NETGEAR A6210 User Manual
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
802.11ac USB 3.0 Dual Band
User Manual
August 2014
202-11373-01
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
Support
Thank you for selecting NETGEAR products.
After installing your device, locate the serial number on the label of your product and use it to register your product at
https://my.netgear.com. You must register your product before you can use NETGEAR telephone support. NETGEAR
recommends registering your product through the NETGEAR website. For product updates and web support, visit
http://support.netgear.com.
Phone (US & Canada only): 1-888-NETGEAR.
Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at http://support.netgear.com/general/contact/default.aspx.
Compliance
For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory.
See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.
Trademarks
NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, and Connect with Innovation are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of NETGEAR, Inc.
and/or its subsidiaries in the United States and/or other countries. Information is subject to change without notice.
© NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
2
Contents
Chapter 1 Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network
Chapter 2 Monitor and Maintain the Adapter
Set Up and Install the Adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
View Network Details Before Joining a WiFi Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Join a WiFi Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Join a Network Using WPS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Join a Network Using NETGEAR genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Join a Network Using a Standalone Driver and Windows WLAN Autoconfig15
Join a Hidden Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
View the Connection Status and Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
View More Information About the Adapter and Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Get Diagnostic Information for the Adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Upgrade the Adapter Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Uninstall the Adapter Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Chapter 3 Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Adapter LED Is Not Lit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Icon Is Not in the Windows System Tray. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Adapter Does Not Connect to a WiFi Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
When I Connect the Adapter to a Network, I Cannot Access the Internet. . 35
When I Connect to the Network, I Cannot Access Shared
Resources Such as Printers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Adapter Lost Its IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Do USB Ports Go into Sleep Mode if No Traffic Is Going to or
from the Port?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
How Can I Improve the Speed of My WiFi Connection?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
How Can I View the IP Address of the Adapter? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Appendix A Factory Default Settings and Technical Specifications
Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
3
1. Get Started and Connect to a WiFi
Network
The NETGEAR A6210 WiFi USB Adapter connects your notebook or desktop computer over
WiFi to an 11ac 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 connect the A6210 WiFi USB Adapter, in this manual
referred to as the adapter, to a WiFi network. The chapter includes the following sections:
• Set Up and Install the Adapter
• View Network Details Before Joining a W
• Join a WiFi Network
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 at downloadcenter.netgear.com. Some
products can regularly check the site and download new firmware, or
you can check for and download new firmware manually. If the
features or behavior of your product does not match what is
described in this guide, you might need to update your firmware.
iFi Network
1
4
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
Set Up and Install the Adapter
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.
To set up your adapter:
1. Insert the resource CD in your computer CD drive.
Note: If your computer does not include a CD drive, or if you do not have your
resource CD, visit support.netgear.com. Click the Support for Home
button, type A6210 in the search field, and locate and download the
standalone driver.
If the NETGEAR Resource CD screen does not display, browse the files on the CD and
double-click Autorun.exe.
The NETGEAR Resource CD screen displays. The screen looks similar to the following
figure.
2. Click the Setup button.
Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network
5
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
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 for
Updates button. After the software checks for software updates, the Update Check
Complete screen displays. Click the Continue button. The Welcome screen displays.
• Not Connected to the Internet. If you are not connected to the Internet, click the
Install from CD button.
Note: If you are not connected to the Internet, the software cannot check for
software updates.
Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network
6
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
The Welcome screen displays.
4. To 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 WiFi Network
7
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
5. Install the adapter with or without the desktop dock:
• To 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 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 might affect the performance and correct
functioning of the adapter.
Note: When the adapter is placed in the desktop dock, you can fold out
the adapter to its maximum angle for increased WiFi performance.
o install the adapter without the desktop dock, insert the adapter into a USB port on
• T
your computer.
6. Click the Next button.
The NETGEAR genie screen displays a list of WiFi networks in your area.
Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network
8
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
The NETGEAR genie icon also displays in the Windows system tray and on the desktop.
The genie icon in the system tray is red
connection with a WiFi network.
7. To change the language, from the Select Language menu, select another language.
All NETGEAR genie screens are displayed in the language that you select.
because you did not yet establish a
View Network Details Before Joining a WiFi Network
Before you let the adapter join a WiFi network, you can view details to help you determine
which network to join.
To view network details:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2. Click the NETGEAR genie icon that displays on the Windows system tray or on the desktop.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
3. Click the Join a Network button.
Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network
9
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
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 WiFi Network
10
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
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 name (SSID) field is blank even though the rest of the
information is displayed. For information about joining a hidden network, see Join a
Hidden Network on page 18
• Channel. The channel on which the WiFi network operates. NETGEAR recommends
that you choose a network that uses a different channel from the channel of
neighboring networks.
• WiFi Mode. The WiFi mode that the router or access point uses, such as AC, N, G, B,
or A.
• WPS support. Identifies whether the router or access point for this network supports
WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup).
• MAC address
information. Typically, the WiFi device is a WiFi router or access point.
.
The unique hardware address of the WiFi device broadcasting this
.
o close the Details pop-up screen, click the OK button.
6. T
Join a WiFi Network
The adapter can join a known WiFi network through several methods:
• WPS. Use the adapter’s WPS button to join a WiFi network (see Join a Network Using
WPS on page 12).
Use this method if your WiFi router supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS).
• NETGEAR genie
Network Using NETGEAR genie on page 13).
Use this method if your WiFi router does not support WPS.
. Use the adapter’s NETGEAR genie to join a WiFi network (see Join a
Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network
11
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
• 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 use WPS or NETGEAR genie. You can also
use this method if your computer does not include a CD drive.
You can also join hidden networks. For more information, see Join a Hidden Network on
page 18.
Join a Network Using WPS
Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) is a standard for easily adding computers and other devices to
a home network while maintaining security. Before you use the WPS method to let the
adapter join a network, make sure of the following:
• Your WiFi router or access point supports WPS.
• The security on your WiFi router or access point is not set to WEP. WEP and WPS are
incompatible.
set to WEP.
You cannot use WPS if the security on your WiFi router or access point is
Note: For information about using WPS to let the adapter a hidden network,
see Use WPS to Let the Adapter Join a Hidden Network on page 18.
To use WPS to let the adapter join a WiFi network:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2. Press and hold the WPS button on the adapter for more than two seconds.
The WPS LED blinks. (The WPS button also functions as the WPS LED.)
WPS button and LED
3. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your WiFi router or access point.
The adapter joins the network, which can take a few minutes. Your settings are saved in
a profile.
Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network
12
Loading...