Connect Desktop wirelessly?

[speedy2]

I have desktop that I will be using at home. We have DSL and the only phone line/modem/router is on the other side of the house. I want to connect this desktop wirelessly. trying to see what is the best choice. USB or internal? Pros & cons of each? Also, any links to products would be nice.

Also a side note, our DSL connection is 1.5mbps if that means anything. Gotta love living in the country. lol

 

[Tsaico]

I found in general, the usb route is obviously easier for accessibility, but find the antennae to be not as strong. Then the internal cards can be a pain, because adjusting the antennae are generally our of the back of the unit requiring me to move the entire desktop to get to it, and when it is in a cabinet, sometimes that is not so easy. I like the USB models where the actual adapter is a separate unit, not the plug itself kind. I have a few of these, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704053 and they work reasonably well.

I have had some pretty good luck for smaller houses with http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833181127 in times when wireless was poor. My experience in a larger house, 7,000 ish sq ft house, opposite sides of the house, this didn't work well. All the other times I tried this, it was sub 3,000 sq ft houses and they work fine.

I was nervous at first plugging my network into a live electrical outlet, but the 5 or so times I have done it, gotten pretty good results.

 

[pitz]

$10 on eBay gets you a miniPCI-E to PCI adapter with 3 antennas.

Another $10-$20 on eBay gets you a decent Wi-Fi card such as the Intel 4965agn, Intel 6300, Intel 6230, Atheros AR9280, etc.

Look at http://x86wifi.blogspot.com for directions on how to mate them together (ignore the Apple hacking stuff.....and you don't need to buy that specific Broadcom card; the Intel ones I mentioned work great!).

 

[speedy2]

Thanks guys. I didn't realize it, but the new location of this desktop is on the same wall the phone box is on outside. I think with a long drill bit I can easily drop another line right behind this desk. I will try that first before I order one. Thanks again.

 

[Tsaico]

That works better...