Netgear A6200 User Manual

802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6200)

User Manual

350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA

November 2012
202-11093-01
v1.0

802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6200)

Support

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NETGEAR recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR
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Phone (Other Countries): Check the li

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NETGEAR recommends that you use only the official NETGEAR support resources.

st of phone numbers at

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use NETGEAR telephone support.

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Revision History

Publication Part Number Version Publish Date Comments

202-11093-01 v1.0 November 2012 First publication

2

Contents

Chapter 1 Set Up Your Wireless USB Adapter

Chapter 2 Maintenance

USB Adapter Placement and Performance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Attach the USB Adapter to Your Computer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

Expand Your USB Adapter Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

NETGEAR genie Desktop Icon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7

NETGEAR genie Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Status Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8

Join a Wireless Network with NETGEAR genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9

Network Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Join a Network or Connect to a Different Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

Join a Hidden Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13

Install a Standalone Driver without NETGEAR genie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Other Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Sent/Receive Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17

Support. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Remove the genie Software. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

Appendix A Technical Specifications and

Factory Default Settings

Technical Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23

Factory Default Settings. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24

Appendix B Notification of Compliance

3

1. Set Up Your Wireless USB Adapter

This chapter describes how to set up the 802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6200) and includes the
following sections:

• USB Adapter Placement and Performance

• NETGEAR genie Desktop Icon

• NETGEAR genie Home

• Join a Wireless Network with NETGEAR genie

• Install a Standalone Driver without NETGEAR genie

1

For help installing your USB adapter, see the installation gu
installation is also available at the NETGEAR Download Center at downloadcenter.netgear.com.

Note: For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit

the support website at support.netgear.com.

Note: Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made

available from time to time on
products can regularly check the site a
or you can check for and download new firmware manually. If the
features or behavior of your product do not match what is described
in this guide, you might need to update your firmware.

downloadcenter.netgear.com. Some

ide that came in the package. The

nd download new firmware,

4

802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6200)

USB Adapter Placement and Performance

Y ou can position the USB adapter to best suit your own environment and to ensure maximum
performance.

Attach the USB Adapter to Your Computer

 To attach the USB adapter directly:

Use the USB adapter without the desktop dock, and connect it directly into a USB port on
your comp

uter.

The USB connector on the USB adapter can swivel so the USB adapter can be positioned

lat against your computer.

f

Set Up Y our Wireless USB Adapter

5

802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6200)

 To attach the USB adapter using the desktop dock:

1. Insert the USB adapter into the desktop dock.

2. Connect th

e USB cable of the desktop dock to your computer USB port.

Set Up Y our Wireless USB Adapter

6

802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6200)

Expand Your USB Adapter Range

For added range and performance, you can flip the top portion of the USB adapter so that it is
perpendicular to the USB adapter:

In this position, the internal antennas are extended out from the USB adapter for increased
W

iFi performance.

NETGEAR genie Desktop Icon

When you install your USB adapter, the NETGEAR genie icon appears in the Windows
system tray and on the desktop. You can click this icon to open NETGEAR genie to make
changes or connect to a different wireless network. The color of the icon indicates the
strength of your wireless connection:

White. 3–5 bars (strong connection)
Yellow. 1–2 bars (weak connection)
Red. 0 (zero) bars (no connection)

If you remove your USB adapter, NETGEAR genie is not available, and the icon is not

isplayed. When you insert the USB adapter again, the icon returns.

d

Set Up Y our Wireless USB Adapter

7

802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6200)

Network

Connection

Network

Wireless Signal

security

channel strength

name

status

Physical

rate

NETGEAR genie Home

When you launch NETGEAR genie, the Home screen displays.

This screen shows you at a glance if you are connected to a network,

and if you have Internet

access. The following options are available:

• Sele

ct Language. If more than one language is available, you can select a language

from this drop-down list. NETGEAR genie screens are displayed in the language that you
select.

• Home button. Th

e currently selected Home screen. You can click the Home button to

return here from a different screen.

• Jo

• Other button.

• Help.

in a Network button. View a list of wireless networks and join a network.

View more information or check for software updates.

Display the help.

Status Bar

The status bar is at the bottom of the screen:

Figure 1. Status bar

Set Up Y our Wireless USB Adapter

8

802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6200)

The following information is displayed:

• Netwo

adapter is connected.

• Connectio

shown in the diagram in the middle of this screen):

- Con

- Con

- No Con

• Netwo

uses wireless security. An open lock indicates an open network without wireless security,
such as one that you might use in a coffee shop.

• W

connected.

• Physica

• Signal s

signal. One or two bars indicate a weak signal.

rk name. The network name (SSID) of the wireless network to which the USB

n status. The connection status is one of the following (this status is also

nected to the Internet
nected to the Router

nection

rk security. The lock symbol shows whether the network you are connected to

ireless channel. The wireless channel of the network to which the USB adapter is

l rate. The physical transmission rate for wireless communication.
trength. The strength of the wireless signal. Three to five bars indicate a good

Join a Wireless Network with NETGEAR genie

In NETGEAR genie, click the Join a Network button to display the following screen:

The following information, link, and button are displayed:

• Netwo

• Ma

network list, or to connect to a hidden network. A hidden network does not broadcast its
wireless network name (SSID).

• Refresh. Click this butt

rk list. View the wireless networks in the area. Click a network to select it.

nually Connect to a network. Click this link to join a network without vie wing it on the

on to scan for available networks in the area.

Set Up Y our Wireless USB Adapter

9