A loopback test is an operation to check the functionality of the device to determine whether it is working efficiently or not. In this process, data streams are sent from the source back to the same point without making any forced modifications. It can help you detect the faults in a device. You can perform this test on your Netgear WiFi router if you are unable to access the Nighthawk login panel and are unsure if the Internet (WAN) or LAN port is working or not. The test demands you to employ an Ethernet cable to get completed. How to carry out the loopback test? We have discussed the same in the upcoming sections. But, before all that, we would bring some experiences into light in which performing a loopback test is suggested.
When to Perform Loopback Test on Netgear Router?
Following are the symptoms that indicate that you need to go for a loopback test on your Netgear Nighthawk WiFi router:
- Specific ports of your router don’t work or you are experiencing internet problems after connecting your devices
- The LAN or Internet LEDs on your WiFi router are off even when Ethernet cables are connected
- Devices connected to the LAN port of your router are unable to get an Internet Protocol address i.e. IP
- Your WiFi router is unable to receive an IP address from its host gateway i.e. modem
So, these are the scenarios in which you can think about opting for a loopback test. Now, walk through the next section to learn about the process of performing the same.
Steps to Perform Loopback Test on Netgear Router
1. Power Up the Router
Start the loopback test by powering up your wireless router. For this, you need to connect the power adapter to the router and then to the electrical outlet. Be very sure that the chosen electrical outlet is not damaged. Otherwise, you might end up adding one more issue to the list of issues you’re already facing while using the Nighthawk router. After connecting the power adapter, you need to switch on the router and wait until the color solid green or white shows up on the Power LED.
2. Create Connections
The next thing you need to do in order to proceed with a loopback test is an Ethernet connection creation. Know that you do not need to involve any other device while performing the test as you do in the case of the routerlogin net not working issue. Coming to the Ethernet connection creation, you need to join the LAN port (to be tested) to the Internet port of the same router. In some cases, the Internet port is labeled as a WAN port.
3. Check LEDs Status
Now, all you have to do is check the status of the LED lights of the router. If the LAN LED corresponding to the tested port and well as the Internet LED is lit, you can conclude that the ports of your router are working perfectly. The color of these LEDs is supposed to be amber instead of green or white. Some router models power cycle after you perform a loopback test on them. You can repeat these steps if you want to test every LAN port of your router and the LED lights are supposed to be lit in every case to determine perfect functioning.
So, these were the instructions revealing how to perform a loopback test on a Netgear WiFi router. We hope that you will successfully be able to complete the test and get some positive outcomes. However, a little troubleshooting is required if the ports of your router qualify for the loopback test but you are still experiencing problems with the internet connection.
What to Do If Problems Exist After Loopback Test?
If you are encountering network problems even after a successful loopback test, it is a sign that a damaged Ethernet cable has been used by you in the process. Therefore, we suggest you replace the cable with a new one. Be sure to create finger-tight connections before proceeding.
Just in case you are still experiencing problems with the LED lights of your router’s LAN or WAN port, you need to restart your WiFi router. Therefore, pull the power adapter of your WiFi router out of its respective wall outlet. Once done, wait for 20-30 minutes. Lastly, connect the router back to the outlet and see to it whether you’re still experiencing problems with the network.
You need to reset and reconfigure your Wireless router if nothing helps you out. The reset process can be carried out with the aid of the Reset button present on the router’s rear panel. Press it with the help of a pointed object. As soon as your router returns to the default factory settings, you can set it up again with the help of the Nighthawk mobile application or the 192.168.1.1 IP address. The instructions can be found in the user manual.
