WiFi and desktop computers: it's a real pain.

[yell]

Hi!
This is my first post and I want to know your opinions about wireless networking on desktop computers.

I'm an IT hobbyst and often I install home networks to friends.
What I see: many times the wireless connection between routers and desktop PCs are not reliable. The best scenario is bad performance thus the worst scenario is frequent connection drops.
Desktop PCs are often connected via wireless by "cheap" wireless network adapters such as PCI, PCI-Ex and USB network devices.
With "cheap" I mean 15-25 Euros range. In my experience PCI and PCI-Ex adapters are even worse than USB wifi pendrives.

In the same environment, with the same router settings, notebooks don't have any problems and the performances are very good.

Obviously in these cases I already tried to change channel settings, update the drivers, etc.

Are the PSU and Motherboard that cause interference or the crappy chipsets on the adapters?
Could an external adapter for smart TVs (like netgear WNCE2001) solve such problems?
These ethernet-wireless adapters are cheap (30 euros in my country).

Suggestions?
Thanks

 

[VirtualLarry]

Well, the fact that a PC chassis is made out of metal seems to affect the signal.

I tend to use USB WiFi adaptors for clients (high-power G, Realtek chipset, was getting them from meritline.com when they still sold them), but I also was using a USB extension cable, so that they could position the USB WiFi adaptor around the computer where they would get best signal. (Can get USB extension cables from monoprice.com for cheap in quantity.)

I've heard people say that PCI/PCI-E WiFi is better than USB, but I have found that not to be the case, literally, because of the case. The card is stuck in an expansion slot, and then the antenna(s) screwed onto the backplate. Unless the card came with a longer cable and an antenna on a stand, then there are going to be signal reflection/interference problems from the chassis.

The best solution overall, is to use a nice cheap N300 router like the WNR2000v2 Netgear refurbs (can get for $20 easy online), and flash it with DD-WRT, and use it in Wireless Client mode, and connect the PC via onboard ethernet to the router. After setting it up, assuming the router isn't defective, this tends to work 100%.

 

[ericloewe]

PCI-e cards with good external antennae works just as well or better than what a laptop has. Unfortunately, a set of three can easily cost 50-60€.

 

[imagoon]

I generally agree with Larry, Most of the time the huge metal box of the computer interferes with the signal. Since the antenna is supposed to be straight up and down, it is almost always right next to the steel / snaking though various cables etc so it gets signal reflections and the like. Moving the antennas away from the computer tend to help quite a bit.

 

[JackMDS]

The Antenna should be one cable extended above the system and free of obstructions.

It was easy to do it with 802.11g, the current 802.11n MIMO Antenna feed makes it difficult to extend correctly.

A good solution is some thing like this.

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

Comes with a cable that plug to USB and can be placed few feet above the system.

Antenna are 4dbi as oppose to the standard 2.2dbi.

Dual Radio. Only $30.

 

[Fardringle]

A big part of the problem with using a wireless adapter on a PC is that the PC case is usually shoved under (or inside) a desk and pushed back against the wall so the wireless antenna is enclosed in a space where the radio signals are restricted and can't easily penetrate. So, as Jack said, if you use an adapter with an antenna that is on an extended cord so the antenna can be placed above the desk in a position where it can receive a good signal, then they can work just as well as - or in some cases better - regular laptop wireless adapters.

 

[yell]

Thank you guys for your replies!
I live in italy, we have no newegg
but I can find this: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16833122373 as described in my first post.
Could it do the trick? Alternatively I'll buy a WNR2000: its price is the same of a new USB/PCI adapter :|

 

[Lemon law]

I have had excellent results the USB netgear products, in terms of making desk top computers into wireless receivers.

But be warned, you have to turn on various wireless services in the windows control panel, by making sure they start automatically.

 

[lakedude]

Yell that NETGEAR WNCE2001 should work fine. I've got something similar.

Note that some PCI slot adapters come with a remote antenna which will also work.

Software plays a big role, some will reconnect after disconnect some will not. The newer stuff is much better in this regard.

 

[Fardringle]

That Netgear device is designed to be used with TVs and other non-PC devices. While it can work, be aware that it has its own DHCP server that can (and will) interfere with any other router on your network, and will make it so that you cannot communicate with other computers and devices on the network. It should work fine for just getting Internet access through your wireless router, though.

 

[yell]

First test:
my cousin's workstation. Router placed on the lower floor, it's a DNG2200 N300 Single Band.
Bought Netgear WNA3100, N300, Single band USB adapter.

Bandwith:
Workstation with USB adapter: 7 to 8 Mbits/s
Laptop with internal wifi adapter: 12 to 13 Mbits/s.
ADSL Line: 15 Mbits/s.

Not bad but the performance are low than laptop.
Laptop and Workstation are on the same desk.
USB adapter was placed near notebook, away from the wall and from the computer case (here, near the wall, the performances are very bad, impossible to surf the internet).