Netgear A6210 Ac1200 High Gain Wifi Usb Adapter 802 11ac Dual Band Usb 3 0 User Manual

							Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network 21
 A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
The Join a Network screen displays.
4. 
Expand the  Manually Connect to a network (for hidden networks)  section. 
						

							Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network 22
A6210 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 m\
ust 
consist of 10 hexadecimal digits. If the encryption strength of the netw\
ork is 128 bit, 
the network key must consist of 26   hexadecimal digits.
• WEP (Shared). If the encryption strength of the network is 64 bit, the network key 
must consist of 10 hexadecimal digits. If the encryption strength of the\
 network is 128 
bit, the network key must consist of 26   hexadecimal digits.
• WP
A-PSK (TKIP).  The network passphrase is 8–63 characters in length or 
64
  hexadecimal digits.
• WP

A-PSK (AES). The network passphrase is 8–63 characters in length or 
64
  hexadecimal digits.
• WPA2-PSK (TKIP). The network passphrase is 8–63 characters in length or 
64  hexadecimal digits.
• WPA2-PSK (AES) . The network passphrase is 8–63 characters in length or 
64
  hexadecimal digits.
Note: Hexadecimal digits consist of 0–9, a–f, and  A–F characters only.
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 adapter joins the network, which can take a few minutes. Your settings are saved in  a profile. 
						

							Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network 23
 A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
The Join a Network screen shows that the adapter is connected to the net\
work and the 
genie status bar at the bottom of the screen shows information about the\
 network 
connection. For more information about the status bar, see  View the Connection Status 
and Details on page  25.
After the adapter joins the network, it saves the network connection inf\
ormation to a 
Windows profile. Both NETGEAR genie and the Windows Wireless Network Con\
nection 
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. 
						

							24
2
2.   Monitor and Maintain the Adapter
This chapter includes the following sections:•View the Connection Status and Details
• View More Information About the Adapter and Network
• Get Diagnostic Information for the Adapter
• Upgrade the Adapter Software
• Uninstall the Adapter Software 
						

							Monitor and Maintain the Adapter 25
 A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
View the Connection Status and Details
You can use the adapter’s NETGEAR genie to view the strength, status, and details of the 
connection between the adapter and the WiFi router and the status of the\
 Internet 
connection.
To view connection status and details:
1.  Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2.  Let your adapter join a network. 
If your adapter was previously connected to a network, the adapter recon\
nects 
automatically
.
For more information about letting y our adapter join a network, see Join a WiFi Network on 
page   11.
After the adapter established a connection with a WiFi network, the colo\
r of the icon in the  Windows system tray indicates the strength of the WiFi connection:
• White .   

 
 3–5 bars (strong connection)
• Yellow .   
 1–2 bars (weak connection)
• Red.      
 0 (zero) bars (no connection)
Note: If you remove the adapter, NETGEAR genie is not available, and the 
icon is not displayed in the Windows system tray. When you insert the 
adapter again, the icon returns to the system tray.
3.  If NETGEAR 
genie is not yet open, click the icon in the system tray or on your desk\
top.
The Home screen displays a graphical presentation of the adapter’s connection to the  WiFi router and the WiFi router’s connection to the Internet. 
						

							Monitor and Maintain the Adapter 26
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter 
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  34.
• If the WiFi router cannot connect to the Internet, see  When I Connect the Adapter to a 
Network, I Cannot Access the Internet on page  35.
The adapter’s connection details show in the genie status bar that displays at the b\
ottom  of each genie screen. 
Network name and Network
WiFiSignal
security
channelstrength
Physical
rate
or Internet
connection IP address
BSSID
The status bar shows the following connection details:
• Network name BSSID. The WiFi network name (SSID) and basic SSID (BSSID) of 
the WiFi network to which the adapter is connected. The BSSID is expressed as the 
MAC address of the access point to which the adapter is connected.
• IP address or Internet connection.  The IPv4 or IPv6 address that is assigned to the 
adapter. If the adapter is connected to the Internet, the field does not\
 display the IP 
address but displays the message 

Connected to the Internet.
• 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. One or two bars indicate a weak signal. 
View More Information About the Adapter and Network
You can use the adapter’s NETGEAR genie to view more information such as packet  statistics, IP address, type of security, and MAC address.
To view more information about the adapter and network:
1.  Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2.  Let your adapter join a network. 
If your adapter was previously connected to a network, the adapter recon\
nects 
automatically
. 
						

							Monitor and Maintain the Adapter 27
 A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
For more information about letting y
our adapter join a network, see Join a WiFi Network on 
page
  11.
3.  If NETGEAR  genie is not yet open, click the icon in the system tray or on your desk\
top.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
4.  Click the Other button.
The Other screen displays.
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 late\
r.
- IPv6 Address . 

The IPv6 address that is assigned to the adapter. The IPv6 
address can change if you disconnect from the network and rejoin it late\
r.
- Security T ype. WiFi security used for the adapter to connect to the current WiFi 
network.
• Adapter : 

The following information about the adapter displays:
- Adapter MAC Address
. The adapter’s Media 
 Access Control (MAC) address. 
The MAC address is a unique 48-bit hardware address assigned to each dev\
ice. 
As a security measure, some WiFi networks restrict access based on a lis\
t of  known MAC addresses. If you try to join such a network, you must provide\
 your 
adapter’s MAC address (shown on this screen) to the network administrator 
before you can connect.
- Region.  The adapter’s region setting. WiFi channels in use depend on the 
country or region. The adapter automatically scans approved channels for your  
						

							Monitor and Maintain the Adapter 28
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter 
region when it checks to see which networks are available in your area. \
Governments regulate the channels used for WiFi transmission. Operating \
the 
adapter in a different region might violate local laws.
Get Diagnostic Information for the Adapter
You can use the adapter’s NETGEAR genie to display and save the following diagnostic 
information:
• System information
• IP information
• Client driver and profile information
• Site survey information
To get diagnostic information about the adapter:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2.  Let your adapter join a network. 
If your adapter was previously connected to a network, the adapter recon\
nects 
automatically
.
For more information about letting y our adapter join a network, see Join a WiFi Network on 
page   11.
3.  If

 NETGEAR  genie is not yet open, click the icon in the system tray or on your desk\
top.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
4.  Click the  Other button.
The Other screen displays. 
						

							Monitor and Maintain the Adapter 29
 A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
5. 
Click the Get Info button.
The System Status pop-up screen displays.
NETGEAR genie starts collecting system information, IP information, clie\
nt 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.
Upgrade the Adapter Software
You can use the adapter’s NETGEAR genie to check for software updates and upgrade the 
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 adapter no longer connects to the network automatically. You 
must let the adapter join a network as described in Join a WiFi 
Network  on page  11. If you do not use the NETGEAR genie, see Join 
a Network Using a Standalone Driver and Windows WLAN Autoconfig 
on page   15.
To check or upgrade the adapter’s software:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2.  Let your adapter join a network. 
If your adapter was previously connected to a network, the adapter recon\
nects 
automatically
. 
						

							Monitor and Maintain the Adapter 30
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter 
For more information about letting y
our adapter join a network, see Join a WiFi Network on 
page
  11.
3.  If NETGEAR  genie is not yet open, click the icon in the system tray or on your desk\
top.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
4.  Click the  Other button.
The Other screen displays.
5.  Click the  Check button.
The Live Check pop-up screen displays.