How usb adapter works

Keep in mind that in most cases you won't be able to use the USB adapter from a similar mouse instead of the one you lost. The recognition of the device is done by ID, so the wireless receiver simply will not see your device. However, there is one way to check if you have a similar USB receiver handy. Here's what to do:

USB WiFi Adapter: what it is, how to use it, features and tips

USB WiFi Adapters are one of the most recommended devices if you want to have a wireless Wi-Fi connection on your desktop computers. These types of devices can also be used in laptops to improve the wireless capabilities of the internal WiFi card that we usually have. We currently have a wide selection of USB WiFi adapter. Depending on your needs, you can buy some models or others. Today in this article we are going to tell you everything you should take into consideration for this type of device.

A WiFi USB adapter is a device that connects via USB to our computer whether it's a desktop computer or a laptop, and it has the form of a Pendrive, and allows us connect to Wi-Fi networks . Usually we have to install the drivers that came with the WiFi USB card itself, although if you are using Windows 10 it is very likely that it will automatically recognize the WiFi adapter and then install the drivers without user intervention. In just a minute, we'll have this device up and running.

The WiFi wireless adapters will give us the ability to connect via WiFi to our router or WiFi access point if our computer did not have a WiFi card before. In the case of laptops, they all have a Wi-Fi card inside, but mid-range computers usually have very weak Wi-Fi cards, and they give us poor wireless performance, both in terms of coverage and speed.

Types of USB interfaces

Currently there are two different types of USB WiFi adapters that support USB 2.0 – the lowest level and the cheapest adapters of this type will not give us too much real speed, although we will have better coverage (if they have external antennas). The ones that support. USB 3.0 will always be the fastest The ones which will give us the best real speed and will not be limited by the maximum speed of the USB 2.0 interface itself. It makes sense that adapters that use the USB 3.0 interface are the most expensive and expensive.

Nowadays, it is most common to find USB 3.0 adapters, but if you buy a low-end device, the most common is USB 2.0 to keep costs down, and therefore you get lower wireless performance in terms of speed.

USB WIFI adapter.

This is the same as what we described above, except for one nuance: these devices work specifically to transmit the signal from the router or modem (WI-FI access point) and the rest of the devices, which are involved in a similar way. But perhaps everyone knows that the network adapter built into the motherboard works much better than the wireless USB-adapter. But if your computer doesn't have one, there is no other option. And it will be more profitable, of course, to buy a wireless version, because it is much cheaper than changing the "motherboard".

Recommended characteristics

But also with their choice it is worth thinking about. The most suitable option will be an adapter with the following characteristics: data transfer rate should be up to three hundred MB, the type of standard – 802.11n, the reception power – at least twenty decibels, it is also recommended to take a USB WIFI-adapter with an antenna included or built into the adapter – this will improve the reception connection between the device and the access point. The encryption method should be WPA2-PSK – this will be the most reliable.

So, once you are familiar with the requirements listed above, you can look for a suitable model. Remember, with an adapter like this you can connect it to any device, even your TV.

What's it for?

If you still don't understand why you need a Bluetooth adapter, let me give you the basic features that it opens up to the user:

1. Transferring files from your PC to and from your smartphone or tablet. Almost all cell phones are equipped with a BT transmitter;
2. Wirelessly connect two computers that are close to each other;
3. Connecting a wireless keyboard, mouse and other equipment supporting this communication protocol to the PC. It is especially convenient to use wireless headphones when you cannot make noise in the apartment or want to talk on Skype without sitting at the monitor.

• Low power consumption of radio communication. The turned on device will not greatly affect the power consumption of the computer or the discharge rate of the laptop battery.
• The connection remains stable even if there are obstacles between the devices:
• It can be connected to any PC that has a USB version 2.0 or 3.0 port;
• Low cost of functionality expansion. Sometimes it's more profitable to buy a computer without a built-in chip and to buy a USB module rather than spend money on a more advanced set;
• Availability in the vast majority of smartphones and tablets.

