Good Cheap Wi-fi solution?

[Watashi]

My friend and I just recently finished fixing up his computer. Now all he needs is an internet solution. Long story short: he needs Wi-fi, he's not using hardline. Normally whenever I'm in this situation I recommend people just buy a USB dongle like the one linked below. Do you guys have any other preferred method that you use?

 

https://www.amazon.com/Inamax-1200Mbps-Wireless-802-11ac-10-4-10-13/dp/B0773ZPKS2/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1532987391&sr=8-3&keywords=wi-fi+dongle

[jiyeon]

I use a PCIE Wi-Fi card, it's called the Asus PCE-N15. Cheap and efficient way to get Wi-Fi without hardline.

[Watashi]

1 hour ago, seoz said:

I use a PCIE Wi-Fi card, it's called the Asus PCE-N15. Cheap and efficient way to get Wi-Fi without hardline.

Thanks for the suggestion; however my solution seems to be cheaper and have a bit better speeds!

[kirashi]

1 hour ago, Watashi said:

My friend and I just recently finished fixing up his computer. Now all he needs is an internet solution. Long story short: he needs Wi-fi, he's not using hardline. Normally whenever I'm in this situation I recommend people just buy a USB dongle like the one linked below. Do you guys have any other preferred method that you use?

Buy a decent adapter or you won't have a good time. Companies can claim whatever ranges and speeds they want, but ultimately at the end of the day if the adapter is junk you'll never see those speeds and only have troubles with it. I recommend one of the 3 TP-Link adapters on this Amazon page, depending on the range and requirements for the computer.

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Archer-T6E-Wireless-Technology/dp/B016K0896K/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

[Watashi]

4 minutes ago, kirashi said:

Buy a decent adapter or you won't have a good time. Companies can claim whatever ranges and speeds they want, but ultimately at the end of the day if the adapter is junk you'll never see those speeds and only have troubles with it. I recommend one of the 3 TP-Link adapters on this Amazon page, depending on the range and requirements for the computer.

https://www.amazon.com/TP-Link-Archer-T6E-Wireless-Technology/dp/B016K0896K/ref=dp_ob_title_ce

Personally, I've never had troubles with the smaller adapters. What sort of issues have you ran into with them?

[jiyeon]

4 minutes ago, Watashi said:

Thanks for the suggestion; however my solution seems to be cheaper and have a bit better speeds!

Cheaper isn't always better. Speeds can be lies. USB adapters can be yanked out at any moment.

 

I'm using my computer right now with my PCIe Wi-Fi card completely stable. Your choice though, ultimately.

[kirashi]

1 minute ago, Watashi said:

Personally, I've never had troubles with the smaller adapters. What sort of issues have you ran into with them?

Poor drivers that eventually cause BSODs with future Windows updates, slower than half the advertised speeds unless you're right beside the router, in which case you might as well just use ethernet anyway, and the occasional inability to connect even though there claims to be 3 or 4 bars of signal.

 

The thing is that these off-brand manufacturers have no reputation to maintain either, and thus really don't care about providing support or driver updates down the road later, so I'm not saying don't save some money by buying one. Just know that you might end up needing to buy 2 or 3 adapters when you could have just bought 1 good one instead.

[Watashi]

5 minutes ago, kirashi said:

Poor drivers that eventually cause BSODs with future Windows updates, slower than half the advertised speeds unless you're right beside the router, in which case you might as well just use ethernet anyway, and the occasional inability to connect even though there claims to be 3 or 4 bars of signal.

 

The thing is that these off-brand manufacturers have no reputation to maintain either, and thus really don't care about providing support or driver updates down the road later, so I'm not saying don't save some money by buying one. Just know that you might end up needing to buy 2 or 3 adapters when you could have just bought 1 good one instead.

It's also to my understand that TP Link seems to have a pretty solid reputation. Also that is a good point about using the ethernet if you're close to the router anyways.

Do you (or anyone else who happens to see this) know whether or not there has been videos on the subject?

[Alex Atkin UK]

Anything with just ONE antenna sticking out that is claiming 1200Mbit speeds is being VERY creative with the truth, as to get anywhere close to that you typically need 3x3 MIMO which means THREE antennas.

While they can make tiny antennas too, they are next to worthless as they also need to be a decent distance apart to do their job properly.