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Thread: Wireless Adapter/Vista

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    Wireless Adapter/Vista

    I have been having alot of trouble getting help with this, and I have so far tried two USB Wireless Adapters. Whenever I check Amazon or PC World for ideas, I see PC World is stocked with Netgear who I won't touch again and Belkin (heard lots of horror stories).

    I need a wireless adapter for Vista Home Premium 32bit that works with a BTVOYAGER2091-31 with no drop outs, overheating or tantrums - especially when downloading or playing online games.

    I bought the Netgear USB Adapter off Ebuyer and it was complete rubbish.

    So I am currently using a D-Link NWA-140 from PC World which says it is Vista compatible and Wireless N, but totally backwards compatible with my network. It certainly wasn't working well until I got updated drivers off Windows Update, which leave it all to Vita to monitor and maintain the connection.

    Problem over I thought! But it seems to randomly drop out when stressed (overheating?) by games, downloads or for no reason even with an excellent signal. It doesn't do this very often, but I've had it at least once a day. Yesterday when I got it, after the restart that usually fixes it, it refused to work for a few hours apart from "Local Only".

    So guys I am sure you can understand my frustrations at all this. Wireless Adapters of good quality seem few and far between, most of the best selling PCI cards on Amazon are designs from as far back as 2001, theres the odd horror story in the reviews and I don't know if USB Sticks are really suitable for desktop PCs?

    The only thing I have heard recommended is the "Edimax" USB Wireless Adapters - but I am skeptical about trying ANOTHER USB wireless adapter.

    I want to use my PC and internet without fear of it dropping out for no reason or overheating. I could do all these things on my old XP Home Machine (updated from ME) with a SiteCom PCI card.

    Please help!

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    There are a number of issues here - one of course is that wireless will never be as reliable as a cable connection, and even though you might have a good signal strength (the carrier) you can still be susceptible to distortion of the signal (inter-symbol distortion) caused by multiple reflections of the signal.

    Netgear stuff is generally pretty good. However you are plugging into a USB port (which itself may not be an optimum position for wireless connectivity) and the system is only as good as the drivers that you get. You did say that downloading the new vista drivers has helped.

    As far as compatability is concerned, the standard adaptors should all work with one another - that said there is anecdotal comment that some adaptors do seem to work better with equipment from the same mfr.

    You might consider a USB extension lead so that you can position the USB device away from the computer/laptop (I dont think you said which) and that may improve the signal quality. However the speeds/reliability you probably want for gaming are far less likely from a wireless connection than a wired one.
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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    use a pci card I have found them more reliable than usb sticks. I think you answered the question yourself when you said:

    I want to use my PC and internet without fear of it dropping out for no reason or overheating. I could do all these things on my old XP Home Machine (updated from ME) with a SiteCom PCI card.

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    I've made enquiries about this else where and it only backed up my thoughts originally.

    Does anyone recommend any particular PCI cards? I do honestly want to stay away from Netgear and Belkin.

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    Come on guys some of you must be using PCI cards with vista...

    Recommendations??

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    Quote Originally Posted by cougarslam View Post
    use a pci card I have found them more reliable than usb sticks. I think you answered the question yourself when you said:
    I cannot disagree more, I have a belkin USB stick on my pc, and my brother has a Belkin PCI card. His is extremely unrelyable, whereas mine is never down. - which is odd, considering that his pc is closer to the router, and always has exclant signal, whereas mine is only ever very good.

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    I use this in my Windows Vista 64bit system. Works fine - never overheated, disconnected, etc. But I experience lots of lag when playing online, but that's more down to the low internet speed that I have and the fact it's wireless. It's a cheap and chearful card (and it's not belkin or netgear - bonus! )
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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    I've personally used this in 2 different builds with absolutely no problems, cheap, does the job fine!

    EDIT: Both builds on Vista, also used it in an XP build fine too.
    Last edited by Karl|Neo; 07-07-2008 at 10:10 PM. Reason: Elaboration

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    Quote Originally Posted by WoLFe View Post
    I want to use my PC and internet without fear of it dropping out for no reason or overheating.
    If you really want a reliable connection then homeplugs may be an option. They are expensive (~£40 for a cheapo set) but are just about as reliable as an ethernet connection. If your PC and router are both near enough to a power socket it should just be a case of plug in and go. I bought these about a year ago and they've just sat there doing their job since then, no trouble at all.

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    Quote Originally Posted by Lanky123 View Post
    If you really want a reliable connection then homeplugs may be an option. They are expensive (~£40 for a cheapo set) but are just about as reliable as an ethernet connection. If your PC and router are both near enough to a power socket it should just be a case of plug in and go. I bought these about a year ago and they've just sat there doing their job since then, no trouble at all.
    About homeplugs, do they need to be plugged straight into the socket, or if they go through extension leads/adaptors do they stop working

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    Quote Originally Posted by Will:) View Post
    About homeplugs, do they need to be plugged straight into the socket, or if they go through extension leads/adaptors do they stop working
    I haven't tried it, but from what I've read they don't like it. Anything with surge-protection built in for instance, may distort the signal I think. Some people may get it to work but be prepared to give them their own socket if you're buying some.

    Edit: wiki has a slightly more elegant answer: 'Since surge protectors and similar devices may interfere with the high-frequency signals used by HomePlug, the directions included with HomePlug devices recommend plugging them directly into the wall outlets without using extension cords or outlet strips.'

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    Quote Originally Posted by Eddd View Post
    I use this in my Windows Vista 64bit system. Works fine - never overheated, disconnected, etc. But I experience lots of lag when playing online, but that's more down to the low internet speed that I have and the fact it's wireless. It's a cheap and chearful card (and it's not belkin or netgear - bonus! )

    Seconded, the Edimax is a great product...
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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    I'm on my 3rd wireless adapter for this new machine (a PCI Netgear my dad bought me) but after a few days has started developing those lovely dropped connections, and randomly changing signal strengths after the computer has been on for a while.

    I'm not sure what to do. Should I try that Edimax one out or should I somehow go wired?

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    If you're prepared to shell out £40+ then I would recommend getting a pair of homeplugs, as I posted above. They are expensive but if your power lines are ok then they should cause you no more trouble at all, provided they're plugged in at the wall and not on an extension.

    The ones I linked above are the oem of these I think, so a quid or so cheaper for the unbranded amazon ones, but maybe a better warranty from the official MSI ones. These are a bit cheaper, but will only transfer data at 14Mbps, compared to 85Mbps from the other set.

    If you want to give wireless one more try then maybe give the edimax a go, but I got fed up with wireless way before I'd tried 3 adapters...

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    Re: Wireless Adapter/Vista

    If you can - go wired.
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