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 11
 A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
The Details pop-up screen displays.
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 c\
ases, 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  18

.
• Channel. The channel on which the WiFi network operates. NETGEAR recommends 
that you choose a network that uses a different channel from the channel of 
neighboring networks.
• WiFi Mode . The WiFi mode that the router or access point uses, such as AC, N, G, B, 
or   A.
• WPS support . Identifies whether the router or access point for this network support\
s 
WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup).
• MAC address

. The unique hardware address of the WiFi device broadcasting this 
information. Typically , the WiFi device is a WiFi router or access point.
6.  T

o close the Details pop-up screen, click the  OK button.
Join a WiFi Network
The adapter can join a known WiFi network through several methods:
• WPS. Use the adapter’s WPS button to join a WiFi network (see Join a Network Using 
WPS on page   12). 
Use this method if your WiFi router supports Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS\
).
• NETGEAR genie

. Use the adapter’s NETGEAR genie to join a WiFi network (see  Join a 
Network Using NETGEAR genie on page  13).
Use this method if your WiFi router does not support WPS. 
						

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A6210 WiFi USB Adapter 
•
Standalone driver and Windows WLAN Autoconfig . Install the adapter’s standalone 
driver and use Windows WLAN Autoconfig to join a WiFi network (see  Join a Network 
Using a Standalone Driver and Windows WLAN Autoconfig  on page
 15). 
This is an alternate method that does not use WPS or NETGEAR genie. You can also  use this method if your computer does not include a CD drive.
You can also join hidden networks. For more information, see Join a Hidden Network  on 
page
  18.
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 .
Note:For information about using WPS to let the adapter a hidden network, 
see Use WPS to Let the Adapter Join a Hidden Network on page  18.
To use WPS to let the adapter join a WiFi network:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2.  Press and hold the  WPS button on the adapter for more than two seconds.
The WPS LED blinks. (The WPS button also functions as the WPS LED.)
WPS button and LED
3.  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. Your settings are saved in  a profile. 
						

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 A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
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.
Join a Network Using NETGEAR genie
You can use NETGEAR genie to let the adapter join a network. You must know the network’s security passphrase or security key.
Note: For information about using the adapter’s NETGEAR genie to join a 
hidden network, see Manually Set Up a WiFi Connection to a Hidden 
Network on page  20.
To let the adapter join a network by 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 system 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. 
						

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A6210 WiFi USB Adapter 
The Connect button displays.
5. 
Click the  Connect button.
Note: If your network does not display in the network list, click the Refresh 
button. If  the network still does not display, your network might be a 
hidden network that does not broadcast its SSID. For information about 
joining a hidden network, see Join a Hidden Network  on page  18.
The Connecting to your wireless network pop-up screen displays.
6.  In the Security Key (Password)  field, enter the network password.
Note: Clear the Hide characters as I type check box if you want to display 
the characters as you type the password. 
						

							Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network 15
 A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
7. 
Click the Next button.
NETGEAR genie validates the settings and connects the adapter to the net\
work. This 
process might a few minutes.
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.
Join a Network Using a Standalone Driver and Windows WLAN 
Autoconfig
For Windows 8 (or 8.1) and Windows 7 (and—if you still use it—W\
indows Vista), you can 
install the Windows standalone driver without the NETGEAR 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 the NETGEAR genie and use the Wireless Zero Confi\
guration 
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. 
						

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A6210 WiFi USB Adapter 
Note:
The adapter provides the best performance with a USB 3.0 port but is 
compatible with a USB
  2.0 or USB 1.1 port.
To install the standalone driver and let the adapter join a network:
1. Insert the resource CD in your computer CD drive. 
Note: If your computer does not include a CD drive, or if you do not have your\
 
resource CD, visit support.netgear.com. Click the Support for Home 
button, type A6210 in the search field, and locate and download the 
standalone driver.
2.  If the CD main screen does not display , browse the files on the CD and double-click 
Autorun.exe. 
The NETGEAR Resource CD screen displays. The screen looks similar to the following figure.
3.  Click the  Install Windows Standalone Driver  button.
The driver installs on your computer. When the driver installation is completed, a  message displays prompting you to insert your adapter. 
						

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 A6210 WiFi USB Adapter
4. 
Insert the adapter  into a USB port on your computer.
Note: NETGEAR does not recommend that you use another cable to 
connect the adapter to the USB port on your computer. Use the 
desktop dock with the attached cable that is supplied in the package. 
Using another USB cable might affect the performance and correct 
functioning of the adapter.
Note:When the adapter is placed in the desktop dock, you can fold out the 
adapter to its maximum angle for increased WiFi performance.
5.  Click the OK button.
The driver finishes installing.
6.  Click the Finish button.
A pop-up screen displays when the diver finishes installing.
7.  Click the OK button.
8.  Use a Windows utility to connect the adapter to a WiFi network:
•For Windows 8 (or 8.1) and Windows 7 (and—if you still use it—W\
indows Vista), use 
the Windows WLAN Autoconfig service.
• If you still use 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. 
						

							Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network 18
A6210 WiFi USB Adapter 
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.
Join a Hidden Network
A hidden network is a network that does not broadcast its SSID. If the n\
etwork name is not displayed in the network list in the adapter’s NETGEAR genie, the network that you are trying 
to join is either not functioning or is hidden. To let the adapter join a hidden network, you can 
use WPS or enter the hidden network’s information manually.
Use WPS to Let the Adapter Join a Hidden Network
Before you use the WPS method to let the adapter join a hidden 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 .
To use WPS to let the adapter join a hidden WiFi network:
1. Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2.  Click the NETGEAR  genie icon that displays on the Windows system tray or on the desktop.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
3.  Click the  Join a Network button.
The Join a Network screen displays. 
						

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 A6210 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.
6.  Click the Start  button. 
A WPS instructions screen displays.
7.  To learn more about how to connect to the network using WPS, click the  Learn More 
button.
8.  Press and hold the WPS button on the adapter for two seconds.
The WPS LED blinks. (The WPS button also functions as the WPS LED.)
9.  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. Your settings are saved in  a profile. 
						

							Get Started and Connect to a WiFi Network 20
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.
Manually Set Up a WiFi Connection to a Hidden Network
To manually set up a WiFi connection to a hidden network, you must know t\
he SSID, security type, and key or passphrase of the network that you want to join.
To manually set up the connection to a hidden WiFi network:
1.  Insert the adapter into a USB port on your computer.
2.  Click the NETGEAR  genie icon that displays on the Windows system tray or on the desktop.
The NETGEAR genie Home screen displays.
3.  Click the  Join a Network button.