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The best Wi-Fi usb adapter. WiFi receivers and everything about them

WiFi adapters are devices that, by connecting internally or externally to a computer, can implement wireless Internet support in it. For the most part, these devices are designed for desktop computers. Wi-Fi adapters provide an aesthetic solution when carrying the Internet to other rooms or offices in the premises. There is no need to lay a cable, hide it under finishing, incur financial costs in connection with this, or endure the inconvenience of repairs.


A Wi-Fi adapter can become a budget alternative when increasing the number of PCs in a room with a low-power router that supports an insufficient number of network ports. Wi-Fi adapter is also a solution for laptops, tablets, TV- set-top boxes, smartphones and other devices with their own Wi-Fi receivers on board, if the latter are out of order, poorly receive a signal or slow down the Internet speed.

What criteria are important when choosing this device?

1. Connection type

As for the types of connection of the Wi-Fi adapter - internal and external, everything is extremely simple here: with the first, the device is connected through, respectively, the internal hardware interfaces of a PC or laptop, and with the second - through USB . The benefit of the latter option is obvious: not everyone understands computer technology enough to independently implement the internal filling, while connecting USB-even beginners can use the device. Plus, the internal hardware interface slots should not be occupied by other components (video cards, SSD, etc.) .

With USB, this matter is, of course, easier. This Wi-Fi adapter is universal; it can be connected to any device with USB ports on board. But the hardware interfaces within each individual type of equipment are different. Thus, the internal Wi-Fi adapter used inside the PC assembly cannot be disconnected and inserted inside the laptop. Not to mention a smartphone or tablet.

Internal Wi-Fi adapters benefit, in fact, only in data transmission throughput. For external ones, it is usually limited by the capabilities of the USB 2.0 interface, which, by the way, is what most of the input adapters and output computer devices are equipped with. But there is a nuance here: unfortunately, it is not possible to get real benefit from such an advantage in every case. In addition to the connection interface, there are many other factors on which Internet speed depends. This, in particular, is the technical potential of the router, its settings, radio interference, and the provider cutting the speed promised under the tariff.

There is an opinion that only Wi-Fi adapters with an internal connection type are capable of providing acceptable signal strength due to the presence of an antenna. Or at least provide a connector for connecting it from the outside. This is not true: USB Wi-Fi adapters can also be equipped with a powerful antenna. It’s just that some budget models of the latter, which look like a small flash drive, are designed to be compact in shape and have a narrow range of action acceptable for everyday needs. For example, for use in small apartments.

2. Connection interface

Internal Wi-Fi adapters are usually connected to the PC assembly via hardware interfaces PCI And PCI Express , and to laptops – via mini PCI Express And PCMCIA . Devices with an external connection type are simply inserted into the ports USB.

3. Network card with Wi-Fi support

The network card included with the Wi-Fi module is intended for implementing both wired and wireless networks. What's the advantage? The functionality is in reserve: another network port will never be superfluous; it can come in handy if, for example, a port on the motherboard fails. Of course, provided that such a backup option does not significantly increase the final cost of the device.

4. Wi-Fi standard and data transfer speed

Any equipment participating in the wireless data transmission chain must support the Wi-Fi standard 802.11N . This is a kind of standard. Its maximum throughput can reach 600 Mbit/s, however, in reality this will only be 220 Mbit/s. If with this standard the manufacturer promises maximum speed 150 Mbit/s, the real figure will not exceed 55 Mbit/s. The last option is for extreme cases.

The best option would be to purchase a Wi-Fi adapter that provides maximum speed 300 or 450 Mbit/s. In reality, these values ​​will be limited, respectively, 110 And 165 Mbit/s.

Is it worth overpaying to support the most modern and high-speed standard? 802.11 AC ? In theory, it is capable of transmitting data over the network at speeds up to 6.77 Gbps. But the question is: will such a speed be realized in practice, taking into account the technical capabilities of other devices participating in the data transmission chain? And this is support for the standard by the router, fairly powerful computer devices with SSD-storage devices on board, high-speed tariff plan from the provider.

5. Antenna

The optimal antenna power of a Wi-Fi adapter is considered to be 20 dBm. More is better. But less is acceptable if the router is located somewhere nearby. If the signal source is far away, the presence of a powerful external antenna on the device should be the main characteristic that determines the choice.

