Wireless - USB or PC Card?

wazza

Looking to make my desktop wireless. Is there any difference in performance with USB wireless adaptor and a wireless PCI card. Naturally would prefer to use USB but do not know if it is superior or inferior compared to a PCI card.

Is it advisable to buy a same brand of usb/pci card and wireless router? Just think it will make it more compatible.

Thanks in advance

mrsthrifty_2

my son works in techie and swears by connecting RJ45 where you can on the connection to the router/modem and then take everything else off the wireless or wired routers USB

bought this http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/109521 last week and connected RJ45 to PC and used the free USB adapter included for the laptop.
best wireless so far I have used. great reviews on this product on the link.

tootsie215

I have the same decision to make. I have borrowed a usb adapter but am worried about damaging it when moving the laptop around. Apart from me thinking that the pcmcia card would be more rugged, does anyone know which is more reliable and effective usb or pcmcia? I have an AOL netgear router and borrowed a belkin usb adapter which seems to work ok apart from signal strength luctuating.
T
hanks in advance for any advice.

Jzpop

My personal preference is for a pcmcia card - for the simple reason that it does not take up a valuable USB slot (which most laptops do not have enough of).

Having said that, if a free USB adaptor is bundled with a router, I tend to use that rather than discard it for a pcmcia.

Other considerations - I have seen 6 or more USB wireless adaptors broken by clumsy users forgetting that they were there (and several other USB dongles of different descriptions).

Finally, on the plus side, if you are trying to connect to a weak signal, at least with a USB adaptor you can connect it via a USB extension lead and position the adaptor to give it the best chance of connecting.

wolfman

If you've got a desktop go for a PCI card. It'll mean you'll save one extra USB port, and not have something sticking out of the back of your pc.

Also USB adapters can get hot and be problematic. Especially regarding drivers. If you plan on using Linux any time in the future go for something like the Netgear WG311T. It'll work straight out of the box.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Netgear-WG311T-Mbps-Wireless-Adapter/dp/B00022V29O

wazza

Jzpop wrote: »

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Finally, on the plus side, if you are trying to connect to a weak signal, at least with a USB adaptor you can connect it via a USB extension lead and position the adaptor to give it the best chance of connecting.

that was what i was planning to do. Have an usb extension lead which i can plug the usb device and place it out of harm's way.

by the way i am referring to a pci card for a desktop pc and not pcmcia for a laptop

Xeorix

mrsthrifty wrote: »

my son works in techie and swears by connecting RJ45 where you can on the connection to the router/modem and then take everything else off the wireless or wired routers USB

bought this http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/109521 last week and connected RJ45 to PC and used the free USB adapter included for the laptop.
best wireless so far I have used. great reviews on this product on the link.

Yes! Brilliant deal. Worked like a treat, basically just "plug and play"