Your Netgear router features a comprehensive menu interface, allowing you to tweak many aspects of the router's operation. Although Netgear devices are designed to run with minimal configuration, exploring the more advanced aspects of your router's menu system is useful if you want to maximize its performance. In particular, settings such as dual band operation and Media Access Control filtering allow you to improve transfer rates while keeping your network free of unwanted users.
Change the MTU
The NETGEAR® Broadband High-Speed DSL Modem Model DM200, in this man ual referred to as the modem, supports autodetection for universal DSL support.The modem is compatible with most major broadband DSL Inter net ser vice pro viders and suppor ts VDSL2 and ADSL2+. You can connect the modem directly to a computer, router, or WiFi router.
Packet-switching networks such as the Internet break data into chunks known as “packets” before transmission. A router's Maximum Transmission Unit is the size of the largest packet that it can send. Selecting an MTU can be challenging, as although larger packets contain more data, they can destabilize the network. The optimum MTU size changes depending on the applications you are running. For example, Netgear recommends you reduce the MTU from its default value of 1500 to 1436 to get the best performance from a VPN connection. Find the MTU settings in the Advanced section of the Netgear menu.
Change Wireless Channel
Changing channels helps to generate a clean wireless signal by avoiding frequencies that have a lot of local interference. You can change your router's wireless channel from the Wireless Settings menu. As a rule of thumb, try channels 1, 6 or 11, as these channels do not overlap each other on the frequency spectrum. Alternatively, some Netgear devices support dual band transmission. This causes the device to transmit in a completely different frequency band, and is an effective way of ensuring a clean signal.
Set Up MAC Filtering
Media Access Control filtering is a method of restricting network access. With MAC filtering enabled, all network traffic is blocked except traffic from certain pre-approved MAC addresses. Turn this feature on from the Security tab of the Netgear menu. Although primarily a security feature, MAC filtering helps to improve network efficiency by ensuring that no unwanted devices can access the network. This in turn can produce speed benefits, as all available bandwidth is allocated to legitimate devices.
Update Firmware
A router's firmware is the built-in software that governs the device's operation. Netgear periodically releases firmware updates, some of which are intended to make its devices run faster or more efficiently. In addition, firmware updates are often used to patch security vulnerabilities that have been discovered since the router's release, making it important that you stay up to date with them. Check for firmware updates from within the Netgear menu by going to the “Administration” panel and clicking on “Firmware Update.”
Video of the Day
Brought to you by Techwalla
- Hemera Technologies/AbleStock.com/Getty Images
More Articles
Open Box: Images shown are from the NEW version of this item and are for reference only. The actual Open Box product may differ in packaging and included accessories, but has been tested to ensure basic functionality.
Skip Image Gallery
Ships from United States.
Sold by xtremetech and Shipped by Newegg
Purchases from these Sellers are generally covered under our Newegg Marketplace Guarantee.
- Cable Internet speeds up to 680 Mbps - 16 downstream
- & 4 upstream channels
- Ideal for XFINITY Blast/Extreme and Spectrum Internet plans
- CableLabs DOCSIS 3.0 Certifed to work with cable Internet providers
- XFINITY from Comcast, Spectrum, Cox, Cablevision and more
- Ideal for streaming HD videos, faster downloads, and high-speed online gaming
LOADING...
- Overview
- Specifications
- Warranty & Returns
- Reviews
Learn more about the Netgear Inc. CM500-100NAS
- Warranty
- Limited Warranty period (parts): 1 year
- Limited Warranty period (labor): 1 year
- Manufacturer Contact Info
- Manufacturer Product Page|
- Website: http://www.netgear.com/|
- Support Phone: 1-888-638-4327
- Support Website|
- Return Policies
- This item is covered by xtremetech Return Policy.
Ownership: more than 1 year
Pros: Extremly Reliable
Easy Setup with my ISP
Easy Setup with my ISP
Cons: Gets warm
Other Thoughts: I bought this back in 2015 and have had this modem in 3 different apartment buildings. I used it with both Comcast and Time Warner/Spectrum. The thing is a champ and I have never had an issue with it that it couldn't resolve with a quick reboot every 6 months or so.
The device does get pretty warm and I started keeping it on an open shelf instead of in a cabinet with my router. It was getting overly warm in the cabinet but it has been fine since being left out in the open air.
The device does get pretty warm and I started keeping it on an open shelf instead of in a cabinet with my router. It was getting overly warm in the cabinet but it has been fine since being left out in the open air.
Pros: Worked great for the first 14 months. Ran hot, but in a cool dry basement I figured it would not be a problem.
