▷ Best wifi adapters on the market? usb, pci express and antennas
Table of contents:
- What are they and how do they work?
- Historical background
- Wifi in 1997, 802.11
- Wifi in 1999, 802.11b
- Wifi in 1999, 802.11a
- Wifi in 2003, 802.11g
- Wifi in 2009, 802.11n
- Wifi in 2013, 802.11ac
- What you should research before buying
- Placement of the Wifi
- Wifi: IEEE 802.11ac / 802.11n / 802.11ax
- Wifi WiDi
- Wifi Dual-band: 2.4GHz and 5GHz
- MU-MIMO ( Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output)
- USB 3.0
- Antennas
- Bluetooth
- Best Cheap Wifi Adapters
- Best USB Wifi Adapters
- Best Wifi PCI Express Adapters
- Best Wifi antennas on the market
WiFi adapters are an interesting solution when we don't have the router nearby. Here you have all the information about these components.
Wi-Fi is the best solution for connecting devices that are scattered around the home or office. Regarding computers, we find adapters plugged into the motherboard, like others that plug into the USB port. In the case of laptops, we did not encounter this problem because now they all incorporate an integrated Wi-Fi adapter.
Next, you have at your disposal all the information about the Wi-Fi adapters.
Index of contents
What are they and how do they work?
WiFi adapters are devices that provide the computer with an internet connection wirelessly. They work as a Wi-Fi client, it receives the wireless signal from the router and transmits it to the computer so that it can connect to the Internet as if it were connected by LAN cable.
We see adapters in the following formats:
- Integrated. We refer to smartphones, tablets, laptops or Smart TVs. These have an adapter integrated in their motherboard, so that we do not see it, nor is it a component that we have to buy separately. They tend to have less strength or power than the other formats, although it is not the general norm.
Sometimes we can replace it with a better chip, some laptops like Thinkpads limit the compatibility by wireless chips from their own BIOS.
- PCI Express. The adapter comes in the form of a PCI Express card, and must be connected to the motherboard of the computer. This format appeared as the first solution for those fixed computers that could not connect via ethernet. We will see that there are cards with antennas and without them. USB. In this case, the wireless adapter plugs into one of the computer's USB ports. It is always advisable to connect them behind the box, since they usually incorporate antennas that require a certain electrical current that the front ports cannot provide. They are plug-and-play devices, which means not having to configure them in the vast majority of cases.
Historical background
Wifi in 1997, 802.11
WiFi's history dates back to 1971, so it's not a novel technology. Having said that, we had to wait until 1997 to know the first standard: 802.11, which would allow rates of 1 or 2 Mbit / s. It is now completely obsolete, but it was the first to start using the 2.4 GHz band.
Wifi in 1999, 802.11b
Two years later, this standard would expand its maximum transfer rate to 11 Mbit / s, using the same method as its predecessor. However, it would not be implemented in products until early 2000.
Wifi in 1999, 802.11a
802.11a would bring an important evolution regarding this standard. 802.11a would allow data to be transmitted and received at a rate ranging from 1.5 to 54 Mbit / s. It was implanted worldwide, becoming a standard used by everyone.
Wifi in 2003, 802.11g
Using the same scheme as 802.11a and it would be compatible with the same 2.4 GHz band. It would touch 54 Mbit / s as the maximum transfer speed.
Wifi in 2009, 802.11n
Almost a decade fulfilled, we saw a breakthrough with 802.11n. This standard would come with MIMO, 5 GHz bands and an increase in transfer speed that would go from 54 Mbit / s to 600 Mbit / s.
Wifi in 2013, 802.11ac
It is the most widely used and compatible standard today. It surpasses its predecessors with 5GHz band support, a transfer rate that reaches 866.7 Mbps, supports MU-MIMO, 3-streams, 80 MHz channels and 256-QAM.
What you should research before buying
The purchase of a WiFi adapter is not easy at a glance because we find certain terminology that tells us nothing. Therefore, certain concepts must be mastered to differentiate a good adapter from another with little power, for example.