6. Adaptation at the software level

The Wi-Fi adapter, in addition to supporting the required hardware interface, must also be detected at the software level - using the operating system or after installing the driver. Driver for DVD Not all manufacturers may supply a disk along with a Wi-Fi adapter, in particular, this applies to cheap Chinese goods. Sellers may claim that there is no need to manually install the driver, saying that Windows itself should detect the device when it is connected to the port USB. They are partly right, but this is not always the case. Windows 8.1 and 10 versions usually detect connected Wi-Fi devices themselves. But in versions of Windows 7 and older, manual work may be required to install the required driver.

If it turns out that Windows is not "sees" connected Wi-Fi adapter, you need to carry out the standard procedure for installing the driver manually. To do this, you can use special software to automatically scan the system and install missing drivers. Or you can get it in device manager ID (identifier) adapter to find the required driver on the Internet.

Devices that Windows could not detect are usually listed in the manager column "Other devices", they are accompanied by a yellow exclamation mark. On the intended Wi-Fi adapter, you need to call the context menu and open "Properties".

Then in the column "Intelligence" in the drop-down list of properties we set "Equipment ID" and copy (or remember) its meaning.

Modern people are faced with the need to connect to Wi-Fi everywhere: wireless networks are much more practical and convenient than their cable “brothers”.

It’s just that similar WiFi privileges are mainly used by all kinds of mobile gadgets: phones, tablets, smartphones and most modern laptops. Accordingly, the question arises: why is a “classical” personal computer worse? After all, working on a desktop computer is much more convenient, but connecting to cable Internet often causes a lot of trouble.

And in this article we will look at how to connect a desktop computer to wifi, and what needs to be done for the computer to “catch” invisible Wi-Fi.

By the way, the age of the device is not directly related to the creation of a wireless network, and you can connect WiFi even to a relatively old computer.

Can a regular computer be connected to wifi?

Some difficulties with connecting Wi-Fi on a personal computer are not at all related to the “prejudice” of the developers or the unfortunate fate of this device, full of hardships.

The fact is that mobile devices and modern laptops are initially equipped with a built-in Wi-Fi adapter for connecting to a wireless network (which is not available on a desktop computer). However, such devices are mostly designed for short-term access to the network, and have a rather meager set of functionality.

While a desktop computer is designed for long-term work with both serious offline software and any resources of the global information network. Accordingly, the connection to all peripheral devices and external networks (Internet, power supply, etc.) is carried out here in a more reliable cable way.

A cable Internet connection for a desktop computer is more stable than a wireless Wi-Fi connection. Thus, with a WiFi connection, the reliability and speed of the network directly depend on the number of active connections, channel congestion, room architecture and many other third-party factors.

Therefore, it’s still not worth deciding to connect your home computer to wifi solely for aesthetic reasons. “Standard” cable connection is more reliable, more efficient ( Not), and causes much less damage to the health of the Internet user.

However, if a hard connection to the Internet source is unavailable for some reason, then you can connect Wi-Fi on your home computer in a matter of minutes.

How to connect your home computer to wifi?

To connect wifi to a desktop PC, first of all, you need to purchase a special removable Wi-Fi adapter - a miniature antenna that will “catch” the Internet signal transmitted by the router and return the data processed by the user to the router.

The most popular and inexpensive solution here would be to choose a removable USB adapter for your computer.

In order not to get a “pig in a poke”, it is better to buy a device from well-known and time-tested manufacturers: TP-Link, D-Link, etc.

If you purchased the adapter from an official distributor, the device comes with a disk with a special program for installing drivers.

How to install Wi-Fi on a computer running Windows 7?

1. Connect your adapter to any USB port on your computer.

2. Insert the disk into the drive, run the auto-configuration utility and, when prompted by the program, click the “Next” button.

3. After installing the driver, in the “Network Center” folder for Windows 7 (or “Network Connections” for Windows XP), you will see a new shortcut (in addition to the usual “Local Area Connection”). The name of the label will contain the brand name of the manufacturer of your adapter.

4. Now you can connect your desktop computer to wifi. To do this, right-click on the shortcut once -> “Connection” -> Select the name of your Wi-Fi network and enter the password.

How to set up Wi-Fi if there is no installation disk?

In addition to the “classic” purchase of a brand new licensed adapter, there are cases when the user needed Wi-Fi on the computer “here and now”, and he borrowed/purchased an old used WiFi adapter from friends.

