USB Wireless adapter/dongle/thing needed for PC

Crabman

Hey Hey

I'm awaiting delivery of my router from AOL but only prob is that although my lappy has Wi-Fi, my desktop is much more a senior citizen in that it doesn't have an ethernet socket or a wireless card.

So, I'm after one - any ideas/places to go for this because I'm not sure where to look. I understand there are USB ones but also internal cards too? If so, are they hard to fit and will I need to do much fiddling about with the motherboard like removing it? I'm not too confident about messing with the insides but if it's a large saving then I'll have a go.

Thanks techies :T

Crabman

bingo_bango

Not hard to do as long as you have a spare PCI slot. You just slot it in, switch on, and presto...wireless on a desktop.

If you don't have a spare PCI slot, you will be able to lose a modem if there is one installed, as you won't need it.

edit: meant to say.....it literally is as easy as opening the cover of the machine, removing one card (one screw holds it in), and slotting the other card in. Put the cover back on, and switch on.

espresso

Save yourself time and money and fit a network card. USB will always be second best.

albertross_2

if it is going to be next to the router, just get a cheap ethernet card..

http://www.ebuyer.com/customer/search/?strSearch=&intCatID=109&bolShowAll=true&intSubcatUID=1151

Are you positive it doesn't have one, most stuff made in the last 10 years have them built-in.

Chippy_Minton

Fitting a PCI network card is easy. See this guide - http://www.lifehacker.com/software/feature/how-to-install-a-pci-card-135479.php

Crabman

espresso wrote:

Save yourself time and money and fit a network card. USB will always be second best.

I've got to say £2.90 for a wifi card is fantastic value :T Any preference for which one I should get from the list there? Also is it a ".g" wireless card because I can't see any compatibility with a normal 802.11g Netgear router?? I'm new to all this :rotfl:

espresso

Crabman wrote:

I've got to say £2.90 for a wifi card is fantastic value :T Any preference for which one I should get from the list there? Also is it a ".g" wireless card because I can't see any compatibility with a normal 802.11g Netgear router?? I'm new to all this :rotfl:

They are not WiFi cards they are Network cards! These will allow you to connect to the router using an Ethernet cable. A you can see they are cheap as chips and there are many to choose from so read the reviews.

HTH

Crabman

espresso wrote:

They are not WiFi cards they are Network cards! These will allow you to connect to the router using an Ethernet cable. A you can see they are cheap as chips and there are many to choose from so read the reviews.

HTH

Thanks for that

I've got the problem that I can't get the router near the computer because my master line enters the house by the front door, then there is an internal extension to the kitchen, where I've installed a splitter and a DIY extension to the computer through the wall into our living room (using an ultra slim cable). I've heard that broadband doesn't go well with extensions especially if there are two in series I was planning on having the router by the front door on master socket then everything on wireless. or you may have a better idea than me :rotfl: everyone has better ideas than me :rotfl: I can be a right thicko sometimes, like not realising the cards were ethernet not wireless :doh:

espresso

It is not necessary to plug a modem or router directly into the master socket for it to work well. This is often suggested to people if they are having problems as it eliminates the house extension wiring but a few extra metres of cable does not normally cause a problem. Personally I would try using it next to your PC connected via an Ethernet cable.

HTH

Crabman

espresso wrote:

It is not necessary to plug a modem or router directly into the master socket for it to work well. This is often suggested to people if they are having problems as it eliminates the house extension wiring but a few extra metres of cable does not normally cause a problem. Personally I would try using it next to your PC connected via an Ethernet cable.

HTH

But if we do develop problems with the router (the first extension is 25 yrs old if that matters ) then it'll be more trouble to then get a wifi card for the PC I'm just thinking ahead a bit and think it'd be easier if I either got an internal WiFi card or maybe one which is ethernet and wifi? Do these combos exist?

Edit: I've found these two on Amazon - £14.95 for USB or the internal card but only up to WEP encryption not WPA

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000ET64G6
http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B000ET7I1Q

Any good??

espresso

Well I would never use USB for a network connection, so either a network card or a Wifi card. I prefer to have at least one PC connected using an Ethernet cable. I can never understand why people think that a few extra metres of internal cable in the property is significant when compared with several kilometres to the exchange. This cable could easily be 25 years old as well.

:eek: