Netgear AC797 UM EN
Netgear AC797 UM EN
Netgear AC797 UM EN
NETGEAR, Inc.
October 2019 350 E. Plumeria Drive
202-11987-01 San Jose, CA 95134, USA
AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
Support
Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product.
After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and
use it to register your product at https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product
before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. NETGEAR recommends registering
your product through the NETGEAR website. For product updates and web support,
visit http://support.netgear.com.
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR.
Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at
http://support.netgear.com/general/contact/default.aspx.
Trademarks
©NETGEAR, Inc. NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
Any non-NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
Compliance
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
2
Contents
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
Turn Guest Wi-Fi On and Off From the Mobile Hotspot Web
Page.................................................................................................31
Manage Wi-Fi Security.......................................................................32
Change Wi-Fi Network Names and Passwords From the Mobile
Hotspot Web Page.........................................................................32
Change Wi-Fi Encryption Settings...............................................34
Chapter 3 Manage Security
Change the Mobile Hotspot Web Page Login Settings................38
Content Filter Levels..........................................................................39
Set Up Content Filtering...............................................................39
Block Access to Websites.............................................................41
Allow Access to Websites.............................................................41
View, Block, or Unblock Connected Devices..................................42
View Connected Devices From the Mobile Hotspot Web
Page.................................................................................................43
Block a Device From the Mobile Hotspot Web Page................44
Unblock a Device From the Mobile Hotspot Web Page...........45
View a List of Blocked Devices From the Mobile Hotspot Web
Page.................................................................................................45
Activate SIM Security..........................................................................46
Enable Port Forwarding.....................................................................46
Enable Port Filtering...........................................................................48
Chapter 4 Maintain Your Mobile Hotspot
Extend Battery Life..............................................................................50
Adjust Wi-Fi Settings to Optimize Battery Life...........................50
Adjust Display Settings to Increase Battery Life.........................51
View Details About Your Mobile Hotspot........................................51
Back Up and Restore Mobile Hotspot Settings..............................52
Back Up Mobile Hotspot Settings Using the Web Page...........53
Restore Mobile Hotspot Settings Using the Web Page............54
Restore Mobile Hotspot Settings Using the LCD Display.........54
Configure Mobile Broadband...........................................................55
Enable IP Pass-Through Mode.....................................................55
Enable VPN Pass-Through............................................................56
Configure APN Details..................................................................57
Add an APN for Another Network...........................................57
Select an APN to Use................................................................59
Remove an APN Entry...............................................................59
Enable DMZ.........................................................................................60
Set LAN Options.................................................................................61
Update Mobile Hotspot Software and Firmware............................62
Update in Response to an Alert...................................................63
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
Chapter 6 Troubleshooting
View Alerts...........................................................................................75
SIM Not Installed............................................................................75
SIM Error — Check SIM...................................................................75
SIM Locked.....................................................................................75
Temperature-Related Alerts.........................................................76
Connection Alerts..........................................................................76
Reset the Mobile Hotspot..................................................................78
Reset the Mobile Hotspot From the Mobile Hotspot................78
Reset the Mobile Hotspot From the Mobile Hotspot Web
Page.................................................................................................78
Appendix A Specifications
Battery Specifications.........................................................................81
Display Specifications........................................................................82
Environmental Specifications............................................................83
Mechanical Specifications.................................................................83
Mobile Band Specifications...............................................................83
Package Contents...............................................................................83
Port Specifications..............................................................................84
Security Specifications.......................................................................84
WiFi Specifications.............................................................................85
6
1
Get Started
This product regularly checks for new firmware and downloads any appropriate updates,
or you can check for and download new firmware manually. If the features or behavior
of your product does not match what is described in this manual, you might need to
update your firmware.
This chapter provides an overview of mobile hotspot features, and instructions for how
to set up your mobile hotspot and connect to the Internet. The chapter covers the
following topics:
• Set Up Your Mobile Hotspot
• Meet Your Mobile Hotspot
• Connect to the Internet
• Recharge the Battery
• Replace a SIM Card
• Home Screen
• Security Credentials
• NETGEAR Mobile App for Smartphones and Tablets
• Connect to the Mobile Hotspot With Tethering
• Customize the Mobile Hotspot Settings
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
.
Power/Wake button Status LED
LCD screen.
Micro USB charging port
• Turn mobile hotspot on. Press and hold the Power button for 3-4 seconds
• Turn mobile hotspot off. Press and hold the Power button for 3-4 seconds
• Wake up WiFi signal and device screen. Press and release the Power button.
