Wireless internet slow and USB adapter vs PCI card?

[Ulti]

Well my parents' pc is downstairs and the router is in my room so they're connected using a USB adapter (Mercury MW54U that I got in China). Now it's been working fine since I bought it but recently it's been slow. I've tried restarts on the router and the modem (I think it's called a modem) but that hasn't helped. I've also tried reformatting their pc but that doesn't help either.

Anyone know any solutions?

If it comes to the point that the USB adapter is failing then I'll have to get a new USB adapter or a PCI card.

Which one is better though? Wireless USB adapter or a wireless PCI card? The motherboard they use is this one here so it does have 3 spare PCI slots.

It's running 1GB PC3200 DDR RAM, a P4 3.0Ghz HT CPU and that board there along with a HD2400 256mb AGP graphics cards for info. (It is running XP professional 32bit)

Thanks!

EDIT: I'm pretty sure the router is fine along with the modem as the speeds on my pc and another pc linked to it via ethernet cable are fine.

EDIT2: Perhaps I'll install the USB adapter on the other pc running XP and see what happens.

[dodgybob]

It may be that instead of the adapter failing, there is a source of interference nearby such as a neighbour with a new, more powerful router. It may well be worth trying changing the channel that your router broadcasts on to see if that improves reception.

[Ulti]

Haha that solved it mate! Couldn't thank you more!

Please close thread, problem solved!