About this product

Product Information

If you’re in the market for a wireless network adapter, then the NETGEAR WNDA3100 may be just what you need. This USB adapter is compact enough to fit in your pocket or the palm of your hand. At home, leave it connected to your desktop computer as a primary Wi-Fi access point. You can even take it with you on the go for wireless access for your laptops and other portable devices wherever you are. One of the most convenient aspects of the NETGEAR WNDA3100 is that it supports plug and play. This device is ideal for use with Windows 7 and 8, Windows Vista, and Windows XP. Windows operating systems can detect and configure your wireless adapter automatically. That means that there’s no need to install drivers or other software to enjoy wireless connectivity for your computers. Another nice characteristic of this product is that it has dual-band capabilities. That means that you can connect your device to either the 2.4- or 5-GHz band. This gives you options when one frequency isn’t available or is providing poor performance due to congestion and other factors.NETGEAR USB adapters implement the 802.11n, or wireless-n, standard. This version employs multiple antennas to achieve faster data rates. N is also fully backward compatible with older standards, such as B and G. WNDA3100 is an n600 adapter. That means that it can achieve up to 300Mbps on either of the dual bands. It’s theoretically possible to achieve 600Mbps by using both bands at the same time. Whether this is practical will depend on the operating system, hardware, and other factors.This USB adapter works with routers produced by NETGEAR and most other router manufacturers. Since these employ a standard-based networking implementation, compatibility among other standardized hardware isn’t a concern. This model can handle the load whether you’re transferring a large file or connected to an online gaming session. Push ‘N’ Connect is a Wi-Fi protected setup, or WPS implementation, that ensures standard security mechanisms wherever you are. The network adapter also features NETGEAR Genie, which makes any necessary installation and configuration a breeze.The WNDA3100 USB adapter comes with a cap that fits snugly over the male USB end. Use this cap to protect your adapter when you take it with you. If you don’t use your wireless adapter on the go, place that cap on the nub at the other end for safekeeping. This product also comes with a mount and a USB extension cable for easier desk placement at home or at work. The added length also gives you some flexibility to find the ideal location.The WNDA3100 wireless adapter requires at least a USB 1.1 slot to communicate with a network. Since the Universal Serial Bus is backward compatible, it works fine with 2.0, 3.0, and so forth. It can even take advantage of the added bandwidth provided by those implementations. NETGEAR recommends this wireless USB adapter for medium to large homes and offices. It weighs a mere 19 grams and measures 3.43 inches by 1.1 inches by 0.55 inches.