NETGEAR A6100 User manual

350 East Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134
USA
September 2013
202-11274-01
A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
User Manual

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
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 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.
NETGEAR recommends that you use only the official NETGEAR support resources.
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 Getting Started
Set Up the Mini Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
View Network Details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Join a Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Join a Network Using WPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Join a Network Using NETGEAR genie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
Join a Hidden Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Join a Network Using a Standalone Driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
View Connection Details. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Chapter 2 Maintenance
Update the Mini Adapter’s Software . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Get Diagnostic Information for the Mini Adapter. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
View Additional Information About the Mini Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Uninstall the Mini Adapter’s Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Chapter 3 Troubleshooting and
Frequently Asked Questions
Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Appendix A Factory Default Settings and
Technical Specifications
Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Appendix B Notification of Compliance

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1. Getting Started
The A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter wirelessly connects your notebook or desktop computer to an
11ac network for applications such as lag-free video streaming throughout your home, online
gaming, and secure and reliable Internet connections.
In addition, Beamforming+ technology boosts the speed, reliability, and range of WiFi
connections. The mini adapter automatically uses NETGEAR Beamforming+ technology to
enhance WiFi performance with 802.11ac WiFi devices. Because it's automatic, you don't have
to turn on Beamforming+ or configure it. When you connect to the WiFi network, Beamforming+
focuses on your location for even better WiFi performance and speed. Beamforming+ locks onto
your laptop, tablet, or smartphone and follows as you move from place to place, so you keep
your optimal WiFi connection.
This chapter describes how to set up the A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter, which involves these
high-level steps:
•Set Up the Mini Adapter
•View Network Details
•Join a Network
•View Connection Details
Note: Software updates with new features and bug fixes are made
available from time to time on http://support.netgear.com. Some
products can regularly check the site and download new software,
or you can check for and download new software manually. If the
features or behavior of your product do not match what is described
in this guide, you might need to update your software.