Some believe that, by knowing which are the "best" WiFi adapter companies, they already have it all done, but no. Below, you will find everything you need to know.
Placement of the Wifi
Before getting into technical concepts, we must refer to the fundamental:
- Meters away from the router to the device to which we want to put a WiFi adapter. Obstacles or walls that exist between the router and the device.
This should be the first thing you should know before purchasing any adapter. With the data in hand, read below to fine-tune the purchase of your network adapter.
Wifi: IEEE 802.11ac / 802.11n / 802.11ax
You will find these nomenclatures in the vast majority of adapters and it is a standard whose purpose is to increase speed, be more efficient and have more reception radius.
As for 802.11ac (WiFi 5), it is the evolution of 802.11n (WiFi 4), a standard that could provide the computer with a speed that ranged from 150 to 300 Mbps. Although, do not trust yourselves because in practice we do not see that transfer speed, since other factors come into play, such as the intensity of the signal.
In fact, this alleged improvement has been investigated and we see a very small increase in speed, not what manufacturers promise us. Logically, there are many factors to consider, such as the walls, the number of antennas on the adapter, the type of router we use, etc.
The two novelties brought by 802.11ac were consuming less electricity and achieving a greater range. As for the first, it is perfect for mobile devices; As for the second, it is possible thanks to Beamforming , a technology that the latest routers equip and that allows directing the signal directly to the devices that request it.
In 2018, 802.11ax (WiFi 6) emerged a new network standard that raises the maximum transfer rate to 3.5 Gbps in the 5GHz band. At the moment, there are few devices and routers that support this technology, but we can find them.
Therefore, if you have a router with 802.11ac, buy Wi-Fi adapters that carry it. If not, don't worry because there are no overwhelming differences between 802.11n and 802.11ac, although the latter is more recent.
Wifi WiDi
WiDi is a protocol that Intel developed to wirelessly stream multimedia content to your TV, whether it be music, video, or photos. It may seem silly to us, but it is another benefit that an adapter of this type can provide us.
The only drawback we find is that your TV is not compatible with this technology. In this way, it is of no use to us that the Wi-Fi adapter that we buy incorporates it.
Wifi Dual-band: 2.4GHz and 5GHz
In the past, routers only transmitted the signal over one band, 2.4 GHz. Now this has changed and newer routers incorporate it.
Dual - band technology is that our router can work with two different bands or frequencies: one band has 2.4GHz and the other 5GHz. It is about giving more options to the user, since each one has its pros and cons.
The 2.4GHz network:
- It is much more compatible for the vast majority of devices because it is a longer technology, it has a greater network range or coverage, which is essential in connections of this type. The more walls, the better this network seems. It has fewer channels, specifically 14 not overlapping. It is usually more saturated by neighbor interference or wave communications. Its connection speed is lower, although it can become more stable. It is found in 802.11 b, 802.11n and 802.11g
The 5Ghz network:
- It is less compatible because it is incorporated by the latest devices or adapters. It has less coverage because it becomes unstable when there are more walls or obstacles. It has 25 non-overlapping channels, which puts it ahead. It is not as saturated and the connection is greater quality.Your connection speed is faster because it is wider, which means that we can transmit data on many channels. For example, a 2-lane highway is not the same as a 4-lane highway. It occurs in 802.11a, 802.11n and 802.11ac.
With these two bands we can choose the one we want depending on our needs or devices. Therefore, it is preferable to choose Wi-Fi adapters that have dual-band .
MU-MIMO ( Multi-User Multiple Input Multiple Output)
This technology is found in 802.11ac, in addition to using beamforming and transmitting instantly to the client. In this way, the router will be able to send data to each client simultaneously, being able to take advantage of all the bandwidth.
It is about making use of the internet connection (said vulgarly) without waiting for a turn.
Thanks to MU-MIMO we can accelerate data uploads and uploads at maximum speed. Of course, this technology must be supported by the router and by the adapter. On the other hand, it is essential to stream or broadcast live events.
USB 3.0
In the event that you want a USB Wi-Fi adapter, you have to make sure that it is USB 3.0, since the data transfer speeds are essential so that you can take advantage of the speeds provided by 802.11ac and its 5GHz band.
