Board 8 > Have any of you used a USB wifi adapter for a desktop?

(+) Yeah! (+)

And can you speak to it's effectiveness vs a wired connection.

Obviously wired will always be better but where I just moved in to we have the router far away from where my PC is going to go. Until I can figure out a way to run a long ethernet cable I'm gonna have to make do.

Any recommendations for top of the line adapters? I'm gonna check them out at staples today.

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I very often use my cellphone as a tether. It works pretty well. Yours probably has that option, so I don't see any reason that you should buy an extra device that does the same thing, especially if you are planning to get a long cable soon enough anyway.

EDIT: I think I misunderstood. I haven't had a desktop in years. I guess they don't come with the ability to detect wifi still?

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TomNook posted...

I very often use my cellphone as a tether. It works pretty well. Yours probably has that option, so I don't see any reason that you should buy an extra device that does the same thing, especially if you are planning to get a long cable soon enough anyway.

EDIT: I think I misunderstood. I haven't had a desktop in years. I guess they don't come with the ability to detect wifi still?

They do but mine doesn't. I opted out of it because I prefer wired so much but then I ran into this situation with my apartment.

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I have this issue too but I just do the giant ethernet cable thing.
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Yeah, I've used one before and never had any issues. Forget the name since I've now changed to a long ethernet (50ft) because wifi is spotty at my current place.

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I haven't had issues with wifi adapters in years. They've really come a long way since back in the day when you had bad coverage and connection issues.

I generally just buy whatever name brand is around 50 dollars. Haven't had problems in awhile.

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USB is okay, but depending on how far you are from the router a usb might not cut it and you might need to get a pcie card. This is more true if your internet connection allows for dual bands (2.4 and 5) and you want to connect to the better 5ghz band.

I've used both usb and pcie wifi adapters and the pcie ones have always been better in terms of reliability.

KokoroAkechi posted...

USB is okay, but depending on how far you are from the router a usb might not cut it and you might need to get a pcie card. This is more true if your internet connection allows for dual bands (2.4 and 5) and you want to connect to the better 5ghz band.

I've used both usb and pcie wifi adapters and the pcie ones have always been better in terms of reliability.

Even though I think usb is fine, this is definitely true.

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Depends on what you're doing. If you're just browsing GameFAQs, that's more than enough. If you're trying to play online games, or stream 4k video, a USB receiver isn't going to cut the mustard.

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https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Wi-Fi-Range-Extender-EX3700/dp/B00R92CL5E

Not quite a USB adapter, but I just plugged a range extender like that one and then it's just a short ethernet cable into my PC.

It's at the very least significantly faster than my WiFi speed.

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voltch posted...

https://www.amazon.com/NETGEAR-Wi-Fi-Range-Extender-EX3700/dp/B00R92CL5E

Not quite a USB adapter, but I just plugged a range extender like that one and then it's just a short ethernet cable into my PC.

It's at the very least significantly faster than my WiFi speed.

Oooooh yeah, the range extender with ethernet hookup might be the way I have to go.

The main problem running a long ethernet cable is that I don't think I can go through walls so I'd have to go up above ceilings or around on the floor somehow and it's just obnoxious.

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BlAcK TuRtLe posted...

Depends on what you're doing. If you're just browsing GameFAQs, that's more than enough. If you're trying to play online games, or stream 4k video, a USB receiver isn't going to cut the mustard.

My buddy in the apartment has played some online games using a wifi adapter and hasn't had any issues.

and honestly the most intensive game I'd play would probably be like... FFXIV or something.

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