NETGEAR A6210 manual

350 East Plumeria Drive San Jose, C A 95134 USA August 2014 202-11373-01 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er 802.11ac USB 3.0 Dual Band User Manual[...]

2 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er Suppor t Thank you f or selecting NET GEAR pr oducts. After inst alling your device, loc ate the serial number on the label of your pr oduc t and use it to r egist er your pr oduct at https ://my .net gear .com . Y ou must r egis ter your pr oduct bef or e you can use NET GEAR telephone support . NET GEAR r ecommends r egi[...]

3 Cont ents Chapter 1 Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network Set Up and Inst all the Adapt er . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 View Network De tails Bef ore Joining a WiFi Ne twork . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Join a WiFi Netw ork. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .[...]

4 1 1. Get S t ar t ed and C onnec t t o a WiFi Network The NETGEAR A6210 WiFi USB Adapter connects your notebook or desktop computer over WiFi to an 1 1ac or other network for applications such as lag-free video streaming throughout your home, online gaming, and secure and reliable Internet connections. This chapter describes how to set up and con[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 5 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er Set Up and Install the Adapt er Before you begin using your adapter, set up the adapter using the resource CD that came in the package. Note: The adapter provides the best performance with a USB 3.0 port but is compatible with a USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 port.  T o set up your adapter[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 6 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er The Software Update Check screen displays. The screen looks similar to the following figure. 3. Install the setup software. Choose an option based on whether you are connected to the Internet: • Connected to the Internet . If you are connected to the Internet, click the Check fo[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 7 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er The Welcome screen displays. 4. T o accept the license agreement, select the I agree radio button and then click the Next button. A message displays asking you to wait while the software is installed. After a few minutes, NETGEAR genie ® prompts you to insert your adapter.[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 8 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er 5. Install the adapter with or without the desktop dock: • T o install the adapter with the desktop dock, place the adapter into the dock and connect the USB cable to a USB port on your computer . Note: NETGEAR does not recommend that you use another cable to connect the adapter[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 9 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er The NETGEAR genie icon also displays in the Windows system tray and on the desktop. The genie icon in the system tray is red because you did not yet establish a connection with a WiFi network. 7. T o change the language, from the Select Language menu, select another language. All [...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 10 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er The Join a Network screen displays. 4. Click a network name. The Details button displays. 5. Click the Details button.[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 11 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er The Details pop-up screen displays. The Details pop-up screen shows the following information: • Network name (SSID) . The name assigned to a WiFi network. As a security measure, some WiFi access points do not broadcast their SSIDs. In such cases, the network is hidden. The nam[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 12 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er • Standalone driver and Windows WLAN Autoconfig . Install the adapter’s standalone driver and use Windows WLAN Autoconfig to join a WiFi network (see Join a Network Using a Standalone Driver and Windows WLAN Autoconfig on page 15). This is an alternate method that does not us[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 13 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er After the adapter joins the network, it saves the network connection information to a Windows profile. Both NETGEAR genie and the Windows Wireless Network Connection utility can use this profile. If the network information does not change, the next time that you launch genie, the[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 14 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er The Connect button displays. 5. Click the Connect button. Note: If your network does not display in the network list, click the Refresh button. If the network still does not display, your network might be a hidden network that does not broadcast its SSID. For information about jo[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 15 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er 7. Click the Next button. NETGEAR genie validates the settings and connects the adapter to the network. This process might a few minutes. The Join a Network screen shows that the adapter is connected to the network and the genie status bar at the bottom of the screen shows inform[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 16 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er Note: The adapter provides the best performance with a USB 3.0 port but is compatible with a USB 2.0 or USB 1.1 port.  T o install the standalone driver and let the adapter join a network: 1. Insert the resource CD in your computer CD drive. Note: If your computer does not inc[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 17 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er 4. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer . Note: NETGEAR does not recommend that you use another cable to connect the adapter to the USB port on your computer. Use the desktop dock with the attached cable that is supplied in the package. Using another USB cable migh[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 18 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er After the adapter joins the network, it saves the network connection information to a Windows profile. Both NETGEAR genie and the Windows Wireless Network Connection utility can use this profile. If the network information does not change, the next time that you launch genie, the[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 19 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er 4. Expand the Manually Connect to a network (for hidden networks) section. 5. Select the Use WPS Push 'N' Connect radio button. 6. Click the Start button. A WPS instructions screen displays. 7. T o learn more about how to connect to the network using WPS, click the Lear[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 20 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er The Join a Network screen shows that the adapter is connected to the network and the genie status bar at the bottom of the screen shows information about the network connection. For more information about the status bar , see View the Connection Status and Details on page 25. Aft[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 21 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er The Join a Network screen displays. 4. Expand the Manually Connect to a network (for hidden networks) section.[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 22 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er 5. Select the Enter wireless information myself radio button. 6. In the Network Name (SSID) field, type the network name (SSID). 7. From the Security T ype menu, select the network’s security type: • None . The network is not secure and does not require a key or passphrase. ?[...]

