I need to change the connection from PC to router (Netgear DG834N) from wired to wireless, There's no wireless card in the PC and I'm too cack-handed to install one, so does anyone have recommendations for a USB wireless solution?

I need to change the connection from PC to router (Netgear DG834N) from wired to wireless, There's no wireless card in the PC and I'm too cack-handed to install one, so does anyone have recommendations for a USB wireless solution?

I have a USB wireless stick with drivers for sale in the classifieds, £5, collect from Rotherham.

Thanks

I need to change the connection from PC to router (Netgear DG834N) from wired to wireless, There's no wireless card in the PC and I'm too cack-handed to install one, so does anyone have recommendations for a USB wireless solution?

Wireless dongle off ebay ?? :huh:

I'd seriously consider installing a PCI wireless card. It really is incredibly easy to do, no matter how cack-handed you are! If you can use a screwdriver and can plug a cartridge into a games console then you can install a PCI wireless card. It really is no more difficult than that. It'll also give you a stronger wi-fi connection and leave your USB ports free.

I'd seriously consider installing a PCI wireless card. It really is incredibly easy to do, no matter how cack-handed you are! If you can use a screwdriver and can plug a cartridge into a games console then you can install a PCI wireless card. It really is no more difficult than that. It'll also give you a stronger wi-fi connection and leave your USB ports free.

Hmmm... you're tempting me... I've had a look inside the PC and I seem to have only one free PCI slot - but that's immediately below the graphics card, and it looks impossible to squeeze a card in there as it'd hit the fan on the graphics card... But further down is a FireWire card that I've never used, so maybe I could replace that with a wireless card. I've had a go at removing and replacing the Firewire card, and you're right - it's incredibly easy to do.

So... Any recommendations for what brand of wireless card? I'd prefer to get one quickly i.e. buy in town, and my easiest options would be London Road area or else Maplins in town.

i use a belkin g plus wireless card its spot on

I have a USB wireless stick with drivers for sale in the classifieds, £5, collect from Rotherham.

Thanks

Thanks for the offer, but I don't have transport, and I think I'm going to try a PCI card first.

so why ask for usb solution if your going to use a pci card?, ive used both options and the usb dongle has by far been the asier and fast option for me.

Thanks for the offer, but I don't have transport, and I think I'm going to try a PCI card first.

A USB wireless adapter is more versatile - you can plug it in via a USB extension cable and position it for best reception. The position of the aerial on a PCI adapter is very restricted, sticking out of the back of a PC, and under a desk in most cases

so why ask for usb solution if your going to use a pci card?, ive used both options and the usb dongle has by far been the asier and fast option for me.
if you'd taken the trouble to read and understand the thread, you might have worked out that I wanted a USB solution because I didn't feel I could deal with installing a card... But I was moved to think about going with the card option by dmy79's reply... The clues are all there...

A USB wireless adapter is more versatile - you can plug it in via a USB extension cable and position it for best reception. The position of the aerial on a PCI adapter is very restricted, sticking out of the back of a PC, and under a desk in most cases

I don't think the aerial would be a problem, as my PC is on the floor and has lots of space around it. But I am still uncertain about which route to take... I assume USB is more expensive than PCI? But it'd be less hassle, certainly. And if the speed from a USB is acceptable, I might still go for that... Need to do some searching and thinking...

usb is good and normally easier, used them in lappys and towers
good thing is that they can be swapped from 1 comp to another
bad points they use a port, normally stick out like a sore thumb and tend to get broken easier due to being pushed up against a wall in a towers case or just snapped off in laptops

pci, bit more permanent and tend to not get broken as easy
but cant be switched as easy

price difference- wouldnt say there is any
speed wise - wouldnt say there is any
so its a case of prefference

I don't think the aerial would be a problem, as my PC is on the floor and has lots of space around it. But I am still uncertain about which route to take... I assume USB is more expensive than PCI? But it'd be less hassle, certainly. And if the speed from a USB is acceptable, I might still go for that... Need to do some searching and thinking...

Not expensive....

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/149672

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/130588

I have my adapter taped to the front of a shelf above the desk on the end of that extension lead. Works fine with a BT Home Hub 2.0 and a Thomson router as supplied by Plusnet.

