Introduction Of Netgear CM600 Cable Modem

The Netgear Cable Modem is a high-performance device that provides fast and reliable internet connectivity for your home or office. It is designed to work with major cable internet providers such as Xfinity, Spectrum, and Cox, and is compatible with DOCSIS 3.0 and 3.1 standards. The estimated price of the CM600 Cable Modem is around $160, making it a mid-range option for those looking for a reliable and fast cable modem.

Detailed Specifications

The Netgear CM600 supports downstream speeds of up to 1.4Gbps and upstream speeds of up to 340Mbps, making it an ideal choice for cable internet plans with speeds of up to 500Mbps. It also features 24x8 channel bonding, which allows for faster and more stable internet connections. The modem is equipped with a Gigabit Ethernet port, making it easy to connect to your router or computer. It also has a built-in DOCSIS 3.1 upgradeable to 3.1, which ensures future compatibility with even faster cable internet plans.
Technical Specifications

Unpack Your Cable Modem

Your package contains the following items.

Front Panel
The cable modem provides status LEDs on the front.

You can use the LEDs to verify status and connections. The following table lists and describes each LED on the front panel of the cable modem.
LED descriptions

Product Label
The product label on the side of the cable modem displays the serial number and MAC address of the cable modem and login information, including the default IP address, default user name, and default password.

Back Panel
The back panel provides the connections and button shown the following figure.

Hardware and Internet Setup

The NETGEAR High Speed Cable Modem provides a connection to high-speed cable Internet with speeds up to 960 Mbps.1 The cable modem is certified by all major cable Internet providers. A Gigabit Ethernet port provides fast access and downloads. The cable modem supports the assignment of IPv4 and IPv6 addresses by cable Internet providers.
This chapter covers the following topics

• Unpack Your Cable Modem

• Front Panel

• Product Label

• Back Panel

• Install and Activate Your Cable Modem

• Connect Your Cable Modem to a Router After Installation and Activation

Install and Activate Your Cable Modem

The cable modem provides a connection between your cable Internet provider’s network and your computer, router, or WiFi router. 
Connect Your Cable Modem to a Computer
During the installation and activation, you must connect the cable modem directly to a computer. After installation and activation, you can connect the cable modem to a router 

Note: Before you connect your cable modem and contact your cable Internet provider, collect your cable account number, account phone number, and login information (your email address or user name and password).
To connect your cable modem directly to a computer
 

1. Connect a coaxial cable.
   Use the coaxial cable that your cable company provided to connect the cable port on the cable modem to a cable wall outlet or a line splitter. Make sure that the cable is tightly connected.
   Note: If Comcast XFINITY is your cable Internet provider, Comcast XFINITY recommends connecting your cable modem directly to a cable wall outlet.
2. Turn off the computer to which you intend to connect the cable modem.
3. Use the Ethernet cable provided in the package to connect the Gigabit Ethernet port on the cable modem to an Ethernet port on the computer.
4. Turn on the computer.
5. Connect the power adapter provided in the package to the cable modem and plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet. When the startup procedure is completed, the Power LED lights green .
6. Wait for the cable modem to come online.
   It takes at least 10 minutes for the cable modem to come online on the network. During this time, the LED behavior is as follows:
   • The Downstream LED lights amber when one downstream channel is locked. The Downstream LED lights green when more than one downstream channel is locked.
   • The Upstream LED lights amber when one upstream channel is locked.
   • The Upstream LED lights green when more than one upstream channel is locked.
   • After the cable modem registers with your cable Internet provider, the Internet LED lights green . 

Even though an Internet connection is established, Internet service is available only after you set it up with your cable Internet provider.
Activate Your Internet Service with Comcast XFINITY
If you use Comcast XFINITY, you can set up Internet service by using Comcast XFINITY’s self-activation process. If you are unable to self-activate your cable modem, call Comcast XFINITY customer service. After you complete the setup, perform a speed test.
Before you start the self-activation process, make sure that your account number, account phone number, and login information (your email address or user name and password) are nearby.
To activate your Internet connection with Comcast XFINITY’s self-activation process

1. Close all web browsers.
2. Launch a web browser. You are redirected to the XFINITY self-activation page.
3. Provide your XFINITY credentials and complete the self-activation process. This process might take up to 15 minutes, during which the cable modem reboots a couple of times.
4. If you are unable to activate your cable modem using the XFINITY self-activation process, call Comcast XFINITY customer service at 1-800-XFINITY (1-800-934-6489).
   1. When asked, provide your account information and provide the cable modem’s model number and MAC address, which are on the product label on the cable modem.
   2. Wait for Comcast XFINITY to confirm that your cable modem is active.
   3. If you do not get an Internet connection with the cable modem, ask Comcast XFINITY to look for your cable modem online, and do one of the following depending on what Comcast XFINITY tells you about your cable modem:
      • If the cable modem is not visible, Comcast XFINITY can give you instructions to verify why the cable modem does not connect with your high-speed Internet service.
      • If the cable modem is visible to Comcast XFINITY, reboot the cable modem. Check your online status again.