• Cycle through screens. Press and release the Power button.
• Perform a factory reset. Press and hold the Power button for 3-4 seconds until the
the shut down screen displays and continue pressing and holding the Power button
until the Factory Reset screen displays. Follow the onscreen instructions to complete
the factory reset.
• Select from a list and set it as the default. When a list is displayed on the LCD, such
as a language list or APN list, press and release the Power button to select the next
item in the list. After an item is selected, press and hold the Power button until the
progress bar goes to the end; the item will be set as default.
Sleep Mode
Your device automatically enters sleep mode to save power when no WiFi client connects
for more than five minutes.
In sleep mode, WLAN is disabled.
Press the Power button to turn the display on and exit sleep mode.
WLAN function is enabled and WiFi devices can reconnect to the hotspot.
The time required to recover the network connection varies by environment, settings,
etc.
Status LED
The status LED indicates data connection status:
2. On your laptop or Wi-Fi device, open your Wi-Fi network connection manager.
3. Connect your device to the hotspot with the Wi-Fi name and password.
If guest Wi-Fi is enabled, press the power button again to reveal the guest credentials.
2. Connect the other end of the cable to the USB port on your computer or to the USB
charger.
Home Screen
You can use the home screen icons to view the mobile hotspot’s status, configure Wi-Fi
settings, view data usage details, and view system alerts.
Network indicator
Table 1. Icons
Icons Description
Security Credentials
Three passwords are associated with the mobile hotspot:
• Wi-Fi password. Use this to connect your computer or Wi-Fi device to your mobile
hotspot network. This character string is unique to your device. It displays on the
main mobile hotspot screen. If the screen is blank (a power-saving feature), press
and quickly release the Power button. The default Wi-Fi password is also printed on
a label under the battery.
For information about changing Wi-Fi passwords, see Change Wi-Fi Encryption
Settings on page 34.
• Guest Wi-Fi password. When the guest Wi-Fi network is enabled, guests can use
this password to access the network.
• Admin login password. Use this to log in to the mobile hotspot web page as an
administrator. You must log in as an administrator to use certain features and to
make changes to your mobile hotspot settings. The default Admin Login is different
for each AC797 device. See the label under the battery. The admin login password
can be 5–31 characters.
To manage all mobile hotspot settings, visit the mobile hotspot web page at
http://mywebui.net/ or http://192.168.1.1.
Note: The first time you use the micro USB cable to connect to the mobile hotspot your
computer’s operating system detects the new device.
The default Admin Login is different for each AC797 device. See the label under the
battery. The password is case-sensitive.
This chapter explains how to use your mobile hotspot. The chapter covers the following
topics:
• View New Messages From the Mobile Hotspot
• View Messages From the Mobile Hotspot Web Page
• Delete a Message From the Mobile Hotspot Web Page
• View Alerts From the Mobile Hotspot Web Page
• Manage Your Broadband Network Connection
• Connect to Wi-Fi
• Manage Wi-Fi
• Manage Wi-Fi Security
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
Note: Although you can view messages directly on the mobile hotspot, use the mobile
hotspot's web page to delete them.
Note: If you are logged in as an administrator, the Messages option on the side
menu indicates unread network messages. You can view SMS messages from your
network service provider on the mobile hotspot web page.
4. Select Messaging.
A list of messages displays, showing the first portion of the text.
4. Select Messages.
A list of messages displays, showing the first portion of the text.
Follow the instructions in each alert to address the conditions that caused it to display.
Connect to Wi-Fi
You can connect up to 32 Wi-Fi devices (such as smartphones, laptops, tablets, digital
cameras, printers, gaming consoles, and digital picture frames) to your mobile hotspot
network. For information about setting connections for main Wi-Fi and guest Wi-Fi
networks, see Manage Your Broadband Network Connection on page 22.
You can add a Wi-Fi device to your Wi-Fi network manually. If the device that you are
adding is WPS enabled, you can use the WPS method to connect the device without
using the Wi-Fi password.
5. Click the WPS button for either the main Wi-Fi or guest Wi-Fi network (if available).
6. Click the button for the WPS method that you want to use:
• WPS button pairing. If the device that you want to connect includes a WPS key,
click the WPS button pairing button and, within two minutes (120 seconds),
press the device’s WPS key.
