The Hamlet Wireless USB 600AC Dual Band USB Adapter is a device designed to upgrade the wireless capabilities of notebooks and desktop computers to the 802.11ac standard. This next-generation wireless technology aims to provide high speed and stability for network connections. The adapter supports dual-band frequencies, allowing for wireless connection speeds of up to 433Mbps on the 5GHz band, which is particularly suitable for demanding applications like HD video streaming and online gaming. Additionally, it can achieve speeds of up to 150Mbps on the 2.4GHz frequency, ideal for general web surfing, provided that the connected router also supports these speeds.
The device comes with a client utility interface that facilitates its installation and management. The installation process is straightforward, typically involving inserting the USB wireless network adapter into an available USB 2.0 port on the computer while it is powered on. If a driver installation prompt appears, users are usually advised to cancel or close it, as the necessary drivers are provided on an included CD-ROM. Upon inserting the CD, an autorun screen should appear, offering options to install the driver or view the user manual. If the autorun does not initiate automatically, users can manually launch the autorun.exe file from the CD. The installation proceeds through a wizard, requiring users to follow on-screen prompts and click "Next" to continue and "Finish" to complete the process.
Once the driver installation is complete, a new icon for the wireless utility software will appear on the desktop and in the system tray near the clock. This icon serves as a visual indicator of the wireless connection status and provides quick access to the configuration utility. A left-click on the icon launches the wireless network configuration utility, while a right-click opens a quick menu for configuration options. The icon's color changes to reflect the status of the wireless connection: a strong signal indicates a good connection, a weaker signal indicates an established but less robust connection, a different color signifies no established connection, and yet another color indicates that the wireless network adapter is not detected.
To connect to a wireless access point, users can utilize either the client utility that comes with the network adapter driver or the Windows Zero Config utility provided by the operating system. When using the client utility, users can click the icon in the system tray to open the Wireless LAN Utility. Within this utility, navigating to the "Available Network" tab allows the adapter to scan for nearby wireless access points. After a brief wait, a list of accessible access points will be displayed. If the desired access point is not visible, a "Refresh" button can be used to rescan. If it still doesn't appear, moving the computer closer to the access point might help.
Once the desired access point is listed, users can double-click it or select it and click "Add to Profile." If the access point requires a password (Network Key), users will be prompted to enter it in the designated text field and confirm it. The utility automatically selects the appropriate network security type (Network Authentication and Data encryption) based on the access point's settings, so manual adjustment of these settings is generally not required. After entering the password and confirming, the adapter will attempt to connect. The connection process may take a few seconds to minutes. A "Status" indicating "Associated" confirms a successful connection, after which the client configuration utility can be closed. If the connection drops shortly after being established, users are advised to check security settings and re-verify the password spelling.
The client utility also offers profile management features, which are particularly useful for users who frequently connect to different wireless access points, such as those at home, the office, or public hotspots. By storing connection parameters as profiles, users can avoid re-entering settings each time they wish to connect. To manage profiles, users can right-click the client configuration utility icon and select "Open Config Utility," then navigate to the "Profile" tab. The "Available Profile" window displays existing profiles, and buttons on the right side allow for adding, removing, editing, duplicating, or setting a default profile.
Adding a new profile involves clicking the "Add" button and then inputting the connection parameters for the specific wireless access point. This includes the profile name, Network Name (SSID), and channel (for ad-hoc connections). For secure connections, users must configure wireless network security options, including Network Authentication, Data encryption, ASCII/PASSPHRASE, Key Index, and Network key/Confirm network key. The utility provides detailed descriptions for each parameter to guide users. Once all parameters are filled, clicking "OK" saves the new profile. Existing profiles can be removed by selecting them and clicking "Remove," or edited by selecting and clicking "Edit." Duplicating a profile is convenient for creating new profiles with similar settings, and a selected profile can be set as the default connection.