How do I connect a Bluetooth adapter to my computer?

No wires are required to connect the two devices. All you need is for both devices to have a built-in wireless module.

1. On the computer, the adapter must be plugged into the USB port. The operating system will most likely detect the type of hardware itself, and you will not need to install any software, everything will work right away. Otherwise, you will need to install the appropriate driver, which can be on the disc attached to the device, or on the official website of the manufacturer.
2. The last step will be to turn on the device. To put the module in pairing mode, sometimes you need to press the power button, but most often it happens automatically when you connect to the USB input.
3. After activating and enabling the BT function on the second gadget (smartphone, headphones, etc.), both devices will start searching for each other in the range of the transmitters and offer to create a connection.

How does the Wi-Fi adapter work?

It is important to know that such a Wi-Fi adapter for TV and other devices works exactly the same way as integrated modules. All data from the router is transmitted to the external module, from there – to the data processing environment and only then the result is displayed: a website is opened, videos are played, etc. This procedure does not take much time and takes place in real time.

Important! The adapter usually requires special drivers. They can be installed automatically or manually. With their help we can adjust the work of the device. The adapter allows you to configure the network, like setting the IP, subnet mask, DNS, etc. For the broadband communication, the frequency band is used, on which the data packets are transmitted in both directions. The main task of the device is to provide access to the Wi-Fi network for those devices that do not support this technology by default.

How to choose a Wi-Fi adapter?

Not everyone realizes that such a Wi-Fi adapter has many characteristics that you should pay attention to before buying. If you need a module to receive the signal to the PC from the router at a distance of 1 m, you can buy any device, in other cases you should choose more responsibly.

• Support for communication standards. The router and the module must have the same values (802.11n, g, b, a).
• Frequency. For simple tasks, 2.4 GHz is fine. If it is planned to pass high-speed Internet and the router supports it, it is better to choose a 5 GHz model.
• Signal strength. The higher, the more stable the connection and the wider the range. Good models have values of 16-20 dBm.
• Data transmission security. It is important that the adapter supports WAP and WAP2 data encryption.
• Antenna type. Models with external, preferably multiple, antennas will not experience problems with delays or loss of signal even at a distance of 5 m or more from the router, depending on topography, building configuration and congestion of other networks, etc.

Method 1: Write to technical support

If you lose the receiver from a wireless mouse from a well-known manufacturer, the first thing to do is to write to official technical support. There is a good chance that they will ask you to take a picture of the device and will send you a new adapter to replace the one you lost. The forums are full of information about users who have used this method. For example, Logitech sends the USB adapter free of charge in most cases.

The only nuance: find out the cities where they do shipping. Company policies change from time to time. If it is only Moscow or St. Petersburg, you will need a relative or acquaintance from these cities to get the device and then send the USB adapter to your address.

Method 2: Logitech Unifying receiver

This method will only work with Logitech products. If your device has the "Unifying" logo – the red sun icon – then you can use any receiver with that image – not necessarily the original one that you lost. What's more, you can connect up to 6 Logitech devices to one receiver: keyboards, mice, clickers, etc. So what do you do to make that happen? You'll need to make sure they all support the technology, and download the Unifying app from the official website. It will help you set up a wireless mouse on a different adapter.

You can buy an adapter with Unifying-technology on the Internet: both used and new. The price is about 500-700 roubles.

Conclusions

The adapters are good for charging mobile devices if you want to turn a USB-A charging port into a USB-C port. The metal monolithic housing is good for heat dissipation. For data transfer it is not the best choice due to the low transfer rate, but in rare situations can help. To answer the main question which one is better I would give preference to the adapter where the contact core of the USB-C port is made with metallization, it should last longer.

About the author

Complaint about the comment

I have tried several of these adapters which claims to support USB 3.0. All turned out to be USB 2.0.

Can you always tell from the photo on Ali the number of pins? In some cases there is a USB 3.0 connector with all the pins installed, but some of the pins are just not soldered out. There is no way to tell visually.