Perform a Speed Test
To determine the accurate Internet speed, visit the speed test website of your cable Internet provider and perform a speed test.
If your actual speed is lower than your subscribed speed, contact your cable Internet provider.

Connect Your Cable Modem to a Router After Installation and Activation
During the installation and activation, you must connect the cable modem directly to a computer. After installation and activation, you can connect the cable modem to a router.

To connect your cable modem to a router after installation and activation

1. Reboot the cable modem by unplugging the power cable from the cable modem and plugging it back in.
   Note: Do not disconnect the cable modem from the cable outlet. 
   When the startup procedure is completed, the Power LED lights green . Wait for the Internet LED to stop blinking and light solid green .
2. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the Ethernet port on the cable modem to the WAN or Internet port on the router.
3. Power on the router. Wait until the router is ready.
4. Connect a computer to the router over a WiFi connection or through an Ethernet cable to a LAN port on the router.

Manage and Monitor

After you set up the cable modem, you do not need to log in to the cable modem for normal operation. However, you can log in to the cable modem to change a very limited number of settings and monitor the cable modem. In the unlikely situation that you experience problems with the cable connection and cannot get an Internet connection, technical support might ask you to log in to the router.
This chapter contains the following sections

• Log In to the Cable Modem
• View Cable Modem Initialization
• View Cable Modem Status
• View and Clear Event Logs
• Change the admin Password
• Reboot the Cable Modem
• Reset the Cable Modem to Factory Default Settings
• Change the Cable Connection Starting Frequency

Log In to the Cable Modem
After you set up the cable modem, you do not need to log in to the cable modem for normal operation.
To log in to the cable modem, you must use a web browser such as Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.0 or later, Firefox Mozilla 2.0 or later, Safari 1.4 or later, or Google Chrome 11.0 or later.
To log in to the cable modem

1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is attached with an Ethernet cable to the cable modem or from a computer that is connected to a WiFi router that is attached with an Ethernet cable to the cable modem. A login window opens.
2. Enter the cable modem user name and password.

The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.
View Cable Modem Initialization
You can track the initialization procedure of the cable modem and get details about the downstream and upstream cable channel. The time is displayed after the cable modem is initialized.
The cable modem automatically goes through the following steps in the provisioning process

1. Scans and locks the downstream frequency and then ranges the upstream channels.
2. Obtains a WAN IP address for the cable modem.
3. Connects to the Internet.

To view the status of the cable modem initialization

1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem or from a computer that is connected to a WiFi router that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem.
2. A login window opens.
3. Enter the cable modem user name and password.
   The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Cable Connection. The Startup Procedure section displays the initialization progress. The Downstream Bonded Channels section displays the status of each downstream channel.

   

5. To see the Upstream Bonded Channels section and system time, scroll down.

View Cable Modem Status

You can view some basic information about the cable modem.
To view the cable modem status

1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem or from a computer that is connected to a WiFi router that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem.
2. A login window opens.
3. Enter the cable modem user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays. 
4. Select ADVANCED.

The Cable Information page displays the following

• Hardware Version. The version of the cable modem model.
• Cable Modem Serial Number. The serial number of the cable modem.
• CM Certificate. The status of the cable modem certificate. If Not installed displays as the status, contact your cable Internet provider.
• CM MAC. The MAC address of the cable modem.

View and Clear Event Logs

Event logs capture important cable modem events.
To view and clear the event logs

1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem or from a computer that is connected to a WiFi router that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem.
2. A login window opens.
3. Enter the cable modem user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Event Log.

   

   The Event Log page shows the following information

   • Time. The time the event log entry was recorded. The correct time displays only after the cable modem successfully connects to the cable Internet provider’s network.
   • Priority. The severity of the event log entry.
   • Description. A description of the event log entry.
5. To refresh the log page, click the Refresh button.
6. To clear the log entries, click the Clear Log button.

Change the admin Password

You can change the default password that is used to log in to the cable modem with the user name admin.
To change the password for the user name admin

1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem or from a computer that is connected to a WiFi router that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem.
2. A login window opens.
3. Enter the cable modem user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select ADVANCED > Administration > Set Password.

   

5. Type the old password.
6. Type the new password in the Set Password field.
7. Type the new password in the Repeat New Password field.
8. Click the Apply button. Your change takes effect.

Reboot the Cable Modem

Rebooting the cable modem disconnects all computers from the cable modem’s local area network (LAN). After the cable modem is finished booting and reestablishes a connection with the cable Internet provider’s network, the devices reconnect to the cable modem’s LAN.
To reboot the cable modem

1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem or from a computer that is connected to a WiFi router that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem.
2. A login window opens.
3. Enter the cable modem user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays
4. Select ADVANCED. The ADVANCED Home page displays the Cable Information pane.
5. Click the Reboot button.A confirmation message displays
6. Click the OK button. The cable modem reboots.