Get Started and Connect to a WiF i Network 23 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er The Join a Network screen shows that the adapter is connected to the network and the genie status bar at the bottom of the screen shows information about the network connection. For more information about the status bar , see View the Connection Status and Details on page 25. Aft[...]

24 2 2. Monit or and Maint ain the Adapt er This chapter includes the following sections: • View the Connection Status and Details • View More Information About the Adapter and Network • Get Diagnostic Information for the Adapter • Upgrade the Adapter Software • Uninstall the Adapter Software[...]

Monitor and Maint ain the Adapter 25 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er View the Connec tion St atus and Details Y ou can use the adapter’s NETGEAR genie to view the strength, status, and details of the connection between the adapter and the WiFi router and the status of the Internet connection.  T o view connection status and details: 1. Insert the adap[...]

Monitor and Maint ain the Adapt er 26 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er If you encounter connection problems, see the following troubleshooting information: • If the adapter cannot connect to the WiFi router , see Adapter Does Not Connect to a WiFi Network on page 34. • If the WiFi router cannot connect to the Internet, see When I Connect the Adapter to [...]

Monitor and Maint ain the Adapter 27 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er For more information about letting y our adapter join a network, see Join a WiFi Network on page 11 . 3. If NETGEAR genie is not yet open, click the icon in the system tray or on your desktop. The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays. 4. Click the Other button. The Other screen displays. Th[...]

Monitor and Maint ain the Adapt er 28 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er region when it checks to see which networks are available in your area. Governments regulate the channels used for WiFi transmission. Operating the adapter in a different region might violate local laws. Get Diagnostic Inf ormation f or the Adapt er Y ou can use the adapter’s NETGEAR g[...]

Monitor and Maint ain the Adapter 29 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er 5. Click the Get Info button. The System Status pop-up screen displays. NETGEAR genie starts collecting system information, IP information, client driver and profile information, and site survey information. 6. T o save the system information to your computer , click the Save to File butt[...]

Monitor and Maint ain the Adapt er 30 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er For more information about letting y our adapter join a network, see Join a W iFi Network on page 11 . 3. If NETGEAR genie is not yet open, click the icon in the system tray or on your desktop. The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays. 4. Click the Other button. The Other screen displays. [...]

Monitor and Maint ain the Adapter 31 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er NETGEAR genie checks for available software upgrades. If new software is found, the following screen displays. 6. Click the OK button. The adapter software is updated. Uninstall the Adapt er Sof tw ar e Y ou can remove the adapter software.  T o uninstall the adapter’s software: Sele[...]

32 3 3. T r oubleshooting and Fr equently A sk ed Questions This chapter covers the following topics: • T roubleshooting • Frequently Asked Questions[...]

T r oubleshooting and Fr equently Asked Questions 33 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er T r oubleshooting This section provides the following troubleshooting sections: • Adapter LED Is Not Lit • Icon Is Not in the Windows System T ray • Adapter Does Not Connect to a WiFi Network • When I Connect the Adapter to a Network, I Cannot Access the Internet ?[...]

T r oubleshooting and Fr equently Asked Questions 34 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er Adapt er Does Not Connect to a WiFi Netw ork If you cannot connect the adapter to a selected WiFi network as described in Join a WiFi Network on page 11 , after you click the icon in the system tray or on your desktop t o open NETGEAR genie, the Home screen displays the fo[...]

T r oubleshooting and Fr equently Asked Questions 35 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er When I Connec t the Adapt er t o a Netw ork, I Cannot Acces s the Int ernet If you can connect the adapter to a WiFi network but the network is not connected to the Internet, after you click the icon in the system tray or on your desktop t o open NETGEAR genie, the Home sc[...]

T r oubleshooting and Fr equently Asked Questions 36 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er Fr equently A sk ed Questions This section addresses the following frequently asked questions (F AQs): • Do USB Ports Go into Sleep Mode if No T raffic Is Going to or from the Port? • How Can I Improve the Speed of My WiFi Connection? • How Can I View the IP Address [...]

37 A A. F ac t ory Def ault Settings and T echnical Specifications This appendix covers the following topics: • Factory Default Settings • T echnical Specifications[...]

Factory Def ault Settings and T echnical Specifications 38 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er F ac t ory Def ault Settings The following table lists the default settings of your adapter. T able 1. Factory default settings Default Settings WiFi communication Enabled Country/region United States (varies by region) Operating mode 802.1 1ac, 802.1 1n, 802.1 1a, 8[...]

Factory Def ault Settings and T echnical Specifications 39 A6210 WiFi USB Adapt er T echnical Specifications The following table provides technical specifications for the adapter. T able 2. T echnical specifications Feature Description Antenna T wo dual-band dipole antennas Standards • 802.1 1ac • 802.1 1n • 802.1 1g • 802.1 1b • 802.1 1a[...]