N600 WiFi USB Adapter Model WNDA3100v3 User Manual December 2014 202-11470-01 350 East Plumeria Drive San Jose, CA 95134 USA
N600 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.
Contents Chapter 1 Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network Package Contents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Install and Set Up NETGEAR genie. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Install Windows Standalone Driver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Join a WiFi Network Using NETGEAR genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1. Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network 1 The NETGEAR N600 WiFi USB Adapter connects your computer over WiFi to a network for secure and reliable Internet connections. This chapter describes how to set up and connect the adapter.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter Package Contents Your package includes the following items. Resource CD Adapter USB cable Plastic cradle Fasteners Install and Set Up NETGEAR genie You can set up NETGEAR genie and use it to join a WiFi network. If you do not want to use NETGEAR genie, you can install a Windows standalone driver and use the Windows WLAN Autoconfig service or the Wireless Zero Configuration service to join a WiFi network. For more information, see Install Windows Standalone Driver on page 7.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter 4. To accept the license agreement, select the I agree radio button and click the Next button. A message displays asking you to wait while software is installed. After a few minutes, NETGEAR genie prompts you to insert your adapter. 5. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer with or without the USB cable and plastic cradle. Note: The USB cable and plastic cradle can extend the range of your adapter and improve WiFi reception. 6.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter d. Connect the USB cable to a USB port on your computer. e. Join the fasteners together. 7. Return to the NETGEAR genie screen and click the Next button. The Home screen displays a list of WiFi networks in your area. The adapter’s NETGEAR genie icon displays in the Windows system tray and on the desktop. The icon in the system tray is red because you did not yet establish a connection with a WiFi network. 8.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter Join a WiFi Network Using NETGEAR genie To join a WiFi network using NETGEAR genie: 1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer. 2. Click the adapter’s NETGEAR genie icon on the desktop. that displays on the Windows systems tray or The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays. 3. Click the Join a Network button. 4. Select a WiFi network. 5. Click the Connect button. 6. If the network is secure, enter its password or network key.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter 4. Click a network name. The Details button displays. 5. Click the Details button. 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 11.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter Note: For information about using WPS to let the adapter join a hidden network, see Use WPS to Let the Adapter Join a Hidden Network on page 11. To use WPS to let the adapter join a WiFi network: 1. Press and hold the WPS button on the adapter for two seconds. The adapter LED blinks. 2. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your WiFi router or gateway. The adapter joins the network, which can take a few minutes. The adapter LED lights amber for a 2.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter To install the standalone driver and let the adapter join a network: Use a Windows utility to connect the adapter to a WiFi network: • For Windows 8.1, 8.0, 7, or Vista, use the Windows WLAN Autoconfig service. • For Windows XP, use the Wireless Zero Configuration service. For more information about Windows WLAN Autoconfig or the Wireless Zero Configuration service, see your computer’s documentation. Join a Hidden Network A hidden network does not broadcast its SSID.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter 4. Expand the Manually Connect to a network (for hidden networks) section. 5. Select the Use WPS Push 'N' Connect radio button and click the Start button. 6. To learn more about how to connect to the network using WPS, click the Learn More button. 7. Press and hold the WPS button on the adapter for two seconds. The adapter LED blinks. 8. 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.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter NETGEAR genie 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 adapter connects automatically to the network that it joined previously.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter 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 Type menu, select the network’s security type: • None. The network is not secure and does not require a key or passphrase. • WEP (Open). If the encryption strength of the network is 64 bit, the network key must consist of 10 hexadecimal digits.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter connection. For more information about the status bar, see Check Your Connection Status on page 17. NETGEAR genie 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 adapter connects automatically to the network that it joined previously.
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N600 WiFi USB Adapter Check Your Connection Status When you install your adapter, the adapter’s NETGEAR genie icon displays in the Windows system tray and on the desktop. You can double-click this icon to open NETGEAR genie to make changes or connect to a different WiFi network. The color of the icon indicates the strength of your WiFi connection: • White. 3–5 bars (strong connection) • Yellow 1–2 bars (weak connection) • Red.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter • Network security. The lock symbol shows whether the network you are connected to uses WiFi security. An open lock indicates an open network without WiFi security, such as one that you might use in a coffee shop. • WiFi channel. The WiFi channel of the network to which the adapter is connected. • Physical rate. The physical transmission rate for WiFi communication. • Signal strength. The strength of the WiFi signal. Three to five bars indicate a good signal.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter The screen shows the following information: • Sent/Received Activity. The total number of packets sent or received during communication with the WiFi network. • Network. The following information about the adapter’s network displays: • - IPv4 Address. The IPv4 address that is assigned to the adapter. The IPv4 address can change if you disconnect from the network and rejoin it later. - IPv6 Address. The IPv6 address that is assigned to the adapter.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter The Home screen displays. 4. Click the Other button. The Other screen displays. 5. Click the Get Info button. NETGEAR genie starts collecting system information, IP information, client driver and profile information, and site survey information. 6. 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. 7. Click the Exit button.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter For more information about letting your adapter join a network, see Join a WiFi Network Using NETGEAR genie on page 8. 3. Click the adapter’s NETGEAR genie icon tray. on your desktop or in the Windows system The Home screen displays. 4. Click the Other button. 5. Click the Check button. The Live Check pop-up screen displays. NETGEAR genie checks for available software upgrades. If new software is found, you are prompted to download the software. 6. Click the OK button.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter The InstallShield wizard displays. 3. Leave the Remove radio button selected. 4. Follow the wizard prompts to remove the adapter and uninstall the software. 5. After the software is uninstalled, click the OK button to exit the wizard.
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N600 WiFi USB Adapter Frequently Asked Questions Why don’t I see the adapter’s NETGEAR genie icon in the Windows system tray? Check to make sure that your adapter is inserted in the USB port. If you remove it, the adapter’s NETGEAR genie icon does not display. When you insert the adapter into the USB port, the icon returns to your desktop and the Windows system tray.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter 2. Click the Other button. The IP address and other details display. For more information, see View More Information About the Adapter and Network on page 18. Adapter LED Is Not Lit The adapter LED lights blue when it connects to a WiFi network. The LED blinks if you are using WPS to connect to a WiFi network. If the LED does not light, try the following suggestions: • Remove and reinsert the adapter.
N600 WiFi USB Adapter Adapter and Network on page 18 to find the MAC address for your adapter and provide it to your network administrator. Cannot Access the Internet After Joining a WiFi Network Try the following tips: • Make sure that you are connected to the correct WiFi network. • Use the adapter’s NETGEAR genie software to check the status of your WiFi connection: a. Click the adapter’s NETGEAR genie icon system tray.
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N600 WiFi USB Adapter Factory Default Settings The following table lists the default settings of your adapter. Table 1. Factory default settings Default Settings WiFi communication Enabled Country/region United States (varies by region) Operating mode 802.11n, 802.11g, or 802.11b Data rate Technical Specifications The following table provides technical specifications for the adapter. Table 2.
