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Netgear WNA3100 manual

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Table of contents for the manual

  • Page 1

    202-10539-01 December 2009 NETGEAR , Inc. 350 E. Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual[...]

  • Page 2

    ii v1.0, December 2009 © 2009 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved. Technical Support When you register your product at http://www.netgear.com/register , we can provide you with faster expert technical support and timely notices of product and software upgrades. NETGEAR, INC. Support Information Phone: 1-888-NETGEAR, for US & Canada only. For [...]

  • Page 3

    v1.0, December 2009 iii • Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistance FCC Caution: Any change or modification to the product not expressly approved by NETGEAR could void the user’s authority to operate the device. FCC RF Radiation Exposure and SAR Statements SAR Statement The NETGEAR Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 [...]

  • Page 4

    v1.0, December 2009 iv Product and Publication Details Model Number: WNA3100 v1 Publication Date: December 2009 Product Family: Wireless-N USB Adapter Product Name: Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 Home or Business Product: Home Language: English Publication Part Number: 202-10539-01 Publication Version Number: 1.0[...]

  • Page 5

    v v1.0, December 2009 Contents About This Manual Conventions, Formats, and Scope .................................................................................. vii Revision History ............................................................................................................... viii Chapter 1 Installation with Custom Setup What Yo[...]

  • Page 6

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual vi v1.0, December 2009 Setting Up WEP Encryption Security ..................................................................... 2-11 Monitoring Statistics ..................................................................................................... 2-13 About Your Smart Wizard .................[...]

  • Page 7

    vii v1.0, December 2009 About This Manual The NETGEAR ® Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual describes how to install, configure, and troubleshoot the Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100. Conventions, Formats, and Scope The conventions, formats, and scope of this manual are described in the following paragraphs: • Typographical conventi[...]

  • Page 8

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual viii v1.0, December 2009 Revision History Part Number Version Number Date Description 202-10539-01 1.0 November 2009 Original publication[...]

  • Page 9

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-1 v1.0, December 2009 Chapter 1 Installation with Custom Setup This chapter explains custom installation for your Wireless-N USB Adapter. With custom setup you can specify where the files are installed. You can also choose whether or not you want to install the Smart Wizard. What You Need Before You [...]

  • Page 10

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-2 v1.0, December 2009 Observe Wireless Location and Range Guidelines For best performance, place the wireless-N USB adapter at least 4 feet (over 1 meter) away from the wireless router or access point. Computers can connect over wireless networks indoors at a range that varies significantly based on [...]

  • Page 11

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-3 v1.0, December 2009 5. When prompted, browse to select the destination folder for your wireless adapter software, and then click Next . 6. Select one of the following methods to configure and manage your wireless network: • Smart Wizard . Manage your wireless networks with the NETGEAR WNA3100 v1 [...]

  • Page 12

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-4 v1.0, December 2009 Then, Install Your WNA3100 v1 Adapter You are prompted to insert your adapter: 1. Locate a USB port on your PC. 2. Insert the adapter into the USB port, or connect it with the USB cable. Figure 1-3 Figure 1-4 Note: For best results, put the wireless adapter at least 4 feet (1 me[...]

  • Page 13

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-5 v1.0, December 2009 3. Click Next . The WNA3100 v1 software detects the adapter. Follow the onscreen prompts to install the driver. 4. Follow the prompts to complete the installation. How you connect to a network depends on what you selected during custom installation. • For automatic configurati[...]

  • Page 14

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-6 v1.0, December 2009 • If your router supports Push 'N' Connect (also called WPS) click Next . The following screen displays: Press and hold the push button on the side of the wireless-N USB adapter for 2 seconds. The LED flashes. Click Next . Follow the prompts to push the WPS button on[...]

  • Page 15

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-7 v1.0, December 2009 3. Click Finish , and the Smart Wizard Settings screen displays. You are now connected to a wireless network! The WNA3100 v1 icon appears in the system tray and on the desktop so you can open the Smart Wizard to make changes or connect to a different wireless network. Monitoring[...]

  • Page 16

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-8 v1.0, December 2009 WNA3100 v1 Icon The WNA3100 v1 icon is on the desktop and in the Windows system tray, on one end of the taskbar in the Microsoft Windows desktop. The WNA3100 v1 icon changes colors depending on the condition of the adapter. The following table describes the colors and conditions[...]

  • Page 17

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-9 v1.0, December 2009 Smart Wizard Status Bar Click the icon to open the Smart Wizard Settings tab. The status bar is located at the bottom of the Settings tab. The following table describes how to interpret the Smart Wizard status bar. Figure 1-11 Understanding the Status Bar Wireless network Identi[...]

