What you need an adapter for

Wi-Fi is used to create networks in your home and office. You can connect a variety of devices from smartphones to televisions wirelessly to a router. A WiFi adapter is one of the devices that are used to create a local area network.

Bluetooth adapter for computer. How to choose?

I've been thinking about this article for a long time, then kept putting it off, but here I decided to write it. I even bought a Bluetooth adapter specifically so that I could test it and write the most useful article possible. As you can easily guess from the title, in this article I will tell you about Bluetooth adapters for computers. We will find out what they are for, what they are, how to choose, connect, and use them.

I think everybody knows what Bluetooth is. It is enough to know that it is a wireless technology for exchanging data between different devices over short distances. These days, Bluetooth module is built into a large number of different devices. It is in almost every phone, tablet, laptop. There are also many devices that support Bluetooth connection. These are printers, headphones, joysticks, mice, etc.

And if in laptops this wireless module is built in from the factory (with the exception of some models, mostly older), and it is sufficiently simple to enable (see how to enable Bluetooth on a laptop) and you can use it, in desktop computers Bluetooth is absent. Again, unless you have a motherboard with integrated Bluetooth, or it was installed separately when building the system unit.

It is important to understand that this is not just a driver or a program that you can download from the Internet and everything will work (as many think). It is a separate device (module).

To check if your computer has Bluetooth, simply go to Device Manager and see if the adapter is listed there in a separate section, or in the "Network Adapters" section.

Rarely, but there are cases where this adapter is not in the Device Manager, but it is in the computer. There is simply no driver installed. In that case, there should be unknown devices. Or "Bluetooth Peripheral Device" on the "Other Devices" tab.

Why do I need Bluetooth adapters for my PC and what are they?

Once we purchase and connect such an adapter to our computer, we will be able to connect a wide variety of Bluetooth devices to it. These are mice, keyboards, headphones, headsets, joysticks (including DualShock and Xbox Wireless Controller), printers, speakers, cameras, etc. You can also share files with other computers, laptops, smartphones and tablets. However, it is not very convenient to transfer files in this way.

Basically, it is the connection of peripheral devices without cables. It's much more convenient that way. Take headphones, for example. If you connect them to your computer via Bluetooth, you can move freely around the room, or even around the apartment, and listen to music. You can't do that with a cable. Or by connecting a headset, you can talk on Skype and do not have to sit near the computer.

The most popular, inexpensive and common are USB adapters. They look like an ordinary flash drive. There are very small ones that are great for both PCs and laptops. For my computer I bought one of these adapters – Grand-X Bluetooth 4.0. It looks like this:

As you can see, there are options with external antennas. Having an antenna provides a stronger signal and a more stable connection.

There are a lot of these adapters on the market. Especially a large number of them can be found in Chinese online stores. But I still advise to buy those adapters that are available on our market. From more or less well-known manufacturers. How to choose the right Bluetooth adapter for your PC, we will talk further in this article.

Flash drive format (with antenna)

The first one is. TP-Link TL-WN722N.. It supports wireless data transfer at 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n WiFi standard at a maximum speed of 150 MB/s and has a USB 2.0 connection interface.

Two other models are. ZyXEL NWD6605-EU0101F и Asus USB-AC56.. They support wireless data transfer at 2.4/5 GHz IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac WiFi standard at the maximum speed of 867 Mbps, USB 3.0 connection interface.

Flash drive format (without antenna)

Adapter TP-Link TL-WN727N Supports 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n WiFi wireless transmission at a maximum speed of 150 Mbps.

The higher speeds are possessed by the models D-Link DWA-131/E1A, TP-Link TL-WN821N, TP-Link TL-WN823N и Asus USB-N13. They operate at a maximum speed of 300 Mbps and support wireless data transfer at 2.4 GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n WiFi standard.

The highest speed is 433 Mbps. The following models have such speeds TP-Link ARCHER T2U и Asus USB-AC51that support wireless data transfer at 2.4/5 GHz IEEE 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac.

Module on PCs and laptops

Laptops are mostly equipped with a built-in module, so the question "WiFi adapter, what is it?" rarely occurs to users. A replacement may be required in case of failure. Users sometimes want to upgrade the device, for example, if a new standard of communication came out.

USB adapters will do for the laptop, but it is not very convenient, because the ports are usually few. It is more convenient to use built-in Wi-Fi adapters.

