Wireless Adapter USB Vs. Card
Wireless Internet has become the most popular way of connecting people to the world wide web. There are no cords and wires to trip over and you are able to set up your desktop or laptop wherever you want within your house, providing you have an internal PCI card or USB wireless adapter.
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Features
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Internal PCI cards are featured in laptops and commonly bought for desktop computers "but their range is limited and they have no way to connect an external antenna for greater range" according to jefatech.com. USB adapters are external antennas that plug directly into the side or back of your laptop or computer. In some cases the USB adapters come with a 5 or 6 foot cord to extend range and mobility.
Benefits
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The wireless USB adapter and PCI card are beneficial because they provide a way for people to connect to a wireless access point within range. The internal card is better for situations where people prefer to have a more permanent form of wireless adapter installation. The wireless USB is better for those who would prefer simple and temporary installation of a wireless adapter. Cost wise, the wireless USB tends to be cheaper than that PCI card.
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Considerations
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Because the USB adapter is an external antenna there is a greater risk of damaging the equipment. If your USB port is located on the back of your computer, it is possible to slide the CPU or laptop too far back against the wall and inevitably break the USB adapter. An internal PCI card is placed safely inside the case of your computer and is much harder to damage.
Types
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Several types of wireless USB adapters and PCI cards available. Wireless A, the first wireless model, has a range of 100 feet and rate of 54 Mbit/s. Wireless B cards and USBs were introduced shortly after the wireless A. They had a longer range (150 feet) but were considerably slower with a rate of only 11 Mbit/s.
The wireless G is the most common wireless card or USB used because it has enough of a range (150 feet) for in home use and is very affordable. The best wireless card or USB on the market is the N. The wireless N has a 230-foot range and offers rate of 74 Mbit/s and is capable of sending and receiving information through solid objects much better than its predecessors.
Advice
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Wireless USB and the PCI card have the potential to make your wireless browsing experience more convenient. Shop around your local computer hardware store and buy based on your needs, such as temporary or permanent hardware placement. If you own a laptop there is typically nowhere to put a PCI card since they usually already have a card, or mini-card, pre-installed. A USB adapter would be the better choice for a laptop whereas either would work from a desktop.
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