Most Netgear wireless routers, broadband gateways, and access points work well with Nintendo DS WFC. On some Netgear wifi products, however, you may need to turn off WEP encryption, configure them to use static IP addresses in stead of dynamically allocated IP addresses (DHCP), or brute force them into operating exclusively in WiFi (IEEE 802.11b) mode –especially if you are running into persistent wireless connectivity or link stability issues.

In order to create a wireless link between these two end point wireless nodes, you need to configure them such that they would allow your gaming data traffic to traverse through them. There are two distinct/easy steps to setting up a wireless link between your Nintendo DS and a Netgear WiFi device: First, you need to discover how various wireless networking/security parameters are setup on your Netgear Router/AP and update/correct them if needed. Second, you need to create a matching Connection Save File (CSF 1, 2, or 3) entry on your Nintendo DS. Parameter settings of interest include networking parameters (NIC IP Address, Netmask, etc.), data encryption (WEP vs. WPA, etc.) options, and the wireless standards mode (i.e. operating in IEEE 802.11b Vs 802.11g mode, etc.) settings.

Considering the above, this document first focuses on discovering/updating various wireless networking/security parameters (SSID, Username, Password, WEP key, IP Address, MAC Address, etc.) on your Netgear Wireless/Gateway Router or your Netgear AP, and then points you to step by step instructions on how to create and save a matching connection save file on your Nintendo DS.

To configure your Netgear Wireless Router, you need to use the HTTP protocol to launch the configuration utility program embedded within your Netgear device. Launch a web browser (Internet Explorer, Opera, Firefox, or Netscape, etc.) on your computer, type in http://192.168.1.1 (the default IP address bound to the LAN/NIC Interface on most Netgear devices) in its URL/Location bar, and then press Enter on your keyboard.

If presented with a user authentication (login) screen, try the following:
Default Netgear Wireless Router Username: admin (lowercase)
Default Netgear Wireless Router Password: password (lowercase)

If you cannot login using the above, verify that (a) you are typing your password correctly, (b) your CAPSLOCK key is off, and (c) no one has changed password on your wireless router. It may also be due to the firmware (a set of instructions stored on an EEPROM microchip) encoded within your wireless router being corrupt. If you are stuck at this stage, your only option may be to reset your router to its factory default settings.

IMPORTANT: Secure your Netgear router (by making use of a strong password, WEP Key, MAC Address filtering, etc.) if you reset (wipe clean) your router to its factory default settings. Failing to do so (promptly) may make your entire WLAN open to scammers that may be war driving around in your neighborhood.

Login to Your Netgear Wireless Router, and Proceed as Follows:

• Retrieve/Change SSID on Your Netgear WiFi Router: Go to the Wireless section of your Netgear configuration utility program.

  Default SSID on most Netgear Wireless Routers is: NETGEAR (note: UPPERCASE)

• How to Access or Change WEP Keys on a Netgear Wireless Router/AP: To access the WEP information, go to Go to the Wireless section of your router's setup utility.

  If you are experiencing WLAN connectivity issues, try a 64-bit (instead of using a 128 bit WEP key or WPA) data encryption key. To avoid WEP Key mismatch (due to typing errors, etc.), use a simple 64 bit WEP Key (i.e. a 10-digit Hex WEP Key such as 0123456789 or 9999999999, etc.) during link setup/diagnosis. Write down your WEP key carefully because you will have to enter it again while configuring a Connection Save File on your Nintendo DS.

• To Verify or Update DHCP Settings on a Netgear Router: Go to the LAN IP Setup section.
  
• To Verify or Update DNS Settings on Netgear Routers: Go to the Basic Settings section.
  
• To Verify or Update Broadcast Settings on Netgear Routers: Go to the Wireless section of your Netgear setup program.

Having verified (and documented) various configuration settings (such as password, SSID, WEP key, LAN interface IP Address, Mac Address, etc.) on your Netgear wireless device, you can now proceed to the next step of creating a matching Connection Save File (CSF 1, 2, or 3) on your Nintendo DS. For step by step instructions, check out How to Configure Nintendo DS WiFi Connection Save Files to Work with Your Wireless Router.

If you are still having wlan connectivity problems or wifi link stability issues, please check out additional documentation available at this site and/or at the manufacturer's support site. Look into upgrading the firmware on your Netgear router -if available.

This document applies to most Netgear wireless access points and Netgear wireless routers including: DG834G, DG834N, DG834PN, FM114P, FR114W, FVM318, FWAG114, FWG114P, FWG114Pv2, MR314, MR814, MR814v2, MR814v3, WAG302, WG302, WG602, WGM124, WGR101, WGR613V, WGR614, WGR614v4, WGR614v5, WGR614v6, WGR826, WGR826V, WGT624, WGT624SC, WGT624v2, WGT634U, WGU624, WGXB102, WNR834B, WNR834M, WNR854T, WPN802, WPN824, and WPNT834.