A PC is not required to have a wireless module. Motherboards are sold both with and without a built-in adapter. Almost any module can be connected to the computer. Here you should choose the most convenient option.

Module for your TV

Smart TVs are equipped with a wireless module, so there is no need to pull the wire from the modem. TVs can use the Internet to run a variety of applications. The user will find games, streaming services, online movie theaters and other programs that are useless without a network.

Older models of smart TVs only supported data transfer over the wire. But due to the fact that they have several USB, you can connect an external adapter. The main thing is to make sure that the devices are compatible and can work correctly.

How to choose

The adapter is a device that has characteristics that you should take into account to ensure the best signal. These are listed on the device itself or in the manual. Consider what to look for when buying:

1. The communication standard. It determines the speed of information transfer. Buy a device with speeds up to three hundred megabits per second with support for the modern 802.11ac standard. If the router is 802.11ac and the adapter is 802.11n, there will be connectivity to the network, but the speed will be limited to 802.11n;
2. Frequency range: 2.4 or 5 gigahertz;
3. Power is measured in dBM decibels. Responsible for connection stability. Buy at least twenty;
4. Protect your data from hacking. The reliable protocol is WPA/WPA2-PSK;
5. Range. For use in an apartment, choose models designed for a distance of five meters. This will provide full coverage of the apartment the communication will be stable. Orient on this figure depending on where the device will be used. Outdoors or indoors.

For example, if your home router does not support 802.11ac, do not buy a device that supports five gigahertz. When buying, pay attention not to the manufacturer, but to the characteristics of the device and its cost. Look for information in online stores, read product reviews.

In laptops.

Even in older laptops the Wi-Fi adapter is built in. But for various reasons (the built-in adapter is broken, obsolete) it may be necessary to replace the built-in adapter.

You can either replace the board itself (the adapter which is inside the laptop is connected to the motherboard), or just connect a USB receiver. I have two articles on this subject:

It makes no difference whether the adapter is built-in or external, it performs the same task – connecting your laptop to Wi-Fi.

Rules for choosing a device

Independently choose such a receiver is quite difficult. Especially for people who have not used such devices before. In order to buy the right adapter for connecting to a wireless network, it is necessary to get acquainted with the basic nuances of choice. When selecting a new Wi-Fi Adapter, it is necessary to take into account what kind of device it is bought for.

For the computer

Most people buy such a device for further connection to a personal computer so that they can use the wireless network. When choosing an adapter for your PC, you need to decide on the type of interface that will be used for the connection. The fact is that you can connect absolutely any existing model to the computer.

People with a limited budget can buy adapters that connect via USB. It is better that they are equipped with an external antenna. This will improve the signal reception.

However, for a computer, it is better to buy models that connect via PCI. This way, you can get the best internet speed. It is recommended to connect such devices to the PCIe1 connector, as it is more modern and advanced.

For your laptop

Most laptop models have built-in adapters for receiving a wireless Wi-Fi signal. However, there are situations when they fail. In such cases, you have to buy new devices to connect to the wireless network.

The owners of laptops will have to give up buying built-in models, which are connected via a PCI slot. The fact is that only personal computers have such an input. Therefore, such models are not suitable for laptops. You will have to choose a module that is connected via USB.

It is recommended to buy a receiver that supports the modern 802.11ac standard. It provides data transfer speeds of about 300 Mbps.

How to make a Wi-Fi adapter out of a phone

Many people wonder whether it is possible to use the phone as a Wi-Fi adapter. In fact, modern smartphones support this function. You can use them to connect your PC to a wireless network to use the Internet. To do this, you need to follow the following sequence of steps:

1. Disconnect the mobile Internet. First you need to disconnect from 3G/4G.
2. Connect to the wireless network. When the phone is disconnected from the mobile Internet, connect it to the Wi-Fi network.
3. Connect the smartphone to the PC. This is done using an ordinary USB cable.
4. Enter the modem mode. To do this, enter the settings in your phone and select "Connections". Then enter "hotspot" section and select "USB modem".

After performing the above steps, the smartphone will be connected to the PC as an Internet modem.

If it was not possible to connect the phone to the computer the first time, it is necessary to check the integrity of the USB cable. You may also try to reconnect it. This should help to solve the problem.

