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Wireless-N 300 USB
Adapter WNA3100 User
Manual
NETGEAR, Inc.
350 E. Plumeria Drive
San Jose, CA 95134 USA
202-10539-01
December 2009
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© 2009 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved. Technical Support When you register your product at http://www.netgear.com/register, we can provide you with faster expert technical support and timely notices of product and software upgrades. NETGEAR, INC. Support Information Phone: 1-888-NETGEAR, for US & Canada only. For other countries, see your Support information card. E-mail: support@netgear.com Website: http://www.netgear.com Trademarks NETGEAR, the NETGEAR logo, ProSafe, and Auto Uplink are
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• Consult a dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for assistance FCC Caution: Any change or modification to the product not expressly approved by NETGEAR could void the user’s authority to operate the device. FCC RF Radiation Exposure and SAR Statements SAR Statement The NETGEAR Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 has been tested for body-worn Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) compliance. The FCC has established detailed SAR requirements and has established that these requirements have be
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Product and Publication Details Model Number: WNA3100 v1 Publication Date: December 2009 Product Family: Wireless-N USB Adapter Product Name: Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 Home or Business Product: Home Language: English Publication Part Number: 202-10539-01 Publication Version Number: 1.0 iv v1.0, December 2009
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Contents About This Manual Conventions, Formats, and Scope .................................................................................. vii Revision History ...............................................................................................................viii Chapter 1 Installation with Custom Setup What You Need Before You Begin .................................................................................1-1 Observe Wireless Location and Range Guidelines ................
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual Setting Up WEP Encryption Security .....................................................................2-11 Monitoring Statistics .....................................................................................................2-13 About Your Smart Wizard .............................................................................................2-14 Advanced Settings ............................................................................
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About This Manual ® The NETGEAR Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual describes how to install, configure, and troubleshoot the Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100. Conventions, Formats, and Scope The conventions, formats, and scope of this manual are described in the following paragraphs: • Typographical conventions. This manual uses the following typographical conventions:: Italic Emphasis, books, CDs Bold User input, screen text Fixed Command prompt, CLI text, code italic URL links
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual Revision History Version Part Number Date Description Number 202-10539-01 1.0 November Original publication 2009 viii v1.0, December 2009
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual Chapter 1 Installation with Custom Setup This chapter explains custom installation for your Wireless-N USB Adapter. With custom setup you can specify where the files are installed. You can also choose whether or not you want to install the Smart Wizard. Note: For help with express installation, see the Installation Guide for the Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100. What You Need Before You Begin To install the wireless-N USB adapter, you need:
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual Observe Wireless Location and Range Guidelines For best performance, place the wireless-N USB adapter at least 4 feet (over 1 meter) away from the wireless router or access point. Computers can connect over wireless networks indoors at a range that varies significantly based on the physical location of the computer with the wireless-N USB adapter. For best results, avoid potential sources of interference, such as the following: • Large metal sur
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual Figure 1-1 5. When prompted, browse to select the destination folder for your wireless adapter software, and then click Next. Figure 1-2 6. Select one of the following methods to configure and manage your wireless network: • Smart Wizard. Manage your wireless networks with the NETGEAR WNA3100 v1 software and connect securely using Push 'N' Connect, also called WPS. – Automatically. Let the Smart Wizard automatically configure the settings for you
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual Then, Install Your WNA3100 v1 Adapter You are prompted to insert your adapter: Figure 1-3 1. Locate a USB port on your PC. 2. Insert the adapter into the USB port, or connect it with the USB cable. Figure 1-4 Note: For best results, put the wireless adapter at least 4 feet (1 meter) away from your router. 1-4 v1.0, December 2009
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 3. Click Next. The WNA3100 v1 software detects the adapter. Follow the onscreen prompts to install the driver. 4. Follow the prompts to complete the installation. How you connect to a network depends on what you selected during custom installation. • For automatic configuration, see the following section, “Use Smart Wizard Automatic Configuration to Connect to a Wireless Network.” • If you selected manual configuration, the Settings tab displays.
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual • If your router supports Push 'N' Connect (also called WPS) click Next. The following screen displays: Figure 1-6 Press and hold the push button on the side of the wireless-N USB adapter for 2 seconds. The LED flashes. Click Next. Follow the prompts to push the WPS button on your router and connect. 2. The adapter connects to the network, which can take a minute or two. Your settings are saved in a profile, which you can name: Figure 1-7 1-6 v1
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 3. Click Finish, and the Smart Wizard Settings screen displays. Profile name Status bar Figure 1-8 You are now connected to a wireless network! The WNA3100 v1 icon appears in the system tray and on the desktop so you can open the Smart Wizard to make changes or connect to a different wireless network. Monitoring Wireless Network and the Internet Connections The wireless-N USB adapter provides several ways to check the status of your connection t
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual WNA3100 v1 Icon The WNA3100 v1 icon is on the desktop and in the Windows system tray, on one end of the taskbar in the Microsoft Windows desktop. The WNA3100 v1 icon changes colors depending on the condition of the adapter. The following table describes the colors and conditions indicated. Color Condition Description Red The adapter is not connected The wireless-N USB adapter cannot link to any other wireless to a wireless network. node, or the
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual Smart Wizard Status Bar Click the icon to open the Smart Wizard Settings tab. The status bar is located at the bottom of the Settings tab. Security Channel Connection status Data rate Wireless Signal strength network Join a Network Figure 1-11 The following table describes how to interpret the Smart Wizard status bar. Understanding the Status Bar Wireless network Identifies which wireless network you have joined. Security • A closed lock indicate
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual Wireless-N USB Adapter LED The LED on the wireless-N USB adapter indicates the condition of the wireless link, as described in the following table. Wireless-N USB Adapter LED Meaning Off • The wireless-N USB adapter is not plugged in to the USB port. • The wireless-N USB adapter is in power save mode (default from power up or reset). Blinking • The wireless-N USB adapter is scanning for a network. • The wireless-N USB adapter is sending or receivi
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 3. Select the Remove radio button and then click Next. 4. Follow the onscreen prompt to disconnect your adapter. A message displays confirming that the software has been removed. Upgrading the WNA3100 v1 Software Upgrades might be available at the NETGEAR website. To install an upgrade: 1. Open the Smart Wizard and click the About tab to display the following screen: Figure 1-13 2. Click the Software Update Check button. If a newer version of firmw
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Wireless-N 300 USB Adapter WNA3100 User Manual 3. Click OK. When the file has been downloaded a message like the following displays: Figure 1-15 4. Click Yes. Follow the installer instructions, and if prompted, restart your computer. 1-12 v1.0, December 2009