Cons: After 14 months has been very flaky and limits my speeds from what was 200 Mbps to anywhere from 20-34 Mbps. Understand why this only comes with a 1 year warranty. Must be designed for a 1 year life.
Other Thoughts: I would not recommend as it did not last at all. Just beyond the warranty
Hey there,
We are so sorry that your CM500 has stopped working after 14 months. If you contact support previously please email us at [email protected] with the case numbers. Otherwise, please open up a topic on our forums at community.netgear.com. You can also try a factory reset to see if that helps.
Regards,
NETGEAR Team
We are so sorry that your CM500 has stopped working after 14 months. If you contact support previously please email us at [email protected] with the case numbers. Otherwise, please open up a topic on our forums at community.netgear.com. You can also try a factory reset to see if that helps.
Regards,
NETGEAR Team
![Modem Modem](/uploads/1/2/5/7/125765866/568745010.jpg)
Ownership: 1 month to 1 year
It's a brick, but in a GOOD way5/5/2017 12:55:17 PM
Pros: Works as advertised.
Cons: As others noted, runs a bit hot. Build quality is a bit cheap-ish (another plastic tower that doesn't fit well in a small rack).
Other Thoughts: I've got Comcast/XFINITY and ran this modem through their 250Mbps tier for a year without issue (June 2016 through May 2017). Since then, I've dropped speeds, for price reasons, to the 200Mbps tier. It's been rock-solid the whole time. I only ever needed to reboot it to reset the connection for a replacement gateway router.
It would be nice to get a device that isn't concerned about being even remotely stylish and, instead, would focus on best possible functionality, particularly regarding cooling. While I haven't had any issues, electronics don't like heat and I'd rather deal with a little noise from a fan than to have something compromised so that it looks nice on a desk. Mine sits on a shelf in a small rack in my basement utility room where some fan noise or more 'industrial' styling isn't going to bother anyone.
It would be nice to get a device that isn't concerned about being even remotely stylish and, instead, would focus on best possible functionality, particularly regarding cooling. While I haven't had any issues, electronics don't like heat and I'd rather deal with a little noise from a fan than to have something compromised so that it looks nice on a desk. Mine sits on a shelf in a small rack in my basement utility room where some fan noise or more 'industrial' styling isn't going to bother anyone.
Pros: Easy Set up w Comcast.
Cons: As others state. It's a furnace
Other Thoughts: Actually got this modem almost new from a friend who went DSL. Had Comcast add to account. Working. Easy. Modem is light & plastic. Sides of modem hot to touch when being taxed w heavy use. WHAT I DID.
Layer modem on side with small piece of plastic to lift it up an inch. Then used box fan directed air to bottom vents. Now hot air pours out of top. Modem is cool as cucumber. NG, must have used cheap heatsink. It's ridiculous. I hope someone takes a dead one apart some day. Would like to see what heatsink NG used?
Layer modem on side with small piece of plastic to lift it up an inch. Then used box fan directed air to bottom vents. Now hot air pours out of top. Modem is cool as cucumber. NG, must have used cheap heatsink. It's ridiculous. I hope someone takes a dead one apart some day. Would like to see what heatsink NG used?
Ownership: 1 month to 1 year
Pros: It's a modem, when it worked it was fine
Cons: Broke after 8 months of use sitting out in the open. No sign of overheating or dust.
Customer service charges shipping fees to RMA unless you want to wait 2 weeks
Cheaper to rent a modem than to this product
Customer service charges shipping fees to RMA unless you want to wait 2 weeks
Cheaper to rent a modem than to this product
Other Thoughts: After dealing with their return process, I will never buy another Netgear product.
Hi Matthew,
We are so sorry for any frustration or inconvenience. We'd like to investigate your case and see if there is anything we can do to make things right. Please email us at [email protected] with the case numbers support gave you and a copy and paste of this review.
Regards,
NETGEAR Team
We are so sorry for any frustration or inconvenience. We'd like to investigate your case and see if there is anything we can do to make things right. Please email us at [email protected] with the case numbers support gave you and a copy and paste of this review.
Regards,
NETGEAR Team
Ownership: 1 week to 1 month
Pros: cm500 is fine, does what it should. no complaints.
Cons: 100% due to cable provider. installed, worked fine. week later dropped tv, phone. suddenly cm500 wouldn't work, cable support response take a hike, it's not ours. netgear couldn't get it working either, suggested return newegg. bought second one local. cable support couldn't get it working then he thought to change what is in their bin file. (services + internet apparently require different data there than internet alone). voila, it worked. asked him to reinstall the first one. It works too! problem in bowels of cable company, not netgear. suggest keep in mind esp when changing services from provider.