Getting Started
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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
Set Up the Mini Adapter
Before you begin using your mini adapter, set up the mini adapter using the resource CD that
came in the package.
To set up your mini adapter:
1. Insert the resource CD in your computer CD drive.
Note: If your computer does not have a CD drive, or if you do not have
your resource CD, download the resource CD driver by visiting
http://support.netgear.com. Click the Support for Home Products
button and enter A6100 in the search field.
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:
2. Click the Setup button.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
The Software Update Check screen displays:
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.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
The Welcome screen displays:
4. Click the I agree radio button to accept the license agreement and 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 mini adapter.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
5. Insert the mini adapter into a USB port on your computer.
The NETGEAR genie screen displays:
The NETGEAR genie icon also displays in the Windows system try and on the desktop.
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)
Note: If you remove your mini adapter, NETGEAR genie is not available, and the
icon is not displayed. When you insert the mini adapter again, the icon returns.
6. (Optional) In NETGEAR genie, from the Select Language drop-down menu, select a
language.
NETGEAR genie screens are displayed in the language that you select.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
View Network Details
Before you join a network, you can view details to help you determine which network to join:
•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.
•Wireless Mode. The wireless technology used for the router or access point, such as N,
A, G, B, or AC.
•WPS support. Identifies whether the router or access point for this network supports
WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup).
•MAC address. The unique hardware address of the wireless device broadcasting this
information. Typically, the wireless device is a wireless router or access point.
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 systems tray or on the
desktop.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
3. Click the Join a Network button.
The Join a Network screen displays:
4. Click a network name.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
The Details button and Connect button display.
5. Click the Details button.
The Details pop-up window displays:
6. Click the OK button to close the Details pop-up window.
Join a Network
The mini adapter can join a network using the Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) method, through
the mini adapter’s NETGEAR genie, or by installing the mini adapter’s standalone driver. You
can also join hidden networks. For more information, see Join a Hidden Network on page 14.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini 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 join a
network, make sure that your router or access point supports WPS.
Note: If the security type on your router or access point is set to WEP, you
cannot use WPS to connect the mini adapter to the network.
To use WPS to join a wireless network:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2. Press and hold the WPS button on the mini adapter for two seconds.
The WPS LED blinks.
WPS
button
3. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your wireless router or access point.
The mini adapter joins the network, which can take a few minutes. Your settings are
saved in a profile.
Note: After the mini adapter joins the network, it automatically saves the
network connection information to a Windows profile. Windows
profiles can be used by genie and the Windows utility. If the network
information does not change, the next time you launch NETGEAR
genie, it automatically connects to the network you previously
joined.
Join a Network Using NETGEAR genie
You can use the mini adapter’s NETGEAR genie to join a network.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
To join a network using NETGEAR genie:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2. Click the NETGEAR genie icon that displays on the Windows systems tray or on the
desktop.
The NETEGAR genie Home screen displays.
3. Click the Join a Network button.
The Join a Network screen displays:
4. Click a network name.
The Details button and Connect button display.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
5. Click the Connect button.
Note: If your network does not display in the network list, click the Refresh
button. If the network name is not displayed, that indicates a hidden
network that does not broadcast its SSID. You can use the NETGEAR
genie to join a hidden network. For more information, see Join a Hidden
Network on page 14.
The Connecting to your Wireless Network pop-up window displays:
6. In the Security Key (Password) field, enter the network password.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
Note: Select the Hide characters as I type check box if you want to hide the
characters as you type the password.
7. Click the Next button.
NETGEAR genie validates the settings and connects the adapter to the network. This
process might a few minutes.
Note: After the mini adapter joins the network, it automatically saves the
network connection information to a Windows profile. Windows
profiles can be used by genie and the Windows utility. If the network
information does not change, the next time you launch NETGEAR
genie, it automatically connects to the network you previously joined.
Join a Hidden Network
A hidden network is a network that does not broadcast its SSID. If the network name is not
displayed in the network list in the mini adapter’s NETGEAR genie, the network that you are
trying to join is either not functioning or is hidden. To join a hidden network, you can use WPS
or enter the hidden network’s information yourself.
Join a Hidden Network Using WPS
Before you use the WPS method to join a hidden network, make sure that your router or
access point supports WPS.
Note: If the security type on your router or access point is set to the WEP,
you cannot use WPS to connect the mini adapter to the network.
To manually connect using WPS:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2. Click the NETGEAR genie icon that displays on the Windows systems tray or on the
desktop.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
3. Click the Join a Network button.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
The Join a Network screen displays:
4. Expand the Manually Connect to a network (for hidden networks) section.
5. Select the Use WPS Push ‘N’ Connect radio button.
6. Click the Start button.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
A WPS instructions window displays:
7. (Optional) Click the Learn More button to learn more about how to connect to the network
using WPS.
8. Press and hold the WPS button on the mini adapter for two seconds.
The WPS LED blinks.
9. Within two minutes, press the WPS button on your wireless router or access point.
The mini adapter joins the network, which can take a few minutes. Your settings are
saved in a profile.
Note: After the mini adapter joins the network, it automatically saves the
network connection information to a Windows profile. Windows
profiles can be used by genie and the Windows utility. If the network
information does not change, the next time you launch NETGEAR
genie, it automatically connects to the network you previously joined.
Manually Join a Hidden Network
To manually join a hidden network, you need to know the SSID, security type, and password
of the network you want to join.
To manually connect without WPS:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2. Click the NETGEAR genie icon that displays on the Windows systems tray or on the
desktop.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
3. Click the Join a Network button.
The Join a Network screen displays:
4. Expand the Manually Connect to a network (for hidden networks) section.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
5. Select the Enter wireless information myself radio button.
6. Type the network name (SSID) in the Network Name (SSID) field.
7. Select the network’s security type from the Security Type drop-down menu:
•None. The network does not require a password.
•WEP. The password (key) is a 10 or 26 hexadecimal digit.
•WPA-PSK. The password (passphrase) is 8–63 characters in length or a 64
hexadecimal digit.
•WPA2-PSK. The password (passphrase) is 8–63 characters in length or a 64
hexadecimal digit.
Note: NETGEAR genie does not support the WPA or WPA2 security type.
Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista, use the Windows
WLAN Autoconfig service to enter WPA or WPA2 credentials to join
the network. For Windows XP, use the Wireless Zero Configuration
service to enter WPA or WPA2 credentials to join the network.
8. Type the network’s password (passphrase) in the passphrase field.
If you selected the WEP security type, type the WEP key in the Key field.
9. Click the Connect button.
The mini adapter joins the network, which can take a few minutes. Your settings are
saved in a profile.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
Note: After the mini adapter joins the network, it automatically saves the
network connection information to a Windows profile. Windows
profiles can be used by genie and the Windows utility. If the network
information does not change, the next time you launch NETGEAR
genie, it automatically connects to the network you previously
joined.
Join a Network Using a Standalone Driver
For Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista, you can install the Windows standalone
driver without the NETGEAR genie and use the Windows WLAN Autoconfig service to join a
network. For Windows XP, you can install the Windows driver without the NETGEAR genie
and use the Wireless Zero Configuration service to join a network.
Note: You do not need to install the standalone driver to use Windows
WLAN Autoconfig service or Wireless Zero Configuration.
To install the standalone driver and join a network:
1. Insert the resource CD in your computer CD drive.
Note: If your computer does not have a CD drive, or if you do not have your
resource CD, download the resource CD driver by visiting
http://support.netgear.com. Click the Support for Home Products button and
enter A6100 in the search field.

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A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
If the CD main screen does not display, browse the files on the CD and double-click
Autorun.exe. The Welcome screen displays:
2. Click the Install Windows Standalone Driver button.
The driver installs on your computer.
3. When prompted, insert the mini adapter into a USB port on your computer.
4. Click the OK button.
The driver finishes installing.
5. Click the Finish button.
A pop-up window displays when the diver finishes installing.
6. Click the OK button.
7. If you use Windows 8, Windows 7, or Windows Vista, use the Windows WLAN Autoconfig
service to join a network.
For more information about Windows WLAN Autoconfig, see your computer’s
documentation.