Advice regarding Wifi adapter/dongle

[Sm00thSm0k3]

I'm looking for a good value for money Wifi adapter/dongle which I would like to use to connect my HTPC in the lounge (downstairs) to my DSL router in the study (upstairs).

There are quite a few option available but I really have no idea which ones have better range or whether I should go with an internal card (PCI/PCI-E) or USB adapter.

Here are a few I was considering but I don't know which one would serve my purpose the best:

http://www.asus.com/Networks/Wireless_Adapters/PCEN10/
http://www.dlink.com.au/products/?pid=821
http://www.asus.com/Networks/Wireless_Adapters/USBN10/
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=DWA-125
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=DWA-131
http://web.dlink-me.com/index.php?navigation=products&owner=24&product=32&product_details=297

By the looks of it it seems the D-link DWA - 126 might get the job done with it's high power wireless but I'm just guessing here.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[bond007]

I would not for the usb dongles because they havnt got external antennas (except for the DWA-126)... If you have PCI slot open on your pc but the card. Between the Asus and the Dlink there is not a big difference. So if i where you i would just buy the cheaper one, speeds with be the same..

Another advantage about the PCI cards is if you reception isnt good enough you can buy detachable antennas to boost the power.

 

[bdt]

Alternatives:
- Tenda W311U+ ..try with its own 3dBi antenna or, if that falls short, something stronger.
- TP-Link WN7200ND
- TP-Link WN722NC
- a brace of Ubiquiti WifiStations ..OTT but it *WILL* work! (but you can get away with just one on the client side)
- having opened that door: some AirWire love! :erm:
- coming back to reality, most of this page

 

[deepdiver]

I have the - TP-Link WN7200ND
I seem to always be promoting their stuff lol but they are the best price for what they give.
You get a usb extension cable and a unit with a 5dbi antenna, is pretty porno and is the new n standard.
It does make a slight clicking sound though, although you have to go really close to hear it only noticed it when the room was deathly silent.

 

[DanH]

Another option is to get an AP with 4 ports and high gain antennae set in client mode and set it up in your lounge.

That way your mediacenter-pc, xbox, ps3, blueray player, tv, etc can all be hooked up in one go.