Naturally, the disk with the driver for such an adapter has long been lost.

In such a situation, you need to download the archive with the driver from the Internet.

“But there is no Internet!” - you say - “What to do?”

Here To connect your desktop computer to wifi you should:

1.

Connect the computer you are setting up to the router using a cable (if possible).

Go to the official website of the manufacturer of this adapter (or the specialized resource ddriver.ru), find the driver you need by the name of the USB-Wi-Fi adapter and download the software to your computer.

If a cable connection to the router is not possible, download the driver you need onto any computer connected to the Internet, and using removable media (flash drive) copy the archive to your wired computer.

2. Next, right-click once on the “My Computer” shortcut, then “Manage” and select “Device Manager” here. In the “Network Adapters” section, find the name of our USB adapter, right-click on it and select the “Update Driver” menu item. Next, specify the folder into which the archive with the necessary drivers was copied and click “OK”.

3. Once the installation is complete, you will be able to connect your desktop computer to wifi. To do this, in “Network Connections”:

Select a new shortcut;

Right-click on it;

Select the “Connection” menu item;

Select the name of your Wi-Fi network (which you specified in the SSID when setting up the router);

Enter your password and you can use the Internet.

Today, full-fledged work on a computer is only possible if you have access to the Internet. Outdated wired connections have lost their ground - just connect to the nearest access point. And if adapters on laptops, as a rule, are already installed by the manufacturer, then for a desktop PC you will need to install a Wi-Fi adapter. Let's figure out how to choose the best model for different requirements.

Types of adapters

First of all, you need to decide on the type of wifi adapter for your computer. Based on the characteristics of the installation, two large groups are distinguished. The first includes external models that are connected from outside the computer. The second group includes internal options that are mounted in the device body. Standing apart are adapters on the CardBus bus that are going out of fashion, but are still found, and are installed in a special connector.

External Wi-Fi adapters

External models are the most popular and easiest to install, since they do not require special knowledge of computer design. They can be installed outside the PC without opening the case. It is only necessary that the corresponding port, most often USB, be free.

Sizes may vary: compact models practically do not protrude beyond the port, larger ones look like flash drives. For ease of placement or improved reception (for example, to physically bring the adapter closer to the access point), it is possible to connect via an extension cable.

Since USB is a universal port, external models can be connected to almost any computer – be it a desktop or a laptop. Modern operating systems can recognize most of these models. This USB adapter for a computer is automatically activated after installation.

Please note that the transfer speed of the latest models may exceed the capabilities of older connectors. For example, USB 2.0 will not be enough to use the entire channel of 802.11ac adapters - they must be connected to high-speed USB 3.0 ports.

Occasionally you come across models with an Ethernet connector. In this case, communication is established between the adapter and the computer via a regular network cable.

Internal wifi adapters

Internal options provide for installation in the system unit. From the outside they may not be visible at all - of course, if the model does not have a special external antenna to improve the quality of reception. But even in this case, it is located on the rear end of the PC and is practically not noticeable. So if the appearance of the computer is critical, and it is also undesirable to take up USB ports, then it is better to go with this option.

Please note that if installed completely internally, the signal may not be transmitted as the metal parts of the housing will block the signal. Models with an external antenna almost never have such difficulties. Some adapters also provide for replacing the external part with a more powerful antenna.

A typical installation option is inside the system unit in a PCI Express slot, like for a regular network card. The PCI standard is less common because it is becoming obsolete. At the same time, portability suffers, since you cannot quickly move the adapter to another PC, nor can you easily move it to improve the quality of reception.

Wi Fi Card Bus adapters

The rarest type of adapter, which has practically ceased to be produced. To install it you need a special connector. The advantages include compact dimensions and very simple setup; the disadvantages (along with low prevalence) are low power. Most often, such models are used in laptops - for example, when the main adapter fails.

Wi-Fi adapter D-Link DWA 525

An available internal model for connecting a PC to a network is DWA 525 from the company. To connect to a Wi-Fi router, it can use 802.11 b/g/n protocols, which gives a maximum speed of 150 Mbit/s. In most cases, this is enough for reliable operation in an apartment. The model supports WEP/WPA/WPA2 encryption. For installation, you need a free PCI Express or PCI slot - both modifications are available, so you need to check which model you are purchasing.