  • Page 18

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-10 v1.0, December 2009 Wireless-N USB Adapter LED The LED on the wireless-N USB adapter indicates the condition of the wireless link, as described in the following table. Removing the WNA3100 v1 Software To remove the wireless adapter software: 1. Use the Windows Start menu in either of these ways: ?[...]

  • Page 19

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-11 v1.0, December 2009 3. Select the Remove radio button and then click Next . 4. Follow the onscreen prompt to disconnect your adapter. A message displays confirming that the software has been removed. Upgrading the WNA3100 v1 Software Upgrades might be available at the NETGEAR website. To install a[...]

  • Page 20

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 1-12 v1.0, December 2009 3. Click OK . When the file has been downloaded a message like the following displays: 4. Click Yes . Follow the installer instructions, and if prompted, restart your computer. Figure 1-15[...]

  • Page 21

    2-1 v1.0, December 2009 Chapter 2 Network Connections and Wireless Security This chapter explains how to use the Smart Wizard to connect to wireless networks and how to set up wireless security on your adpater if you are joining a secured wireless network. Viewing Wireless Networks in Your Area You can use the Networks tab to view all available wir[...]

  • Page 22

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-2 v1.0, December 2009 Joining a Network During the installation, the Smart Wizard lists the available networks. After installation you can use the Join a Network button on the Network tab to view available networks and select the one that you want. To join a network: 1. Use the icon to open the Smart[...]

  • Page 23

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-3 v1.0, December 2009 A list of networks displays: 2. How you join the network depends on whether it uses wireless security, and whether it supports WPS. • Open network . This network does not use any wireless security. You might join an open network at a coffee shop or public area. Select the netw[...]

  • Page 24

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-4 v1.0, December 2009 Using Push 'N' Connect to Join a Network If there is a WPS network in your area, you can use Push 'N' Connect to join it and automatically configure the wireless security settings for your adapter. To join a network: 1. On the Networks tab, select the network[...]

  • Page 25

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-5 v1.0, December 2009 2. Enter the network settings. a. In the Profile field, type a name for the profile. b. In the Network Name (SSID) field, select a network, or enter the SSID. c. In the Network Type section, make sure that Access Point (Infrastructure) is selected. This setting lets you connect [...]

  • Page 26

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-6 v1.0, December 2009 Managing Profiles If you use your computer to connect to different wireless networks, you can create a profile for each wireless network. Then you can easily load the profile that has all the settings that you need to join the network you are using at the time. You manage your p[...]

  • Page 27

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-7 v1.0, December 2009 To create an Ad Hoc mode profile: 1. Click the icon to open the Smart Wizard. The Settings tab displays: 2. Enter the network settings. a. Select Computer-to-Computer (Ad Hoc) for the network type. b. Select or enter the network name (SSID) for the Ad Hoc network. c. In the Prof[...]

  • Page 28

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-8 v1.0, December 2009 5. Verify wireless connectivity between your peer devices with the ping program: a. On the Windows taskbar, select Start > Run. b. Assuming the target PC is configured with 192.168.0.1 as its IP address, type: ping -t 192.168.0.1 and then click OK . c. A continuous ping is se[...]

  • Page 29

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-9 v1.0, December 2009 3. Click Initiate Ad Hoc . The Ad Hoc Setting screen displays: 4. In the Start Ad Hoc drop-down list, select the wireless standard (802.11g or 802.11b) for your Ad Hoc computer-to-computer network. 5. In the Channel drop-down list, Automatic should work. If you notice interferen[...]

  • Page 30

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-10 v1.0, December 2009 Wireless Network Name (SSID) and Security Settings If you do not use WPS, then you need to know the security settings to join a secured wireless network. You can save the settings in a profile. You can also print this page, fill in the wireless network settings, and put it in a[...]

  • Page 31

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-11 v1.0, December 2009 c. In the Security section, select WPA-PSK [TKIP] or WPA2-PSK [AES] , and enter the passphrase. For more about WPA2-PSK, click the link to “Wireless Networking Basics” in Appendix B . 3. Save your settings in a profile. a. Click the Save Profile button. All the configuratio[...]

  • Page 32

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-12 v1.0, December 2009 b. In the Network Name (SSID) field, select the network, or enter the SSID. c. In the Security section, select WEP . 3. Select the WEP encryption strength you will use. • 64-bit WEP data encryption • 128-bit WEP data encryption 4. Select Create with Passphrase , and enter t[...]

  • Page 33

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-13 v1.0, December 2009 5. Save your settings in a profile. a. Click the Save Profile button. All the configuration settings are saved in this profile. b. Click Apply . c. Click Close to exit the configuration utility. Monitoring Statistics The Statistics tab provides real time and historical trend in[...]

