NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual NETGEAR, Inc. 350 E.
© 2009 by NETGEAR, Inc. All rights reserved. Technical Support Please refer to the support information card that shipped with your product. By registering 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.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet other than the receiver’s • 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 WNDA3100v2 has been tested for body-worn Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) compliance.
Europe - EU Declaration of Conformity A printed copy of the EU Declaration of Conformity certificate for this product is provided in the WNDA3100v2 product package. Èesky [Czech] NETGEAR, Inc. tímto prohlašuje, že tento NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 je ve shodì se základními požadavky a dalšími pøíslušnými ustanoveními smìrnice 1999/5/ES. Dansk [Danish] Undertegnede NETGEAR, Inc.
Malti [Maltese] Hawnhekk, NETGEAR, Inc., jiddikjara li dan NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band WirelessN USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 jikkonforma mal-tiijiet essenzjali u ma provvedimenti orajn relevanti li hemm fid-Dirrettiva 1999/5/EC. Magyar [Hungarian] Alulírott, NETGEAR, Inc. nyilatkozom, hogy a NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 megfelel a vonatkozó alapvetõ követelményeknek és az 1999/5/EC irányelv egyéb elõírásainak. Polski [Polish] Niniejszym NETGEAR, Inc.
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Contents About This Manual Conventions, Formats, and Scope ................................................................................... ix How to Use This Manual ................................................................................................... x How to Print This Manual .................................................................................................. x Revision History .................................................................................................
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Creating a Profile ............................................................................................................... 8 Access Point Profiles .................................................................................................. 9 Setting up a Computer-to-Computer (Ad Hoc) Profile ............................................... 10 Starting a Computer-to-Computer (Ad Hoc) Network Connection .....................
About This Manual The NETGEAR® RangeMax™ Dual Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual describes how to install the NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 with custom setup, configuration, and troubleshooting. For express installation, please see the Installation Guide. The information in this manual is intended for readers with intermediate computer and Internet skills.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual • Scope. This manual is written for the RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter according to these specifications: Product Version NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 Manual Publication Date June 2009 For more information about network, Internet, firewall, and VPN technologies, see the links to the NETGEAR website in Appendix B, “Related Documents.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual – – Printing a PDF chapter. Use the PDF of This Chapter link at the top left of any page. • Click the PDF of This Chapter link at the top left corner of any page in the chapter you want to print. The PDF version of the chapter you were viewing opens in a browser window. • Click the print icon in the upper left of your browser window. Printing a PDF version of the complete manual.
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Chapter 1 Basic Setup This chapter includes instructions for custom installation of your wireless-N USB adapter and basic configuration. There are two methods that you can use to install the wireless-N USB adapter: • Express Installation uses the NETGEAR Smart Wizard configures your adapter automatically. This method is explained in the Installation Guide.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual What You Need Before You Begin Verify that your computer meets the minimum system requirements and identify the wireless network settings of the wireless local area network (WLAN) where you will connect before you install and connect your wireless-N USB adapter.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual potential sources of interference, such as the following: • Large metal surfaces • Microwave ovens • 2.4 GHz cordless phones Note: If there is 2.4 GHz interference at your location, such as from a cordless phone, you can change the setting to 5 GHz for better wireless throughput if your wireless router or access point supports it. See “Advanced Settings” on page 2-23. In general, wireless devices can communicate through walls.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Installing the WNDA3100v2 Software To install the wireless-N USB adapter with custom setup: 1. Insert the Resource CD. If the CD main page does not display, browse the files on the CD and double-click Autorun.exe. 2. Select Install the Software. The Software Update Check screen displays. 3. If you are connected to the Internet, click Check for Updates. If not, click Install from CD. 4. The NETGEAR Smart Wizard Welcome screen displays.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual • • Smart Wizard. Allows you to manage your wireless networks with the NETGEAR WNDA3100v2 software and to connect securely using Push 'N' Connect. – Configure network manually. Specify the settings for your wireless-N USB adapter in the Settings screen. – by install assistant. Allow the Smart Wizard Install Assistant to automatically configure the settings for your wireless-N USB adapter. Windows Utility.