The power adapter and its purpose

Let's try to define this device. An adapter, or power supply unit, is an electronic device designed to generate an output voltage of a given value and power. Household adapters convert alternating electric current into direct current, which is necessary for equipment of various types. In the CIS countries the power grid standard is 220 V with a frequency of 50 Hz, but in other countries these parameters may be different. Accordingly, the power adapter produced for such country will differ in terms of the working input voltage. What do you need such units for? Almost all electronic equipment has operating voltages in the range of 3-36 volts (sometimes there may be exceptions). After all, the operating range of most semiconductor components is specified exclusively in low-voltage. This is due to the fact that such elements are characterized by small overall dimensions, emit a small amount of heat during operation and have a low power consumption.

The power adapter is needed to provide such equipment with operating voltage. It is much more economical for the equipment to make a power supply than to develop a device that is powered directly from 220 V. For such devices you will need powerful heat sinks with large overall dimensions. As a result, the size and price of such products will grow significantly.

Classification of adapters

First of all, power supplies can be divided into two main groups: external and embedded. From the name it is easy to understand that the latter are in a single case with the main device. A good example of such an adapter can serve as a power supply unit of a personal computer, in which the mentioned device, though allocated in a separate unit, but is located in the general case. The external power supply is a constructive independent unit. For example, a charger for a cell phone, laptop, etc. Another characteristic by which adapters are distinguished is the technology of manufacture. From this point of view, there are transformer and electronic (pulse) power supplies. The former are characterized by large size and weight, simplicity, reliability, low cost and easy repair. Impulse devices, on the contrary, have small dimensions and light weight, but they are durable and stable in operation.

There are many private power supply solutions. They will differ in output voltage, current, etc. There is also a power adapter (universal), which is capable of outputting several different voltages. Such devices can be used to power various equipment. Universal units have a mechanism on the body to switch the rated output voltage, and may also have different types of interchangeable plugs. Recently the USB power adapter has become very popular. To such a unit you can connect a variety of devices that can be charged via a USB cable.

Classification of adapters

Power adapters are divided into two main groups: external and integrated. External adapter – a standalone unit, which can go either with or without any device. Most often, such units are small in size (for example, a charger for a cell phone, laptop, etc.). Integrated devices are structurally located in a single housing with the main device. Take, for example, the power supply of a personal computer. Here, the adapter is a separate unit, but located in a common housing. You can also consider an adapter for a television set. The device in this design can be spread over the entire board or assembled into a single unit.

According to the manufacturing technology, power supply units are divided into transformer and electronic (pulse) units. A transformer adapter is a device that contains a transformer in its design. These devices are characterized by large size and weight, simplicity, reliability, low cost; they are easy to repair. Pulse devices, on the other hand, are small and lightweight, they are durable and stable in operation.

USB type adapter

Recently the USB-type switched-mode power supply units have been in great demand. This is due to the fact that many gadgets (tablets, smartphones, etc.) can be charged via a USB cable. This was made possible because the manufacturers of such electronic devices have adopted a common standard of power supply – 4.7-5 volts.

Well, that's pretty much it. In conclusion, let us add that thanks to the quality adapter your equipment will receive the required power voltage, and this, in turn, will certainly affect the stability and duration of its operation.

Description of the Wi-Fi adapter for computer and laptop

Wi-Fi adapter is a small (for this reason it is called a Wi-Fi whistle) module, which strongly resembles an ordinary flash drive, both in appearance and size. There are also variants for installation in the system unit, they have built-in antennas to improve signal quality.

Wi-Fi receiver for the computer is needed in the case when a personal device or laptop does not have a similar factory version – this happens rarely, usually if the customer wants to save money, and buys equipment with an incomplete set.

• In the absence of a built-in module, the only way to connect to the Wi-Fi network is to use the equipment in question.
• The device is also purchased in situations where the standard of the already installed client is outdated and an urgent upgrade is required.
• Adapters are also used to speed up connection quality, to create a more reliable Wi-Fi network.
• Some models have multiple access points. By connecting such a device to a computer, you can make it an independent source of distribution of wireless connection and connect a laptop or phone (any equipment that can receive wi-fi) to the PC.

When choosing an adapter, it is worthwhile proceeding from the way it is connected to the personal computer and laptop. Usually a USB port is used. There is also equipment, which is placed in a special slot on the motherboard, this is a common option for connecting a tablet or laptop.

