'adapter' woes. any PCI card-buying advice?

Forums › LAN (ethernet/Wifi/routers/Bluetooth) › 'adapter' woes. any PCI card-buying advice?

Lykho

236 posts

Master Geek

# 176953 17-Jul-2015 09:14

so, I'm in a new flat.
I bought a budget PC years back in the 56k days, and eventually got a USB micro adapter thingy for wifi cheap off trademe. it has done well over the years, but now I'm in a flat a long way from the g band router and I get poor or fair signals at best, and often am lagging or being disconnected from it. only once when the household was asleep did I manage to get an 'excellent' signal. Apparently I'm in a sh!t neighbourhood for broadband as it is (about a third the benchmark speed I got living close to the exchange, and even worse and inconsistent download speeds), so I'm wondering if this poor USB setup is why I'm having issues right now (no one in the household has had problems, using laptops/onboard wifi cards.

is it time for me to switch out my old 56k card for a wifi one?

AMD mobo/cpu, do any of the specs matter for compatibility or can I buy pretty much any card (except laptop sized ones, I guess)?

any recommendations - specs to look for, etc.?

don't want to go cheap for it to turn out to be just as bad as what I already have, but hope I don't have to spend a lot, as I'm not even sure this is the whole problem.

wasabi2k

2091 posts

Uber Geek

# 1345941 17-Jul-2015 09:17

You will probably get more mileage out of a usb adapter or card with an external aerial than an internal card specifically.

Jase2985

8910 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

# 1345958 17-Jul-2015 09:33

or upgrade the wifi access point in the house as well, specially if its an on G band one

trig42

Banana?
4871 posts

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Subscriber

# 1345959 17-Jul-2015 09:36

Id there any way you can run a cable from the modem to your computer? That will give the best results.

Lias

3903 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

Lifetime subscriber

# 1346034 17-Jul-2015 10:23

If you can get away with it, run cable (Cat 5e/6).

If you can't, get one of these: http://www.computerlounge.co.nz/components/componentview.asp?r=p&partid=21454
Will let you run your network through the houses power sockets. Much better than crappy wireless.

Information wants to be free. The Net interprets censorship as damage and routes around it.

macuser

2120 posts

Uber Geek

# 1346038 17-Jul-2015 10:28

You can get a PCI Wireless N card for about $19 from here, which is the cheapest online option.

I figure your 56K card is a PCI card...

http://www.alphacity.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=89513&qr=pricespy

I would say that would be your best bet besides running a cat5 cable.

dickytim

2514 posts

Uber Geek
Inactive user

# 1346181 17-Jul-2015 12:41

I am using an Ethernet over power adaptor and it works very well for me.

Lykho

236 posts

Master Geek

# 1346378 17-Jul-2015 16:18

Jase2985: or upgrade the wifi access point in the house as well, specially if its an on G band one

I own a router I was told* at my old flat I can't use (told that Telecom doesn't 'do' those / only does G band) (I don't have it on me to offer specs, I was thiiiiiiiiis close to throwing it out ... didn't seem much point trying to TradeMe it).

*they refused to give us the ISP password the router required to complete the install/access so I could prove them wrong.

wasabi2k: You will probably get more mileage out of a usb adapter or card with an external aerial than an internal card specifically.

cheers. are cards equally compatible, though? (I saw one on trademe for like 20 bucks... no worse than an adapter... and if it frees up one of my USB ports so much the better... assuming it's all plug-n-play installation like my 56k modem was)

macuser: You can get a PCI Wireless N card for about $19 from here, which is the cheapest online option.

I figure your 56K card is a PCI card...
http://www.alphacity.co.nz/index.php?z=p&p=89513&qr=pricespy

yea. I don't honestly know the difference between PCI and PCI-E but, it's something like that. thanks for the link--beats trademe :)

so the system reqs for a card like what I want are purely software? no worries about my mobo or anything? (I just have to ask because I was forewarned I had to be very specific when I bought new RAM a while back)

wasabi2k

2091 posts

Uber Geek

# 1346384 17-Jul-2015 16:28

depends on how old your PC is - if you're going for an internal card it will either be:

PCI - older standard - longer connector on motherboard, usually white.

PCIe x1 - newer standard, really short.

PCIe x16 - used for graphics cards - longer than x1

If you can post what your motherboard is it is pretty easy to check.

Rikkitic

Lock him up!
10795 posts

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# 1346394 17-Jul-2015 16:47

After we got RBI I bought some usb wi-fi gizmos like yours for my desktops. Unfortunately, the signal from the router was weaker than anticipated and I also had the same kinds of problems you describe. I found plans for wi-fi reflectors on-line, just pieces of bent cardboard lined with aluminium foil. I put the gizmo on a usb extension cable and taped it to the focal point of a reflector I made, which I then pointed at the router. This gave me a much better signal and could have even worked as a permanent solution for one computer, but I needed something better for the long term so I ran ethernet cables and added a lan switch. It might work for your situation and doesn't cost anything at all.

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney

Lykho

236 posts

Master Geek

# 1346594 18-Jul-2015 02:10

wasabi2k:
If you can post what your motherboard is it is pretty easy to check.

I always forget where to find that info. I assume this is enough:
model GA-MA74gm-s2
chipset ATI Radeon 2100
southbridge AMD sb700

Lykho

236 posts

Master Geek

# 1346595 18-Jul-2015 02:38

Rikkitic: After we got RBI I bought some usb wi-fi gizmos like yours for my desktops. Unfortunately, the signal from the router was weaker than anticipated and I also had the same kinds of problems you describe. I found plans for wi-fi reflectors on-line, just pieces of bent cardboard lined with aluminium foil. I put the gizmo on a usb extension cable and taped it to the focal point of a reflector I made, which I then pointed at the router. This gave me a much better signal and could have even worked as a permanent solution for one computer, but I needed something better for the long term so I ran ethernet cables and added a lan switch. It might work for your situation and doesn't cost anything at all.

hmm. all the google results I'm seeing suggest putting it on the router itself (which I can't do).

tried your way, haven't noticed any change (e.g., from 'fair' to 'good' sig

shrub

511 posts

Ultimate Geek

# 1346634 18-Jul-2015 09:46

wokfi does work but powerline is a better option especially if renting and cant punch holes in walls

Rikkitic

Lock him up!
10795 posts

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Lifetime subscriber

# 1346645 18-Jul-2015 10:39

I had to make several reflectors and do many tests to get it right but it does work. I also actually did try a wok just to compare and that also worked, but wasn't a practical solution. I downloaded a design for a router (all I could find) to get the basic structure right but I then used it with the usb adapter as described. The focal point of the reflector will be some place in front of it, just like an lnb on a dish. I used cardboard supports in front of the reflector to tape the adapter to. I still have mine and it still works. I can post a photo if you like.

I don't think there is ever a bad time to talk about how absurd war is, how old men make decisions and young people die. - George Clooney