Other Thoughts: would buy another (and actually did). may keep that one as spare to avoid another late night run.
Ownership: 1 month to 1 year
Great modem... until it almost turned into Cave Johnson's lemon.7/30/2016 1:53:56 PM
Pros: I got the product because of its impressive stats at the time and I've always enjoyed NetGear products. It performed as advertised and I was quite happy with it!
Cons: Recently, after about 8 months of use, my internet started dropping out randomly and performing poorly. I had a lot of trouble diagnosing the temperamental issue, taking all the obvious troubleshooting steps. I was already in a battle with my ISP over who's fault it was, which is frustrating enough. Until one day, I was going to power-cycle the modem again in an attempt to regain internet connectivity, I touched it and it was HOT! Burning hot! Like, touching your GPU heatsink after several hours of intense gaming hot, and this was the outer plastic case! It was on top of a bookcase, not enclosed or shoved somewhere where there's no air circulation. After letting it cool down, and putting it on a cookie sheet with a fan blowing on it, my Internet service started working a bit better with less (but still existent) drop-outs. Enough to get through to their tech support and request an RMA (funny how you need an internet connection to fix your internet equipment)...
I'm kinda impressed it still worked after getting so hot. But, the fact that I feel this was a real fire hazard if it was left unchecked or under any kind of different circumstance, I can't in good conscious give this product anything more than 1 egg. Sorry NetGear, I loved ya, but if anything from a modem manufacturer is unforgivable, this is it.
I'm kinda impressed it still worked after getting so hot. But, the fact that I feel this was a real fire hazard if it was left unchecked or under any kind of different circumstance, I can't in good conscious give this product anything more than 1 egg. Sorry NetGear, I loved ya, but if anything from a modem manufacturer is unforgivable, this is it.
Other Thoughts: NetGear was helpful and quick in helping me RMA/replace my product, and I would've given their customer service an excellent review in the follow-up survey, and maybe even an extra egg just for that. Until the day after, when I got my tracking number, I notice my replacement modem was shipped to an incomplete address (apartment number was cut off 'blah drive, apartme....') AND they put 'asdfasdf' gibberish as my last name! So, it was a real pain in the you-know-what to retrieve my replacement product from FedEx. Really, Mr. Tech Support guy?? That's low.
My replacement is working perfectly, just like the old one did, and I also did manage to isolate another problem with my ISP, where they did send a technician out to fix, and no drop-outs since. Did my ISP fry my modem? I have no idea why or how that could be possible, but I'm wondering about ditching cable service out of SAFETY reasons and NetGear for making a product that somehow did get downright dangerous.
Problem is... is anyone else out there really going to be a better alternative?? I somehow doubt I'll find the 'this product won't catch fire' feature listed on other product details.
My replacement is working perfectly, just like the old one did, and I also did manage to isolate another problem with my ISP, where they did send a technician out to fix, and no drop-outs since. Did my ISP fry my modem? I have no idea why or how that could be possible, but I'm wondering about ditching cable service out of SAFETY reasons and NetGear for making a product that somehow did get downright dangerous.
Problem is... is anyone else out there really going to be a better alternative?? I somehow doubt I'll find the 'this product won't catch fire' feature listed on other product details.
Hi Brian,
Thanks for your detailed and honest review. We want to keep your business and can't apologize enough that you've had the trouble with the CM500 and support.
We want to investigate and also help your case - please email us at [email protected] with the case numbers support gave you and a copy and paste of this review.
Any time a unit runs hot, or anything minor, please let us know - we are always standing by and can be emailed directly at the address provided.
Regards,
NETGEAR Team
Thanks for your detailed and honest review. We want to keep your business and can't apologize enough that you've had the trouble with the CM500 and support.
We want to investigate and also help your case - please email us at [email protected] with the case numbers support gave you and a copy and paste of this review.
Any time a unit runs hot, or anything minor, please let us know - we are always standing by and can be emailed directly at the address provided.
Regards,
NETGEAR Team
Ownership: 1 month to 1 year
Pros: I set it up without needing support from my ISP (Mediacom)
I've only needed to reset it twice in the 10 months it's been running.
It's got 16 download channels so I'm covered if my ISP upgrades from the current 8 channels provided to me.
Led lights not overly bright as it's in our bedroom
I've only needed to reset it twice in the 10 months it's been running.
It's got 16 download channels so I'm covered if my ISP upgrades from the current 8 channels provided to me.
Led lights not overly bright as it's in our bedroom
Cons: None so far.
Through the Newegg EggXpert Review Program, Newegg invites its best reviewers, known as EggXperts, to post opinions about new and pre-release products to help their fellow customers make informed buying decisions.Click here for more details.
Loading...