The antenna on the adapter is removed. The manufacturer guarantees that the device will work in OS from Windows XP to version 8 inclusive.

WiFi adapter ASUS PCI N10

Another internal adapter. The characteristics are similar to the previous model: installation in a PCI port, transmission speeds up to the same 150 Mbit/s thanks to an external antenna and the ability to work within 802.11n. To quickly set up a connection, you can use WPS, and communication will be automatically carried out over an encrypted channel. An additional plus is that the adapter can work as an access point.

Wi-Fi adapter for desktop computer PC

If the signal is weak, then the laptop can be moved closer to the access point. This trick will not work with a desktop computer. Therefore, it is necessary to immediately select a model taking into account the conditions at the site of its installation. So, in an apartment with a complex layout or thick walls, a more powerful option may be required. But you don’t have to limit yourself to an assortment of only external models or modify an existing one if the antenna cannot cope with reception.

How to choose a Wi-Fi adapter

If you have already chosen between internal and external installation options, it’s time to take a closer look at the technical characteristics of the devices. Pay attention to the following key points when choosing a Wi-Fi adapter for your PC:

  • compatibility with existing devices (primarily access point - router);
  • standards support as it determines the transfer speed;
  • frequency used;
  • transmitter power in the adapter;
  • the ability to encrypt the connection;
  • receiver range.

Don't limit yourself to the speed written on the package. This is the theoretical maximum limit for this model. The factors mentioned above also influence the actual speed.

Also pay attention to your future place of work. If the system unit is hidden in the depths of a massive table, then it would be logical to try to move the antenna higher using an extension cord.

Sometimes it is recommended to use an adapter from the same company that manufactured your router. There is a bit of common sense in this: the manufacturer can test the equipment for stability of joint operation, and the software interface will most likely be similar. In practice, popular models quite successfully connect to routers from other manufacturers. Difficulties due to different manufacturers are extremely rare, usually with older equipment.

Compatibility

First of all, check if your computer has an appropriate free port. The PCI Express adapter cannot be placed in a USB connector, as well as in a regular PCI, and a model with an Ethernet connection cannot be placed in a Card Bus slot. As for the operating system, everything is simpler: popular models support the Windows and Mac OS lines at a decent level. A complete list is provided on the packaging or in the accompanying documentation.

If you need to connect a specific device (for example, on an old version of Windows or a rare OS), first make sure that suitable drivers are available on the manufacturer’s website or on the included disk.

Standard

Support for a particular communication standard determines the possible speed modes of communication between the adapter and the router. To operate at high speeds, support for modern 802.11n or 802.11ac is required. If you use a device that supports only g or even b standards, then the connection speed will be very, very limited - it only makes sense to do this if the router does not support faster options.

If you connect using a slow adapter, the router will automatically go into reduced performance mode. At the same time, all other connected devices will also be forced to work at a lower speed.

The minimum reasonable requirement is to support version n of the standard. It provides speeds of 150 or 300 Mbps depending on the model. This will be enough for comfortable surfing the Internet and for watching video content without long waits.

The 802.11ac standard features support for the 5 GHz frequency and is gradually gaining popularity. It provides data transfer at speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s. True, such speed may not be useful in home equipment. Unless you want to choose an adapter with an eye to the future or for professional purposes such as participating in online gaming tournaments or regularly working with large amounts of data.

Frequency

Wireless equipment uses two different frequencies to operate. Older or cheaper models usually use only the 2.4 band, newer and more expensive ones can operate in both bands or exclusively on 5 GHz. Therefore, you need to make sure that the adapter and router can “make friends” and use the same frequency for communication.

The advantages of increased frequency are increased data transfer speed between devices. In addition, more channels can be placed in this range without overlapping each other. That is, individual access points, even if located closely, will not interfere with each other’s data transmission. And since such devices are more expensive, the radio air in this range is less busy, which has a positive effect on the stability and speed of the connection.

However, this approach also has a drawback: the high-frequency signal penetrates less well through walls and other obstacles. Because of this, the radius of reliable reception, all other things being equal, may be smaller. If possible, it is recommended to test both connection options and choose the best one for your specific computer.

Transmitting module power

The transmitter power of a Wi-Fi adapter for a computer determines the range over which the radio signal will propagate. The higher it is, the more confidently the connection with the router will be maintained. This means that the data speed will be higher. On the other hand, legislation limits the maximum power.

