USB Wireless NICs

[Bateluer]

Like this


How well do that work compared to PCI wireless NICs?

 

[Garion]

In general, better.

Wireless is all about signal strength and antenna positioning. The WORST place you can have a wireless card is behind a bug chunk of metal and interference - Your PC.

Your best bet is to get a USB wireless card and a USB extention cable. You can then move the card around to the place that it gets the best signal and leave it there.

edit: Unless it's for a laptop. If so, the USB ones like a memory card get broken off too easily and you should use a PCMCIA card.

- G

 

[JackMDS]

Originally posted by: GarionUnless it's for a laptop. If so, the USB ones like a memory card get broken off too easily and you should use a PCMCIA card. - G

Very true happened to me once.

In general Wireless PCI cards are better, but as said by Garion it really all about the signal.

As an Example if the USB is connected with a 3' USB extension cord and it sits Free of Obstructions above the system it would perform better then a PCI with the Antenna stuck down, behind the case, and the wall.

PCI card with 3' coax extension and a good Omni Antenna would perform much better than a USB ?Finger?.

In addition, USB "Fingers" have heat dissipation problem (they are small and close in a tight plastic encasement) and many of them reduce their performance so they do not self-fry.

:sun:

 

[Bateluer]

I was looking into this for my desktop mainly, my notebook has built in wireless.

 

[Todd33]

I have been though two generic brand USB ones so far. When you get it working, be sure to ping your router with "ping -t" and watch the numbers.