Wireless internet help at uni, please

stulaunch

I'm taking my daughter back for her 2nd year at Uni saturday morning. I've been told that she has wireless internet connection in her room.
Can anyone tell me what i need for her computer to connect to internet.
I've an idea she needs a wireless usb adapter. Is that right? If so are there different speeds to choose from?
I will have to pick what i need up from the pc world or currys.
If anyone could enlighten me on which product i need i would be very grateful.

superscaper

If you're not comfortable installing a PCI card (usually better) in the pc then a USB adapter is the way to go. I personally like Netgear's products. Other than that there's not much more specific I can be, as just about anything will do. Most wireless devices are at least "G"/54Mbps standard so I don't think you can really go wrong. My first usb adapter I got was a Netgear WG111 and I never had problems with it (there's newer revisions of it now as well).

"B" standard is 11 Mbps so obviously slower but shouldn't be noticeable on an internet connection, but this is almost obsolete anyway. There are fancy Gplus, MIMO, and N standards/technologies which all improve range and speed but they're pointless if the thing you're connecting to doesn't also have them so can't really advise on it without knowing the wireless of the Uni room. But my guess will be that it's standard "G".

superscaper

Hope that isn't too complicated, it's hard to tell when you take these things for granted how easy others understand them (or not). My personal opinion is go for any Netgear USB wireless adapter depending on your budget, you shouldn't really go wrong from there.

albertross_2

SS, did you mean adapter?

superscaper

albertross wrote: »

SS, did you mean adapter?

Yes I do. Now edited, that'll teach me not to get distracted by people in the middle of typing.

stulaunch

Thanks Superscaper, i'm pretty sure i understand what your saying.
Thanks for your quick response as well.
I just have tomorrow to get it up and running, or its another 300 mile round trip! You know they cant do without msn/facebook etc!!!!!!

albertross_2

I assume it is a pc, and not a laptop?

superscaper

stulaunch wrote: »

I just have tomorrow to get it up and running, or its another 300 mile round trip! You know they cant do without msn/facebook etc!!!!!!

Didn't even have a pc in my first year at uni. (probably good thing, my first room was absolutely loads of stairs up to a castle keep, it was bad enough just with a suitcase).