How to Use Netgear Nighthawk M1 Gigabit Router

This chapter provides an overview of Netgear Nighthawk M1 4GX Gigabit LTE Mobile Router features and instructions for how to set up your mobile router and connect to the Internet.

The chapter covers the following topics:

  • Get to Know Your Mobile Router
  • Install the SIM Card and the Battery
  • Download the NETGEAR Mobile App
  • Power On Your Mobile Router
  • Use the NETGEAR Mobile App to Set Up the Mobile Router
  • External Antennas

 

Get to Know Your Mobile Router

Your mobile router lets you create a WiFi access point in any location with cellular network coverage. Use a WiFi access point to connect your computer or mobile devices to your service provider’s mobile broadband network and connect to the Internet.

  • Rechargeable battery included with the mobile router
  • Wall socket using the AC adapter and USB cable
  • USB port on your computer Your mobile router can receive power from any of the following sources:

 

 

Top Front View

The following figure shows the top front view of the mobile router.

 

Power Button

Use the Power button to wake the mobile router and to power the device on and off.

 

Desired Result Action
Turn on the mobile router. Press and hold the Power button for three seconds.
Turn off the mobile router. Press and hold the Power button for five seconds.
Wake the router. Press and quickly release the Power button.
Switch between screens. Press and quickly release the Power button.

 

 

 

Status LED

The LED indicates the device’s connection status.

LED What the Pattern Means
Slow blue blink The Nighthawk M1 router is ready.
Fast blue blink The Nighthawk M1 router is transferring data.
Slow amber blink The Nighthawk M1 router is not ready.

 

 

LCD Screen

The LCD screen displays information shown in the following figure.

 

 

Rear View

The following figure shows the rear view of the mobile router.

The mobile router rear panel includes the following ports:

  • USB type A port. Connect a USB storage device or charge a smartphone.

For information about USB storage devices, see Connect a USB Storage Device in the article Netgear M1 Share Media and Storage.

For information about charging a smartphone, see see Use the Mobile Router to Jump Boost Another Device in How to Manage Netgear MR1100 Router Battery Usage and Charging.

  • USB type C port. Connect the USB type-C cable that came in the package to recharge the battery or for a tethered connection to a computer.

For more information about recharging the battery, see Recharge the Battery From a Wall Socket  and Recharge the Battery From a Computer USB Port in the article How to Manage Netgear MR1100 Router Battery Usage and Charging. .

A tethered connection to a computer lets you access the mobile router from a web browser without a WiFi connection. See Tethered Connection in How to Connect to the Netgear M1 Nighthawk Mobile Router.

  • Ethernet port. You can connect an Ethernet device to this port and you can offload your mobile Internet data. The Ethernet connection speed is about 500 Mbps.

When you are using an Ethernet connection, you can use the USB type C cable and the AC adapter to recharge the mobile router battery.

Note: You cannot use an Ethernet connection and use a tethered connection to access the mobile router at the same time.

 

 

For information about offloading data, see Offload Your Mobile Internet Connection in Manage Netgear M1 Internet Connection.

For information about how to use a charge-only tethered connection, see Use the USB Type C Cable to Charge Only in How to Manage Battery Usage and Charging.

 

 

 

Optional Accessories

The following optional accessories are also supported:

  • Optional micro SD card (sold separately)
  • Optional antennas (sold separately)

For more information, visit netgear.com/telstraaccessories.

 

 

Install the SIM Card and the Battery

To install the SIM card and the battery:

To obtain an activated micro SIM (3FF format) card, contact Telstra.

  1. Make sure that power to the mobile router is off.
  2. Remove the cover on the bottom of the mobile router.

Place your thumbs on the arrows on the cover and press down while sliding the cover up.

  1. Carefully slide the micro SIM card into the slot.
  2. Align the battery connectors and insert the battery.
  3. If you purchased a micro SD card, insert the card into the micro SD slot.
  4. Replace the mobile router cover.

 

 

 

Download the NETGEAR Mobile App

The NETGEAR Mobile app lets you set up the mobile router. After initial setup, you can use the app to view or change the mobile router settings. You can also use it to enable Arlo support, play and share media, and enable the travel router feature.

To download the NETGEAR Mobile app:

  1. Connect your mobile device to the Internet.
  2. Open a web browser.
  3. Visit http://netgear.com/mobileapp.
  4. Download the NETGEAR Mobile app.

