USB adaptor or wireless card?

Big Chris

Big Chris

Big Chris

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Bloxham
I'm moving back in with my Olds for a bit while I save for a new place to live, but I'm going to be stuck in the attic room so no cable connection to the Virgin DSL connection.

Would I be better off with a wireless network card for my PC or will a wireless USB adaptor do the trick? It's only for a month or two and I'll just be net-surfing with the occasion overnight download - no gaming etc.
 
USB seems to be the cheaper and more straight-forward option, are they actually any good or will I be throwing it out of the window within days?
 
They should work fine, however USB was never really designed for networking imo so a proper PCI card would be preferred if used permanently but for a month or so it should be okay, unless there is only a quid difference in price or something :)
 
USB adaptors are sometimes useful if the machine is located in a signal blackspot e.g. behind a large metal filing cabinet, as they can be positioned better with a simple extension lead. Other than that, stick with internal wifi for a laptop.
 
Ah right well at the gf's they have a DGN2000 netgear and the wireless range is extreamly poor. And my laptop (wireless is 54mbps). Trial of elimination really to get a wirelsss N usb - ive bought one anyway just to try.
 
I hope so ive orderd a N usb dongle WN111 just hope i can get to the back of the house with it.
 
I'm always amazed by the range wireless can do. Our BT homehub signal on the bottom floor can be clearly received through a USB wireless dongle 5 floors up in a very old, thick walled/floored house.

The biggest blocker of signal i have found is the pc itself though. If your pc is between ur wireless dongle and your router, turn your PC round - it will probably help:)
 
USB all the way when I built my new machine my old netgear PCI card wasn't compatible.
So I went to local shop so I could get on to the internet but they only had a USB netgear device in stock was a bit hesitant at first but never looked back since.

I've got a wireless N network now and my USB dlink new device is giving me a speed of 300mbps
pretty fantastic!
 
Well i have my wireless N usb dongle installed and running but it still doesn't get to the back of the house :( but now have double kbps so im happy anyway.
 
Got a standard 54mbps USB dongle for a tenner, it only has to reach the office at the bottom of the stairs so hopefully I won't have too much trouble with it.
 
I was just about to ask this exact question but mines on a more permanent basis. Is the general consensus that PCI wireless cards will be better than a USB one? I'm using a wireless-N network with a Netgear DGND3300 (RangeMax + Dual Band) if that makes a difference.

On that basis of that, what PCI/USB N-adaptor would be best?

edit: Should point out I'm running W7 x64 as it seems some wireless adaptors don't like it.
 
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PCI is 'better' although as mentioned USB gives you a bit more flexibility in terms of receiver position.
Personally the most annoying thing I find about USB is there is more of an initialisation delay, i.e. a pci card will connect quicker to the access point after booting etc.
Obviously it depends on your individual setup, e.g. how many spare pci/usb ports you have. These days you probably want to keep as many USB ports free as possible.
If it's a temporary measure than USB is a bit easier to plug'n'play however i.e. you can just rip it out when you're finished rather than having to faff about removing a pci card.
 
Thanks.
I was looking at the Netgear WN311T because its RangeMax and has an massive external antennae (which I assume would pick up signal well) but it seems its been discontinued. Any recommendations for a good RangeMax PCI that would work well with my DGNG3300?
 
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