Netgear orporated 13200228 User Manual
802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6100)
User Manual
Note: This document is for certification purposes. Images are for position
only and may differ from the actual product.
July 2013
350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6100)
Support
Thank you for choosing NETGEAR.
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
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.
NETGEAR recommends that you use only the official NETGEAR support resources.
http://support.netgear.com.
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. Other brand and product names are registered trademarks or trademarks of their respective
holders. © NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved.
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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
NETGEAR genie Desktop Icon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
NETGEAR genie Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Status Bar. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
Join a Wireless Network with NETGEAR genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Network Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Join a Network or Connect to a Different Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9
Join a Hidden Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Install a Standalone Driver without NETGEAR genie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Other Screen . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Sent/Receive Activity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Help . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Remove the genie Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Appendix A Technical Specifications and
Factory Default Settings
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Appendix B Notification of Compliance
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1. Set Up Your Wireless USB Adapter
This chapter describes how to set up the 802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6100) 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
For help installing your USB adapter, see the installation guide that came in the package. The
installation is also available at the NETGEAR Download Center at
Note: For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit
the support website at support.netgear.com.
downloadcenter.netgear.com.
1
Note: Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made
available from time to time on
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 do not match what is described
in this guide, you might need to update your firmware.
downloadcenter.netgear.com. Some
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802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6100)
USB Adapter Placement and Performance
You 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:
Connect the USB directly into a USB port on your computer.
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
displayed. When you insert the USB adapter again, the icon returns.
Set Up Your Wireless USB Adapter
5
802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6100)
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:
• Select 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.
The currently selected Home screen. You can click the Home button to
return here from a different screen.
• Join a Network button. V
• Other button. V
iew more information or check for software updates.
iew a list of wireless networks and join a network.
• Help. Display the help.
Status Bar
The status bar is at the bottom of the screen:
Network
Connection
status
Network
security
Wireless Signal
channel strengthname
Physical
rate
Figure 1. Status bar
The following information is displayed:
Set Up Your Wireless USB Adapter
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802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6100)
• Network name. The network name (SSID) of the wireless network to which the USB
adapter is connected.
• Connection status.
shown in the diagram in the middle of this screen):
- Connected to the Internet
- Connected to the Router
- No Connection
• Network security.
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
ireless channel. The wireless channel of the network to which the USB adapter is
connected.
• Physical rate.
• Signal strength.
signal. One or two bars indicate a weak signal.
The connection status is one of the following (this status is also
The lock symbol shows whether the network you are connected to
The physical transmission rate for wireless communication.
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:
• Network list. V
• Manually Connect to a network. Click this link to join a network without viewing it on the
network list, or to connect to a hidden network.
wireless network name (SSID).
• Refresh. Click this button to scan for available networks in the area.
iew the wireless networks in the area. Click a network to select it.
A hidden network does not broadcast its
Set Up Your Wireless USB Adapter
7
802.11ac USB WiFi Adapter (A6100)
Network Details
From the Join a Network screen, you can view more details about a specific network.
To view network details:
1. In the network list, click a network to select it.
2. Click the Details button to display a screen similar to the following one:
The following information is displayed:
• Network name (SSID).
The name assigned to a wireless network. As a security
measure, some wireless 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.
• Channel. The
channel on which the wireless network operates. NETGEAR recommends
that you choose a network that uses a different channel from that of neighboring
networks.
• W
ireless Mode. The wireless technology used for the router or access point, such as N,
A, G, B, or AC.
Set Up Your Wireless USB Adapter
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