The position of the aerial on a PCI adapter is very restricted, sticking out of the back of a PC, and under a desk in most cases

shouldnt be a problem. all our comps are spread around the house and have got to go throught walls and everything to reach the modem and have no problems.
also laptops with internal cards dont have a problem and there ariels are mounted inside the screens
so im running 1 comp with ide wifi = no probs
laptops running on internal cards = no probs
laptop that was running on a usb card that had no problem but switched it with a pcmcia card because it was tidier

so as said its a preference thing

Just make sure you get a 'wireless-N' (802.11n) adaptor for the best speeds & range.

if you'd taken the trouble to read and understand the thread, you might have worked out that I wanted a USB solution because I didn't feel I could deal with installing a card... But I was moved to think about going with the card option by dmy79's reply... The clues are all there...
i did read it all my dear and my question was valid, no need to jump down my throat over a simple question, my answer to your question is also valid and correct, the pci option is more prone to interference due to its close proximity to the power supply of your pc and any other peripheral you may have near the pc I.E 6 gang wall socket, printer and all the transformer power supplies to each unit...usb all the way in my opinion.

i did read it all my dear and my question was valid, no need to jump down my throat over a simple question, my answer to your question is also valid and correct, the pci option is more prone to interference due to its close proximity to the power supply of your pc and any other peripheral you may have near the pc I.E 6 gang wall socket, printer and all the transformer power supplies to each unit...usb all the way in my opinion.

pci cards have bigger & better aerials, they're usually the best choice for desktop computers, none of the things you listed should really interfere with wifi. It might be harder to position the aerial, but there's less need to have it in exactly the right spot, because it's a better aerial. Some pci cards have replaceable aerials, so you could replace the standard one with an even bigger high gain aerial, which you can position where you want.

Wireless-N has a greatly improved range over 'G', so it's even less of a problem.

in my experience everytime ive had a pci card, the reception has been shocking, intermittent and really really slow, they may have improved since the last time i used them, but i would never go back to them

I'm using one now, it's fine & it's just a cheap old 'g' pci card with a fixed aerial, 80% signal strength, never drops out. it's only going about 30-40 feet & through one floor in my case.

Another old, rarely used computer at the edge of the range has problems connecting & it doesnt matter whether it's using a pci card with the aerial stuck behind the computer, or a usb dongle on the end of a long extension lead which makes it 10 feet closer to the router. Problem with the usb dongle/extension solution was a long wire trailing to some random position where it could get a signal, so it defeated the point of wireless.

The newer 'n' standard is much faster & has twice the range, thats going to make much more difference than usb vs pci, although it's even more reason to get pci cards, they have 2 or 3 large aerials. Bigger aerials mean a better signal, but positioning can affect it a lot too, especially at the edge of the range.

The newer 'n' standard is much faster & has twice the range, thats going to make much more difference than usb vs pci, although it's even more reason to get pci cards, they have 2 or 3 large aerials. Bigger aerials mean a better signal, but positioning can affect it a lot too, especially at the edge of the range.

The Netgear DG834N supports "n" as well as "g" so an "n" card or stick may as well be installed. Still, it is very unlikely to improve what sounds like the computer's main use - i.e. Internet access - what with "g" being 54 Mbps whilst most people's links are well below the generally-suggested 8 Mbps. Of course a low signal means a low speed so the higher range of "n" can help here - and it's not susceptible to interference from devices like microwave ovens and video relay devices which "g" can suffer from - and less so from neighbouring wireless networks.

Hmmm... you're tempting me... I've had a look inside the PC and I seem to have only one free PCI slot - but that's immediately below the graphics card, and it looks impossible to squeeze a card in there as it'd hit the fan on the graphics card... But further down is a FireWire card that I've never used, so maybe I could replace that with a wireless card. I've had a go at removing and replacing the Firewire card, and you're right - it's incredibly easy to do.

So... Any recommendations for what brand of wireless card? I'd prefer to get one quickly i.e. buy in town, and my easiest options would be London Road area or else Maplins in town.

If you're sticking with the router you've got (it supports wireless right?) then get the same brand.

Just make sure you get a 'wireless-N' (802.11n) adaptor for the best speeds & range.

Your router would also have to be 802.11n to gain any benefit.