AiCPearlJam

and they recommended that I get "NetGear USB Wireless Adapter (WG111)"

So I looked on Newegg and saw that it got bad reviews and saw it was unstable. So my question is, what is a better networking product than this? I am building my own gaming computer this summer to take to college and I want really good reception so I can play online.

So what is something I could use to get really good reception? I am willing to pay up to $120-$150 if needed. Is there something I could put in my computer or something?

Here are the stats that are needed to connect to the school's network:

"If purchasing another brand adapter, make sure it is 802.11b compliant and that it plugs into your USB port. USB adapters come with an extension cable that allows for positioning the device for best reception....."

[-0MEGA-]

Any wireless adapter that supports 802.11b will work, no need for a NetGear one. Theres also no need to spend that much money on one, you can get a more then adequate one for under $40.

__________________
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AiCPearlJam

But will I be able to get high enough connection speeds to play games online while at college?

[-0MEGA-]

802.11b is a slow and aging wireless technology, so you're not going to get fast speeds. And since your at a college, the wireless network will be shared among many users, and the AP/Router will most likely be a fair distance away from your dorm, so you would be lucky to get a few mbps connection speed. But you will get the same from a NetGear or a Belkin.

If you're using a desktop, go with a PCI card, not a USB card. Since PCI wireless cards usually have bigger antennas and have a greater range.

__________________
Desktop // Laptop
Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.0GHz // Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz
Asus Rampage Formula X48 // Intel PM45
ATI 4870X2 2GB GDDR5 // 512MB GDDR3 9800M GTS
4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2 940 // 4GB DDR3 800
750GB SATAII w/32MB // 200GB SATAII 7200RPM
Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty
SilverStone 750W +12V@60A
3DMark06: 21391 // 9179

AiCPearlJam

Wow, that blows. Someone told me college's have REALLY fast speeds. Oh well.

Yea, I'll be using a desktop. Got any recommendations for this?

hotchevymanzach

hahah well i guess its just me you have a luxury we cant get wireless from our college we have to pay 35 a month to the cable company it blows cause i havent heard of a campus that doesnt have lan in the dorms

but i would suggest a linksys pci wireless adapter #wmp54g you can find it at your local waly world for under 50 but not by much and they r good now reception i dont know how far the signals coming from but if you can get it with a usb wireless then i would think it should pick it up advice find out where the signal is coming from and put your computer closest to a window in that area to pick up the signal. i didnt think ne one still used 802.11b ne more but its still faster than the old dial up

hotchevymanzach

thats ify

[-0MEGA-]

Most colleges do, but as I said before 802.11b tops out at 11Mbps, which you would only get if you were right next to the wireless AP/router and there werent any other users on.

I know at my school, when using the 802.11b WiFi network, you only get around 2-4Mbps when running speedtests, but you get anywhere from 10-15Mbps when using a wired computer.

But you will have plenty of bandwidth for gaming, the only thing is that since there are so many users, your ping will most likely be pretty high.

__________________
Desktop // Laptop
Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.0GHz // Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz
Asus Rampage Formula X48 // Intel PM45
ATI 4870X2 2GB GDDR5 // 512MB GDDR3 9800M GTS
4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2 940 // 4GB DDR3 800
750GB SATAII w/32MB // 200GB SATAII 7200RPM
Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty
SilverStone 750W +12V@60A
3DMark06: 21391 // 9179

AiCPearlJam

Yea, I guess I can live with it.

hotchevymanzach

hey it still free right its still faster than 56k dialup