USB vs PCI wireless NIC ?

[Mango1970]

Hey all,
Generally is there any performance difference between say a USB and PCI wireless card? I am worried in switching to USB as my older Intel USB wireless adaptor was a price of crud. It would constantly disconnect.

Right now I have a wireless PCI card from DLINK but connected to a N DLINK router which works wonders. However due to where i am in my house I have a long range extender antenna also from Dlink which is directional . That really makes all the difference in my quality of a connection., Using USB I would be stuck using the antenna it comes with right> there are no USB wireless adaptors that allow you change or add an antenna?

Thanks!

 

[JackMDS]

Anything with directional Antenna is better than anything without it.

Otherwise as is, http://www.ezlan.net/faq#wcard

 

[cmetz]

Mango1970, in terms of the interface between the network and the host system, USB sucks. I would definitely recommend PCI in that respect.

In terms of the antenna placement flexibility, many PCI adapters really suck, because the antenna sticks out of the card right next to your big metal computer. There are a few PCI adapters that have a short coax cable to an external antenna you can move away from your computer, or replace with a different one. Those are a lot better. But if you can't find those, the USB adapters normally can be placed away from your computer, which can be better for signal than having the antenna right next to your computer.

So you need to trade between these two factors. If you can find a PCI adapter with an outboard antenna, that would be ideal.

 

[RyanM]

http://www.microcenter.com/single_product_results.phtml?product_id=0246114

I've been dying to have an excuse to buy one, because it's one of the few USB models out there with a detachable antenna. Could make a great laptop adapter. Haven't had any personal experience with it though, so I can't vouch for its quality.