Need help with network setup

Shaksta · Apr 5, 2016

I recently had fiber installed at home and due to technical reasons, the router and fiber box had to be installed away from my desktop. Now ive been using a wired connection to my desktop since I can remember and ive never thought id be in a situation where my desktop needs a wireless connection (so I obviously didn't invest in any pci wireless network cards). Because of this random change, I now need options to somehow get my PC connected to the Internet again, wired is not an option anymore sadly.

What methods can I use to connect to the Internet? Id rather not spend money on a PCI card because my PC is quite outdated at this point and I don't wanna spend too much money on it. I know about USB dongles but my desktop is pretty much the primary thing I use for all my downloads/movies/games/uni work. I'm a little hesitant to get a usb dongle because from previous experience ive had lots of silly problems with them and ive heard they will lower the quality of my gaming /download speeds. I have read up on wireless networking bridges and they seem like a solution but I'm wondering if it would be overkill considering il only be connecting my PC to it. Also if networking bridges are the optimal solution, is there any thing i need to check in terms of compatibility ?

So yeah any help here please guys?

USAFRet · Apr 5, 2016

A USB WiFi device would be no better or worse than a 'wireless bridge', unless you can put that bridge significantly closer to the router than the PC.

What distances are we talking? What walls are in between?

bill001g · Apr 5, 2016

Make sure you get a client-bridge which is not as common. The more common device you see called a bridge is actually acting as AP which is the reverse of what you want.

USB devices with external antenna that can be placed away from the computer are more or less same thing as a client bridge but they only support 1 machine and connect via USB rather than ethernet. But you are correct sometime you get strange USB driver issues. Of course if you try to use those tiny USB device they are designed to conserve power and the small antennas also reduce their effectiveness....but the are mostly meant for tablets or laptops that do not have wireless.

I would consider powerline networks before wireless ....especially if you plan to play online games. You can also look at MoCA devices if you happen to have coax tv cable in both locations.

If you can get good signal wireless will be the fastest if you are only looking at standard web surfing and say file downloads. These applications can tolerate the packet retransmission you find on wireless more than say games or video conferencing.

azaran · Apr 5, 2016

Have you looked in to Ethernet over Powerline? Unless the wiring in your place is very odd or extremely old the speeds would be much better than wifi. While you would have to buy the adapters, you wouldn't have to worry about any upgrades to your older hardware.

Shaksta · Apr 5, 2016

USAFRet :

No walls, distance probably 5-10 metres. I know i could probably get a long ethernet cable but the router and my desktop is in the living room and my family probably wouldn't like a bunch of wires all over the place :s

USAFRet · Apr 5, 2016

Shaksta :

No walls between? You just need to be more creative with the cabling!

A single Cat5e, run along the baseboard will be invisible. Especially if you get a cable of a matching color.

Shaksta · Apr 5, 2016

bill001g :

Make sure you get a client-bridge which is not as common. The more common device you see called a bridge is actually acting as AP which is the reverse of what you want.

USB devices with external antenna that can be placed away from the computer are more or less same thing as a client bridge but they only support 1 machine and connect via USB rather than ethernet. But you are correct sometime you get strange USB driver issues. Of course if you try to use those tiny USB device they are designed to conserve power and the small antennas also reduce their effectiveness....but the are mostly meant for tablets or laptops that do not have wireless.

I would consider powerline networks before wireless ....especially if you plan to play online games. You can also look at MoCA devices if you happen to have coax tv cable in both locations.

If you can get good signal wireless will be the fastest if you are only looking at standard web surfing and say file downloads. These applications can tolerate the packet retransmission you find on wireless more than say games or video conferencing.

I think powerline networks are a bit too expensive for me .. But thanks and il keep it in mind

azaran · Apr 5, 2016

Shaksta :

Oh its in the same room? Just run some flat Ethernet cable along the baseboards. If done neatly you wouldn't even need to tac it in, and if you do need to tac it in, you can get discreet ones at any hardware store.

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