Making a desktop PC capable of Wifi, how?

i know nothing · 3 Jan 2020 at 19:32

I have a desktop PC, currently connected via an ethernet cable to my BT hub/router thingy. Want to move the PC to a bedroom upstairs without any hard wiring, so need to use the hub/router's wifi connection.

So how do I go about this? Can I just buy a USB Wifi dongle like this one? Or should I be using a PCI card like this one? These two I've picked somewhat randomly, maybe there's other hardware I should be looking at?

Which would be best for me to take advantage of the new super fast fibre connection I signed up for?

i know nothing · 3 Jan 2020 at 20:33

tamzzy said:
jfyi: considered a powerline adapter?

No I haven't actually, do they perform well/better?

i know nothing · 3 Jan 2020 at 20:44

WJA96 said:
1. What is the motherboard in your PC? What free PCIe slots does it have?
2. What router do you have?

This is the motherboard I have, all slots currently free, only have a graphics card in there.
Just the router that BT provide.

If it helps, the PC will be about 5-7 metres away from the BT hub.

i know nothing · 3 Jan 2020 at 20:45

matt100 said:
More to the point what are you using it for? If you're not gaming or transferring big files argueably any adapter that works will be fine.

I use it for my photography, so will be transferring lots of files to my cloud a/c. Most photographs (files) are in the 10-30Mb range, there tends to be lots of them though.

i know nothing · 3 Jan 2020 at 20:55

WJA96 said:
Can I suggest another option - Mikrotik Wireless Wire?

Whilst I have no doubt that such a solution would be fantastic, bit too expensive for me I'm afraid. Hadn't expected to be looking at something that would cost more than £50 to be honest.

i know nothing · 3 Jan 2020 at 20:56

Holst1981 said:
Wi-fi speed should easily exceed your internet upload speed.

I prefer a PCIx card but usb will be ok as well.

Could you suggest a PCIx card for me to look at? Thanks

i know nothing · 3 Jan 2020 at 21:16

WJA96 said:
if it’s only 5-7m is there no way to run a cable?

No easy way of getting a cable upstairs without it getting messy going up the wall.

WJA96 said:
if you can’t run a cable then the BT Hub is probably only 3x3 so I’d use this WLAN card.

What is 3x3 WJA96? Just trying to make some sense of all this.

i know nothing · 4 Jan 2020 at 10:08

Thanks WJA96 for the explanation. :cool: