Wireless Adaptors for Desktop PCs

[DaveShoelace]

So I take my adorable little dog round my Mums yesterday and he chewed through her phone line in the room she has her PC in. Thankfully she has a BT home hub, which she just plugged her PC into with a cable, but now she will have to put her home hub in a different room and get the internet wirelessly (Cos neither of us want to pay the £250 quoted to fix the line).

My question is, I now have to buy her a wireless adaptor for her desktop PC, is there much difference in quality between them? They all seem to be about £20 so I am guessing there are all pretty much the same?

[kinboshi]

I bought and installed a simple usb one for the sister-in-law, and it was something like £8 of ebay.  Works fine as far as I know, although it is in the same room as the hub so have no idea if it has a limited range or not.

[cia260895]

is it too far away to run an ethernet cable?

[DaveShoelace]

is it too far away to run an ethernet cable?

Its certainly feasible, but its between two rooms which is a bit of a pain, but still cheaper than the BT charge.

Is ethernet that much better than wireless? (I currently use Ethernet and it does seem it)

[cia260895]

cant comment on if its better or not but if you measure how long i have got a few long ethernet cables at work..

[G1BTW]

I bought and installed a simple PCI one for the old man, and it was something like £2 off ebay.  Works well
Equivalent in PC World is £20.

Bought a wireless modem router for same, off Ebay. £8 delivered. PC World Equivalent £40.

The only time you would pay more is to match a high end card with a high end router, like both Wireless N, if range/walls were a problem.

These things are really robust (if you feed your dog). **** PC World retail prices. I only go there to gen up on what I should be getting cheaper elsewhere.

For best results, also get one of these. They last long, very strong, and will save you a fortune in cabling and repairs
http://tinyurl.com/4bw3yh

[G1BTW]

is it too far away to run an ethernet cable?

Its certainly feasible, but its between two rooms which is a bit of a pain, but still cheaper than the BT charge.

Is ethernet that much better than wireless? (I currently use Ethernet and it does seem it)

You notice it on older gear over longer distances, there's a speed drop and you could end up dropping wireless connections, ungood for the pokers. Depends on your house mostly, if you're going diagonally through old thick walls. You could always build a windsurfer, has a dramatic effect.
http://www.rahul.net/dold/clarence/EZ12-windsurfer.jpg

[lazaroonie]

the wireless ones are ok - stay with the brand names, netgear, 3com etc and you wont go far wrong.

have a look at 'powerline' adapters as well - basically routes ethernet thru your mains electricity sockets.

[Dewi_cool]

another option

http://www.satcure.co.uk/accs/page22.htm

[kinboshi]

the wireless ones are ok - stay with the brand names, netgear, 3com etc and you wont go far wrong.

have a look at 'powerline' adapters as well - basically routes ethernet thru your mains electricity sockets.

They're a good idea if you can't get wireless for whatever reason.  I used them at my old house and they were really good.  Think they've come down in price now, well below £50 I think.

[DaveShoelace]

Thanks everyone, I got a belkin one for about £30 that seems to do the job. I bloody hate computers me