Help! Vista Certified/Ready USB Wireless Adapter.

[WoLFe]

I have my new pc set up, everything running perfectly (apart from the fact Splinter Cell Double Agent refuses to work with Direct X 10 or Vista out of the box, alas. Heard lots of problems with that though and I got it free with quake 4 yesterday).

All I need now is a USB Wireless adapter to (hopefully) connect to my BT Wireless network.

Can anyone recommend me a reliable USB wireless adapter than gets 54mbps at least 95% of the time? I don't want to spend more than £20..

Requirements

- As "plug and play" usb 2.0 as possible - the least amont of drivers and resources required the better. (Plug in, connect to network.. internet! I hope).

- 100% compatible/certified with Vista Home Premium 32bit


I hope thats enough info. I've been looking at the "netgear" on Ebuyer which seems like it might do the job, but was wondering if any of you guys have any particular recommendations or experience with that one or any other wireless USB network adapters from Ebuyer. I plan on ordering one later today.

Thank you very much!

[kmac]

What wireless router are you using? Presumeits wirless G youa re using an not the new N protocol.

How far away willyou be from the wireless accesspoint?

The netgear should suffice for most domestic situations.

Just get one with the highest sensitivity - the Netgear ones vary depending onmodel

[s_kinton]

The Belkin USB adaptor that PC World are selling is 100% compatible with Vista 32 and 64bit. I've used it on both and it now connects my HTPC to the network without a hitch.

[WoLFe]

What wireless router are you using? Presumeits wirless G youa re using an not the new N protocol.

How far away willyou be from the wireless accesspoint?

The netgear should suffice for most domestic situations.

Just get one with the highest sensitivity - the Netgear ones vary depending onmodel

What is the easiest way of finding out, will it say on the router itself or can I access that info from the PC?

It's a BT Voyager2091-31; had it for about 2 years max?; they sent me one of those white "bt home hub" about a year ago with a place for the phone but it was completely rubbish!

[smargh]

If you have an ethernet port you could get a DD-WRT-compatible router (Ebuyer did/does a nice Buffalo for £25) and use in client bridge mode. I set up a WRT54G client bridge for my auntie which has been working great for 4 months or so.

It's much nicer to use ethernet on clients rather than USB network adapters.

[kmac]

Okay the BT Voyager is a 802.11g router so you need to get a 802.1g adaptor

The sensitivity of the adaptor is quoted in the specs in terms of db for given distance in metres away from access point.

If you have to gothroug htick walls etc, you will need to get a decent one withhigh sensitivity, not all client adaptors are the same.

For most domestic applications, the usual suspects as perfectly adequate though suh as Belkin, Netgear, Lynksys, Buffalo, Draytek etc..

Don't know why you are set on USB though - look at the PCI adaptors as well if you have a spare PCi slit in your PC. USB ones are proably more useful for laptops which don't have built in wifi