Need wifi adaptor. PCI wifi card or PCI based USB card + wifi USB dongle ?

[bmwfanboy]

I need wifi capability in my desktop. I have Gigabyte GA78LMT-S2P with only 1 PCI slot and 1USB port left.

What should i buy?
1. a PCI based wifi card ? [this will be installed on my only PCI slot so i won't be able to use any other PCI cards in future, like USB card/TV tuner in case i decide to upgrade later]

2. USB wifi dongle [I have 4 USB slots at the back. and this will take one of them permanently causing a little inconvenience as i'll have to remove cables in case i want to use my gamepad/joystick.

3. should i buy a PCI based USB card and use its USB ports for USB dongle and keyboard/mouse? [This will add more USB ports which is a good thing, but i had previously bought enter USB card and it died in ~1year]

 

[prime]

Get a USB WiFi Dongle.

In future, when you need more USB ports, buy a USB Hub.

 

[bmwfanboy]

Get a USB WiFi Dongle.

In future, when you need more USB ports, buy a USB Hub.

Can i use all USB ports at the same time? Ie: kb, mouse, pendrive, joystick etc connected on the hub at the same time? A local dealer once told me that usb hubs can only work with 1 device at a time

 

[blr_p]

I need wifi capability in my desktop. I have Gigabyte GA78LMT-S2P with only 1 PCI slot and 1USB port left.

Do you have an ethernet port free ?

What will you use wifi for ? basic web browsing or more ?

How far away is your wifi router from the pc and how many walls in between. 6 inches or 11 inch walls.

 

[prime]

Can i use all USB ports at the same time? Ie: kb, mouse, pendrive, joystick etc connected on the hub at the same time? A local dealer once told me that usb hubs can only work with 1 device at a time

You can use all the ports of a USB hub simultaneously with different USB devices like KB, mouse, pendrive, wifi dongle, etc.).

 

[bmwfanboy]

Do you have an ethernet port free ?

What will you use wifi for ? basic web browsing or more ?

How far away is your wifi router from the pc and how many walls in between. 6 inches or 11 inch walls.

Yes, ethernet port is free.
I'll use wifi for surfing and downloading only. No MP gaming or VoIP calls etc.

I plan to keep router in my room, where desktop pc is located.
I use bsnl evdo connection. So if i can find better speed in my living room, i might fix my router there and use my pc in my bedroom.(~5-6inches thick wall b/w them)

You can use all the ports of a USB hub simultaneously with different USB devices like KB, mouse, pendrive, wifi dongle, etc.).

Thanks. Any suggestions about brands? Should i buy cheap hubs like enter, techcom, intex etc which cost rs100-200 or brands like belkin, amkette. selling for ~500?

 

[prime]

Thanks. Any suggestions about brands? Should i buy cheap hubs like enter, techcom, intex etc which cost rs100-200 or brands like belkin, amkette. selling for ~500?

Take any powered USB sub (with external power adapter).

I have 2 USB hubs for different computers. One is Belkin and another one is cheap "Enter" brand. Both are with external power adapter and both work fine.

 

[blr_p]

Yes, ethernet port is free.
I'll use wifi for surfing and downloading only. No MP gaming or VoIP calls etc.

I plan to keep router in my room, where desktop pc is located.
I use bsnl evdo connection. So if i can find better speed in my living room, i might fix my router there and use my pc in my bedroom.(~5-6inches thick wall b/w them)

If its in the same room you can use an ethernet cable to connect the two.

If the router is in another room, you can use a bridge. But this bridge will work only across one wall, more than that the connection will be weak. Though for basic browsing you still might get away. Its a N150, since you're on 3G, then speed should be ok.

TP-LINK TL-WR702N 150Mbps Wireless N Nano Router

Just setup the router in bridge mode, connect it to ethernet port on your pc. The pc thinks it has a wired connection so give it a private static ip, all config will be done in the tp-link itself. This way your usb & pci ports are free. Also you can lengthen the ethernet cable between bridge & pc and locate the bridge wherever you get the best signal in your room. Something you cannot do with a usb dongle or pci card as they are attached to the device. A bridge like this can wifi enable any device that has an ethernet port so it can be useful in the future. It can also work as a repeater to boost a weak wifi signal to other wireless devices. Best bang for the buck.

What will be the distance between router in living room & pc ?

Which model is your bsnl/evdo router ?

 

[bmwfanboy]

Take any powered USB sub (with external power adapter).

I have 2 USB hubs for different computers. One is Belkin and another one is cheap "Enter" brand. Both are with external power adapter and both work fine.

Thanks

If its in the same room you can use an ethernet cable to connect the two.

If the router is in another room, you can use a bridge. But this bridge will work only across one wall, more than that the connection will be weak. Though for basic browsing you still might get away. Its a N150, since you're on 3G, then speed should be ok.

