contingent on the fact that you'd need to make sure to pickup one that's gigabit capable. 
I'd hate to see you buy another base model device that didn't have gigabit and be stuck at the same speed. 

Message 11 of 14

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber


@plemans wrote:

@Bj63 wrote:

So new wifi router will increase my speed? Just to clarify. I'm quite tech illiterate. If that is the case, thanks very much! 


Contingent on the fact that you'd need to make sure to pickup one that's gigabit capable. 
I'd hate to see you buy another base model device that didn't have gigabit and be stuck at the same speed. 


Excellent point.

 

But it would be very hard to buy another Netgear router that wasn't at least Gigabit LAN. The R6XXXX range is among the few, and only the lesser ones there. The R6080, R6100 and R6120 are part of a tiny handful.

 

The shocker is that Net5gear even sold these things as recently as 2017.

 

Just look on the labels, and do not be fooled by references to "fast ethernet". That really means "slow ethernet". It is also a good way of weeding out things not to buy. If it says "fast ethernet" leave it on the shelf.

Message 12 of 14
TXShooter
Aspirant

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber

I, too, have the AC1200 WiFi Router Model R6120. I know not what the modem model is, but it's from Viasat (so it's probably junk). I bought the R6120 through Amazon because of its high ratings and low price. I guess I got suckered, but I don't know where to get the "BEST" information.  The Internet LED (third from left) is also solid amber.  All others are green.  WTF?

Message 13 of 14

Re: Ac1200 Model R6120 Internet light staying amber


@TXShooter wrote:

The Internet LED (third from left) is also solid amber.  All others are green.  WTF?


Manuals are always a good place to start.

Visit the support pages:

Support | NETGEAR

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

Check the section in the manual Troubleshoot With the LEDs.


Message 14 of 14
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