If there are obstacles between the computer and the router, it is better to focus on values ​​of about 20 dBm. In line-of-sight conditions (for example, if the access point is in the same room), less powerful models can be used.

Access encryption

Due to the use of radio waves, a wireless connection has a significant drawback: if you have the equipment and are close to the transmitter, anyone can receive the signal. That is, the data is actually transmitted in an unprotected environment. So it is necessary to take care of encrypting access so that no one else can connect to the channel and view what is being transmitted on the radio.

The modern WPA2 standard is a whole set of technologies aimed at protecting data. A strengthened version of the WPA3 standard has just been announced. But it is better to immediately abandon the outdated WEP, since hacking technologies have already been developed for it.

Range

An important parameter is the signal reception range. After all, Wi-Fi is of little use if you have to spend all your time near the access point. The more powerful the transmitter, the better the antenna, the greater the distance you can confidently maintain radio communication. However, it is worth keeping in mind that the manufacturer indicates this parameter for ideal conditions with numerous reservations. The fact is that the range is affected by the presence and material of the walls between the router and the adapter, the degree of radio noise (the number of routers or other radio equipment nearby), the frequency range used, etc.

Other parameters

Please note that it supports MIMO technology. Despite the ridiculous abbreviation, it allows you to improve the signal: instead of using one, you can use several antennas, both on the router side and on the adapter. In the standard version n, 4 pieces are allowed, and ac - 8 at once. Since in this case they all work in parallel, the speed increases several times. This also has a positive effect on the stability of the connection. True, such adapters are somewhat more expensive.

If you also need to distribute Wi-Fi to devices nearby, check SoftAP support - this mode allows you to use the adapter as an additional signal transmitter. Then you can install one powerful module in your PC, and connect your smartphone or tablet to it.

If an adapter is purchased to connect devices directly, make sure it supports the appropriate technology. For example, it could be Wi-Fi Direct or Miracast. Otherwise, the adapter will be of no use.

Setting up and connecting a Wi-Fi adapter

Next, we’ll look at how to configure the purchased adapter. First you need to connect it to the appropriate connector. To connect via PCI or PCI Express, you will need to open the system unit. Then you need to carefully, without excessive pressure, place the adapter in the slot and make sure that it is fixed there. If the module has an external antenna, you need to remove the plug from the rear wall and replace it with the bracket that comes with the adapter. With external models everything is much simpler: you just need to connect it to a free USB.

Popular models are well recognized by modern operating systems. The OS can independently install all the necessary drivers and activate the new device. In this case, additional configuration may not be required - the computer will simply be able to connect to wireless networks using standard methods.

If the system cannot cope with the installation automatically, you need to help it. Drivers can be found on the disk (if it was included with the device) or the manufacturer’s website. To activate additional functions, such as Wi-Fi distribution from a computer or fine-tuning transmission parameters, a special proprietary utility may be required.

First actions

After installing the software, check for connectivity. If the drivers are installed correctly, the computer will be able to connect to your router. Please provide the correct access point name and password. If necessary, configure interaction with the router - select the desired frequency range and the required standard, optimize communication using proprietary utilities.

Network problems

Sometimes after installation the network is unstable. The reasons may be different: incorrect configuration of the router or the computer itself, problems with the software, or even a malfunction of the adapter. This manifests itself in the fact that the connection is interrupted some time after connection or the computer does not see Wi-Fi.

The reason why this happens may be trivial: the power saving mode for the adapter is activated. This is often found on laptops; the OS optimizes energy consumption by turning off everything “unnecessary”. To check, you need to open the settings in the properties of the wireless connection. Then on the power management tab you need to uncheck the box that allows you to turn off the device.

Problems with the router

You also need to check whether other devices can connect to the router. For example, using a smartphone or tablet. If another device successfully establishes a connection and maintains it stably, it means that the router itself is working correctly. Also try rebooting your router.

Otherwise, you need to check the configuration of the access point: is it using a compatible standard, is the same radio channel selected (if automatic configuration is disabled), is the correct password specified. As a last resort, you can reset the router to factory settings and then configure it again, checking each step.

It is also possible that the router firmware needs to be updated. In this case, you will need to download it from the manufacturer’s website and then update it through the router control panel. Detailed instructions for your specific model are usually found in your owner's manual.

If all of the above measures do not help, check that the device is operating normally. For example, contact the manufacturer's service center to check.

