USB Wireless Adapters for Desktop Computer: what do I need to know?

Ben E Lou · 07-05-2011, 04:29 PM

Looking into these, and the price range seems awfully wide for an item that, as far as I know, does only one thing. What do I need to know? I just want to have a wireless internet receiver on a desktop machine.

stevew · 07-05-2011, 04:40 PM

from personal experience, trying several different ones, I would strongly suggest going for an inner PCI wireless card. The Motorola one I had got way too hot and stopped working. The Linksys one I had sucked too. I had some other brand I picked up in the 30ish range and it also malfunctioned.

Thomkal · 07-05-2011, 07:20 PM

Hey Ben, I have this one from Amazon.

Amazon.com: Medialink - Wireless N USB Adapter - 802.11n - 150Mbps - 2.4ghz - Windows 2000 / XP / Vista 64-Bit /128-Bit Windows 7 Compatible: Electronics

Highly recommended on Amazon and I have not had any problems since very early on when I had to reinstall it when it stopped working for some reason-but that hasn't happened since the first few days i had it, I'm assuming an update to it that I got soon after installing helped there.

You want a 802.11n adapter unless you have a very old router-you don't have to match the adapter brand to the router brand. I know little about them past this, and don't know about anything new that's come out since I got this one, but I'm very happy with this one.

07-05-2011, 07:20 PM	#3
Thomkal Head Coach Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Surfside Beach,SC USA	Hey Ben, I have this one from Amazon. Amazon.com: Medialink - Wireless N USB Adapter - 802.11n - 150Mbps - 2.4ghz - Windows 2000 / XP / Vista 64-Bit /128-Bit Windows 7 Compatible: Electronics Highly recommended on Amazon and I have not had any problems since very early on when I had to reinstall it when it stopped working for some reason-but that hasn't happened since the first few days i had it, I'm assuming an update to it that I got soon after installing helped there. You want a 802.11n adapter unless you have a very old router-you don't have to match the adapter brand to the router brand. I know little about them past this, and don't know about anything new that's come out since I got this one, but I'm very happy with this one. Last edited by Thomkal : 07-06-2011 at 06:41 AM.

07-05-2011, 04:40 PM	#2
stevew Hall Of Famer Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: the yo'	from personal experience, trying several different ones, I would strongly suggest going for an inner PCI wireless card. The Motorola one I had got way too hot and stopped working. The Linksys one I had sucked too. I had some other brand I picked up in the 30ish range and it also malfunctioned.

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