• Enter WPS PIN. If a WPS pin is associated with the device that you want to
connect, click the Enter WPS PIN button and enter the device’s WPS PIN.
Your mobile hotspot and the Wi-Fi device communicate and establish the connection.
Manage Wi-Fi
Advanced users can set up the Wi-Fi radio of the mobile hotspot to meet their Wi-Fi
needs by customizing settings on the mobile hotspot web page.
On the mobile hotspot web page, the following Wi-Fi profiles are available:
• Default, main Wi-Fi. Share your main Wi-Fi with 2.4 GHz devices that you trust.
• 5 GHz Wi-Fi. Share your main Wi-Fi with 5 GHz devices that you trust.
• Dual-band Wi-Fi. Share your Wi-Fi with 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz devices.
By default, main Wi-Fi is enabled and both dual-band Wi-Fi and guest Wi-Fi are disabled.
If your place of business does not allow Wi-Fi or for any other reason you want to disable
Wi-Fi and use the mobile hotspot only in tethered mode, the mobile hotspot gives you
that option.
Note: Whenever you change Wi-Fi settings, any devices connected to the mobile
hotspot are disconnected and might need to be reconnected.
The default Admin Login is different for each AC797 device. See the label under the
battery. The password is case-sensitive.
5. To change the maximum number of devices that can connect to the Wi-Fi network,
in the Max Connected Devices menu, select a number.
6. To change the maximum number of devices that can connect to the main Wi-Fi and
to the guest Wi-Fi, click the arrow to the right to increase the main Wi-Fi connections
and decrease the guest Wi-Fi connections, or click the arrow to the left to decrease
the maximum main Wi-Fi connections and increase the maximum guest Wi-Fi
connections.
Note: The increase and decrease arrows only display if guest Wi-Fi is enabled.
9. Leave the Wi-Fi Info on Home check box selected, to allow the Wi-Fi information
to be displayed on the mobile hotspot home screen .
10. Set the Wi-Fi range.
Selecting the Extended radio button expands the range of the mobile hotspot. This
setting uses more battery power than the Standard setting.
Turn Guest Wi-Fi On and Off From the Mobile Hotspot Web
Page
Guest Wi-Fi lets temporary visitors access your Wi-Fi mobile hotspot without having to
share your main Wi-Fi password. Guest Wi-Fi uses the same band (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz)
as your main Wi-Fi.
To enable guest Wi-Fi from the mobile hotspot web page:
1. From a computer or Wi-Fi device that is connected to the mobile hotspot, launch a
web browser.
2. Enter http://mywebui.net/ or http://192.168.1.1.
The mobile hotspot web page displays.
The procedure to change the main and guest Wi-Fi network names and passwords is
the same. The following settings differ:
• Main Wi-Fi. For added security, you can prevent the main Wi-Fi network name and
password from displaying on the mobile hotspot’s home screen.
• Guest Wi-Fi. For added security, you can specify that the guest Wi-Fi password
changes each time you enable guest Wi-Fi.
To change network names and passwords from the mobile hotspot web page:
1. From a computer or Wi-Fi device that is connected to the mobile hotspot, launch a
web browser.
2. Enter http://mywebui.net/ or http://192.168.1.1.
The mobile hotspot web page displays.
5. Click the Edit button for the main Wi-Fi or for the guest Wi-Fi network.
5. Click the Edit button for the main Wi-Fi or for the guest Wi-Fi network.
6. In the Encryption menu for main Wi-Fi or guest Wi-Fi, select a security option:
• WPA2 Personal AES. Strong security supported by newer Wi-Fi devices, the
default.
• WPA/WPA2. Strong security supported by most Wi-Fi devices. Use WPA2
Personal AES whenever possible.
• None. Anyone can access your Wi-Fi network without a password and you are
responsible for charges incurred. Best practice is not to select this option.
The Save and Cancel buttons display at the bottom of the page.
For information about Wi-Fi security settings, see Manage Wi-Fi Security on page 32.
The chapter covers the following topics:
• Change the Mobile Hotspot Web Page Login Settings
• Content Filter Levels
• View, Block, or Unblock Connected Devices
• Activate SIM Security
• Enable Port Forwarding
• Enable Port Filtering
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
5. In the Admin login field, change the password used to log in as an administrator.
Best practice is to set a more secure password.
Enter a minimum of 4 characters and a maximum of 31 characters.
7. If you already have an OpenDNS account, enter the user name and password.
8. When prompted, select a Filter Level radio button.
9. Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved.
