External Wireless Card vs Internal Wireless

[Zysoclaplem]

How much more powerful is your average external wireless card compared to an internal laptop?
I just moved into a place that has thick brick walls, and I am having trouble picking up the wireless connection with my laptop. The connection jumps from low to no signal in the blink of an eye. I was thinking about purchasing an external wireless card. I was told it should be alot better at finding and keeping the wireless connection.
I was also told a repeater would help. But a card would also be useful in other places, like school, where as a repeater would not.

 

[Oyeve]

For Wi-Fi I prefer usb models. The usb cable allows you to move the antennae around if you cant get a strong signal. Never liked PCCARD wifi, have to move the whole laptop around to get a better signal.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: Oyeve
For Wi-Fi I prefer usb models. The usb cable allows you to move the antennae around if you cant get a strong signal. Never liked PCCARD wifi, have to move the whole laptop around to get a better signal.

I was told the usb models with the antennas, were not as powerful, and were less reliable.
Is that true?

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Originally posted by: Oyeve
For Wi-Fi I prefer usb models. The usb cable allows you to move the antennae around if you cant get a strong signal. Never liked PCCARD wifi, have to move the whole laptop around to get a better signal.

I was told the usb models with the antennas, were not as powerful, and were less reliable.
Is that true?

Dont know about other brands but I have a few Linksys USBs and my apt is over 1200sf and the AP is on one end and my son's bedroom is on the other end and he gets very good-excellent all of the time. Never got disconneted and he is on his laptop a lot. Too much I personally think.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

Originally posted by: Oyeve

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Originally posted by: Oyeve
For Wi-Fi I prefer usb models. The usb cable allows you to move the antennae around if you cant get a strong signal. Never liked PCCARD wifi, have to move the whole laptop around to get a better signal.

I was told the usb models with the antennas, were not as powerful, and were less reliable.
Is that true?

Dont know about other brands but I have a few Linksys USBs and my apt is over 1200sf and the AP is on one end and my son's bedroom is on the other end and he gets very good-excellent all of the time. Never got disconneted and he is on his laptop a lot. Too much I personally think.

Well you are his father...lol. Boot him off.

Okay thanks for the help. I'll check them both out, and return the one that is less reliable.
The place I live in isnt that large, just about 900 sq ft, but all the walls are solid brick. Great for heating and cooling bills, but a bitch for internet connections...lol.

 

[Oyeve]

Originally posted by: Zysoclaplem

Well you are his father...lol. Boot him off.

Okay thanks for the help. I'll check them both out, and return the one that is less reliable.
The place I live in isnt that large, just about 900 sq ft, but all the walls are solid brick. Great for heating and cooling bills, but a bitch for internet connections...lol.

I do, I flick the cable modem switch to suspend when I want him off.

 

[phisrow]

External vs. internal depends a great deal on the laptop in question. A laptop with a well designed wireless system will be better than all but the best external setups(because the laptop can use the entire back of the LCD to store an antenna. If the laptop is cheap crap, or badly design(or both) even a lousy external solution can be decisively better.

Check out http://www.usbwifi.orcon.net.nz/ for how to turn a cheap USB wifi adapter into a pretty solid setup. It's a trifle large to carry with you; but very cheap to construct, and easily small enough to put on a side table or something.

 

[VisionxOrb]

the Senao/ Engenius eub-362 ext is an awsome b/g usb adapter, Its based on the 5th gen atheros, Has a 200mw transmit power, -96db sensitivity and has a rp-sma jack on the side so you change the antenna to what ever you want.

as far as intermal cards, Im using the Senao/ engenius EMP-8602 mini-pci which is the 6th gen atheros, a/b/g, 400mw tx -98db rx card that is the best internal wireless ive ever used. Ive read people have been worried about using such a hi-powered card in a laptop but ive been using it for months with no problems and runs no hotter than my original broadcom card.

 

[Zysoclaplem]

I bought an external USB adapter, and it didn't work any better. I think my configuration is off.
Blah

 

[zephyrprime]

You need more reception power. Make an antenna like phisrow linked. That's the only way to do it. Or you could buy an antenna to. That would also work. It's gotta be a big one. A little one won't cut it in your case.