The utility also provides general information, status, and network statistics. The "General" tab displays details about the connected access point, such as status, speed (Tx/Rx), type (Infrastructure or Ad-Hoc), encryption, SSID, signal strength, link quality, and network address. A "ReNew IP" button is available for obtaining a new IP address from a DHCP server. The "Status" tab offers more detailed information about the wireless network adapter, including manufacturer, NDIS driver version, encryption, authentication, channel set, MAC address, data rate, and uptime. The "Statistics" tab presents statistical data on wireless adapter performance, such as Tx OK, Tx Error, Rx OK, Rx Packet Count, Rx Retry, and Rx ICV Error, with a "Reset" button to clear these statistics.
Other settings available through the utility include options to "Show Tray Icon" (to display or hide the utility icon in the system tray), "Radio Off" (to disable the wireless radio), "Disable Adapter" (to disable the wireless network adapter entirely), and "Virtual WiFi allowed" (to access Soft AP configuration).
A key feature of the Hamlet adapter is its support for Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS), which simplifies establishing secure wireless connections. If the access point is WPS-enabled, users don't need to manually configure encryption settings. The adapter supports two WPS methods: PIN code and Push Button Configuration (PBC). For PIN code setup, users navigate to the "Wi-Fi Protect Setup" tab in the utility, click "Pin Input Config (PIN)," and then choose whether to select a specific access point or enter an 8-digit PIN code into their AP's configuration menu. The adapter will then attempt to connect securely. For PBC, users click "Push Button Config (PBC)" in the utility and then activate the Push Button function on their wireless access point. The adapter will then establish a secure connection within one minute. PBC is generally easier, but PIN code is recommended if multiple WPS-compatible APs are using PBC.
The adapter also supports a "Soft AP" function, allowing it to act as a wireless Access Point. In this mode, the adapter simulates a real wireless access point, enabling other computers and wireless devices to connect wirelessly to the host computer and share its internet connection. To switch to AP mode, users right-click the client configuration utility icon, select "Mode," and then "Access Point." After a few seconds, the utility will display general information about the software AP, including its SSID and connected wireless clients.
Configuring the Soft AP involves clicking the "Config" button in the "General" tab, which opens the "Wireless Network Properties" window. Here, users can set the Network Name (SSID) and Channel. For security, options for Network Authentication, Data Encryption, ASCII/PASSPHRASE, Key Index, and Network key/Confirm network key are available. Changes are saved by clicking "OK." Ad-Hoc mode is not available when the adapter is in AP mode.
Advanced settings for the Soft AP can be accessed via the "Advanced" menu. These settings include "Beacon Interval," "DTIM Period," and "Preamble Mode." Users are advised to keep these settings untouched unless they understand their implications. A "Set Defaults" button is available to reset all advanced settings to factory defaults if any issues arise.
The "Statistics" tab in AP mode displays data statistics for the software access point, similar to client mode, with a "Reset" button to clear the values.
Finally, the "Internet Connection Sharing (ICS)" option, found in the "General" page in AP mode, allows users to designate a network adapter on their computer as the gateway for all wireless clients to access the internet. If only one network adapter is present (besides the software access point), no selection is needed. If multiple adapters exist, users can select the desired internet gateway from a dropdown menu and click "Apply" to save changes.
Troubleshooting guidance is provided for common issues. If wireless access points are not found in "Site Survey," users are advised to rescan, move closer to known access points, ensure "Ad hoc" function is enabled for direct links, and adjust the adapter's position. If the utility doesn't open, users should check if the adapter is properly inserted, reboot the computer, try another USB port, reinstall drivers, or contact support. For connection issues, users should ensure the correct SSID is entered (especially for hidden networks), verify the passphrase/security key, and check if the access point has MAC address filtering enabled, in which case the adapter's MAC address needs to be added to the AP's allowed list. For slow network performance or issues with large file transfers, moving closer to the access point or changing the radio channel are suggested solutions.
To Next Page
General
Weight and Dimensions