5. Select the Block List - block access to list of sites radio button.
The page adjusts.
6. Enter the website in the Site Name field and click the + button.
7. To allow unrestricted access on specific computers or devices, complete the Name
and MAC Address fields and click the + button.
8. Click the Save button.
Your settings are saved.
5. Select the Allow List - only allow access to specified sites radio button.
The page adjusts.
6. Enter the website in the Site Name field and click the + button.
7. To allow unrestricted access on specific computers or devices, complete the Name
and MAC Address fields and click the + button.
8. Click the Save button.
Your settings arse saved.
The Connected Devices section of the page displays a list of devices connected to
your network. If you notice a Wi-Fi device that you do not recognize, you can block
that device from connecting to your Wi-Fi network.
5. From the MAC Filter Mode menu, select Black list - Block all in list.
The list of blocked devices displays.
Note: Port forwarding creates a security risk. When not required, leave port forwarding
disabled.
Only one list at a time can be active, either a block list or an allow list.
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
• Screen brightness.
• Standby time.
• Data throughput.
• Mobile broadband signal strength (the better the signal, the longer the battery life).
• Wi-Fi range.
• Dual-band Wi-Fi (when all of your devices support 5 GHz Wi-Fi, dual-band Wi-Fi
allows faster downloads but uses more power).
• Guest Wi-Fi, when enabled, uses more power.
Note: When you change the Wi-Fi settings, any devices connected to the mobile hotspot
are disconnected and might need to be reconnected.
You can set the following Wi-Fi options to optimize battery life:
• Adjust the display settings. See Adjust Display Settings to Increase Battery Life on
page 51.
• Set the Wi-Fi range to Standard, not Extended, and set the Wi-Fi standby to 5 minutes.
The default Admin Login is different for each AC797 device. See the label under the
battery. The password is case-sensitive.
The home page displays.
devices. You can also save your settings before resetting to factory defaults or changing
the settings.
Note: If you release the power button too soon, the mobile hotspot turns off instead
of resetting.
WARNING: If you enable this feature, Wi-Fi is disabled and you must use a USB cable
to tether the device.
Note: This feature is available to Windows computer users. If you are a Mac user, do
not enable this option because you will be unable to access your device.
5. In the LAN section, select the IP Passthrough Mode Enabled radio button.
6. Click the Save button.
6. Enter the name and password, if they are required for the network.
7. Select the network authentication mode:
• None
• PAP
• CHAP
• PAP or CHAP
Note: PDP roaming protocol is the IP protocol used while you are roaming (for
example when you are traveling and the roaming network does not support IPv6).
Select an APN to Use You can select a specific APN to use with the mobile hotspot.
To select an APN:
1. From a computer or Wi-Fi device that is connected to the mobile hotspot, launch a
web browser.
2. Enter http://mywebui.net/ or http://192.168.1.1.
The mobile hotspot web page displays.
3. Enter the administrator login password.
The default Admin Login is different for each AC797 device. See the label under the
battery. The password is case-sensitive.
The home page displays.
Remove an APN Entry You can remove an existing APN from the APN setup.
To remove an APN:
1. From a computer or Wi-Fi device that is connected to the mobile hotspot, launch a
web browser.
2. Enter http://mywebui.net/or http://192.168.1.1.
The mobile hotspot web page displays.
3. Enter the administrator login password.
The default Admin Login is different for each AC797 device. See the label under the
battery. The password is case-sensitive.
The home page displays.
Enable DMZ
In a demilitarized zone (DMZ) network configuration, a computer runs outside the firewall
in the DMZ. This computer intercepts incoming Internet traffic, providing an extra layer
of protection for the rest of the network, and sending all incoming data to a particular
IP address.
To enable the DMZ and designate a computer to screen incoming traffic:
1. From a computer or Wi-Fi device that is connected to the mobile hotspot, launch a
web browser.
2. Enter http://mywebui.net/ or http://192.168.1.1.
The mobile hotspot web page displays.
3. Enter the administrator login password.
The default Admin Login is different for each AC797 device. See the label under the
battery. The password is case-sensitive.
The home page displays.
4. Press and hold the Power button until the upgrade process starts.
After the update install completes, the mobile hotspot reboots.
5. If the Check for update button displays, click it to see if a new update is available.
6. If an update is available, click the Start Download button.
The update downloads.
7. Click the Update now button to install the update.
After the update install completes, the mobile hotspot reboots.
