WiFi card for new PC

[anonymous-user]

We’ve got a PC which doesn’t have an internal WiFi card. It was connected by Ethernet cable at the old house so didn’t need it. Whilst waiting for our new house we’re spending 3 weeks at my Dads house where there’s no cable. What’s the best way to get WiFi to the PC? I don’t fancy taking it apart to fit an internal card, do the usb ones work well? If so, any recommendations for best to go with?

[Mr Pointy]

I bought this USB one to tide me over & it works well with Windows 10:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B06XZ5B5G9

To be honest I can't remember why I picked that one & it now seems expensive compared to others such as the TP-Link one:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WN823N-Wireles...

[mmm-five]

They work, and they're relatively cheap (£10-£20) but performance will depend on where you're using it and what your dad's wifi is broadcasting.

I get anywhere between 50mbps and 500mbps on different devices, using various built-in chips and add-on dongles.

The cheapest ones tend to have the slowest speeds (150mpbs) abut you can pay a bit more for 600-1300mbps - all assuming your dad's wifi network provides this speed and uses compatible protocols.

For something cheap and not too slow, you've got the simple TP-Link TL-WN823N mini-USB adapter (300mbps for £7).

For something 'high-end' in this category, you've got the TP-Link AC1300 one (400-900mbps for £21).

[anonymous-user]

Thanks very much for the advice. I’d seen these and assumed they weren’t what I needed because they were so cheap. The PC is in the room next door to to router. I’m not sure about the new house so for just a few pounds it doesn’t matter. Thanks again.

[ZesPak]

If it's in the room next door for a couple of weeks... drape a longer cable to it?

[anonymous-user]

I’d prefer not to have cables trailing as It’s a big enough change for dad having us here let alone having cables trailing for him to fall over. He would definitely manage to fall over them!

[hutchst]

I have several of the cheap TP-Link USB 823s plugged into Raspberry Pis. Never had any problem with them. For a stopgap it's just what you need.

[sgrimshaw]

I just bought the AC600Nano to use with a laptop whose internal WiFi was constantly dropping out.
Difference is night and day, would highly recommend.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-Link-TL-WN823N-Wireles...

[essayer]

Powerline

[anonymous-user]

Genuinely can’t believe how cheap these things are. Thanks for the recommendations.

In terms of power line, wouldn’t I still need a WiFi card?

[Mr Pointy]

sebdangerfield said:

Genuinely can’t believe how cheap these things are. Thanks for the recommendations.

In terms of power line, wouldn’t I still need a WiFi card?

Don't bother with powerline - I found it far more unreliable than the USB Wi-Fi dongle. It's more expensive & you need more bits (mains powered module at each end & two cables).

[xeny]

sebdangerfield said:

Genuinely can’t believe how cheap these things are. Thanks for the recommendations.

In terms of power line, wouldn’t I still need a WiFi card?

With powerline, no, you can get units which have a network port, but given you're next door wifii is a cheaper option, and unless the walls are a foot of stone should be fine.

[mmm-five]

essayer said:

Powerline

You'd need 1-2, and 1-2 ethernet cables - so will cost considerably more than a cheap USB dongle.

I'm using 4 (1 main + 3 remote) of the Devolo Magic 2-2400 WiFi Next devices at home to give the whole building access to my new 1gbps Virgin media service via both wifi and ethernet.

These are significantly more expensive than the older ones I had, but I've not had a problem with these (only had then 2 weeks), but never had a problem using the older 500mbps (single/double/triple with mains power sockets) ones I'd been using since 2012.

I'd offer the OP my old ones, but they tend to get passed down to other households in the family.