I have tried several similar adapters with sellers claiming to support USB 3.0. All turned out to be USB 2.0.

Also on the lookout for one. In fact, there are reverse adapters from USB-C (M) to USB-A (W) with USB3.0, but why it is so hard to find USB-C (W) to USB-A (M) is a mystery.

It is advisable to order from a trusted brand, not a no-name. I use similar adapter from Ugreen. USB 3.0 will work fine.
https://a.aliexpress.com/_ASZ1Cr

Only the most part of modern Type C peripherals will not work with this or any other adapter. For example VGA/HDMI converters. Your computer is missing specific hardware for this device to work properly – a similar error will be shown.

What a strange review. What did the author wanted to get out of the speed when he plugged this adapter into the usb slot, or did he think that his old 2.0 slot would miraculously turn into Gen 3.1? Just because he could shove a double-sided type-c cable in there? Publish more clowns like this! Very funny.
And now about the sad part – dear author it is time to find information what is the difference between usb 2 and 3 etc., what is type-c, and where and how to use them, and most importantly what is the need for such an adapter. It would not be fair to blame you at all if you would build your review in other way stating that type-c connector is a modern connector with more durable construction rather than micro-usb, it supports higher voltage, so that turbo charge, Power Delivery have a type-c construction but not micro usb, so if your notebook PC motherboard has type-c output, then this type-c is likely to have a function of usb 3. So such adapters are needed to get rid of a pile of old cables to have one type-c for charging smartphones and laptops of a famous fruit company, and the adapter itself is needed as a plug everywhere so that everyone around could see how cool and modern the owner of the plug is, that all his appearance shows how miserable backward relationship with the prehistoric technology and that it is time to change and keep up with the times.

Network Cards

Every home motherboard comes with an integrated network card which has its chip unsoldered right on the motherboard. The main weakness of wired networks is bad weather or, to be more precise, thunderstorms: when lightning strikes, it causes an electromotive force that can easily knock out your wired networking equipment. You don't have to be struck by a pole near you to do this, but the effects spread out over miles.

Motherboard manufacturers try in every way to protect integrated NICs, but rarely can this protection effectively withstand the weather, after a burned out terminating transformers can fail the network controller itself and further down the chain to destroy the motherboard as a whole. The network cable is not in direct contact with the controller and is galvanically isolated, a small black "brick" on the network board is exactly the block with matching transformers that suffers first. But under certain conditions, even this solution can not save the whole bunch from damage, yet its purpose is to provide basic protection against network noise and pickups.

An external network card in this case can act as an additional fuse and save the whole system. Of course, Internet service providers are trying to transfer their networks to optics, which are not afraid of bad weather, but if your house comes to you twisted pair from the pole, it is highly recommended to buy a network card. Of course you can install a specialized lightning protection module, but for its full functionality you need a reliable grounding, which in a normal apartment is not always available. And the cable itself going into the house must be shielded and the shield must be similarly grounded, but internet providers rarely use quality cables.

Recently, many manufacturers are increasingly abandoning the usual LAN connector and do so because it is quite bulky and there is simply no room for it in today's thin portable computers. In addition, wired networks are increasingly replacing wireless ones: it is hard to imagine a café or other establishment that does not have Wi-Fi. But many corporate networks, for the most part, are closed and in the workplace you can expect only an RJ45 socket and no Wi-Fi. In that case a LAN adapter will be a must, connection will not be a problem either, there are options for both USB 2.0/3.0 and Type-C.

Wireless adapters

Wireless networks are evolving rapidly, it seems only recently there was Wi-Fi 6, as there are already freely available access points with support for the newer speed standard Wi-Fi 6E, promising gigabit speeds over the air. Moreover, new 12th generation Intel chipsets have native support for this standard, but it's not always possible to see connectors for antennas on motherboards: it all depends on the engineering thought of its manufacturer.

