i recently had to make a move and i cannot get a wired connection from my modem to my pc. modem is in the living room and i do not have a coax plug in my room (every other room but mine really, go figure). now i am using a technicolor tc8305c modem along with a NETGEAR N600 Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter. is there a better option for me for online games? i feel like it is really spotty with this set up. is there a better modem i can buy or wireless adapter? maybe something with a further range? it has lights on it for the signal strength red/yellow/green. red being 1-2 bars yellow 3 and green 4-5. im sitting at yellow maybe 25 feet from the modem. if i can some how get my complex to get a coax cable put in my room (if thats a thing that isnt un heard of let me know) ill be set, but for now this is what i have to work with
best option when only option is Wifi
- Thread starter TylerMar
- Start date
They are normally sold as kits and are simple plug & play. They use the electrical wiring in your house to pass the data signal.
One adapter connects to your router with a short length of ethernet cable (usually supplied), then plugs into the wall. The other adapter is just plugged into the wall near your PC and connects to it with another length of ethernet cable (again, usually supplied in the kit). That's it. There is no setup required. You can expand the network throughout the house by just plugging in additional adapters in whichever room you want (you only need one by the modem).
I use a few in my house and they work absolutely fine.
One adapter connects to your router with a short length of ethernet cable (usually supplied), then plugs into the wall. The other adapter is just plugged into the wall near your PC and connects to it with another length of ethernet cable (again, usually supplied in the kit). That's it. There is no setup required. You can expand the network throughout the house by just plugging in additional adapters in whichever room you want (you only need one by the modem).
I use a few in my house and they work absolutely fine.
Onus
Titan
- Jan 27, 2006
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Most USB adapters have poor antennas, which might be making the difference. With this dual-band TP-Link PCIe x1 adapter: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704162 I was able to see wireless networks in my neighborhood of detached houses that I was unable to detect with a USB adapter.
Edit: I too have some powerline adapters. They work well. I am using 200Mb/s adapters. I tried some 500Mb/s adapters, and they both ultimately would not stay online. Normally, these are recommended to be used on the same circuit if possible, but mine are not. I live in a manufactured home, with one adapter plugged into each side. This means that they are pass through an additional central junction box, but still work quite well.
Edit: I too have some powerline adapters. They work well. I am using 200Mb/s adapters. I tried some 500Mb/s adapters, and they both ultimately would not stay online. Normally, these are recommended to be used on the same circuit if possible, but mine are not. I live in a manufactured home, with one adapter plugged into each side. This means that they are pass through an additional central junction box, but still work quite well.
It should generally be better than wifi. Advice as always is to go for the fastest you can afford. Don't be fooled by the 500Mbps tag - you won't get anywhere near those speeds in real life but 500 is still much faster than 200, etc. If there is performance loss it will be negligible but a big benefit over wifi is that it won't suffer interference and signal drops that wifi can.
edit: I use one with my Xbox and I don't die too much
edit: I use one with my Xbox and I don't die too much
Onus
Titan
- Jan 27, 2006
- 37,037
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Note that you cannot plug these into a surge protector, and long extension cords are not recommended. I use a 1' extension to get mine away from the wall so it doesn't block both outlets.
In my environment, the 200Mb/s units are faster than cheap wifi (a $12 PCI card, not the good one I linked), but the 500Mb/s didn't seem any faster, and they ultimately dropped out anyway. Quality beats speed, and the cheap 500Mb/s units I'd been sent for a review were not anything I could recommend. The 200Mb/s ones have been great; one side is a 4-port, and reliably provides the connection for my wife's PC and a test rig.
In my environment, the 200Mb/s units are faster than cheap wifi (a $12 PCI card, not the good one I linked), but the 500Mb/s didn't seem any faster, and they ultimately dropped out anyway. Quality beats speed, and the cheap 500Mb/s units I'd been sent for a review were not anything I could recommend. The 200Mb/s ones have been great; one side is a 4-port, and reliably provides the connection for my wife's PC and a test rig.
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