  • Page 34

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-14 v1.0, December 2009 About Your Smart Wizard The About tab displays the current version information. Figure 2-13 Table 2-3. About Tab Settings About Tab Field Description Device Regional Domain This is the region setting for the wireless adapter. The approved channels for the region are automatical[...]

  • Page 35

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-15 v1.0, December 2009 Advanced Settings The default advanced settings usually work fine. Except for the power saving setting, changing the settings incorrectly could cause your wireless connection to fail. Change them only if you have a specific reason to do so. To go to advanced settings, click the[...]

  • Page 36

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 2-16 v1.0, December 2009 • Wireless Mode . Depending on your wireless adapter, you can choose some of the available 802.11 wireless protocols. • Fragmentation Threshold . This is the maximum packet size used for fragmentation. Packets larger than the size programmed in this field are fragmented. Th[...]

  • Page 37

    3-1 v1.0, December 2009 Chapter 3 Wireless Network Performance This chapter explains how to use your wireless-N USB adapter to connect to your wireless local area network (WLAN) and how to maximize the performance of your wireless-N USB adapter within your network. Included are scenarios for setting up your network in a mixed-use environment and th[...]

  • Page 38

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 3-2 v1.0, December 2009 – Computers and fax machines (no closer than 1 foot) – Copying machines, elevators, and cell phones (no closer than 6 feet) – Microwave ovens (no closer than 10 feet) • Choose your settings. – Use a scanning utility to determine what other wireless networks are operati[...]

  • Page 39

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 3-3 v1.0, December 2009 In planning your network, think about which tasks will have the heaviest traffic flow between them. Examples are: • A media center in one room streaming high-definition video from a server in another room • A storage device that is used for backing up your computers Small Of[...]

  • Page 40

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 3-4 v1.0, December 2009 • Wireless A high-speed wireless router can provide a wireless data throughput of up to 300 Mbps using technology called multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), in which multiple antennas transmit multiple streams of data. The use of multiple antennas also provides excellent ra[...]

  • Page 41

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 3-5 v1.0, December 2009 • Streaming MP3 audio requires less than 1 Mbps per stream and does not strain most modern networks. Like video, however, streaming audio is also sensitive to latency and packet loss, so a congested network or a noisy link can cause problems. • Backing up computers over the [...]

  • Page 42

    4-1 v1.0, December 2009 Chapter 4 Troubleshooting This chapter provides information about troubleshooting your wireless-N USB adapter. Troubleshooting Tips Use the following information to resolve common situations you might encounter. Also, refer to the knowledge base on the NETGEAR website at http://www.netgear.com/support. 1. Push 'N' [...]

  • Page 43

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 4-2 v1.0, December 2009 • If you do not have a USB 2.0 port on your computer, the throughput is limited to the 14 Mbps of the USB 1.1 standard. 5. I connected wirelessly to a network, but I cannot access the Internet. First, check to make sure that the router’s Internet connection is working. If th[...]

  • Page 44

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 4-3 v1.0, December 2009 To fix this problem you can: • Click to open the Smart Wizard. At the bottom of the Settings tab, click Apply . The Smart Wizard tries again to connect to the router and get an IP address. • Use the Repair function in Windows to try to get IP address. • Reboot your compute[...]

  • Page 45

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 4-4 v1.0, December 2009 1. Select Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs. 2. Select Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q815485, and then click Remove . • You might receive an error message that states that some programs on the computer might not work correctly if the update is removed. • You can ig[...]

  • Page 46

    A-1 v1.0, December 2009 Appendix A Technical Specifications and Factory Default Settings Technical Specifications Antenna 1 integrated internal wireless antenna Standards 802.11n, 802.11g, or 802.11b Radio data rate 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 108, 140, 246, and 300 Mbps (Auto Rate Sensing) Frequency 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz CCK and OFDM[...]

  • Page 47

    Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual A-2 v1.0, December 2009 Factory Default Settings Feature Description Smart Wizard Enabled Wireless Communication Enabled Wireless Network Name (SSID) Any (will connect to first wireless network that responds) Security Disabled Network Type Infrastructure Transmission Speed Auto a a. Maximum wireless si[...]

  • Page 48

    B-1 v1.0, December 2009 Appendix B Related Documents This appendix provides links to reference documents you can use to gain a more complete understanding of the technologies used in your NETGEAR product. Document Link Using Microsoft Vista and Windows XP to Manage Wireless Network Connections http://documentation.netgear.com/reference/enu/winzeroc[...]