Should I replace my wireless network card?

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misfitsfiend

[H]ard|Gawd
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Jun 18, 2003
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I recently upgraded to FIOS 75/75 internet, and am debating replacing my wireless card. The modem/router is in the living room and my PC is in the dining room just down the hall. Even though they're only separated by 20 feet or so, my Win7 signal tops out at 3 bars, sometimes even 2 bars. I helped my friend reinstall Win7 a few nights ago, and found that plugging his laptop directly led us to 10MB/s from Battle.net! I just performed a speedtest and it's only showing 25/18 with a 20ms ping...far from 75/75.

This is the wireless PCI card installed now:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833315041

and this modem/router:
http://www.verizon.com/cs/groups/public/documents/adacct/fios-qgr-userguide140925.pdf

My question is, should I upgrade to a newer, faster wireless card? Or should I perhaps call Verizon and try to install a wired connection in my dining room? I'm looking for the best possible connection and fastest speeds.

Thanks!
 
Wired is always faster/better/* than wireless and you would benefit upgrading your wifi card.
//Danne
 
If you have a smart phone try testing the wifi on it (with the same distance from your computer to the router) after that test it again right beside the router. If you get the same results then it may be the router thats holding you back. If you get an even higher results then it could mean the router is not strong enough to send at further distances, if you use N and have walls it could also pose potential slow downs.

Another thing to do is check your Network Adapter and see what speeds its running at. There are times when depending on the quality of the router will determine the bandwidth of your overall connection as well as (your concern) wifi adapter quality.

Here is an example, I'm using an R8000 router that supports 600(2.4GHz) + 1300 (5GHz) + 1300 (5GHz) = advertised "3200".
The adapter I use is the TP-LINK TL-WDN4800 http://www.amazon.com/TP-LINK-TL-WD.../B007GMPZ0A/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1421624468 and this maxes at at 450Mbps for 2.4GHz as well as 5GHz. Which gives me the following:
bjcpnb1.png


And before I was using a USB Adapter rated for 150Mbps and it gave me 150Mbps because the signal was strong enough. Also depends on your security settings, they say that having it on WPA2 + AES will yield better speeds which is true at least in my case when I previously was getting slow speeds when I moved to a friend's place and used his router, changed his router settings and gave me a boost, changed the router out and gave me another boost.

So before all that I would check router settings first, then the quality of the router after that the quality of the adapter. Having a stronger adapter is also nice to have. You can stay on the 2.4GHz or you can move to N or AC (5GHz). If you have a lot of walls or barriers the 2.4GHz will still have better speeds overall, if not the 5GHz has better throughput/less interference.

Adapters that I recommend atm are:
TP Link TL-WDN4800: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704133 Supports 450/450 2.4/5GHz (no AC support) uses Atheros AR9382 Chipset, runs fine with Atheros drivers Windows 8.1 support etc..

Rosewill N900PCE: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833166076 This uses the same Atheros AR932 Chipset, runs fine with Atheros drivers, the same 450/450 support.

Gigabyte GC-WB867D-I http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813995032 This just a wifi adapter and use interchangeable Intel 7260HMW network card that can be upgradable but runs AC (not 100% sure on the quality of these things).

Pretty much you want to match what your router is capable of. You don't need an AC adapter or an AC router if your peripherals/devices/support is only N or 2.4GHz etc... Wired connection will always be the best and have less interference but wifi isnt as bad if you have the right setup. I stream on twitch with my current setup just fine. I would also check connections around me to see if you're not running on the same channel as everyone else.
 
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I would definitely consider a wireless N adapter, at a minimum, for that kind of connection. An old b/g thing ain't gonna help you out at all.
 
The best two wireless AC PCI-E cards may be:

Intel 7260HMWDTX1
$58 on amazon
$48 on newegg sold by newegg
$36 on newegg sold by Beach Audio (do I remember Beach Audio being a bad reseller or not? Check into that before you buy from there)

ASUS PCE-AC68
$97 on amazon, about the same price on newegg

The ASUS may be theoretically faster, with up to 600/1300 Mbps vs the Intel's 300/867 Mbps, but your Internet connection is 75 Mbps / 75 Mbps, so it's probably not worth paying twice as much for something that isn't Intel.
 
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UZ7 said:
If you have a smart phone try testing the wifi on it (with the same distance from your computer to the router) after that test it again right beside the router. If you get the same results then it may be the router thats holding you back. If you get an even higher results then it could mean the router is not strong enough to send at further distances, if you use N and have walls it could also pose potential slow downs.
Click to expand...

Just tried this. I'm getting 4 bars right now, and speedtest.net is telling me my pc gets 5/8 right now. I downloaded the speedtest app on my iPhone and tested from the same location, and it's telling me 39/54! wtf is going on?
 
atp1916 said:
I would definitely consider a wireless N adapter, at a minimum, for that kind of connection. An old b/g thing ain't gonna help you out at all.
Click to expand...


This. Hopefully you weren't running this kind of setup for a long time because that 802.11g tech is over 10 years old. It's holding everyone back at this point. You'll get a huge upgrade moving to a n/ac card. Still would recommend Ethernet always if you can because it takes a ton of things out of the equation, but simple answer. Upgrade immediately.
 
Liger88 said:
This. Hopefully you weren't running this kind of setup for a long time because that 802.11g tech is over 10 years old. It's holding everyone back at this point. You'll get a huge upgrade moving to a n/ac card. Still would recommend Ethernet always if you can because it takes a ton of things out of the equation, but simple answer. Upgrade immediately.
Click to expand...

lol I've had this wireless card since 2010.

so it appears my router does support AC.
Integrated wireless networking with 802.11b/g/n/ac access point

featuring:
–
Enabled 802.11b capable speeds (based on device)
–
Enabled 802.11g capable speeds (based on device)
–
Enabled 802.11n capable speeds (based on device)
–
Enabled 802.11ac capable speeds (based on device)

Now I'm on the fence between these Asus and Intel routers.
http://www.amazon.com/Dual-Band-Wir...pter-PCE-AC68/dp/B00F42V83C/?tag=hardfocom-20

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...a&cm_sp=&AID=10440897&PID=3891137&SID=rewrite

My wallet is leaning towards the intel ($38) but I'm hesitant because it says "brown box." does this mean it doesn't come with the antennae?
 
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misfitsfiend said:
Purchased!

thanks guys
Click to expand...

Nice! hopefully that fixes your issue.

Anyway just an fyi, if you look at this particular device:

http://amzn.com/B00HF8K0O6

Coolpc-Gigabyte-GC-WB867D-I-06.jpg


It pretty much uses the same Intel 7260HMW chip on a Gigabyte adapter but you can use Intel drivers and this can easily be swapped if you get another adapter in the future or swapped to a laptop after upgrade, which is similar but cheaper to intel's official adapter. I think I was about to get this but I got a deal with the TP Link ($25) instead and the only device that uses AC was really my phone and a few tablets.

Anyway I think I had poor wording with what I said earlier, if you're phone is getting full speed yet your desktop isnt then yeah your adapter may be underpowered or showing its age.
 
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