USB WiFi adapters. Are any brands better than others?

I need to put a PC on a second room and share an existing broadband
connection. In a test with my laptop, signal strength may be two low.
Since the PC (desktop) needs a WiFi adapter, anyway, one of the things
I'm thinking of trying is a USB WiFi adapter with a long USB
cable. That will allow be to place the "antenna" in a better location.

Are any USB WiFi adapters particularly sensitive or have better
antennas?

Any other experiences?



--
a d y k e s @ p a n i x . c o m
Harrison for Congress in NY 13CD www.harrison06.com
Don't blame me. I voted for Gore. A Proud signature since 2001

Yes, some are definitely better then others, I get good results with D-Link
G122 which come with good cradle / stand, which makes is easy to put a
reflector behind it. Mine is just a aluminium foil covered V shaped card
standing on it edges, makes a lot of difference, my signal comes from
another building 80m away, at an acute angle trough two sets of double
glazed and leaded windows.
But some also applies to routers, Draytek Vigor 2600VG WiFi router works
great for me, others (Netgear, D-Link, Zyxel) didn't.
Regards,
Martin

>(E-Mail Removed) (Al Dykes) wrote:

>I need to put a PC on a second room and share an existing broadband
>connection. In a test with my laptop, signal strength may be two low.
>Since the PC (desktop) needs a WiFi adapter, anyway, one of the things
>I'm thinking of trying is a USB WiFi adapter with a long USB
>cable. That will allow be to place the "antenna" in a better location.
>
>Are any USB WiFi adapters particularly sensitive or have better
>antennas?
>
>Any other experiences?

I am currently connected to a WiFi access point 2.2 miles across the bay
with a Hawking HWU8DD adapter. I have two USB extension cables, in
addition to the cable that came with it, between the adapter and my
laptop, for a total of around 20' of cable. Here's a picture:
http://i16.tinypic.com/2qisi38.jpg

--
Dave

> I am currently connected to a WiFi access point 2.2 miles across the
bay
> with a Hawking HWU8DD adapter. I have two USB extension cables, in
> addition to the cable that came with it, between the adapter and my
> laptop, for a total of around 20' of cable. Here's a picture:
> http://i16.tinypic.com/2qisi38.jpg
> Dave

i ordered this Hawking HWU8dd last week

a little pricey [$65-90]
but if it works,
there's a [small] chance i won't need my ISP anymore

waterboy

Dave Rudisill <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> I am currently connected to a WiFi access point 2.2 miles across the bay
> with a Hawking HWU8DD adapter. I have two USB extension cables, in
> addition to the cable that came with it, between the adapter and my
> laptop, for a total of around 20' of cable. Here's a picture:
> http://i16.tinypic.com/2qisi38.jpg

Is that other antenna just "there", or does it have something to do with
it?

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

> Is that other antenna just "there", or does it have something to do with
> it?

my guess is, the other atenna is just there,
but giving the Hawking a better location, for picking up signal[s]

waterboy

(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> Dave Rudisill <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>> I am currently connected to a WiFi access point 2.2 miles across the bay
>> with a Hawking HWU8DD adapter. I have two USB extension cables, in
>> addition to the cable that came with it, between the adapter and my
>> laptop, for a total of around 20' of cable. Here's a picture:
>> http://i16.tinypic.com/2qisi38.jpg
>
> Is that other antenna just "there", or does it have something to do with
> it?
>

The other antenna is for TV in his RV, but attaching it to the RV
antenna give him the ability to rotate the wireless antenna from with in
side the RV.

>Danny Kile <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:

>(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
>> Dave Rudisill <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
>>> I am currently connected to a WiFi access point 2.2 miles across the bay
>>> with a Hawking HWU8DD adapter. I have two USB extension cables, in
>>> addition to the cable that came with it, between the adapter and my
>>> laptop, for a total of around 20' of cable. Here's a picture:
>>> http://i16.tinypic.com/2qisi38.jpg
>>
>> Is that other antenna just "there", or does it have something to do with
>> it?
>>
>
>The other antenna is for TV in his RV, but attaching it to the RV
>antenna give him the ability to rotate the wireless antenna from with in
>side the RV.

Correct. It's generally called a "bat wing" antenna. It's used for over
the air TV reception.

--
Dave

Dave Rudisill <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote:
> http://i16.tinypic.com/2qisi38.jpg
> >(E-Mail Removed) wrote:
> >> Is that other antenna just "there", or does it have something to do with
> >> it?

> Correct. It's generally called a "bat wing" antenna. It's used for over
> the air TV reception.

I thought I recognized it, but, given the cobbling nature of the posters
here, I thought I'd ask ;-)

I think the last time I saw one was on the back of a limo in "Crocodile
Dundee".

--
---
Clarence A Dold - Hidden Valley Lake, CA, USA GPS: 38.8,-122.5

Dold: Re: "bat wing" antenna.
>I think the last time I saw one was on the back of a limo in "Crocodile
>Dundee".

Correction, the last time you saw it, it was NO longer on the back of the
limo :-),
- unless of course you closed your eyes !
Regards,
martin