Antennas
The theory tells us that the more antennas it has, the better signal reception we will get, but it does not always have to be this way. The antennas can be found in PCI-Express or USB adapters, although we can find PCI adapters that have antennas on the other hand, not on the same network card.
In a Wi-Fi antenna we care about its gain, its polarization and its direction. But, in its technical sheet, you will read a value expressed in isotropic decibels (dBi). The more dBI we have, the more power our adapter will have, which will allow us a high quality signal. In summary, this means that the higher the dBI, the greater the possibility of increasing the connection speed.
Depending on the infrastructure of your house, you will have to observe this value.
Bluetooth
Finally, many of these USB or PCI-Express WiFi adapters offer us the possibility of incorporating Bluetooth. It is one more function that must be valued, so the more sugar the better!
Best Cheap Wifi Adapters
- Two selectable bands with 300 Mbps / 867 Mbps bandwidth The 5 GHz band allows you to play 4K content in streaming and enjoy online gaming Multi-user MIMO support Allows you to stay connected to the laptop while in the carrying case Transfer rate (maximum): 867 Mbit / s
- Ultra fast 1300 (867 + 400) mbps wireless speed with 802.11ac, 3x faster than nTamao mini wireless speeds designed for easy portability with reliable high performance Up to 10x faster than usb 2.0 Supports windows10 / 8.1 / 8/7 / xp, mac os x 10.9-10.13 Supports 64/128 bit wep, wpa / wpa2, wpa-psk / wpa2-psk
- High speed wifi - up to 600 mbps speed with 150 mbps in 2, 4 ghz and 433 mbps in 5 ghz, upgrade your devices to higher wifi speeds Advanced security - supports 64/128 wep, wpa, pa2 / wpa-psk / wpa2 -psk (tkip / aes) Operating system - supports windows 10 / 8.1 / 8/7 / xp, mac os x 10.7 ~ 10.11 and linux (kernel version 2.6 ~ 3.16)
Best USB Wifi Adapters
- Upgrade your computer with dual-band AC1300 Wi-Fi MU-MIMO USB 3.1 Gen 1 Wi-Fi adapter: 10x faster USB interface for next-generation experience with multiple connected devices 256QAM technology speeds up wireless data transfers N from 300 to 400 Mbps optimal for streaming and gaming: Enjoy a smooth 4K UHD streaming experience and low latency gaming with the 5 GHz band
- The USB 3.0 connection allows data to be transmitted to the computer at a speed of 300 Mbit / s in the 2.4 GHz band and 867 Mbit / s in the 5 GHz band from compatible routers High performance Easy installation Quick use
- It incorporates two external antennas of high gain 5 dBi that will give you 10 times more coverage Take advantage of the USB extension cable to place it in a more strategic position Thanks to the EZ WPS button you can link it to your WiFi signal in just two steps
- Update the connectivity of your laptop or desktop computer with Wi-Fi AC1900 Dual-Band Design of 3x4 MIMO antennas with 2 external antennas and the improvements in signal reception characteristic of ASUS AiRadar technology USB 3.0 interface for 10 times faster data transfers Includes a bracket to place it where there is a better reception of the signal Adjustable antennas depending on the device to which it is connected (Portable or Desktop)
- Equipped with a USB extension cable for flexible deployment The included utility allows easy administration WPA / WPA2 encryptions provide your network with an active defense against security threats Super Speed USB 3.0 port: up to 10x faster than USB 2.0 Simple wireless security encryption by pressing the WPS button
- The powerful EDUP dual band USB 3.0 network adapter achieved ultimate speeds of up to 600Mbit / s wireless connection at 2.4GHz and 1300Mbit / s at 5GHz, according to the 802.11 standard next generation dual band WiFi key Connect the Wireless adapter easily externally to your PC / Laptop or Notebook connected with 5GHz1300Mbps speed is perfect for streaming HD video or ruckelfreies / abbruchfreies online Gaming.Wireless without additional cable to your router connect | USB 3.0 interface (USB 2.0 also possible because, backwards compatible) WiFi standards 802.11b / 802.11g / 802.11N / 802.11ac | at 2.4GHz up to 600Mbp / s + at 5GHz, up to 1300Mbp / s transfer | 64 / 128bit WEP, WPA, WPA2 | | Maximum coverage and stability through the latest technology Maximum coverage and stability. Hardware and software configuration using WPS Button possible | RF power: 17dBm @ 2.4GHz & 17dBm @ 5.8GHz | integrated circuit: realtek8814auSupported systems: Window XP / Vista / Win7 / Win8 / Win8.1 / Win10 / Mac OS 10.6 ~ a 10.12 / Linux 4.3.21 | kabellnge (microb kabe): 75cm | Weight: 70g | color: black | included in delivery: EDUP Wireless AC1900 dual band network adapter USB 3.0+ installation CD + USB3.0 Type A Male microb kabe