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Connecting to a Wireless Network If you installed the Smart Wizard, you can use the WNDA3100v2 software to connect to a wireless network.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual 2. Create a wireless settings Profile. The Smart Wizard asks if you want to save a profile: Figure 1-4 Creating a profile makes it easy to quickly connect to wireless networks in different locations. a. If your wireless network has implemented security, and you did not use Push 'N' Connect, select the radio button for the security type and enter the security passphrase in the Passphrase field. b.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual e. Your settings are saved to the profile you selected 3. The WNDA3100v2 icon appears in the system tray and on the desktop. The Smart Wizard Settings tab also displays (see “Smart Wizard Status Bar” on page 1-11) and the adapter initiates your wireless connection. It can take up to a minute to complete your connection.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual 2. Attach the smooth side of the fastener to the back of your monitor, near the top for better reception. Figure 1-7 3. Insert the adapter in the plastic cradle and attach the USB cable to the adapter and the computer. 4. Attach the cradle with the adapter to the side of the PC monitor where you placed the fastener. Figure 1-8 1-9 v1.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Monitoring Your Wireless Network and the Internet Connections The wireless-N USB adapter has indicators in three locations that show the status of your connection to a wireless network and to the Internet: • WNDA3100v2 icon. After you install the WNDA3100v2 software, the icon appears on the desktop and in the right on the Windows task bar. It is color coded to show the status of the connection.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual If you right-click the WNDA3100v2 icon in the system tray, you can disable its Internet notification feature by clearing the check mark enabling notification, as shown in the following figure. If you do so, then only the IP address is shown. Figure 1-9 In Vista, there is one more option: Enable NETGEAR Smart Wizard.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Understanding the Status Bar (continued) Channel The wireless channel used by the network. If many wireless networks in your area use the same channel, they can interfere with one another. Data rate To optimize the wireless data rate (throughput), connect to a network with a highspeed router or access point and a high-speed Internet connection. See Chapter 3, “Wireless Network Performance.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Removing the WNDA3100v2 Software You can remove the wireless adapter software in these two ways: • Select the Windows Start menu > All Programs > NETGEAR WNDA3100v2 Adapter program group > Uninstall NETGEAR WNDA3100v2 Software, and then follow the screen prompts. • Select Windows Start menu >Control Panel > Add or Remove Program, and then select the NETGEAR WNDA3100v2 Adapter option, and follow the screen prompts.
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Chapter 2 Network Connections and Wireless Security This chapter explains how to use your wireless-N USB adapter to connect to your wireless local area network (WLAN) and how to set up wireless security for the wireless-N USB adapter so that it matches the wireless security settings for your network. During installation, if you selected the Custom Setup Type, and the Windows Utility radio button, the features described in this chapter will not be available.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Network Tab Field or Button Description Network Name (SSID) The name assigned to a wireless network. This is the same as the SSID or ESSID configuration parameter. Note that as a security measure, some wireless access points do not broadcast their SSID. In such cases, the SSID field is blank even though the rest of the information is still displayed. Channel The channel determines which operating frequency is used.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual To join a network: 1. Use the icon to open the Smart Wizard. On the status bar, click Join a Network. 2. If the Smart Wizard detects an access point or router with WPS, it displays the WPS screen (Figure 2-3 on page 2-5). WPS is described in “Using Push 'N' Connect (WPS) to Connect to a Wireless Network”. To connect without using WPS, select No, and click Next. 3. Select a network from the drop-down list.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual • The computer with the wireless-N USB adapter must be running Windows XP, or Vista (32/64 bits). Notes: If you connect using WPS and later lose the settings, they can be restored by reconnecting using the WPS procedures described in this section.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Using a WPS Button to Connect to a Wireless Network To join a network using a push button: 1. Click the icon to open the Smart Wizard. On the status bar, click Join a Network. The adapter detects a network with WPS: Figure 2-3 Note: If you are not sure if your router supports WPS, select No to connect.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual 7. Within 2 minutes, return to the wireless-N USB adapter. Either press the WPS button on your wireless-N USB adapter, or click the WPS button on the WNDA3100v2 Smart Wizard screen. Press to connect to a WPS-enabled Figure 2-4 The wireless-N USB adapter security is set to WPA-PSK [TKIP]. Some WPS routers support WPA2-PSK [AES], with the same SSID and passphrase.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual 2. On the status bar, click Join a Network (or click the Networks tab and select the network). The wireless-N USB adapter detects a network with WPS. Figure 2-5 3. To use a PIN, select No to avoid using a push button. Click Next, and then do either of the following: • To use the wireless router or access point’s PIN, enter it in the field provided. The adapter will connect with the router.