This chapter provides answers to possible questions about your mobile hotspot:
• Questions About Connecting and Disconnecting Devices and Accessing the Internet
• Questions About the Mobile Hotspot Web Page
• General Questions
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
• Turn off your mobile hotspot and take the battery out, wait 10 seconds, put the
battery back in, and turn your mobile hotspot on.
• Restart your computer.
• Turn off or temporarily disable any security programs or firewalls.
• If possible, try using another computer or Wi-Fi device to connect to your mobile
hotspot. If you can, then the problem is with the device that cannot connect, not the
mobile hotspot.
• Make sure that your micro SIM account is active. To check micro SIM status, contact
your wireless service provider.
• If you use a prepaid micro SIM card, make sure that the account balance is positive.
• If your mobile hotspot still does not connect, you might need to create or update
the default connection profile.
General Questions
Review these topics for answers to general questions about the mobile hotspot.
• Check your signal strength and network type (for example, LTE 4G is generally faster
than 3G).
• Check Wi-Fi interference by powering the mobile hotspot off and on to find a better
Wi-Fi channel.
• Change the Wi-Fi band from 2.4 GHz to 5 GHz.
Tip: To display a list of connected devices, including the MAC address of each device,
go to the mobile hotspot web page and log in as an administrator. The connected
devices list appears on the left side of the home page. Click the device links to display
IP and MAC addresses.
The steps for finding a device’s MAC address depend on the operating system. If your
device runs an operating system not listed in the following procedures, see the
appropriate operating system documentation.
Find the MAC address on a Windows 7, Vista , or XP device
This chapter provides suggestions for troubleshooting problems that might arise when
you are using your mobile hotspot. The chapter covers the following topics:
• View Alerts
• Reset the Mobile Hotspot
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
View Alerts
Your mobile hotspot displays alerts to advise you of device status changes. See View
Messages From the Mobile Hotspot Web Page on page 20.
SIM Locked
You can unlock the SIM.
To unlock the micro SIM card from the mobile hotspot web page:
1. Contact customer service for the PIN to unlock the micro SIM card.
2. From a computer or Wi-Fi device that is connected to the mobile hotspot, launch a
web browser.
3. Enter http://mywebui.net/ or http://192.168.1.1.
The mobile hotspot web page displays.
Temperature-Related Alerts
The mobile hotspot is designed to work over a wide temperature range. (For more
information, see Environmental Specifications on page 83.) The mobile hotspot shuts
down automatically if it goes out of the supported temperature range.
Move the device to an area where the temperature is more suitable and, if the mobile
hotspot is too warm, make sure that the area is well ventilated and air can circulate
around the device.
Note: The battery might not recharge if the mobile hotspot is outside the operating
temperature range.
Connection Alerts
Some connection alerts include instructions for resolving them. For other connection
alerts, including those in the following table, contact customer service for assistance.
Alert Description
26 Insufficient resources
36 Regular deactivation
38 Network failure
39 Reactivation required
67 Connection error
Note: When you reset the mobile hotspot, any currently connected devices lose access
and must be reconnected after the mobile hotspot restarts.
Note: If you release the power button too soon, the mobile hotspot turns off instead
of resetting.
The default Admin Login is different for each AC797 device. See the label under the
battery. The password is case-sensitive.
The home page displays.
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AirCard 797 Mobile Hotspot
Battery Specifications
Battery specifications:
Note: 11+ hour battery life is achieved by the following heaviest case: stream
YouTube for 1 hour, followed by 30 minutes of idle time, and then repeat for over
11 hours.
Display Specifications
The mobile router includes an 1.77 in. LCD display.
Environmental Specifications
Environment Temperature
Mechanical Specifications
Parameter Dimension
Package Contents
Your mobile router package includes the following:
• AirCard 797S Mobile Hotspot
• Removable lithium ion battery
• AC charger
• USB cable
• Quick Start Guide
Port Specifications
The mobile router provides one micro-USB 2.0 port.
Security Specifications
Supported security features:
• Content filtering/Parental controls
• Guest WiFi
• WiFi security encryption
• WiFi Protected Setup (WPS)
• VPN pass-through
• NAT firewall
• Password protected administration UI
WiFi Specifications
WiFi support:
• WiFi 802.11ac, 2x2 MIMO
• Dual-Band 2.4/5 GHz, standalone or simultaneous
• Multiple SSID/Guest WiFi Support
• WPS (WiFi Protected Setup)