Wireless USB Adaptor!

Infidel

Hi all.

Just a quick question, i want to buy a cheap Usb adaptor so i can go wireless.
As i'll only use it for around 9 months i just want a cheap one for around £10. Can anyone recommend any, and where to buy from?

I was looking at this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Belkin-802-11g-Wireless-Network-Adapter/dp/customer-reviews/B0006374PK/ref=cm_cr_dp_all_top/202-0348139-5920632?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1&customer-reviews.start=1#customerReviews

on amazon, but after reading the latest reviews i have obvioulsy changed my mind. Cheers.

Conor_3

All USB wifi adapters are rubbish with poor range. The Belkin is no better or worse than any other USB adapters.

I'd not touch a Belkin Wifi router with a bargepole though.

Poppycat

I have tried the Belkin I found it a bit flaky.

I found pci cards better, the Netgear or Linksys which I find has a better range than the Netgear card, it also has a longer aerial. I get a better signal from linksys than the netgear which is only about 15 feet away from the router.

They are very easy to fit, just insert in a spare pci slot and tighten up the screw and install software about 15-20 mins including installation of software

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/45602

dkpoole

I'm using a Belkan USB adaptor on my backup PC and it works fine - just inserted the CD & it started first time
Like everything wireless, things work fine on some computer setups but not on others

espresso

Using a PCI card will always give better results than USB dongle, especially if the USB is the much slower USB 1.

free4440273

espresso wrote: »

Using a PCI card will always give better results than USB dongle, especially if the USB is the much slower USB 1.

this I did not know: thanks espresso

System

Have you browsed through Maplins website ? I think they have one for about £14.

toasterman

I tried a D-Link someone lent me, which was rubbish. Would work for several hours (although not at all with the drivers it came with), but randomly decide it wasn't picking up any signal, with no change to location, obstacles, etc.

Then I bought a Linksys one, which was also useless. That one would run for 2-3 hours tops, then lock up and refuse to connect to anything til you rebooted.

When our main router died, I replaced it with a Buffalo airstation. Then I bought a second one and made a wireless bridge between the two. My desktop computer connects (with a CABLE!) to the second Buffalo, and they seem to communicate with each other beautifully.

It's not the cheap option you wanted though.

My advice would be try a PCI card one. But see if you can get one with an extension aerial thing, instead of the normal 3" out the back of the pc you get - as most peoples desktop units are shoved in a cupboard in a corner somewhere, the signal won't be that good.

If it's only temporary though, I'd run a cable under the edge of the carpets and have done with it. There's nothing like the reliability of an actual cable, I can tell you. And you can do that for £10-£15.

Vomityspice

Just go to https://www.ebuyer.com

They are dirt cheap. About £8 last time I looked

Aubs

Toasterman, sounds to me like you have an issue with your USB more so than the USB dongle... I have a couple of USB adaptors and they work ('ed - not used in a while) flawlessly on my extremely old laptop, but plug any of them into the PC, and they work for a few hours and then seem to die - Doesn't seem to be any consistency either as using an extension cable never sorted it. I would say it is definately a USB issue more than the adaptors...

US Robotics USR805422 54mb Wireless USB Adaptor
ebuyer code 85506
Cost me £19.31 (excl VAT) on 17/10/05

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/85506
Unfortunately now discontinued.

At the end of the day, buy a cheap one from somewhere and if it doesn't work as it should, send it back. This site should have given you enough insight to consumer right!!

Anyway, my 2p's worth! - Good luck!

Aubs

bainy

I use 3 Dlink wireless USB adapters along with a Dlink router in my home network and all work perfectly and speed is very near the max of 54mbps on each. Each has been manually configured. A lot of people just expect to get fast speeds etc without properly configuring their networks and giving careful consideration to their surroundings etc. There are a lot of considerations to be taken into account with regards to router placement, does the walls within the house i.e. plasterboard have foil backing for keeping heat in, if so this affects the signal. Flourescent lightning also has an effect on signal as does cordless phones, microwaves and TV's which also hinder performance.If your in a building made of steel and concrete then this can add to signal woes.Types of router and usb adapters are also important, some equipment is'nt interoperable with others, e.g. Dlink router with Belkin USB adapter. Stick to the same manufacturer as your router and you shouldn't have much problem. Routers with omni-directional antenna are much better at signal dispersal than ones with static antenna.

The ones I use have worked flawlessly with both the XP operating system using XP driver disc in box and with Vista operating system whereby the driver is already supported in Vista. Currently using with Vista without any problem. Only downside is the cost @£17.76. These adapters come with there own cradles where they can sit on your desktop and be moved to attain the best signal.In my experience the best wireless networking solutions to purchase are either Dlink or Netgear, nowadays you gets what you pay for, buy cheap you get cheap.

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/74552