Reset the Cable Modem to Factory Default Settings

To reset the cable modem to factory default settings, you can use either the Reset button on the back panel of the cable modem or the Factory reset software button. However, if you changed the default password to access the cable modem and lost the password, you must use the Reset button on the back panel.
After you reset the cable modem to factory default settings, the user name is admin, the password is password. The LAN IP address is always 192.168.100.1. You cannot change this LAN IP address.
Use the Reset Button on the Back Panel
To reset the cable modem to factory default settings

1. Power on the cable modem.

2. On the back of the cable modem, locate the Reset button.

   

3. Using a straightened paper clip, press and hold the Reset button for about seven seconds until all LEDs blink.
4. Release the Reset button. The configuration is reset to factory default settings. When the reset is complete, the cable modem reboots. This process takes about one minute.

Use the Factory Reset Software Button

To erase the settings

1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem or from a computer that is connected to a WiFi router that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem.
2. A login window opens.
3. Enter the cable modem user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.
4. Select ADVANCED. The ADVANCED Home page displays the Cable Information pane.
5. Click the Factory reset button. A confirmation message display
6. Click the OK button. The configuration is reset to factory default settings. When the reset is complete, the cable modem reboots. This process takes about one minute.

Change the Cable Connection Starting Frequency

The starting frequency for the cable connection is automatically generated. For most Internet connections, you do not need to change this information.
To change the starting frequency

1. Launch a web browser from a computer that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem or from a computer that is connected to a WiFi router that is attached over an Ethernet cable to the cable modem.
2. A login window opens.
3. Enter the cable modem user name and password. The user name is admin. The default password is password. The user name and password are case-sensitive. The BASIC Home page displays.

4. Select Cable Connection.

   

5. In the Starting Frequency field, type a number as instructed by your cable Internet provider.
6. Click the Apply button. Your change takes effect.

Description of CM600 Cable Modem

The Netgear CM600 Cable Modem is a sleek and compact device that is easy to set up and use. It features a simple and intuitive web interface that allows for easy management of the modem's settings. The modem also has a built-in power adapter, which eliminates the need for an additional power supply. The Netgear CM600 Cable Modem is also energy efficient, with a low power consumption rating of only 9 watts. Overall, the Netgear CM600 Cable Modem is a reliable and high-performance device that is perfect for those looking for a fast and stable cable internet connection.

Troubleshooting

This chapter provides information about troubleshooting your cable modem. The chapter includes the following sections

• Use LEDs to Troubleshoot
• Cannot Log In to the Cable Modem
• Troubleshoot the Cable Internet Connection

Use LEDs to Troubleshoot
The following table provides help when you are using the LEDs for troubleshooting. 

Cannot Log In to the Cable Modem
If you cannot access the cable modem from computer that is connected to the cable modem or to a router that is connected the cable modem, check the following

• If your computer is connected to the cable modem with an Ethernet cable, check the connection.
• Make sure that your computer’s IP address is on the same subnet as the cable modem. The IP address of your computer must be in the range of 192.168.100.2 to 192.168.100.254.
• Make sure that Java, JavaScript, or ActiveX is enabled in your browser. If you are using Internet Explorer, click the Refresh button to make sure that the Java applet is loaded.
• Try quitting the browser and launching it again.
• Make sure that you are using the correct login information. The cable modem user name admin is lowercase (Caps Lock is off). The default password is password.

If the cable modem does not save changes you made, do the following

• When entering configuration settings, be sure to click the Apply button before moving to another page, or your changes are lost.
• Click the Refresh or Reload button in the web browser. The changes occurred, but the web browser might be caching the old configuration.

Troubleshoot the Cable Internet Connection
If your cable modem cannot access the Internet but the Internet LED lights green , make sure that the cable MAC address or device MAC address of your cable modem is registered with your cable Internet provider (see Install and Activate Your Cable Modem  on page 8).

Pros & Cons of Cable Modem

Pros

• Supports fast downstream and upstream speeds
• Compatible with major cable internet providers
• Easy to set up and use
• Energy efficient
• DOCSIS 3.1 upgradeable to 3.1

Cons

• A bit expensive compared to other cable modems
• Some users may experience difficulty with the setup process

Customer Reviews of Netgear CM600 Cable Modem

Customers have generally praised the Netgear Cable Modem for its fast and stable internet connection, as well as its ease of use. However, some users have reported issues with the setup process and have noted that the modem is a bit more expensive than other options on the market. Overall, the Netgear CM600 Cable Modem has received positive reviews from the majority of customers.

Most Common Complaints

The most common complaints about the CM600 Cable Modem include difficulty with the setup process and the modem's higher price point compared to other options on the market. Some users have also reported issues with the modem's compatibility with certain cable internet providers.