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual – Write down the generated PIN. Figure 2-7 – On the access point or router that you have selected, log in to the router or access point, then follow the prompts to enter the adapter’s PIN. The router will connect to the adapter. Note: The adapter security is set to WPA-PSK [TKIP]. Some WPS routers support WPA2-PSK [AES], with the same SSID and passphrase.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual • New Profile. If you chose not to save a profile and have connected to a new wireless network, the Profiles field on the Settings screen shows New Profile. • SSID - WPS. When you use WPS to connect to a wireless network, this profile name is created automatically. You can store multiple profiles and recall the one that matches the network you want to join.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual 2. Enter the network settings. a. In the Network Type section, make sure that Access Point (Infrastructure) is selected. b. In the Profiles field, type a name for the profile. c. In the Network Name (SSID) field, select a network or enter the SSID. Note: You will not get a wireless network connection unless the network SSID matches exactly the SSID used by the access point. 3. Specify the wireless security for the network. 4.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual To create an Ad Hoc mode profile: 1. Click the icon to open the Smart Wizard. The Settings tab displays: Figure 2-9 2. Enter the network settings. a. Select Computer-to-Computer (Ad Hoc) for the network type. b. Select or enter the network name (SSID) for the Ad Hoc network. c. In the Profiles field, type the name of the profile. d. Click Apply. 3. Save your settings in a profile. a.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual a. On the Windows taskbar, select Start > Run. Figure 2-10 b. Assuming the target PC is configured with 192.168.0.1 as its IP address, type: ping -t 192.168.0.1 and then click OK. c. A continuous ping will be sent to the device with the 192.168.0.1 static IP address. The ping response should change to Reply. Figure 2-11 At this point the connection is established.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual 3. Click Initiate Ad Hoc. The Ad Hoc Setting screen displays: Figure 2-12 4. In the Start Ad Hoc drop-down list, select either 2.4GHz (802.11 b/g), or 5 GHz (802.11a) for your Ad Hoc computer-to-computer network. 5. In the Channel drop-down list, Automatic should work. If you notice interference problems with another nearby wireless device, select a channel that is not being used by other nearby wireless networks.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Wireless Network Name (SSID) and Security Settings Print this form, fill in the configuration parameters, and put it in a safe place for future reference. For an existing wireless network, the person who set up the network can provide this information. • Network Name (SSID). The service set Identification (SSID) identifies the wireless local area network.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Setting Up WPA-PSK [TKIP] or WPA2-PSK [AES] Security To configure WPA-PSK security: 1. Run the WNDA3100v2 Smart Wizard. a. Make sure that the WNDA3100v2 software is installed and the wireless-N USB adapter is fully inserted in a USB port in your computer. b. Use the icon to open the Smart Wizard. The Settings tab displays. 2. Configure the Security settings. a. In the Profile field, select the profile, or type in a profile name. b.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual b. Click Apply, and then click Close to exit the Smart Wizard. Setting Up WEP Encryption Security Follow the steps below to configure WEP encryption security: 1. Run the WNDA3100v2 Smart Wizard. a. Make sure that the WNDA3100v2 software is installed and the wireless-N USB adapter is connected to the USB port in your computer. b. Use the icon to open the Smart Wizard. The Settings tab displays. 2. Configure the Security settings. a.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Note: Larger encryption keys require more processing and may slow the communications response times. 4. Select Create with Passphrase, and enter the passphrase. The configuration utility automatically generates the WEP keys. Note: The characters are case-sensitive. Be sure to use the same passphrase for all the wireless devices in the network.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Table 1. Statistics Descriptions Label Description 1. Transmit/Receive Performance (%) A real-time graph identifies the total, receive, and transmit utilization as a percentage of the total possible. 2. Transmit, Receive, and Total (TxRx) Radio buttons let you select whether to display the transmit performance, the receive performance, or both in the same graph. 3.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual About Tab Field Device Smart Wireless Utility Description Regional Domain This is the region setting for the wireless adapter. The approved channels for the region are automatically scanned. Governments regulate the channels used for wireless transmission. Operating the wireless adapter in a different region might violate local laws Driver version The wireless adapter driver version.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Figure 2-17 • 2.4GHz Preamble. An Auto setting might give slightly better performance. A Long setting might provide a more reliable connection or slightly longer range. • Transmit Power. Lowering the output power level lets you reduce the chance of interference with other nearby access points but reduces the range of your adapter. • Wireless Mode. You can change the wireless mode, though the default setting works for either 2.