The speed of signal propagation will directly depend on the standard of Wi-Fi, which is used at home or in the office. In practice, the value indicated in the instructions decreases several times due to several factors at once, for example, interference in the radio signal or the thickness of walls that block Wi-Fi. Therefore, the use of different applications, can be problematic when using Wi-Fi adapter.

How a Wi-Fi adapter works

In most cases modern PCs or laptops already use special routers, which are equipped with an integrated module. This is a receiver that catches the signal from the router.

If there is no such equipment in the computer or laptop, you must connect a special adapter. It will perform the same function, but after a few adjustments and when properly connected. The essence of the adapter is to receive the signal coming from the router.

Adapters, as a rule, are external or internal, which are connected directly to the motherboard – before buying, you should familiarize yourself with the characteristics of each type, rather than take equipment at random.

What is a memory card adapter and why do I need one?

In the situation described above, special adapters, called adapters, come to the rescue. But why use a memory card adapter when connecting a removable device to a computer or laptop? This is obvious! The most important problem is that most of the card readers, used specifically in computer devices as slots, have slots, the size of which is comparable with SDHC standard cards.

Thus, it is not possible to insert the same microSD card into the corresponding slot. However, the memory card adapter is exactly the same size as the SDHC card. However, the use of such adapters is not limited to computers. For example, the same can be said for some photo and video cameras, which are also equipped with SDHC slots. In this case, smaller flash drives can be used to store footage. Just by inserting the card directly into the adapter.

How to insert a memory card into an adapter?

As for the practical application of such adapters, here everything is simple. Each such device has a special mini-slot into which a smaller card is inserted, and then it must be pushed a little so that it fits tightly into the slot.

After that, the pair of devices in the bundle will be ready for use in the same card readers. But even here there are some nuances.

How to choose a wi-fi adapter

It is necessary to choose an adapter according to some criteria, which the user should clarify with the seller:

Each parameter in particular is important. The right choice will depend on what the user sets the requirements. It is worth considering each criterion.

As a rule, adapters are connected either to a computer or a TV. When connecting to stationary devices, the user needs to download additional drivers, which are available on the developer's website. It is also necessary to choose the right Internet package, so that it is compatible with the device, as well as the firm that supplies the driver.

Pay attention! You can check the driver in the store, as well as clarifying compatibility by the specification to the equipment. For a particular brand, all those drivers that the user can use are listed.

• The communication standard is also an important indicator. Each country has its own standard. It determines the speed of data transmission. The maximum speed that is currently possible is 300 Mbit/second. The user should select the device of the standard he needs. It can also be clarified in the manual to the purchased adapter.
• Frequency is the indicator on which the standard of the received Internet completely depends. The basic and simplest designs are designed for a frequency of no more than 5 Hz, when the smallest index is 2.5 Hz. For each standard there is a different frequency, which is also worth checking in the instructions to the device.
• The power is responsible for the stability of the connection. It is worth choosing models that have parameters from 16 to 20 dB.
• Encryption is to protect the user's network from hacking, if you do not consider qualitatively this parameter, do not study the protocols, then the data transmitted over the Internet can be hacked.
• The range is measured in meters. If the adapter is for home use, those models that are designed for 5 meters are quite suitable. This will provide full coverage, as well as communication without interruptions.

Rating of the best models of the year

To make it easier for the user to choose a quality adapter for a stable connection, he should take a look at this selection. It reflects all the most popular and tested by other users adapters.

Asus USB – AC68

This model has an expressive design, as well as a good data transfer rate. Connection is via high-speed USB 3, there are two connectors, as well as a specialized stand for flexible positioning. The only disadvantage – many people complain about the various overheating of the device.

Characteristics	Parameter
Compatibility	Windows 7-10; Mac OS
Standard	802.11
Frequency	5 GHz
Speed	1300 Mbps
Conclusion: a great option if the user does not care about the cost of the device, as well as some characteristics.

ALFA NETWORK AWUS036ACH

This is an interesting adapter from a Taiwanese manufacturer with which you can get high-speed data transfer. It has a specialized and high docking station, and it has increased sensitivity. Unlike its peers, it also supports package injection and has an attractive design. Of the disadvantages, users notice that it has problems with Linux drivers.

Characteristics	Parameter
Compatibility	Windows, Mac OS
Standard	802.11
Frequency	5.8 GHz
Speed	900 Mbit/s
Conclusion: a powerful device with which you can provide a fast enough connection.

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