USB Wireless Network Adpator

Q

quax

Senior Member
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May 9, 2012
Messages
614
Hi guys,

I'm looking at buying a wireless network adapter for my desktop as I'm moving it to another room and there is no adsl outlet in that room so getting the router there is a no-no unless I call in a Telkom technician.

So I wanna get a wireless network adapter. What are your thoughts on a USB adapter? Or are the PCI ones better? One reason I want a USB is so that I can take it out with ease. I don't particularly want an antenna sticking out the back of my PC until I remove the card...

Also I don't want to pay much more than R400. So I was thinking of something like this http://www.takealot.com/computers/belkin-networking-n300-usb-range-extender-black,27643288

what you think?

EDIT: Just saw that link is for a range extender.... TBH I am confused. Not sure what that thing actually does. But you get what I mean.

Maybe this is better http://www.takealot.com/computers/asus-usb-n13-wireless-n300-usb-adapter,27128755

I also want to mention that the signal will have to carry through one wall and that the distance is about 6 meters. Sure the signal should be decent, right?
 
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Q

quax

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
614
Roger Moore said:
Look at powerline adaptors as well.
Click to expand...

I checked these, it seems a little bit out of my price range...
Takealot has these for R699 http://www.takealot.com/computers/linksys-plsk400-powerline-4-port-kit,11010775

Yotch said:
Take a look at the one that Telkom sells for R145. I think that it uses the Realtek RTL8192SU 2T2R chipset.
http://residential.telkom.co.za/equ...es/wi-fi-adapter/downloads/re300userguide.pdf
I think it's very similar to the B1 revision of the Asus USB-N13
http://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_USB-N13_rev_B1
Click to expand...
The Telkom one seems like a good price. Maybe I should get that. Plus there is a Telkom store right around the corner from my work.

What do you guys think? Are the powerline adapters worth the price or is the USB adaptor ok? I didn't particularly want to spend R700 on a powerline adapter but if it is worth it I'll consider it.
 
Electric

Electric

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I use the Telkom one in conjunction with a pci card.
I find the usb device to be more stable than the pci card.
No idea why because I'd expect it to be the other way round.

Other than the occasional lost connection, it works great.
 
Q

quax

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
614
Electric said:
I use the Telkom one in conjunction with a pci card.
I find the usb device to be more stable than the pci card.
No idea why because I'd expect it to be the other way round.

Other than the occasional lost connection, it works great.
Click to expand...

If the USB is more stable, why have USB and PCI?
 
Q

quax

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
614
Awesome guys thanks for the info! Think I am gonna give that Telkom one a bash if they have stock since its rather afordable. Will see how the connection is from there on and decide if I need to take an alternative route.
 
Electric

Electric

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Joined
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Messages
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You have a similar scenario to me.
6m distance, through a wall.
Works just fine.
 
Q

quax

Senior Member
Joined
May 9, 2012
Messages
614
So after trying two Telkom stores, JHB CBD and Rosebank, none of them had stock of the wireless adapters so I tried the IC in Rosebank but their stuff was really expensive the cheapest was one for R399 for some brand I have never heard of... So I tried Telkom in Sandton and they also didn't have any.... I even tried VC store and they didn't have.

Now this was becoming a bit of a wild goose chase so I eventually tried this electronics (digital camera specialty shop actually) call Cat Digital Expert store after seeing wireless routers in their display window. So I ask the guy there and he looks around the store for a few minutes and then tells me that they don't have any. So as I walk out I inspect the display window more thoroughly and I see this TrendNet, never heard of it, device for R299..... Anyways so I ended up buying the device it is supposed to be 300mbps which my router is also capable of so I thought I wasn't gonna run around any longer.

I actually don't think that 80% of them knew what I was talking about when asking for a wireless network adapter. The guy at IC at least knew.

Its been on for the past hour, no problem so far. The software it came with seems decent. I am getting between 70% and 85% signal strength so that seems ok.

Here are some pics. Sorry the light was bad so not the best quality pics.
http://imgur.com/a/g3upl
 
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