Need help with finding a good USB Wlan adapter

[mudkip]

Hi,

My internet disconnects often and I think it is because of the wireless usb adapter (it actually came with my xtreamer, specs here). I think I have dropped it too many times So I need a wireless adapter with a wide reach.

Do you guys have any recommendations? Ebay have lots of wlan usb adapter but I simply don't know what to choose...

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=wlan+usb&_dmd=1&_frs=1&_sop=15&_trksid=p3286.c0.m359

 

[mudkip]

I was thinking about buying this wlan adapter + a 20dbi antenna.

Would this combination work? Do you guys have any experiences with this?

 

[95Viper]

I end up killing them, too; but, you may need to just tweak the adapter.
I use cheap ones and the best I have found were Rosewill's RNX-N250UB & RNX-N1, I have not had any problems with them, and the RNX-N1 has been going for over a year.
And they are channel capable for the US, Canada, EU, and Japan
The RNX-250UB has been on the with netbook with good results. I stream video and audio over them with no problem, even outside on the porch and\or deck.
The RNX-N250UB uses a newer Ralink RT3072 chipset than the RNX-N1's Ralink 2870+ Ralink 2820 chipset.

I don't know if you have tried, but...

1. Turn off power savings for you device in device manager (USB & the device itself)
2. Make sure you are using the same set of channels(frequencies) as you router.
3. Set the power(transmission) output on the device and router to maximum.
4. Under your power options(advanced settings) look for your wireless adapter and set it to maximum performance and under USB settings dis-able selective suspend.
5. Try not having your body in between the devices; odd, but I had a adapter that was sensitive to this and would dropped the signal a couple of bars.(iPhone syndrome, I guess).

 

[mudkip]

I end up killing them, too; but, you may need to just tweak the adapter.
I use cheap ones and the best I have found were Rosewill's RNX-N250UB & RNX-N1, I have not had any problems with them, and the RNX-N1 has been going for over a year.
And they are channel capable for the US, Canada, EU, and Japan
The RNX-250UB has been on the with netbook with good results. I stream video and audio over them with no problem, even outside on the porch and\or deck.
The RNX-N250UB uses a newer Ralink RT3072 chipset than the RNX-N1's Ralink 2870+ Ralink 2820 chipset.

I don't know if you have tried, but...

1. Turn off power savings for you device in device manager (USB & the device itself)
2. Make sure you are using the same set of channels(frequencies) as you router.
3. Set the power(transmission) output on the device and router to maximum.
4. Under your power options(advanced settings) look for your wireless adapter and set it to maximum performance and under USB settings dis-able selective suspend.
5. Try not having your body in between the devices; odd, but I had a adapter that was sensitive to this and would dropped the signal a couple of bars.(iPhone syndrome, I guess).

Thanks but those adapters are not available in the netherlands.
do you think that the ebay combi is good?

 

[Completely Bonkers]

Dont think that a massive antenna on a regular USB wifi stick is going to help. Unless there is a commensurate increase in output power to match the antenna, it might end up being worse. I tried that trick... buying big antennas for my PCI wifi card... only to find it made diddlysquat difference.

I have found that a regular USB dongle "n" wifi to be as good as any antenna based PCI or USB.

Also reach is only as good as your wifi MATCHED with the Access Point wifi. What is your AP?

 

[95Viper]

I'd have to agree with Completely Bonkers on this, as, I also, have tried a couple of different antennas with no real increase in signal; on the wireless card, router and both.

Go with a known company, not some rip-off no-name brand. Cheap price is good, but cheap price + unknown = Trouble.
I, also, am fond of the devices that come with the USB extension cable, because you can move the device to a better location, without moving the computer.

Me, I like Rosewill(as already stated), Trendnet(these you should be able to get in the nederlands), and some Belkins( F7D4101ed or F7D2101ed ).


Good luck with the adventure.