WiFi Adapter

BeeRad

BeeRad

BeeRad

Associate
Joined
9 Nov 2019
Posts
58
Hi guys,

Need some advice, I’m currently using a WiFi extender with an Ethernet plugged in but it seems to pretty poor so was thinking of buying a WiFi adapter instead.

Would like one that covers 5Ghz so I can get faster speeds but not sure who, what or where to go.

thanks in advance
 
When you say you are using an extender with ethernet plugged into it do you mean this?

1. Extender connects to your router via WiFi
2. Extender has an Ethernet socket on it into which you plug a wired device?

If so you're effectively using it as a wireless bridge and not really what an extender was designed for. An extender is designed to sit halfway between your WiFi router and a WiFi blackspot where you want a Wifi client to connect. It halves the speed it can achieve but extends the signal further out.

Before suggesting solutions (I don't think a WiFi adapter in your client device is going to improve the situation) can I ask if you can run an ethernet cable from your router to anywhere closer to the device you want to connect to it to? Doesn't matter if not all the way (which would be the optimal solution).
 
@BigT

Hi,

Second one, so the extender is connected to my WiFi and I’ve hard wired my PC to the extender via Ethernet.

Unfortunately I’m not able to move everything near the hub
 
So using a WiFi adapter instead of wiring into an extender ostensibly in the same location is unlikely to do anything for you without further modification.

I wasn't asking about moving anything nearer the hub, but rather if you can run a cable from the hub to somewhere nearer your client. Because you have options which I'll list in order of preference. I think only the first three will definitely see an improvement (first option being the best by a country mile), the fourth may work and is low risk to try and I hate the fifth, but some people get acceptable results.

1. Run an ethernet cable from your hub to your client. Go outside and back in if routing it inside is a problem.
2. Run a cable internally from your hub to somewhere closer to your current device. Put an access point on the end of the cable, add a WiFi adapter to your client and connect to the access point wirelessly.
3. Turn off WiFi on your hub, buy a wireless mesh system that also has ethernet sockets, dot them around your house and wire your client into the mesh point you put closest to it.
4. Put a WiFi adapter in your client and use your existing extender as it should be used. Place it half way between your hub and your client and hope the signal reach is improved resulting in better speeds.
5. Use powerline. Put one next to your hub, one next to your client and cable them in. Hope for the best.
 
Thank you for your advice. Really appreciate the help.

I would like to run Ethernet but drilling holes or having wiring run around the house is something I’d avoid.

Reason I was looking for a WiFi adapter is because my current setup doesn’t have one so the only way I can get internet is to use the WiFi extender and plug an Ethernet in.

Ideally looking to keep the costs down so I’m not sure what option to go for :-/
 
If you want the cheapest than Option 4 makes use of what you already have with minimal additional cost. It's sort of what you were considering anyway but also using the extender in the way it is designed to be used. Do you mind posting the make and model of extender you have? Just so we can confirm that it'll work as I'm suggesting.

5Ghz has less range than 2.4Ghz so even though theoretically faster, depending on where everything is physically, you might not see any improvements.
 
And what range/distance from the router?
And what sort of walls/obstacles in the way?
A cheap USB adapter may be all that's needed
I prefer usb to pci/pcie as a long USB cable allows better placement
Height is everything with antennas /aerials
If it's thick Victorian walls then obviously it's more problematic
 
The router is only down stairs do not far at all so I’m confident an adapter for the PC would connect. The adapter I’m using is a netgear one, can’t remember the exact model but only supports 2.4ghz.

@Mcnumpty2323 what USB adapter would you recommend? I’m all ears at the moment
 
BeeRad said:
The router is only down stairs do not far at all so I’m confident an adapter for the PC would connect. The adapter I’m using is a netgear one, can’t remember the exact model but only supports 2.4ghz.

@Mcnumpty2323 what USB adapter would you recommend? I’m all ears at the moment
Click to expand...
Basically anything that has 5db antenna should do the job really
One with removable rp sma antenna allows adding 9db etc antenna if needed
But does not sound like you need that at all
Main thing is usb allows better positioning than an internal card
Though you can also stick extension cable on those too
Personally I like alfa, though that's due to usually good Linux support
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
Basically anything that has 5db antenna should do the job really
One with removable rp sma antenna allows adding 9db etc antenna if needed
But does not sound like you need that at all
Main thing is usb allows better positioning than an internal card
Though you can also stick extension cable on those too
Personally I like alfa, though that's due to usually good Linux support
Click to expand...

being a bit thick but struggling to find one that’s good, could you link me some at all?

thanks
 
BeeRad said:
being a bit thick but struggling to find one that’s good, could you link me some at all?

thanks
Click to expand...
You're not being thick :)
Just looked and there's lot less options of them than there used to be on ocuk
This isn't usb lol
But it does have antenna on extension which gives you the ability to position it which is main thing I was saying
I think this is pretty much the antenna which comes with my built in WiFi, it's also magnetic and mine does work decently
As a bonus should do Bluetooth too I think
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/giga...d-blutooth-5.0-network-adapter-nw-00b-gi.html
 
Mcnumpty2323 said:
You're not being thick :)
Just looked and there's lot less options of them than there used to be on ocuk
This isn't usb lol
But it does have antenna on extension which gives you the ability to position it which is main thing I was saying
I think this is pretty much the antenna which comes with my built in WiFi, it's also magnetic and mine does work decently
As a bonus should do Bluetooth too I think
https://www.overclockers.co.uk/giga...d-blutooth-5.0-network-adapter-nw-00b-gi.html
Click to expand...

Brilliant thank you, will this be alright for gaming ect?
 
BeeRad said:
Brilliant thank you, will this be alright for gaming ect?
Click to expand...
Just went and tested it. Though couldn't try gaming as main pc has no gpu right now :)
My speed is lower than normal, probably due to covid19 somehow so the ping is also higher than usual
But basically
Ethernet was 42MBs down 10MBs up
Ping 16ms
That shark style antenna
41.9MBs down 10MBs up ping 17ms
So basically same as my 30 feet of ethernet cable connected
30 feet from router and 4 plasterboard walls between them
Hope that's helpful
 
That looks like a really good wifi card, I bought a similar one about a year ago https://www.overclockers.co.uk/asus...00-bluetooth-4.2-pci-e-adapter-nw-10a-as.html

And that gigabyte one looks to be slightly higher spec for slightly cheaper, it looks to be a very good wifi card, with the added bonus of bluetooth 5.0 if that's a thing for you.

I upgraded from an old wireles N USB stick, and the connection speed and stability is sooo much better, I get about 68meg down, 10 up, with an 11ms ping on speed test .. that's about average.
Those figures are subjective, my PC is upstairs in a 3 bed semi, at the oposite side of the house to the router which is downstairs.

Router is a standard AC capable virgin jobbie, I cant remember the model.
 
Last edited:
I’ve got a Netgear A7000 USB device. I get 280 Mbps download from speedtest.net which used to easily max out my connection of 236 Mbps down. Now my base connection speed has gone up to 470 Mbps down so I have to use an Ethernet cable to always get full speed.

If your connection with Ethernet is less than 280 Mbps down then I’d recommend one.
 
Hi all,

My GC-WBAX200 arrived today, set it all up and running on 5Ghz from the router but I'm seeing slower speeds than before, today it's been downloading an update beteen 3-4mbps..

Any help please?
 
BeeRad said:
What does this do and how do I use it? Sorry to ask a million questions haha!
Click to expand...

If you select the 10 Gio file it will start downloading it and will give you a MB/sec speed. That’s megabytes not megabits. You don’t need to download the whole file just watch the download speed for a couple of minutes.
 
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