Software

The problem may also lie in an outdated wireless connection profile - if the router settings have changed, but the operating system “does not know” about it. Then you need to delete the profile, after which it will be created again. First, launch the Command Prompt (CMD), then run the following command, specifying the profile name instead:

netsh wlan delete profile name=

After this, you will need to re-enter the password when connecting to the router.

If you see a message that your connection is restricted, you can reset your TCP/IP settings to their default values. To do this, use the following technique on the command line:

netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt

After reboot, check the connection.

If this does not help, check that the driver is installed correctly. In the OS control panel, select Device Manager, then check yours in the list of network adapters. Open its settings and try reinstalling the driver (uninstall and reinstall). Use drivers from the official website. You can also try installing an older version of the driver (with a lower index).

Adapter failure

When the above measures do not help or the adapter is not even detected by the system, perhaps the problem is in the device itself. To be on the safe side, you can try installing it on another computer. If it works there, you need to check your computer settings. If the adapter refuses to function on another machine, you need to replace it (if the warranty is still valid) or repair it.

Happy Internet to you!

Nowadays, almost all devices are equipped with WiFi wireless Internet. But there is a separate niche of devices on the market that are not equipped with wireless Internet - these are personal computers. To connect them to the wireless Internet, you will need WiFi devices. WiFi on your computer may be needed in several cases:

  • There is wireless Internet in the house, for example, on a smartphone or tablet, and it must be connected to a PC that does not have WiFi;
  • The computer already has Internet, but I want to distribute it throughout the apartment to save time and money on an additional tariff.

What is a WiFi adapter

A WiFi adapter is used to implement the wireless network function on devices that do not support WiFi. It allows the computer to receive a signal from a wireless network. Now there are two types of adapters: the first are capable of only receiving a signal, the second can operate in signal reception and signal transmission mode. Adapters that have the SoftAP function built-in allow you to create a WiFi access point on your computer.

How to choose an adapter

When choosing a WiFi adapter, it is important to consider the connection method. There are so-called USB adapters that are very easy to use as they can be easily removed and connected to another computer. There are adapters that use the PCI-E interface. This is a set of chips that are inserted into special slots in the system unit. Before purchasing such an adapter, you first need to check the system unit for free PCI slots where you can connect the device.

One of the most important criteria in choosing an adapter is the WiFi standard. Today, the recognized wireless communication standard is 802.11n, which guarantees fast data transfer of up to 300 Mbit/s. In addition, there are new communication standards such as 802.11ac. This latest standard can transfer data from 3000 Mbps to 10 Gbps. But for home use, there is no need to pay extra money for speed, since 300 Mbit/s is quite enough.

It is also worth paying attention to the transceiver. The recommended transmitter power is 20 dBM. If the original transmitter power is lower, the signal will be very weak, even if the Internet source is located within the apartment.

If the appearance of the adapter is not too important, then you can purchase an adapter with an external antenna. It is able to receive a signal much better, but has large dimensions. In addition, there are devices with removable external antennas.

When choosing a WiFi adapter, you should pay attention to their frequency. Manufacturers began to produce devices with a frequency of 5 GHz, but now adapters operating at a frequency of 2.4 GHz are still common.

It is also worth paying attention to the presence of the SoftAP function in the adapter. It is recommended to purchase adapters from the same company as the routers that are in the house, as their compatibility will be much better. This will help avoid various kinds of connection problems.

The adapter is installed in a special slot on the computer. After installation, the adapter must be configured - install the necessary software for wireless data transfer. The driver can be installed from the disk that is included with the device, or by downloading from the official website. After installing the driver, you need to configure the network, select the necessary parameters and access points.

Types of adapters

External WiFi adapters

In appearance, such adapters resemble a USB drive. The price of a standard USB adapter ranges from 700 to 1000 rubles. If you search hard, you can find devices within 300-400 rubles. This adapter can be connected to a regular USB port or a USB cable.


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Internal WiFi adapters

To connect such an adapter to your computer, you will have to slightly disassemble the system unit. The adapters are very easy to connect, and they are much larger than external adapters.

Many people are afraid that when switching to WiFi, the speed of downloading files will drop significantly, but in fact this is not the case. Typically, each WiFi adapter has its own bandwidth. Let's say the Internet connection speed is 1 Mb/s, and the adapter bandwidth is 54 Mb/s. Based on these data, we can conclude that the Internet speed will not drop, because the adapter’s bandwidth is much higher.

