adding a wifi card to home pc

[Rocketman122]

I have a tplink td-w9970 modem router and a dlink dsl 6850U. I have it wired to the pc. but id also like my pc to be able to connect to it through wifi if I need. can someone recommend a wifi card I can install to connect in my pc so if I can connect it through wifi?
nothing super high end. something decent. I have a 40mb DL/3mb UL package

 

[John Connor]

If your computer has a PCI-e slot.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704129

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA4P03CW2924

If you are far away from the router.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIA24G1XA5532

You really should just keep using the ethernet cable. It will be a lot better. WIFI comes with issues sometimes and adds too much over head.

 

[fralexandr]

why not go with one of the various usb wireless adapters?

something like this (only 150mbit N) if you might upgrade to an AC router in the near future
http://www.amazon.com/TRENDnet-TEW-...8&qid=1450517678&sr=1-2&keywords=802.11ac+usb

or one of these if you're planning on keeping your router for a while
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...00469837 600471998&IsNodeId=1&IsPowerSearch=1

the ones with an external antenna should have better range if you're moving more than ~20-30 feet from the router, or placing it past walls.

Using the pci/pci-e cards can reduce signal slightly since the adapter/antennas are sitting behind the computer case (usually pointing at a wall). Going with a USB adapter lets you put the usb adapter in the front ports or position the usb adapter on top of the case or desk with a usb extension cable.
Probably why the centrino has the antenna at the end of a long cable.

note: higher dbi antennas provide more focused coverage. In the case of typical networking omnidirectional antennas, this results in greater horizontal coverage at the cost of vertical coverage. Usually not an issue except when dealing with many stories/floors.
https://www.pugetsystems.com/labs/articles/Introduction-to-PC-Wireless-Networking-147/page4

 

[John Connor]

I never posted the USB ones because I have had nothing but bad luck with those. I bought two pretty good USB WLANs from Newegg and each didn't work for crap. It may be my router, I have no idea. I use a WT54GL flashed with DD-WRT SP2.

I figure the PCI-e ones will be more reliable and I hear the USB WLANs have heat issues.

 

[JackMDS]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166046R

 

[John Connor]

LOL! That's the exact same one I have.

 

[fralexandr]

yeah i think the usb adapters do have lower reliability, but they're pretty cheap, and I've used them on 3 different computers for a while. If they don't die soon after purchase, they tend to last an ok amount of time. I've had 2 of them die. One ran pretty hot to the touch and didn't last very long, possibly because it was slightly bent and was tiny to begin with. The other was a many year old premiertek that ran warmish. It was a high gain, high transmit power cheap adapter with 5dBI antenna.
http://www.premiertek.net/products/networking/PL-H5DN-3070-RF.html
That said, I've never had a pci wireless card die on me. Still have an old 802.11B card sitting in the closet :S.

My main PC is using a pci wifi card atm. It gets worse signal than the n600 i was using before. It was a desk/top of pc style with 2 antennas. I replaced it because I move the PC to the TV a few times a month, and it's never too far from the router. It decreases the things I have to unplug and move.

edit: wow a lot of us using the dual band rosewill n600 o_o hah.

 

[JackMDS]

The problem is Not the USB per-se.

In the smallish USB units the transmitter is epoxied inside the small dongle and there is No ventilation. Thus the circuits inside are designed to reduce output as the temp. goes up in order to avoid burn out.

MIn addtion, many USB and PCI Wireless cards are installed in ways that the Antenna is stuck on the back of the computer near a wall and thus the Signal propagation is Blocked.

The Rosewill RNX-N600UBE has a larger module unit and it connects to the USB jack with a 3 feet cable.

As a result it does not get hot and it can be placed few feet above the system and propagate the signal well.