Quick Start
AC1600 WiFi Cable Modem Router
Model C6250
© NETGEAR, Inc., NETGEAR and the NETGEAR Logo are trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc. Any
non‑NETGEAR trademarks are used for reference purposes only.
Visit netgear.com/support to get your questions answered and access the latest
downloads.
You can also check out our NETGEAR Community for helpful advice at
community.netgear.com.
Customer‑owned cable devices might not be compatible with certain cable
networks. Check with your cable Internet provider to conrm that this NETGEAR
cable device is allowed on your cable network.
If you are experiencing trouble installing your modem router, contact NETGEAR
at 1‑866‑874‑8924.
Support and Community
The following table lists support contact information for cable Internet providers
that support your modem router.
Cable Internet
Provider
Support Contact Information
Cox https://www.cox.com/residential/support/home.html
https://www.cox.com/activate
1‑888‑556‑1193
Mediacom
https://support.mediacomcable.com
1‑855‑Mediacom (1‑855‑633‑4226)
Optimum https://www.optimum.net/support/contact‑us
https://install.optimum.com/JointInstall
1‑877‑810‑6750
Sparklight
https://support.sparklight.com
1‑877‑692‑2253
Spectrum https://www.spectrum.net/contact‑us
https://activate.spectrum.net
1‑833‑267‑6094
Xnity
https://www.xnity.com/support/articles/activate-purchased-modem
http://xnity.com/activate
1‑800‑XFINITY (1‑800‑934‑6489)
Cable modem router LEDs
LED Description
Power • Green. Power is supplied to the modem router.
• Red. Power is cut off due to a thermal error caused by heat. Move the unit
to a well‑ventilated area and power cycle the unit.
• Off. No power is supplied to the modem router.
Downstream
• Solid amber. One downstream channel is locked.
• Blinking amber. The modem router is scanning for a downstream channel.
• Solid green. Two or more downstream channels are locked.
• Blinking green. The modem router is scanning for additional downstream
channels.
• Off. No downstream channel is locked.
Upstream
• Solid amber. One upstream channel is locked.
• Blinking amber. The modem router is scanning for an upstream channel.
• Solid green. Two or more upstream channels are locked.
• Blinking green. The modem router is scanning for additional upstream
channels.
• Off. No upstream channel is locked.
Internet
• Solid green. The modem router is online.
• Blinking green. The modem router is synchronizing with the cable
provider’s cable modem termination system (CMTS).
• Off. The modem router is ofine.
2.4 GHz radio
• Solid green. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is on.
• Blinking green. There is WiFi activity on the 2.4 GHz band.
• Off. The 2.4 GHz WiFi radio is off.
5 GHz radio • Solid green. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is on.
• Blinking green. There is WiFi activity on the 5 GHz band.
• Off. The 5 GHz WiFi radio is off.
Ethernet • Solid green. A powered‑on device is connected to an Ethernet port.
• Blinking green. The Ethernet port is sending or receiving trafc.
• Off. No device is connected to an Ethernet port.
WiFi On/Off
button with LED
Pressing this button for two seconds turns the WiFi radios on and off. If this LED
is lit, the WiFi radios are on. If this LED is off, the WiFi radios are turned off and
you cannot use WiFi to connect to the modem router.
WPS
button with LED
This button lets you use WPS to join the WiFi network without typing the WiFi
password. The WPS LED blinks during this process and then lights solid.
Download the Nighthawk app to get started
For more information about the
Nighthawk app, visit Nighthawk‑app.
com. Set up your modem router and
activate your Internet service with the
Nighthawk app.
If you don’t want to use the Nighthawk app, set up your modem router using
the instructions in Set up and activate using the modem router web interface.
BEFORE RETURNING THIS PRODUCT TO THE STORE FOR
ANY REASON, call NETGEAR Technical Support at
1‑866‑534‑9377 or visit
https://kb.netgear.com/000061156/How‑can‑I‑
troubleshoot‑my‑cable‑modem.
1. Turn off and disconnect existing modems and routers.
If you are replacing a modem that is currently connected in your home,
unplug the modem and plug the new modem router into the same outlet.
2. Connect a coaxial cable.
Use a coaxial cable to connect the cable
port on the modem router to a cable wall
outlet. Make sure that the cable is tightly
connected. We recommend that you
connect your cable modem directly to a
cable wall outlet.
If you must share the connection, use a 3.5dB (1 to 2) splitter.
USB Reset Cable
Set up and activate using the
modem router web interface
3. Connect the power adapter.
Connect the power adapter to the modem router and plug the power
adapter into a power outlet.
4. Wait for the Online LED
to light solid green.
This process might take up to 10 minutes. When the cable modem comes
online, the Online LED stops blinking and lights solid green for at least a
minute.
After 10 minutes, if the Online LED doesn’t light solid, make sure that the
cable outlet is working, or call your Internet service provider (ISP) to make
sure you have service.
Note: When the Online LED lights solid, your modem router is not
connected to the Internet yet. You must connect a router or computer to your
cable modem, and then activate your cable modem with your cable Internet
provider.
5. Connect your computer or mobile device to the modem router with WiFi or
Ethernet.
• WiFi. Use the WiFi network name (SSID) and password on the product
label to connect.
• Ethernet. The computer must have an Ethernet port. Connect an Ethernet
cable to an Ethernet port on the modem router and the Ethernet port on
your computer.
6. Collect the following information:
• Your cable Internet provider (ISP) account information
• Cable modem model number, which is C6250
• Cable modem serial number
• Cable modem MAC address
USB Reset Cable
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134, USA
NETGEAR INTERNATIONAL LTD
Floor 1, Building 3
University Technology Centre
Curraheen Road, Cork,
T12EF21, Ireland
June 2020
7. Activate your Internet service:
The following table lists the activation contact information for cable Internet
providers that support your modem router.
Cable Internet
Provider
Activation Contact
Cox 1‑888‑556‑1193
Mediacom 1‑855‑Mediacom (1‑855‑633‑4226)
Optimum 1‑877‑810‑6750
Sparklight 1‑877‑692‑2253
Spectrum 1‑833‑267‑6094
Xnity
Visit http://xnity.com/activate and follow the prompts to activate
Your ISP’s contact information might change. You can also nd the contact
information in your monthly Internet service billing statement.
Regulatory and Legal
For regulatory compliance information including the EU Declaration of Conformity, visit
https://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory/.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
For NETGEAR’s Privacy Policy, visit https://www.netgear.com/about/privacy‑policy.
By using this device, you are agreeing to NETGEAR’s Terms and Conditions at
https://www.netgear.com/about/terms‑and‑conditions. If you do not agree, return the device to your
place of purchase within your return period.
Note to CATV system installer: This reminder is provided to call the CATV systems
installer’s attention to Section 820‑93 of the National Electrical Code, which
provides guidelines for proper grounding and in particular, species that coaxial
cable shield shall be connected to the grounding system of the building as close
to the point of cable entry as practical.
Package contents
Cable modem router
Ethernet
cable
Power
adapter
A sticker on your modem
router displays the preset
WiFi network name,
password, and QR code.
WPS
WiFi On/O
Power
adapter
Coaxial
cable
