WiFi USB Adapter Model A7000 User Manual July 2017 202-11755-01 350 East Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Support Thank you for purchasing this NETGEAR product. You can visit www.netgear.com/support to register your product, get help, access the latest downloads and user manuals, and join our community. We recommend that you use only official NETGEAR support resources. Conformity For the current EU Declaration of Conformity, visit http://kb.netgear.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/11621. Compliance For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory.
Contents Chapter 1 Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 WPS LED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Set Up Your Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Install the Adapter Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Adapter Lost Its IP Address . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 How Can I Improve the Speed of My WiFi Connection? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Appendix A Factory Default Settings and Technical Specifications Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network 1 This chapter describes how to set up and connect the A7000 WiFi USB Adapter to a WiFi Network. The chapter includes the following sections: • Package Contents • WPS LED • Set Up Your Adapter • Install the Adapter Software • Insert the Adapter • View Network Details Before Joining a WiFi Network • Join a WiFi Network • Join a Hidden Network Note: For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the support website at support.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Package Contents Your package contains the following items: Desktop dock Resource CD WiFi USB adapter WPS LED The WPS button on the adapter also functions as an LED. Figure 1. WPS LED Table 1. WPS LED color descriptions LED Color Description Blinking blue The WPS button was pressed and the adapter is trying to find a WiFi network to connect to or is attempting to join the WiFi network. Solid blue The adapter joined the WiFi network.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Set Up Your 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. Install the NETGEAR adapter software or a standalone driver for your computer. NETGEAR offers adapter software for Windows-based and Mac computers and a standalone driver for Windows-based computers.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter To install the adapter software for Windows-based computers: 1. Insert the resource CD in your computer CD drive. Note: If your computer does not include a CD drive, visit netgear.com/support to download the adapter software. The NETGEAR Resource CD window opens. Note: If the NETGEAR Resource CD window does not open, browse the files on the CD and double-click the autostart.exe file. If the file extension is hidden, the file displays as autostart. 2. Click the Setup button.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Note: If the NETGEAR Resource CD window does not open, browse the files on the CD and double-click the autostart.exe file. 2. Click the Install Windows Standalone Driver button. The driver installs on your computer. 3. When prompted, insert your adapter into your computer and click the OK button. For more information, see Insert the Adapter on page 9.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Insert the Adapter With a Desktop Dock We recommend that you do not 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. To use the adapter with desktop dock: 1. Place the adapter into the dock. 2. Connect the USB cable to the USB port on your computer. 3.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter 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 icon to launch NETGEAR A7000 genie. The adapter software opens. 3. Click the Join a Network button. The Join a Network page displays. 4. Click a network name. The Details button displays. 5. Click the Details button.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter the network information does not change, the next time that you launch the adapter software, the adapter connects automatically to the network that it joined previously. You can also join hidden networks. For more information, see Join a Hidden Network on page 13. Join a Network Using the Windows Adapter Software To join a WiFi network using the adapter software on a Windows-based computer: 1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer. 2.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter 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.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Use the WPS Feature in the Windows Adapter Software to Join a Hidden Network You can use the PWPS feature in the Windows adapter software to join a hidden network. Before you use the WPS method to let the adapter join a hidden 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.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter To manually set up the connection to a hidden WiFi network: 1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer. 2. Click the icon to launch NETGEAR A7000 genie. The adapter software opens. 3. Click the Join a Network button. The Join a Network page displays. 4. Click the arrow next to Manually Connect to a network (for hidden networks). 5. Select the Enter wireless information myself radio button. The page expands. 6.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Use the Mac Adapter Software to Join a Hidden Network Using WPS Before you use the WPS method to let the adapter join a hidden 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. You cannot use WPS if the security on your WiFi router or access point is set to WEP. To use WPS to let the adapter join a hidden WiFi network: 1.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter • Open_System WEP. Enter the network password in the Password field. • Shared_Key WEP. Enter the network password in the Password field. • WPA_PSK TKIP. Enter the network password in the Password field. • WPA_PSK AES. Enter the network password in the Password field. • WPA2_PSK TKIP. Enter the network password in the Password field. • WPA2_PSK AES. Enter the network password in the Password field. • WPA Enterprise TKIP. Select an option from the 802.
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A7000 WiFi USB Adapter View the Connection Status and Details You can use the Windows adapter software to view the strength, status, and details of the connection between the adapter and the WiFi router and the status of the Internet connection. You can also view the WiFi connection status from the adapter icon in your Windows system tray or Mac menu bar.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter The adapter software opens. 3. Click the Home button. The Home page displays a graphical presentation of the adapter’s connection to the WiFi router and the WiFi router’s connection to the Internet. 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 25.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter To view more information about the adapter and network: 1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer. 2. Click the icon to launch NETGEAR A7000 genie. The adapter software opens. 3. Click the Other button. The Other page displays and shows the following information: • Sent/Received Activity. The total number of packets sent or received during communication with the WiFi network. • Network.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter 2. Click the icon to launch NETGEAR A7000 genie. The adapter software opens. 3. Click the Other button. The Other page displays. 4. Click the Get Info button. The System Status window opens. The adapter software starts collecting system information, IP information, client driver and profile information, and site survey information. 5. To save the system information to your computer, click the Save to File button and follow the instructions of your browser to save the information.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter The adapter software is updated.
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A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Adapter WPS LED Does Not Light When the Button Is Pressed If the WPS LED does not light when you press the WPS button, try these troubleshooting tips: • Remove and reinsert the adapter. • Check the Windows device manager to see if the adapter is recognized and enabled. Reinstall the adapter software, if necessary. • Insert the adapter in a different USB port on your computer if one is available.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter When I Connect to the Network, I Cannot Access Shared Resources Such as Printers Try these troubleshooting tips: • Make sure that the router or access point is physically connected to the Ethernet network. • Make sure that the IP addresses and the Windows networking settings are configured correctly. Adapter Lost Its IP Address The adapter might lose its IP address after you upgrade the adapter software but do not reboot your computer.
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A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Factory Default Settings The following table lists the default settings of your adapter. Table 2. Factory default settings Default Settings WiFi communication Enabled Country/region United States (varies by region) Operating mode 802.11ac, 802.11n, 802.11a, 802.11g, or 802.11b Data rate • • • • • Up Up Up Up Up to to to to to 1300 Mbps with a WiFi router or access point that supports 802.11ac 600 Mbps with a WiFi router or access point that supports 802.
A7000 WiFi USB Adapter Technical Specifications The following table provides technical specifications for the adapter. Table 3. Technical specifications Feature Description Antenna Four dual-band dipole antennas Standards • • • • • Radio data rate Autosensing Frequency • • 2.4 GHz to 2.5 GHz CCK and OFDM modulation 5 GHz OFDM, 802.11n MCS0-15, and 802.