 

 

Power On Your Mobile Router

To power on your mobile router:

  1. Press the Power button on your mobile router.

The LED lights blue.

  1. To view the WiFi name and password, press and release the Power button to toggle through the Nighthawk M1 router LCD displays.

 

Use the NETGEAR Mobile App to Set Up the Mobile Router

To set up the mobile router:

You must use the NETGEAR Mobile app to set up the mobile router.

  1. Launch the NETGEAR Mobile app.

The app prompts you to change the password for the admin user name and to change the WiFi name and WiFi password.

Note: The default password for the admin user name is admin. We strongly recommend that you change this password to a more secure password.

  1. Follow the onscreen instructions to set up your mobile router.

 

External Antennas

Using an external antenna might be recommended in areas of lower coverage to improve your device performance. MIMO Dual TS9 antennas are available from your retailer. Insert the connector carefully to avoid damage to your device.

How to Connect to the Netgear M1 Nighthawk Mobile Router

This chapter is about how to connect to Netgear M1 Nighthawk Mobile router, covering the following topics:

  • Connect to the Mobile Router Network
  • Use the NETGEAR Mobile App to Access the Mobile Router
  • Use a Web Browser to Access the Router

 

 

Connect to the Mobile Router Network

You can connect your computers and mobile devices to the mobile router WiFi network. You can also connect a computer to the mobile router through a tethered connection using the USB cable that came in the package with the mobile router.

Note: If you set up your computer to use a static IP address, change the settings so that it uses Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP).

WiFi Connection

You can find and select the WiFi network or you can connect to the router’s WiFi network with Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS). For information about using WPS, see Use WPS to Connect to the Mobile Router WiFi Network in the article How to Specify Netgear Nighthawk MR1100 Mobile Router Network Settings.

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To find and connect to the WiFi network:

  1. Make sure that the mobile router is powered on (its LED is lit).
  2. Check to make sure that WiFi is enabled on your computer or mobile device and search for WiFi networks.

Refer to the following table or the manual for your WiFi-enabled device for further details on searching for WiFi networks.

 

Device Instructions
 

Windows computer

Click the Internet Access icon, which is usually found on the bottom right side of your screen.
Mac computer Go to the WiFi menu and select Network.
Mobile devices Go to the Settings menu and tap the WiFi icon.
  1. Select the WiFi name displayed on your Nighthawk M1 screen.
  2. Enter the WiFi password exactly as shown on the Nighthawk M1 screen. The password is case-sensitive.

Your computer or mobile device connects to the WiFi network.

 

 

Tethered Connection

To connect the mobile router to the USB port on your computer:

Attach one end of the USB (type C) cable to the mobile router and plug the other end into the USB port on your computer.

Your computer automatically connects to the mobile router LAN (local area network). The first time you connect this way, your computer might display notifications about detecting a new device.

Note: If you want to use data offloading with a tethered connection, use WiFi offloading instead of Ethernet offloading. Tethered access is not supported during Ethernet offloading. For more information about offloading, see Offload Your Mobile Internet Connection in the article about Manage Netgear M1 Internet Connection.

 

 

 

Use the NETGEAR Mobile App to Access the Mobile Router

You use the NETGEAR Mobile app to set up the mobile router. After initial setup, you can launch the app again and use it to log in to the mobile router to view or change its settings.

To log in to the mobile router from the NETGEAR Mobile app:

  1. On your smartphone, connect to the mobile router’s WiFi network.
  2. Launch the NETGEAR Mobile app.

You might be prompted to enter the admin password. During setup, you were prompted to change this password (the default password is admin).

  1. If prompted, enter the admin password.

The app displays the following information:

  • Notifications
  • Data usage as provided by your carrier
  • Your cellular and WiFi signals and battery
  • Current WiFi band (swipeable)
  • WiFi name and password
  • Connected devices.
  1. Swipe down.

The dashboard displays the icons shown in the following table.

 

 

Use a Web Browser to Access the Router

When you connect to the network (either with WiFi or with a tethered connection), you can use a web browser to access the router, to view and change its settings.

To log in to the router from a web browser:

  1. From a computer that is connected to your network, launch a web browser.
  2. Enter http://m.home or http://192.168.1.1. A login window opens.
  3. Enter the router user name and password.

The user name is admin. The user name and password are case-sensitive.