TP-LINK TL-WR702N 150Mbps Wireless N Nano Router

Just setup the router in bridge mode, connect it to ethernet port on your pc. The pc thinks it has a wired connection so give it a private static ip, all config will be done in the tp-link itself. This way your usb & pci ports are free. Also you can lengthen the ethernet cable between bridge & pc and locate the bridge wherever you get the best signal in your room. Something you cannot do with a usb dongle or pci card as they are attached to the device.

What will be the distance between router in living room & pc ?

Which model is your bsnl/evdo router ?

Max Distance would be ~13 feet


Does that router you suggested, support Prithvi UE100 data card?

I was planning to buy TP link MR3020 router
I checked this link and found that tp link MR3020 works fine with UE100 data card
http://broadbandforum.co/topic/67728-bsnl-evdo-prithvi-ue100-with-tp-link-mr3020-review/

I dont have a router. I use a Bsnl cdma (evdo) sim in a prithvi UE100 data card (its the same one the reviewer is using in the above link.)

Apart from desktop pc, I'll also use my phone, ipod and laptop using wifi.

 

[blr_p]

Max Distance would be ~13 feet


Does that router you suggested, support Prithvi UE100 data card?

no, it will not work with any data cards as it does not have a usb port. The wr702n will be exclusively for your pc only and attached to its ethernet port.

In the future when your pc has wifi and you need wifi in other rooms, then the wr702n can be setup elsewhere as a repeater. It can be used for multiple tasks.

One 5-6 inch wall @13 feet is ok.

I was planning to buy TP link MR3020 router
I checked this link and found that tp link MR3020 works fine with UE100 data card
http://broadbandforum.co/topic/67728-bsnl-evdo-prithvi-ue100-with-tp-link-mr3020-review/

I dont have a router. I use a Bsnl cdma (evdo) sim in a prithvi UE100 data card (its the same one the reviewer is using in the above link.)

You will need the mr3020 in addition to work with your prithvi data card.

I cannot confirm whether mr3020 works or not with UE100. if others say it does then you are good.

Apart from desktop pc, I'll also use my phone, ipod and laptop using wifi.

These will work from the mr3020.

phone & ipad are n150 devices. The mr3020 & wr702n are n150.

The laptop is N300 or better.

An alternative to the mr3020 is the asus n13 b1. If you need more range and N300 but you will only get faster speed on the laptop. Since your use is mostly browsing, a n150 router ie mr3020 is good enough.

 

[bmwfanboy]

no, it will not work with any data cards as it does not have a usb port. The wr702n will be exclusively for your pc only and attached to its ethernet port.

In the future when your pc has wifi and you need wifi in other rooms, then the wr702n can be setup elsewhere as a repeater. It can be used for multiple tasks.

One 5-6 inch wall @13 feet is ok.


You will need the mr3020 in addition to work with your prithvi data card.

I cannot confirm whether mr3020 works or not with UE100. if others say it does then you are good.


These will work from the mr3020.

phone & ipad are n150 devices. The mr3020 & wr702n are n150.

The laptop is N300 or better.

An alternative to the mr3020 is the asus n13 b1. If you need more range and N300 but you will only get faster speed on the laptop. Since your use is mostly browsing, a n150 router ie mr3020 is good enough.

Bsnl evdo gives ~110kBps. Sometimes 220kBps max..

I'll use my pc for surfing as well as for downloads , (direct downloads/torrents).

So what do i need for this setup? MR3020 router and a wifi dongle?

If laptop is N300 or better, will it work with MR3020?

sorry but i am n00b about networking equipments

 

[blr_p]

Bsnl evdo gives ~110kBps. Sometimes 220kBps max..

I'll use my pc for surfing as well as for downloads , (direct downloads/torrents).

So thats a 1-1.5Mbs connection. An N150 connection goes upto 15-20 Mbs so you're fine.

So what do i need for this setup? MR3020 router and a wifi dongle?

yes to the MR3020

But you also want free usb, pci slots so i recommended the wr702n as bridge which will make use of that free ethernet port on your desktop pc.

This bridge will give you a better connection than a wifi usb dongle for little more and be more useful in the long run. Its a better investment.

If laptop is N300 or better, will it work with MR3020?

Yes, it is backwards compatible and will connect at N150 speeds instead of N300 as your router is N150.

maybe i should not have confused you with options.

mr3020 + wr702 + ethernet cable is all you need for your current requirement

Just ensure the ue100 works with mr3020

 

[bmwfanboy]

^^^ ok thanks.

so, in simple terms, MR3020 will communicate with TL-WR702N via wifi right? and then TL-WR702N will communicate with PC using ethernet. all other wifi equipments will communicate directly with MR3020.

thanks for your answer. Will report after buying them.

