Wireless Network Signal Weak


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I have a question on getting a usb adapter...it's for a wireless network connecting a new computer to a router that has WEP encryption. Originally there was a laptop in the same room that the new computer (which is the one now connecting wirelessly to the router) ...where the laptop worked pretty well as far as the network connection was concerned. So, now that the laptop isn't there this new computer has a mini usb wireless adapter that's being used...but has a weak connection. There was also an extender that I tried out....but with the extender I seemed to have a problem setting it up with WEP so i set everything to WPA...when i got the extender configured the signal strength went to 100% but it was very intermittent...a lot more intermittent than bewhere as before it was a strength of 60% but at least it was interm So, my question is if the laptop worked just as well in the same location with everything else the same...it's probably the wireless adapter that the new computer is using that can be replaced with a one with more reception capabilities. The router by the way doesn't seem to have WPA2..It mainly has WEP & WPA. Can anybody recomend a wireless usb device?

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Wireless USB devices aren't that great, to be honest. Your not going to get the speeds that you would get if you had an internal wireless card installed. I had "ok" results with a TP-Link Wireless USB I had to purchase for temporary use for my old desktop. Router was only 20 feet away and it was half the speed as my laptops wireless.

Also, what type of wireless does your Router broadcast (b/g/n)?

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Repeaters are a bad idea no matter how you look at, they out of the gate will cut your performance in half. If you need to create better wireless coverage then the proper way to do it would be with the addition of more access points in the area where coverage is poor. With wire from AP running to the network.

If you can not run a wire to the AP, then you could look to powerline to connect AP to network. Your last option would be a repeater/extender.

Wireless performance does not always come down to signal strength, you could have full bars but if interference then performance will suffer.

Never been a fan of the usb wireless - but if you have to use one, its normally better to connect it with a usb extender cable to better place the adapter vs being plugged directly into the laptop. The location plugged into the laptop does not normally make for best signal, quite a few usb adapters come with a cradle that you can place up higher away from your computer equipment with a cable that runs to the laptop. Or some have little antennas that can be raised with cable that runs to the laptop, etc.

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