So if you get a motherboard without built-in wireless network support, and your computer just needs to be connected to Wi-Fi, you can separately buy a wireless board for your PC. There is enough space in the case, the main thing is to find a free PCI-E slot. But if everything is occupied – no problem, there are models for M.2. Such modules do not have their own antennas, they have connectors for connection, the same as in laptops. The main mistake is that very often the antennas are mounted by users inside the computer case, which is made of metal and can shield the Wi-Fi signal very well.

If a wireless network adapter for a computer is a bit exotic, then a laptop without Wi-Fi is comparable to a smartphone without a SIM card slot. What an additional wireless adapter might be useful for at first glance may not be clear.

Often in many laptops to reduce its thickness minimized the number of connectors not only for peripherals, which are visible outside, but also internal slots, so the Wi-Fi module in most cases is soldered to the main board of the laptop. And it can happen that the built-in wireless module, for example, supports only 2.4 GHz, and a new access point with 5 GHz was purchased.

Of course, the newer router has backward compatibility and won't leave your laptop without connectivity, but after comparing the connection speeds, you'll immediately want to use faster Internet not only in your smartphone, but also in your laptop. Even if the Wi-Fi module is made in the form of a separate board, chances to upgrade it tend to zero: lists of supported adapters are artificially limited to single models, and the first caught wireless module is not sure that it will fit in size, not to mention the fact that the laptop will correctly identify it. So the easiest way to solve this problem is to buy a Wi-Fi adapter that supports the new speed standard.

USB 3.0 or USB 2.0?

Low and mid-range Wi-Fi adapters usually include a USB 2.0 interface, and the reason is clear: USB 2.0 interface speeds are up to 480 theoretical Mbps, but this type of Wi-Fi adapter will not provide us more than about 200 Mbps. We have to consider the real speed we will get with the WiFi adapter, which means that if we buy an N300 class adapter, that means we can get up to 300 Mbit theoretical speeds in the 2.4 GHz band, but in real life we will get about 150-200 Mbit/s, so the USB 2.0 interface is more than enough to provide those speeds.

If we have an AC600 class WiFi adapter with WiFi 5 standard, some manufacturers prefer the USB 2.0 interface and others prefer the USB 3.0 interface, it does not matter if we have one or the other because we will not reach approximately 400 Mbps with this type of device having a single antenna. In these cases we must read the analysis of these WiFi adapters and check what performance they are able to provide us, if we see that it does not exceed 300 Mbps, it does not matter that it has USB 2.0 because the limitation is not from the interface itself.

If we have a WiFi adapter using WiFi standard 5 and AC1200 class or higher, in these cases it is absolutely necessary that it has a USB 3.0 interface because we will be able to reach speeds over 500 real Mbps over WiFi, so the USB interface will be the bottleneck. There are AC1900 class WiFi adapters with which we reach speeds of up to 700 real Mbps without much trouble, so in these cases we are well above the USB 2.0 interface, so the manufacturer explicitly puts the USB 3.0 interface.

Regardless of which interface the WiFi adapter uses , the important thing is. WiFi class is. because the manufacturer will put USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 where necessary. The most critical in cases where we have a WiFi card class AC600 or similar because there are manufacturers who put USB 2.0 and other USB 3.0, in these cases we must check the real performance that we will achieve between one or the other model is essential to choose the fastest one.

Forget the network

Perhaps the problem that the USB Wi-Fi adapter does not work properly is due to improper configuration of the network or that the operating system does not properly manage our connection. This way we can forget about the wireless network and connect later.

We have to go to the network icon that appears in the bottom right corner and mark the Wi-Fi network that we are trying to connect to and there are problems. We just give Forget the network. and then reconnect, put the password back on.

Check the Wi-Fi range

Today's devices allow you to connect through the 2.4 GHz group and 5 GHz. Each is best under the circumstances. The former is ideal if we are connecting at a considerable distance from the router, and the latter is the one that offers the best speed.

However, we may have tried to connect to the wrong range, and so it does not work. Hence, another solution is to change the band we connect to and see if the problem is solved.

In short, these are some of the basic steps we should take in case of problems with the USB Wi-Fi adapter. A series of simple solutions that we can implement in our team.

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