- Extreme WiFi speed with AC1900 and USB 3.0, faster connection to your computer, up to 10 times faster than dual-band USB 2.0 Wi-Fi for faster connections to more WiFi networks (up to 600Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1300Mbps at 5GHz) Magnetic base for Flexible placement (included) With Beamforming + that increases speed, range and reliability. Push 'N' Connect-Secured, WPS connection at the push of a button
Best Wifi PCI Express Adapters
- 680/5000 high-speed wi-fi: 867 mbps at 5 ghz and 300 mbps at 2.4 ghz for seamless hd video streaming and online gaming Dual band 802.11ac: Works with standard 802.11ac wlan, up to three times the speed wlan-nBeamforming technology: Wlan directed signal at terminals ensures higher performance; External antennas are detachable Space saving due to small size (also suitable for mini tower housings) and excellent heat dissipation through self-cooling design Package content - ac1200 archer t4e dual band wireless pci express adapter, low profile bracket, guide quick install resource cd
- Easy installation: upgrade your desktop system easily by plugging the Archer T6E Wi-Fi adapter into an available PCI-E slot High-speed Wi-Fi: Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1300Mbps (867Mbps in the 5GHz band or 400Mbps in the 2.4 band GHz) Dual Band 802.11ac: 3 times faster than the 802.11n standard, suitable for high intensity network use Backward compatibility: with support for 802.11 a / b / g / n standards Wide wireless coverage: 2 external antennas that ensure greater coverage in the Wi-Fi connection and greater stability
- The wi-fi standard: wifi 6 (802.11ax) performs more and consumes less energy High-speed wi-fi connections: 3000 mbps to handle the most saturated networks 802.11ax technology: with ofdma and mu-mimo, wifi 6 offers stable fast transmissions and efficient by connecting multiple devices simultaneously Enjoy twice as fast bluetooth transmissions and up to 4x greater range External antenna to reduce areas without coverage - position the antenna in the right place with the included cable
- New generation 802.11ac chipset enables fast connections of up to 867 Mbps Dual-band 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz selectable operation, compatible with all existing devices Broadcom TurboQAM technology offers 33% higher performance than 802.11n, with Speeds up to 400 Mbps The integrated aluminum heatsink eliminates chipset temperature, ensuring highly reliable continuous operation
- The 802.11ac chipset offers Dual-band 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz connectivity with a speed that reaches 1.3 Gbps.The integrated aluminum heatsink eliminates the temperature of the chipset, ensuring highly reliable continuous operation.The flexible positioning of the antennas allows you to find the best reception. WEP bit, 128-bit WEP, WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK
- Upgrade your desktop connectivity to Wi-Fi AC3100 4x4 with up to 2100 Mbps in the 5 GHz band and 1000 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi band 60% faster and better coverage than 3x3 AC adapters External base antenna that Allows installation where the signal is strongest The heatsink ensures more stable and reliable continuous operation 60% faster than 3x3 AC devices
Best Wifi antennas on the market
So, WiFi adapters are no longer a problem for you! You only have to choose between a USB adapter or a PCI Express, which one do you prefer? Why? Thanks for your reading!
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