Netgear A6100 Ac600 Dual Band Wifi Usb Mini Adapter User Manual

							Getting Started21
 A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
For Windows XP, use the Wireless Zero Configuration service. For more information, see\
 
your computer’s documentation.
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. 
View Connection Details
After you join a network, you can view the mini adapter’s connection details in the NETGEAR genie’s status bar.
To view connection details:
1. Join a network using your mini adapter.
For more information, see Join a Network on page  10.
2. Scroll to the bottom of the NETEGEAR genie screen to view the mini adapt\
er’
 s connection 
details.
Network Network
WirelessSignal
securitychannelstrengthname
IPv4 Physical
rate
address
You can view the following connection details:
• Network name. 
 The network name (SSID) of the wireless network to which the mini 
adapter is connected.
• IPv4 address . 
 The IPv4 address of the wireless network to which the mini adapter is 
connected.
• Network security . 
 The lock symbol shows whether the network you are connected to 
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 mini adapter is 
connected.
• Physical rate. 
 The physical transmission rate for wireless communication.
• Signal strength. 
 The strength of the wireless signal. Three to five bars indicate a 
good signal. One or two bars indicate a weak signal.  
						

							22
2
2.   Maintenance
This chapter includes the following sections:
•Update the Mini Adapter’s Software 
•Get Diagnostic Information for the Mini Adapter 
•View Additional Information About the Mini Adapter 
•Uninstall the Mini Adapter’s Software  
						

							Maintenance23
 A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
Update the Mini Adapter’s Software
You can use the mini adapter’s NETGEAR genie to check for software updates and upgrade the 
mini adapter’s software.
Note: During the software update process, the old software version is 
removed and all saved profiles are deleted before the new software 
version is installed. When the software update process is complete, 
the mini adapter no longer connects to the network automatically. 
You need to join a network as described in  Join a Network on 
page   10. If you do not use the NETGEAR genie, see  Join a Network 
Using a Standalone Driver on page 19.
To check or upgrade the mini adapter’s software:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer
 .
2. Click the NETGEAR genie icon that displays on the Windows systems tray o\
r on the 
desktop.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
3. Click the  Other button.
The following screen displays
:
4. Click the  Check button. 
						

							Maintenance24
A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter 
The Live Check pop-up window displays.
NETGEAR genie checks for available software upgrades. If new software is\
 found, the 
following screen displays:
 
5. Click the  OK button.
The mini adapter software is updated.
Get Diagnostic Information for the Mini Adapter
Your mini adapter provides the following diagnostic information:
• System information
• IP information
• Client driver and profile information
• Site survey information
To get diagnostic information about the mini adapter:
1.Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer
 .
2. Click the NETGEAR genie icon that displays on the Windows systems tray o\
r on the 
desktop.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
3. Click the  Other button. 
						

							Maintenance25
 A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
The following screen displays:
4.
Click the  Get Info button.
The System Status pop-up window displays:
 
NETGEAR genie starts collecting system information, IP information, clie\
nt driver and 
profile information, and site survey information.
5. (Optional) Click the  Save to File button to save the system information to your computer
 .
6. Click the  Exit button. 
						

							Maintenance
26 A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter 
View Additional Information About the Mini Adapter
You can view the following additional information about the mini adapter:
•Sent/Received Activity. The total number of packets sent or received during 
communication with the wireless network.
•Network. The following information about the mini adapter’s network displays:
-IPv4 Address. The IPv4 address assigned to this mini adapter. The IPv4 address can 
change if you disconnect from the network and rejoin it later.
-IPv6 Address. The IPv6 address assigned to this mini adapter. The IPv6 address can 
change if you disconnect from the network and rejoin it later.
-Security Type. Wireless security used for the mini adapter to connect to the current 
wireless network.
•Adapter: 
-Adapter MAC Address. The mini adapter’s Media Access Control (MAC) address. 
The MAC address is a unique 48-bit hardware address assigned to each wireless 
device. As a security measure, some wireless networks restrict access based on a list 
of known MAC addresses. If you try to join such a network, you must provide your 
mini adapter’s MAC address (shown here) to the network administrator before you 
can connect.
-Region. The mini adapter’s region setting. Wireless channels in use depend on the 
country or region. Your mini adapter automatically scans approved channels for your 
region when it checks to see which networks are available in your area. Governments 
regulate the channels used for wireless transmission. Operating the mini adapter in a 
different region might violate local laws. 
						

							Maintenance27
 A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
To view additional information about the mini adapter:
1.
Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2. Click the NETGEAR genie icon that displays on the Windows systems tray o\
r on the 
desktop.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
3. Click the  Other button.
The following screen displays.
Uninstall the Mini Adapter’s Software
You can remove the mini adapter software.
To uninstall the mini adapter’s software:
Select Start > 
 All Programs > NETGEAR A6100 genie > Uninstall NETGEAR A6100 
Software . 
						

							28
3
3.   Troubleshooting and  
Frequently Asked Questions
This chapter covers the following topics: 
•Troubleshooting 
•Frequently Asked Questions  
						

							Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions29
 A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter
Troubleshooting
The mini adapter LED is not lit.
Try these troubleshooting tips: • Remove and reinsert the mini adapter.
• Check the Windows device manager to see if the mini adapter is recognize\
d and 
enabled. Reinstall the mini adapter software, if necessary

.
• Insert the mini adapter in a dif
 ferent USB port on your computer if one is available.
I do not see the 
 icon. 
Check to make sure that your mini adapter is inserted in the USB port. I\
f it is removed, the 
icon does not display
 . When you insert the mini adapter into the USB port, the icon returns t\
o 
your desktop and the Windows system tray.
I cannot connect to a wireless network. 
• Make sure that your mini adapter is inserted securely into the USB port \
on your computer
 .
• Click the 
 icon to open NETGEAR genie. The following screen displays if the mini 
adapter cannot connect to the network that you selected:
• If the network uses wireless security, you need to either know the wireless security 
settings or use Push N Connect if the network supports WPS. Some netwo\
rks also 
restrict use to only computers or wireless devices with known MAC addres\
ses. If that is 
the case, follow the steps in  View Additional Information About the Mini Adapter  on 
page   26 to find the MAC address for your mini adapter and provide it to your ne\
twork 
administrator. 
						

							Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions30
A6100 WiFi USB Mini Adapter 
When I connect to the network, I cannot access the Internet.
Click 
 to open NETGEAR genie. The following screen displays if the mini adapter can 
connect to the network that you selected but you cannot access the Inter\
net: 
Make sure that you are connected to the correct network. If you are, che\
ck to see if the 
router’s Internet connection is working. If the router’s Internet connection is not working, 
restart the modem, router, and computer.
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

.
No IP address is assigned to the mini adapter.
IP address assignment can be lost if you upgraded your mini adapter soft\
ware and did not 
reboot your computer
 . To correct this problem, either restart your computer, or connect to a 
different access point.