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Wi-Fi Card-Bus adapters

Such adapters are designed for laptops and PDAs that have a special PCCard slot. Such adapters have a built-in antenna, they are very compact and do not require lengthy setup.

WiFi adapter D-linkDWA 525:

The cost of this model is at the level of 500-700 rubles. The characteristics of the model are as follows:

  • Supported wireless standards: 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n
  • Maximum data transfer rate: 150 Mbit/s
  • Connection interface: PCI
  • Supported information security technologies: WEP, WPA, WPA2
  • Number of external antennas: 1 detachable antenna with R-SMA connector

WiFi adapter ASUS PCI-N10

The cost of this adapter is 500-600 rubles.

The adapter is 802.11n standard and has a PCI interface. It allows you to connect a personal computer to a wireless Internet network. The adapter can be installed in any 32-bit slot.

Specifications:

  • Encryption support 64/128-bit WEP,WPA2-PSK,WPA-PSK,WPS;
  • WPS (Wi-FiProtectedSetup) button – quick setup of a secure connection;
  • Software AP allows the WLAN adapter to act as a virtual access point.
  • Standard 802.11n (150 Mbit/s) with PCI interface.


Modern USBWiFi adapters provide wireless signals from access points, routers and other devices. Many computers and laptops are already equipped with WiFi function, but if it is not available, you can use a USB adapter. These devices are similar in appearance to small flash drives, but they have different technical characteristics.

You should also take a closer look at the parameters that characterize the antenna power (ideally, at least 20 decibels). Thanks to this, it will be possible to clearly capture even the weakest signals. The presence of a connector for an external antenna will be an additional advantage. The antenna can be purchased as a separate device or as a kit.

In some adapter models, two antennas can be raised in operating mode, which will enhance the signal quality and increase the data transfer speed. You can purchase compact models in which the antennas are built into the device body itself. The case should preferably have ventilation holes through which heat will be removed. Due to the absence of such holes, the performance of the device may deteriorate significantly.

The main characteristics of the adapter can be found on its packaging. The front side contains information that lists the standards that the device supports, special features for quickly setting up the adapter, and the choice of protection method. Besides this, one of the most important points is the support for multiple connection modes between two computers.

One of the most popular models on the market today are the D-Link DWA-127 and D-Link DWA-566 adapters.

The DWA-127 adapter has a built-in antenna that provides a large wireless connection area, and a special hardware WPS button that automatically configures a secure WiFi connection. Thanks to this adapter, a high-quality connection with devices of standard standards (labeled IEEE 802.11) is ensured.

DWA-566 is a wireless adapter that allows high-speed connection of computer devices to the network. There is no need to install additional Ethernet cables. This adapter fits all standard slots (x1/x4/x8/x16), has two detachable antennas (with a gain of about 2 dBi), is capable of operating in two bands: at a frequency of 2.4 GHz (marking: IEEE 802.11; b/ g/n) and at a frequency of 5 GHz (marking: IEEE-802.11; a/n). Due to these conditions, the wireless connection can reach speeds of up to 300 Mbit/s.

These adapters can operate using WEP/WPA/WPA2 encryption protocols, are fully suitable for secure wireless networks and provide reliable security for transmitted data.

The package includes the D-LinkManager WC utility, which allows you to configure convenient parameters and saves the most frequently used profiles. The DWA-127 costs about $22, and the DWA-566 costs about $47.

Setting up a WiFi adapter on a computer

To configure the WiFi adapter for the first time, you will need the following components:

  • The WiFi adapter itself;
  • Disc with drivers and other software;
  • User guide.

First you need to install the device into a USB port. It is best to use the ports that are located on the back of the system unit, as they are connected to the motherboard and are already completely ready for use. You can use the ports located on the front side of the system unit, but first make sure that they are in working condition. After connecting the device, a message indicating that a new device has been detected will appear. Next you need to install the software and driver package. You should also install software utilities; they will not be superfluous, since with their help you can adjust network parameters and carry out more fine-tuning. Next, you need to look at the display of network connections (the network connections icon is located at the bottom of the taskbar). The drop-down window for network connections will list a list of devices that are connected to the PC; you must select the one that is currently installed. After this, you need to click on the new connection with the left mouse button. In the available network connections window that opens, click on the new network to enter the password.

