best wireless adapter?

[Salamander]

I'm looking to get a wireless adapter for a desktop. The desktop is on the first floor of the house, and the router is on the second floor. The router is a Netgear WNDR4500. Windows 7 OS.

I'm looking for the best wireless adapter in terms of maintaining a connection, throughput, and speed. Suggestions?

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless dependents on the Environment. In many cases there is No Uni solution that can be solved with One Wireless source (Like Wireless Router) and one Wireless Card.

Given environment that is conducive to Uni Hardware solution. The best solution is Not to use Wireless card but to get two identical Wireless Router that have Dual Radio and can be configured as a Wireless bridge.

One Router can be used as the source main Router, and the other configure as a Client Wireless Bridge (That is actually making the Wireless Router to act as a universal Wireless card that does not need Drivers), then place it in a good location in the room and plug it with to the wire port of the computer.

The current most cost effective of such arrangement is to use two refurnished Cisco E4200. http://homestore.cisco.com/en-us/Ro...-router_stcVVproductId133604734VVviewprod.htm

Otherwise. if it must be a card, a cost effective Dual Wireless card is this.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833166046

 

[OlafSicky]

I would use intel 6300 with an adapter

 

[JackMDS]

I would use intel 6300 with an adapter

Really? use a puny low power Laptop card with an adapter and No Antenna.

 

[OlafSicky]

Really? use a puny low power Laptop card with an adapter and No Antenna.

Yes http://www.hwtools.net/Adapter/MP2H_632458.html this is the best you can get for desktop hands down great intel drivers etc. I have tried many cards out there but nothing beats this solution.

 

[Salamander]

I'll check it out. Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

Wireless design inside a latop is different than desktop.

The fact that this physically can be done is meaningless.

You can buy a Ferrari engine and put it on an wooden box with 4 wheels, the outcome is Not a Ferrari.

At the end, the Antennae is on the wall of the Case, and the card is is only 25mW.

Because of the adapters and extension cables residing in a Desktop environment the SNR will be high.

It probably work as well as any low cost Dual for short range, but to call this the Best solution, it is a big stretch.

 

[OlafSicky]

It's the best desktop solution for under $50

 

[Salamander]

So, if price wasn't a consideration, what would be the best desktop solution?

 

[JackMDS]

In one installation I have two Giga capable Desktop so I use E4200 as a Wireless Bridge

Without a Giga in another installation I use the $34 E2500 Flashed with DD-WRT and configured as Wireless Bridge.

 

[Engineer]

I'm using an E2000 router in wireless Ethernet mode (flashed with Tomato). I've had much better luck with routers flashed with Tomato than any wireless card that I've tried. Pull between 12 to 20MB (megabytes) per second between PC's in the house (depending on file type) using the 5GHz band.

Refurb E2000 cost $20 when I bought it.