Wifi Adapter or Wifi extender?

Noah55

Honorable
Oct 21, 2013
30
0
10,530
I am building a computer in a room that is NOT POSSIBLE to reach Ethernet from my main router to. I currently have a Encore Wireless N150 PCI-E Adapter with 2dbi Antenna (ENEWI-1XN42). http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005KL7RUK/ref=oh_details_o01_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
This thing sucks, it doesn't recognize any wifi signals or anything. Therefore, I need a new wifi card that will work well with my computer and keep a good signal for gaming OR a wifi extender that will perform just as well. Which one is better? And please tell me some ideas or suggestions. Thanks in advance.

Specs:
CPU- amd fx6300 6 cores 3.5mhz
GPU- gigabyte amd radeon 7850 hd 2g
PSU- corsair 600w modular
Mobo- msi 970a-643
Case- rosewill challenger mid tower
HDD- WD caviar blue 1tb 7200rpm
RAM- corsair vengeance 2x4gb 1600mhz
 
Solution
I would have to agree about the powerline devices. A wifi extender is not some magic box that will work better than your nic card. It must be able to receive a signal also and if you do not have good signal in your room it too will not work well. So if you nic happens to be defective then a new nic will work just as well as some "extender" box. Your problem is you need to get strong enough signal in your room for any device to work. There is no magic solution to this. You need to move the router closer which I suspect is not a option or you must do something that has the same effect as moving the router closer. The most common option is to buy a AP and run a ethernet cable part way to the room and let the AP deliver a new...
I would have to agree about the powerline devices. A wifi extender is not some magic box that will work better than your nic card. It must be able to receive a signal also and if you do not have good signal in your room it too will not work well. So if you nic happens to be defective then a new nic will work just as well as some "extender" box. Your problem is you need to get strong enough signal in your room for any device to work. There is no magic solution to this. You need to move the router closer which I suspect is not a option or you must do something that has the same effect as moving the router closer. The most common option is to buy a AP and run a ethernet cable part way to the room and let the AP deliver a new wireless signal into your room. The other way which should only be tried as a last resort because it tend to not work well is to use a wireless repeater. This requires you to place the device halfway between the main router and the designation and it still may be too far in some cases.

The powerline adapters are much simpler solution and tend to work in most houses..just be sure to buy them from a place that lets you return them there are a tiny number of houses they do not work in.
 
Solution


This. Simple and easy.
sig.jpg
 

Noah55

Honorable
Oct 21, 2013
30
0
10,530
Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I am probably going to go with the powerline adapter but the reviews say it only works if it is on the same circuit as the main router, idk how to check. Any suggestions?
 
It works best if it is on the same circuit. The easy way to test is to turn off the circuit breaker that runs the router and see if it shuts off the other outlet. Still In most houses it will work pretty much on any outlet combination. You could try a couple different ones and see if there is any difference. If you are in the US or any other place that uses 110 rather than 220 you need to worry about which hot lead you are on. there are 2 110 volt leads and you want your devices on the same side. Pretty much the breakers alternate in the breaker panel. Still even if you put it on different hot leads it just means it must go all the way out to the power pole and back. It still works even in these cases.

All that said these stupid devices will refuse to work plugged into 2 outlets in the same room at times. Small motors tend to kill them, vacuum cleaners plugged into the same circuit are the worst I have found. In my rental house I had a ceiling fan that would kill them every time I turned it on even though it was on the other side of the house. Replaced it with exactly the same model when it finally broke and the new one causes no issues.