Basic mistakes when choosing a WiFi adapter

One of the most common mistakes people make when shopping for a new device is that they unconditionally trust sales assistants. In reality, the seller, as a rule, tries to sell not the model that best suits the characteristics of others, but the one for which he can get his percentage. That is why, before purchasing, it is recommended to familiarize yourself with the functionality of the selected models and read reviews about them on the Internet.

Another mistake is that people assume that all adapters are essentially the same. In fact, different models differ from each other in power and characteristics, even from the same manufacturer.

Many people are confident that there is no need to spend money on expensive devices. Of course, you can buy an inexpensive device, but its power will be much less than that of one for which you will have to overpay only a few hundred.

In addition, it is also worth noting one of the biggest misconceptions that absolutely all equipment produced in China is of poor quality. In reality, the quality of products does not depend on where the manufacturer is located, but on who ordered the production of these products and from whom.

As practice shows, absolutely any user can configure a wireless network. WiFi adapters are reliable devices that are becoming indispensable for people. Buying an adapter can save you from many inconveniences, such as a large number of wires.

Without a working WiFi adapter, the laptop will not be able to connect to the wireless network. If you find that the Wi-Fi module is disabled, you can easily enable it yourself in hardware and software.

What is a WiFi adapter

A Wi-Fi adapter is a module in a laptop that is capable of recognizing signals from routers, establishing a wireless connection to the Internet. A WiFi adapter is available on any modern laptop as a built-in board.

If you want to connect to wireless networks from your computer, you can purchase an external WiFi adapter that connects to the system unit via a USB interface. In any case, the software configuration of the equipment will be the same, only the methods of hardware activation of the device will differ.

Hardware enable

To turn on the Wi-Fi adapter on a laptop, find the corresponding hardware button on the case or use a hotkey combination. You can usually find out the current state of the module (on or off) using the indicator. If it is not lit, then you need to turn on WiFi on the laptop.

Most often, the combination of the Fn button with one of the keys in the F1-F12 row is responsible for turning it on. On ASUS laptops, for example, the Fn+F2 combination is used. When these two keys are pressed simultaneously, all wireless modules of the laptop are activated, including Wi-Fi.

Combinations for enabling Wi-Fi on laptops from various manufacturers:

  • Acer – Fn+F3.
  • ASUS – Fn+F2.
  • Dell – Fn+F2.
  • Gigabyte – Fn+F2.
  • Fujitsu – Fn+F5.
  • HP – Fn+F12.

The pictograms will help you determine the appropriate key. Usually, an antenna is drawn on the desired button that distributes a signal.

On some laptop models, you can turn on the WiFi adapter using a separate button on the case. It can be located directly below the display. On older models there is a two-position switch, which is located on the side of the laptop.

Software enablement

If, after turning on the WiFi adapter in hardware, the wireless connection icon with a list of available connection points does not appear in the tray, then you will also have to activate the module programmatically. You can enable Wi-Fi in the system settings.


On Windows 8 and Windows 10, WiFi is disabled/enabled with a special switch, which is located above the list of available points or in the system parameters.

An icon should appear in the notification area; when you click on it, a list of wireless networks available for connection will open. If the list indicates that there are no available connections, make sure that Wi-Fi is configured on the router. If the wireless connection icon does not appear in the tray, make sure that the WiFi adapter is working without errors.

Possible problems when turning on

There are several reasons why the Wi-Fi model cannot be turned on:

  1. The Fn button does not work, therefore the key combination does not work.
  2. The adapter drivers are not installed, the system does not detect the device.
  3. The WiFi module has failed and requires replacement.

Using a keyboard shortcut is usually not the only way to enable the wireless module, but if you try to get the adapter to work using a button combination and nothing works, you should check the software status.

On some laptops, for the Fn button to work correctly, a special utility must be installed in the system. For ASUS laptops this is ATK Hotkey Utility. You can find suitable software on the manufacturer's website. The Fn button may not work for other reasons, but this is a topic for a separate large article.

The most common reason why a Wi-Fi adapter cannot be turned on is missing hardware drivers.


Drivers can be installed automatically or manually. It is recommended to use manual installation by first downloading the software from the manufacturer’s website. If you manually install a driver of the appropriate version and bit depth, the problem with turning on the adapter should disappear.