 

[blr_p]

so, in simple terms, MR3020 will communicate with TL-WR702N via wifi right? and then TL-WR702N will communicate with PC using ethernet. all other wifi equipments will communicate directly with MR3020.

yes

2 step process

get the mr3020 working first and confirm ue100 + wifi works with your mobile & tabs.

then set the wr702n in bridge mode and get it working on your pc.

If all goes well you should be done.

 

[bmwfanboy]

yes

2 step process

get the mr3020 working first and confirm ue100 + wifi works with your mobile & tabs.

then set the wr702n in bridge mode and get it working on your pc.

If all goes well you should be done.

Ok.
Thanks for your help.

 

[bmwfanboy]

An alternative to the mr3020 is the asus n13 b1..

which one?

USB-N13 B1
http://www.flipkart.com/asus-usb-n13-802-11n-network/p/itmd384w4gvucbba

or
Asus RT-N13U B1
http://www.flipkart.com/asus-rt-n13...MAK&icmpid=reco_pp_recoBundle_computer_tab1_2


I guess its the 2nd one right?

RT-N13U B1 and TP link MR3020 both feature atleast one LAN RJ-45 port

Can i Use this RJ-45 port on router to directly connect my PC's ethernet port? or a bridge TP-LINK TL-WR702N is still required?

 

[blr_p]

I guess its the 2nd one right?

Yes, second is a router, first is a wifi dongle.

Can i Use this RJ-45 port on router to directly connect my PC's ethernet port?

Yes, in which case you have a wired connection to the router.

or a bridge TP-LINK TL-WR702N is still required?

brdge is not required if you have a wired connection. Bridge is required if you want a wifi connection, which is what you started the topic with.

So long as you can keep the mr3020 in the same room as your desktop then you can connect the desktop to the mr3020 via ethernet.

if you move the mr3020 to your living room, then you will need a bridge to have a wifi connection on the desktop. Or if you do not want to use ethernet in your room.

Whether to use a wire depends on where you get a good evdo signal and good wifi signal for your mobile clients. If living room gives best reception then you need wifi on the desktop. You will have to experiement here. A wifi router is best placed in the centre for max range.

 

[bmwfanboy]

brdge is not required if you have a wired connection. Bridge is required if you want a wifi connection, which is what you started the topic with.
.

wasn't aware that i can use ethernet port with wifi routers at the time i posted this topic
I need internet access on my PC, doesn't matter if it uses Ethernet or wifi.
I need wifi for laptop, ipod and cellphone only.

I'm currently Using EVDO using a 4ft USB cable. That allows me to place data card anywhere in 4ft radius from my PC's USB port to find Good signal [speed] . so far, i have managed to get good speed in that 4ft radius. i've decided to buy MR3020. In case i can find better signal in my living room, i'll buy the bridge as well.

one last question
Can i use a crossover LAN cable? i had used it previously to play LAN games and transfer files b/w 2 PCs.

 

[blr_p]

If both rooms face in the same direction then there will be a marginal difference. If the signal is similar in the living room as where you the pc is currently, then you don't need a bridge. If its much better in the living room then you need one.

What you do is attach the evdo data card to your laptop and move around the house and test for signal strength.

Thing is how are you going to assess how good the 3g signal is in either location ? You can do browsing and download for some time and see how it works. On android there are apps that can measure 3g signal levels and also help to locate the nearest cell tower, so you need to find a similar app that works on your laptop. Room that faces the tower will have the best reception.

Have you found any variation in 3g signal level depending on time of day or is it more or less consistent throughout the day ?

crossover cable depends on whether both machines have auto-sensing at the nic or not. If yes then a straight through cable will work otherwise you need a cross over.

 

[bmwfanboy]

If both rooms face in the same direction then there will be a marginal difference. If the signal is similar in the living room as where you the pc is currently, then you don't need a bridge. If its much better in the living room then you need one.

What you do is attach the evdo data card to your laptop and move around the house and test for signal strength.

Thing is how are you going to assess how good the 3g signal is in either location ? You can do browsing and download for some time and see how it works. On android there are apps that can measure 3g signal levels and also help to locate the nearest cell tower, so you need to find a similar app that works on your laptop. Room that faces the tower will have the best reception.

Have you found any variation in 3g signal level depending on time of day or is it more or less consistent throughout the day ?

crossover cable depends on whether both machines have auto-sensing at the nic or not. If yes then a straight through cable will work otherwise you need a cross over.

I assume i am getting max signal when download speed is 110-120kBps. Sometimes when speed drops to 20-60kBps, i move my data card to dfferent positions and see if speed icreases back to 110-120.when i get the spot where i am getting max speed, i attach data card in that position using clips.