How to choose the right Wi-Fi adapter

As corny as it may sound, a Wi-Fi router in today's world is one of the most important household devices, especially when it comes not to connecting a single workstation, but to organizing Internet access for a series of devices. In addition, an increasing proportion of users prefer wireless connectivity due to its simplicity and convenience. And if with mobile devices or Smart TV everything is simple – there is an appropriate module built in by default, then to connect a PC you will need a separate Wi-Fi adapter.

How to choose a Wi-Fi adapter for your PC or laptop

Wi-Fi Adapters are devices that, internally or externally connected to your computer, can implement wireless Internet support in it. For the most part, these devices are designed for desktop computers. Wi-Fi Adapters are an aesthetic solution for bringing the Internet to other rooms or offices in the room. There is no need to lay the cable, hide it under the finish, incur financial expenses in connection with this, to suffer the inconvenience of repair.

Wi-Fi adapter can be a budget alternative to increase the number of PCs in the room with a low-powered router that supports an insufficient number of network ports. Wi-Fi adapter is also a solution for laptops, tablets, TVYour laptop, tablet, TV set-top box, smartphone and other devices with their own Wi-Fi receivers on board, if the latter are out of order, have poor signal reception or are cutting Internet speeds.

What criteria are important when choosing this device?

Connection type

As for the types of connection of the Wi-Fi adapter – internal and external, here everything is very simple: with the first, the device is connected through, respectively, the internal hardware interfaces of the PC or laptop, and with the second – through USB . The benefit of the latter option is obvious: not everyone knows enough about computer hardware to implement the internal stuffing themselves, while connecting the USB-devices can even be plugged in by a novice. Plus, the slots of the internal hardware interfaces should not be busy with other components (video cards, SSD, etc.). .

With USB in this matter, of course, is easier. Such a Wi-Fi adapter is universal, it can be connected to any equipment with USB ports on board. But the hardware interfaces inside each individual type of equipment are different. For example, the internal Wi-Fi adapter used inside a PC assembly cannot be disconnected and embedded inside a laptop. Not to mention a smartphone or tablet.

Internal Wi-Fi adapters win, in fact, only by data transfer bandwidth. In external ones, it is usually limited to the capabilities of the USB 2.0 interface, which is, incidentally, what most adapters have on their input and computer devices have on their output. But there is a nuance here: to get real benefit from such an advantage, alas, will not be possible in every case. In addition to the connection interface, there are many other factors on which Internet speed depends. This includes, in particular, the technical capacity of the router, its settings, radio interference, and the provider's reduction of the speed promised by the tariff.

There is a perception that only Wi-Fi adapters with an internal type of connection are able to provide acceptable signal strength due to the presence of an antenna. Or at least have an antenna connector for connecting it from the outside. This is not true: USB Wi-Fi adapters can also be equipped with a powerful antenna. Just some budget models of the latter, looking like a small flash drive, are designed for a compact form and a narrow, acceptable for the needs of everyday people range. For example, for use in small-sized apartments.

Criteria for choosing a Wi-Fi adapter

First of all, you should deal with the interface, through which the device will be connected to the PC or other equipment:

• External USB port.
  Such Wi-Fi adapters look like a flash drive and are connected to compatible devices through the corresponding port.
  There are both miniature models with not the largest range, and powerful oversized ones with remote antennas or units connected to a computer or TV via a USB cable.
• Internal PCI-Express.
  Externally it looks like a normal network card.
  The module is inserted into the corresponding slot on the computer's motherboard.
  The installation of PCI-Express adapter is not the fastest, but the latter does not take up the USB connector and usually has a higher power.

• Data transfer speed.
  The higher it is, the better.
  The speed of your computer or other device using the adapter depends on this parameter.
• Communication standards.
  Modern adapters support Wi-Fi standards 802.11 b, a, g, n or ac.
  The last option is one of the most relevant and fastest.
• Antenna.
  Internal antennas cannot boast a good gain.
  External antennas have the best performance, and external antennas have even more solid performance.
• OS support.
  Almost all modern adapters are compatible with the Windows operating system (from XP and up to "ten").
  Many models support Mac OS and a small part (out of the box) support Linux-systems.

