NETGEAR WNDA3100v3 User manual

350 East Plumeria Drive

San Jose, CA 95134

USA

December 2014

202-11470-01

N600 WiFi USB Adapter

Model WNDA3100v3

User Manual

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.

Phone (Other Countries): Check the list of phone numbers at http://support.netgear.com/general/contact/default.aspx.

Compliance

For regulatory compliance information, visit http://www.netgear.com/about/regulatory.

See the regulatory compliance document before connecting the power supply.

Trademarks

trademarks are used for reference purposes only

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 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

View Network Details. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Join a Network Using WPS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Join a Network Using a Standalone Driver. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Join a Hidden Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Use WPS to Let the Adapter Join a Hidden Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Manually Set Up a WiFi Connection to a Hidden Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Chapter 2 Monitor and Maintain the Adapter

Check Your Connection Status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

View More Information About the Adapter and Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Get Diagnostic Information for the Adapter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Upgrade the Adapter Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Uninstall the Adapter Software. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Chapter 3 Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Adapter LED Is Not Lit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Cannot Join a WiFi Network. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Cannot Access the Internet After Joining a WiFi Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Cannot Access Shared Resources Such as Printers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Appendix A Factory Default Settings and Technical Specifications

Factory Default Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

1. Get Started and Connect to a WiFi

Network

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. The chapter includes the

following sections:

•Package Contents

•Install and Set Up NETGEAR genie

•Install Windows Standalone Driver

•Join a WiFi Network Using NETGEAR genie

•Join a Network Using WPS

•Join a Network Using a Standalone Driver

•Join a Hidden Network

Note: For more information about the topics covered in this manual, visit the

support website at support.netgear.com.

Note: Firmware updates with new features and bug fixes are made

available from time to time at downloadcenter.netgear.com. Some

products can regularly check the site and download new firmware, or

you can check for and download new firmware manually. If the

features or behavior of your product does not match what is

described in this guide, you might need to update your firmware.

Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network

N600 WiFi USB Adapter

Package Contents

Your package includes the following items.

Adapter

Plastic cradle Fasteners

USB cable

Resource CD

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.

To set up NETGEAR genie:

1. Insert the resource CD in your computer CD drive.

Note: If your computer does not include a CD drive, or if you cannot find your

resource CD, visit support.netgear.com. Click the Support for Home

button, type WNDA3100v3 in the search field, and locate and

download the standalone driver.

If the Resource CD screen does not display, browse the files on the CD and double-click the

Autorun.exe file.

The NETGEAR Resource CD screen displays.

2. Click the Setup button.

The Software Update Check screen displays.

3. Install the setup software using one of the following methods.

•Connected to the Internet. If you are connected to the Internet, click the Check for

Updates button. After the software checks for 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. The Welcome screen displays.

Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network

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: TheUSBcableandplasticcradlecanextendtherangeofyouradapter

and improve WiFi reception.

6. To use the adapter with the USB cable and plastic cradle, do the following:

a. Place a fastener on the back of the plastic cradle and place another fastener on your

computer.

Make sure that the surfaces on which you are placing the fasteners are clean and dry.

b. Insert the adapter into the plastic cradle.

c. Connect the USB cable to the adapter.

Note: NETGEAR recommends using the USB cable that is supplied in the

package. Do not use another USB cable to connect the adapter to the

USB port on your computer. Using another USB cable might affect the

performance and correct functioning of the adapter.

Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network

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. To change the language, from the Select Language menu, select another language.

All NETGEAR genie screens display in the language that you selected.

Install Windows Standalone Driver

For Windows 8.1, Windows 8, Windows 7, and Windows Vista, you can install the Windows

standalone driver without NETGEAR genie and use the Windows WLAN Autoconfig service

to join a WiFi network. If you use Windows XP, you can install the Windows standalone driver

and use the Wireless Zero Configuration service to join a WiFi network.

To install the Windows standalone driver:

1. Insert the resource CD in your computer CD drive.

Note: If your computer does not include a CD drive, or if you cannot find your

resource CD, visit support.netgear.com. Click the Support for Home

button, type WNDA3100v3 in the search field, and locate and

download the standalone driver.

If the Resource CD screen does not display, browse the files on the CD and double-click

the Autorun.exe file.

The NETGEAR Resource CD screen displays.

2. Click the Install Windows Standalone Driver button.

The driver installs on your computer.

3. When prompted, insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.

Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network

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 that displays on the Windows systems tray or

on the desktop.

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.

The adapter joins the network, which can take a few minutes. Your settings are saved in a

profile.

The adapter LED lights amber for a 2.4 GHz WiFi connection and blue for a 5 GHz WiFi

connection.

View Network Details

You can view details about a WiFi network 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 adapter’s NETGEAR genie icon on your desktop or in the Windows system

tray.

The Home screen displays.

3. Click the Join a Network button.

Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network

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.

•Channel. The channel on which the WiFi network operates.

•WiFi Mode. The WiFi mode that the router or access point uses, such asAC, N, G, B,

or A.

•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 WiFi device that is broadcasting

this information. Typically, the WiFi device is a WiFi router or access point.

To close the Details pop-up screen, click the OK button.

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. You cannot use WPS if the security on your WiFi router or access point is

set to WEP.

Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network

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 2.4 GHz WiFi connection and blue for a 5 GHz WiFi

connection.

Your settings are saved in a 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.

Join a Network Using a Standalone Driver

For Windows 8.1, 8.0, 7, and Vista, you can install the Windows standalone driver without

genie and use the Windows WLAN Autoconfig service to join a network. If you still use

Windows XP, you can install the Windows driver without 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.

Note: The adapter provides the best performance with a USB 2.0 port but is

compatible with a USB 1.1 port.

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