Chapter 3 Wireless Network Performance This chapter explains how to use your wireless-N USB adapter to connect to your wireless local area network (WLAN) and how to maximize the performance of your wireless-N USB adapter within your network. Included are scenarios for setting up your network in a mixed use environment and the trade-off of using different types of technology—wireless, wired, or Powerline.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Avoid windows unless communicating between buildings. Place wireless devices away from various electromagnetic noise sources, especially those in the 2400–2500 MHz frequency band. Common noise-creating sources are: • – Computers and fax machines (no closer than 1 foot) – Copying machines, elevators, and cell phones (no closer than 6 feet) – Microwave ovens (no closer than 10 feet) Choose your settings.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Figure 3-1 In planning your network, think about which tasks will have the heaviest traffic flow between them.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual • Wireless A high-speed wireless router can provide a wireless data throughput of up to 300 Mbps using technology called multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO), in which multiple antennas transmit multiple streams of data. The use of multiple antennas also provides excellent range and coverage. With the introduction of the newer WPA and WPA2 encryption and authentication protocols, wireless security is extremely strong.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual • Streaming HD video requires 10 to 30 Mbps per stream. Because latency and packet loss can disrupt your video, plan to provide at least twice the capacity you need. • Streaming MP3 audio requires less than 1 Mbps per stream and does not strain most modern networks. Like video, however, streaming audio is also sensitive to latency and packet loss, so a congested network or a noisy link can cause problems.
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Chapter 4 Troubleshooting This chapter provides information about troubleshooting your wireless-N USB adapter. For information about connecting to wireless networks and the Internet, see “Basic Setup” in Chapter 1. Troubleshooting Tips Use the following information to solve common problems you may encounter. Also, refer to the knowledge base on the NETGEAR website at http://www.netgear.com/support. Table 4-1. Troubleshooting Tips Problem Action The LED is not lit.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Table 4-1. Troubleshooting Tips (continued) Problem Action I cannot connect to a router or access point. • If the router is WPA-PSK protected, you need the correct The router is available, and there is good WPA-PSK passphrase. signal strength. • The wireless-N USB adapter might still be connected to the previous wireless network. Use the Networks tab to view networks in your area and to select the correct wireless network.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Table 4-1. Troubleshooting Tips (continued) Problem Action How can I view the IP address for the wireless-N USB adapter? To view the wireless-N USB adapter IP address, click the WNDA3100v2 icon to open the Smart Wizard. Then check the IP address in the About page. No IP address is assigned to the RangeMax This can occur if you upgraded your WNDA3100v2 software Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter. and did not reboot your system.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual To delete Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q815485: 1. Select Start > Control Panel > Add/Remove Programs. 2. Select Windows XP Hotfix (SP2) Q815485, and then click Remove. • You might receive an error message that states that some program on the computer may not work correctly if the update is removed. • You can ignore this error message, and then click Yes to remove the update. 3.
Appendix A Technical Specifications and Factory Default Settings Technical Specifications The following table provides technical specifications for the wireless-N USB adapter. Antenna 2 integrated internal wireless antennas Standards 802.11a, 802.11n draft 2.0, 802.11g, or 802.11b Radio Data Rate 1, 2, 5.5, 6, 9, 11, 12, 18, 24, 36, 48, 54, 108, 140, 246, and 300 Mbps (Auto Rate Sensing) Frequency 2.4 GHz to 2.
NETGEAR RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB Adapter WNDA3100v2 User Manual Factory Default Settings The following table lists the default settings of your wireless-N USB adapter.
Appendix B Related Documents This appendix provides links to reference documents you can use to gain a more complete understanding of the technologies used in your NETGEAR product. Document Link Windows XP and Vista Wireless Configuration Utilities Application Note http://documentation.netgear.com/reference/enu/winzerocfg/ index.htm Internet Networking and TCP/IP Addressing: http://documentation.netgear.com/reference/enu/tcpip/index.htm Wireless Communications: http://documentation.netgear.
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