Quick Start
High Speed Cable Modem
Model CM500
Package contents
Cable modem
Ethernet cable
Power adapter
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.
Cable modem LEDs
LED Description
Power
• Solid green. The cable modem is receiving power and is functioning
normally.
• Off. The cable modem is not receiving power.
• Solid red. The cable modem is too warm and might overheat.
Downstream
• Solid amber. One downstream channel is locked.
• Solid green. Two or more downstream channels are locked.
• Blinking green. The cable modem is scanning for a downstream channel.
• Off. No downstream channel is locked.
Upstream
• Solid amber. One upstream channel is locked.
• Solid green. Two or more upstream channels are locked.
• Blinking green. The cable modem is scanning for a upstream channel.
• Off. No upstream channel is locked.
Online
• Solid green. The cable modem is online.
• Blinking green. The cable modem is synchronizing with the cable provider’s
cable modem termination system (CMTS).
• Off. The cable modem is ofine.
Ethernet
• Solid. A powered-on device is connected to this port.
• Blinking. The port is sending or receiving trafc.
• Off. No device is connected to this port.
© 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 cable modem, contact NETGEAR at
1-866-874-8924.
Support and Community
The following table lists support contact information for cable Internet providers
that support your cable modem.
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)
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 cable modem into the same outlet.
2. Connect a coaxial cable.
Use a coaxial cable to connect the cable port on the cable modem 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.
3. Connect the power adapter.
Connect the power adapter to the cable modem and plug the power adapter
into an electrical outlet.
The cable modem might reset multiple times when it is powered on.
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.
Power
adapter
Coaxial
cable
Start here
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 cable modem 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. Use an Ethernet cable to connect the LAN port on your cable modem to
either a router or a computer. (The computer must have an Ethernet port.)
• Router. Connect the Ethernet cable to the WAN or Internet port on the
router, power on the router, and then connect your computer to the
router using WiFi or Ethernet.
• Computer. Connect the cable to the Ethernet port on the computer.
6. Collect the following information:
• Your cable Internet provider (ISP) account information
• Cable modem model number, which is CM500
• Cable modem serial number
• Cable modem MAC address
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 cable modem.
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.