TOP 11 Best Wi-Fi Adapters for PCs of 2023

Place	Model	Price
The best models with USB connection
#1	Mercusys MU6H	Check price
#2	Alfa Network AWUS1900	Ask the price
#3	Tenda U9	Ask the price
#4	Mercusys MW300UH	Ask the price
#5	TP-LINK Archer T2U Plus	Find out the price
#6	Tenda U2	Ask the price
#7	ASUS USB-AC68	Find out the price
The best models with PCI-E connection
#1	ASUS PCE-AC56	Ask Ask price
#2	ASUS PCE-AC88	Ask the price
#3	ASUS PCE-AC68	Ask the price
#4	TP-LINK Archer T4E	Learn the price

These are truly universal devices that can connect not only to your PC, but also to other equipment that supports the appropriate technology.

Rating of the best USB Wi-Fi adapters for PC and laptop 2023 according to customer reviews and ratings.

Mercusys MU6H

Wi-Fi adapter in the original design stands out for the presence of a large external antenna, which provides improved connection quality with wireless networks.

The Mercusys MU6H device will be especially useful for desktop PC users, because built-in Wi-Fi modules are very rare.

Of course, nothing prevents you from using the adapter in other devices equipped with a USB port.

Best Wi-Fi Adapters Rating

Nomination	place	product name	price
The best WiFi adapters by value for money	1	ASUS USB-AC68	4 710 ₽
2	TP-LINK TL-WPA7510 KIT	4 800 ₽
3	ASUS PCE-AC56	3 200 ₽
4	Alfa Network AWUS036ACH	3 750 ₽
Best inexpensive WiFi adapters	1	TP-LINK Archer T6E	1 795 ₽
2	ZYXEL NWD6605	1 700 ₽
3	Xiaomi Mi Wi-Fi Powerline	1 999 ₽
4	ASUS USB-N14	1 690 ₽
5	D-link DWA-137	800 ₽
6	TP-LINK TL-WN822N	720 ₽

First of all we will look at the group of models, which belong to the higher price category, but have a number of those qualities, which may be either completely inaccessible to budget models, or not fully implemented. Our experts have selected four models with fundamentally different form factors for the most complete and informative presentation. All listed devices are capable of operating in two bands (2.4/5 GHz), support all generations of IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac wireless standard and protect information using three standard protocols – WEP, WPA, WPA2.

ASUS USB-AC68

First of all, let's look at the brightest in all senses adapter in the first selection of the rating. Besides impressive specifications and features, the developers have also endowed it with such an expressive design that it will serve as a desktop adornment by itself. But first, let's talk about what it can do.

What does a WiFi adapter do?

As mentioned above, the adapter is needed to connect the device to an existing Wi-Fi network, created with a router, access point or smartphone in the absence of a wired Internet connection. Thus, the adapter allows:

• detect available wireless networks,
• provide connection to them via an encrypted channel,
• organize data transmission over the local network (access to other devices, local file storage),
• provide high-speed Internet access without the need to buy patch cords (patch cords) or make them out of twisted pair, lay them and connect.

In fact, WiFi-adapter is a full-fledged additional network card, which takes full control of the network connection. Accordingly, it can be used not only in case of dire need to provide a wireless connection, but also as a temporary or permanent replacement for a failed built-in network adapter.

How to choose?

What is WiFi-adapter, why they need and what it does, we have identified, then it is time to turn to the most important information for any consumer – questions of choice and the main parameters.

To determine which WiFi adapter to choose for your home, apartment or small office, you need to pay attention to the following aspects.

Wireless module

More specifically, the connection standard that it supports. Most modern adapters are dual-band, that is, they allow you to connect to a network broadcasting on frequencies 2.4 and 5 GHz. You can find out about their support from the specifications and labeling of the supported Wi-Fi standard – 802.11n and 802.11ac, respectively. That said:

We recommend buying Wi-Fi adapters that support the 802.11ac standard, since it provides higher data transfer speeds and is still less common, so home and office networks operating at 5GHz are less noisy with "neighboring" devices. But it is worth remembering that the router must also have support for the appropriate standard.

Antenna

Wi-Fi adapter necessarily has an antenna, but in most cases it looks like a twisted track on the board. Nevertheless, for most cases (for work within 1-3 room apartment, small office, store) it is more than enough.

If it is assumed that the computer or other device will be at a considerable distance from the router, and between them there will be some thick, solid walls, it makes sense to choose an adapter with an external antenna. It looks exactly the same as the router, and works to enhance the signal and improve communication quality.

