USB wireless N versus PCI wireless N

M

mrjimbo

New Member
I have a Belkin Wireless N router and my computer uses a USB wireless N adapter.

My computer loses the connection to the router (I'm assuming) every so often. Wondows XP doesn't say that connection is lost, it's just that my Internet won't work.

In other words, I could be surfing the net just fine and checking my email through Outlook Express (OE) just fine, and then all of a sudden my computer won't be able to refresh a website or OE won't be able to connect to a server. At that time, Windows XP doesn't have that pop-up in the lower right corner saying no connection; it's just my broadband stuff won't work! It's so frustrating!

If I repair the connection, it will work 8 out 10 times. I have to restart my computer when it basically freezes the other two times.

Before I got wireless, my computer worked perfectly with the ethernet card and CAT5 cable. But ever since I have that USB adapter plugged in, my computer goes on the blitz.

So:

1) Is this a common problem with Belkin wireless products?

2) Is a wireless card that I plug into the back of my desktop better than the USB versions?

3) Is losing Internet capabilities common with wireless?

4) Can you recommend a better brand or network component (router or wireless adapter)?
 
Wireless-N isn't standardized yet. Not only are all the products out experimental Draft-N products, they also perform on par with or worse than Wireless-G.

1) I doubt it, they couldn't keep selling products if it was.

2) Yes.

3) No.

4) I use a Linksys Wireless-G router and a D-Link Wireless-G PCI card without issues. I paid $50 for the router and $25 for the card.
 
fortyways wrote:
they also perform on par with or worse than Wireless-G
Click to expand...

How so?

The throughput for N (according to the Windoes XP pop-up window when the mouse hovers over the connection icon) is 130Mbps, whereas when I reconfigure the router to just wireless G, I get a throughput of only 54Mbps.

Now granted that the actual throughput is less in reality, but don't I have a larger bandwidth when my wireless adapter is operating over wireless N (whether is draft-N or the futuristic-approved N) versus wireless G?
 
You know, we found a motorola router on sell a while back that came with a USB wireless card and it's pretty fair. The signal quality is as good or better than our laptops(certainly better than dad's PC-Card adapter) But realize this is more of a desktop adapter and not a pen style. I also used to have a pen style one on my laptop many years ago and it was pretty darn good. So, it really depends on what kind you get.

My common thought, though, if you can get an internal version, get it. I don't really trust USB devices such as networking card, capture cards, and things like that. And as other have basically said, the "N" standard isn't standardized yet. So, your limited to whatever router brand you have. Unless you get a shall we say "matched pair", you'll only get "G" speeds.
 
I have a G+ router for my broadband residential (not the fibre), and I'm using a Belkin F5D9050 G+ USB stick, and I easily get 800ft of range, at pretty much full broadband capacity. Router is on the top floor, and I can go down the park, about 2-3 mins walk away and use my G+ broadband. Not as great as N, or N1, but standardized, so it works.

I don't think they make that one anymore, but try and get a G+ one, you know it'll work. If it doesn't its a problem with your computers operating system, or it could be some kind of hardware conflict.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top