Connector

Which wi fi adapter is better for the PC to choose and buy?

The price policy of manufacturers can vary significantly for devices with the same capabilities. That is why it is so important to compare the technical characteristics and choose the best option:

• Such adapter as ZYXEL NWD6605 is quite modern, will provide a stable connection, but you can find a cheaper one with similar parameters.
• LUMAX DV0002HD is definitely worth choosing, if the set-top box is the same company.
• Edimax EW-7711UAn is easy to set up and operate and produces a stable signal. But you should not expect a large range from it.
• ASUS USB-N14 is compact and powerful but it sees only one band.
• Alfa Network AWUS036NHV is chosen by users for whom the distance to the access point is important. It has good sensitivity combined with a smooth signal.
• A reasonable price, good communication quality at a distance of 10-15 meters, and no difficulty in using the Tenda U3.
• Confidently works by modern standards of communication in two bands D-link DWA-182/D1. But the price is a bit pricey.
• The optimal option that demonstrates the capabilities of modern adapters is TP-LINK Archer T2UH. It is the leader in terms of value for money.

It is recommended to buy a model for your computer with the same parameters that your home Wireless Fidelity router supports. If you choose a lower setting, it will worsen the network quality. Therefore, it is advisable to read the router's manual first.

Wi fi adapter for computer – what is it?

Wi-Fi adapters refer to useful devices that allow you to connect to the world stream of the Internet desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets and other digital devices that do not originally have a function of wireless connection to the global web. Adapters work in a given frequency range via broadband radio communication.

By the way, if you are choosing a monitor for your computer, then don't rush to conclusions until you study our rating of the best models.

Adapters with good technical characteristics can significantly improve the quality of communication and increase the range. Therefore, they have recently been increasingly used for laptops that have wifi, but do not have a stable signal.

Modern network adapters are equipped with external and internal antennas. There are three types of adapters:

• External. Connect to the system unit (laptop, tablet) via a USB port.
• Built-in. To use them for a desktop computer you have to make a direct connection to the motherboard.
• Cardboard. So far they haven't found a big spread, because they are used for computer equipment with a PCCard slot.

Some models can only receive the signal, others can receive and transmit. Drivers are almost always used to digitize correctly.

How to choose a WiFi adapter

Having answered the question "WiFi adapter, what is it?", you can move on to choosing the device itself. The buyer should check:

• Compatibility. To avoid the purchase becoming a waste of money, you should check whether the selected option can be connected to a particular device. You should be especially careful when selecting an adapter for your TV or set-top box. It is better to study the experience of other users and consult with the seller.
• Supported standards. Here it is useful to check what standard the router has. Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) is widespread, it is better that the adapter can work with it. Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) has backward compatibility with its predecessor, while supporting higher speeds itself.
• Frequency ranges. For Wi-Fi, you can use 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz. The former will provide greater range, the latter is able to transmit data faster. For mobile devices, it is useful to be able to work with either one, while for a computer or TV, the one used in the home network is sufficient. You can check the connection features in the router settings.
• Transmitter power and antenna type. The range of reception depends on these parameters. It is better to choose a version with a power of 20 dBm, which is able to transmit a signal at a distance of 5 m. Note that walls and other obstacles weaken the signal, thereby reducing the maximum range.
• Connection security. To prevent data from leaking to intruders or jokers, secure connections should be used. WPA/WPA2-PSK is used for Wi-Fi, as it is considered secure.

Maximum Wi-Fi speed

Obviously, the more the better. Wireless dongle speeds can range from 3 to 2,000 Mbps. As a gimmick, let's show you a device that runs at 2167 Mbps:

However, you are also limited in your choice of maximum speed by your router as well as the speed of your Internet rate from your ISP. There's no point in overpaying if you have the wire from the entrance hall going to a maximum of 25 Mbit / c – you need to choose the speed according to what you have.

Antennas

The accessory that adds wi-fi to your desktop can come in many forms. It can be a mini dongle:

The antenna option is the most practical in terms of connection stability. The antenna can be pointed at the router so that the devices communicate with each other without interference. "Horns" can be equipped with both external and internal accessories.

The device can have multiple antennas. With such an adapter you can do without a router at all: connect the network cable to the PC and configure the distribution of wireless communication from the computer, directing the antennas in different directions, so that the coverage was wider. We recommend this external device with two antennas:

Read More: