They say the number one killer with laptops is heat. I tend to say it’s humans, since pretty much everything is preventable, but no one wants to feel like they destroyed their laptop, so we’ll go back to saying heat is the killer. They overheat easily; especially the higher powered ones built for gaming and hardcore computing. It’s a hazard to your lap and to your internal hardware. One of the quickest things to die off is your internal Wi-Fi adapter. These delicate little fellows seem to bite the dust almost as quickly as laptop RAM does. Your internal components expand and restrict with the amount of heat that builds up inside the tiny space that is in most cases, causing parts to die. So what do you do when your internal adapter kicks off for good?
Many tech-savvy users are more than willing to take their laptops apart and replace the card. I’ve done it on mine. Like many others, my laptop’s card is right under the keyboard, which I also replaced while I was at it. You gotta multitask, people. But the thing is, my card was easy to replace. That’s not the case for a lot of people. And even when I was ten years into taking my desktop systems apart screw by screw, I still didn’t have the balls to tinker with a laptop. Too many things to screw up in those little suckers.
Your other option is to use an external adapter. Many argue that they are faster and can get a better signal because it’s not buried inside your laptop. While there is a speck of possibility there, especially on older computers, what it really boils down to is that it’s easier to swap out a USB adapter or an ExpressCard (or PCMCIA cards, for you owners of older PCs) than to keep track of all the small parts and screws that make up a laptop. And if you pinch one of those little ribbon cables, holy crap. Trust me here.
Speaking from experience, ordering some no-name adapter from Hong Kong can be iffy at best. There’s a small chance of it working, but a bigger chance that it will be either DOA or the drivers won’t be compatible. Or even the hardware won’t be compatible. So here is a list of inexpensive and trustworthy Wi-Fi cards that will get you up and running again so you don’t have to use the family computer to surf porn. These are in no particular order, just cards that I found to be very good at what they do. And yes, a few of them are slightly old. But so is my Volvo, and she hasn’t crapped out on me yet.
1. Cisco-Linksys WEC600N Dual Band Wireless-N Ultra RangePlus Expresscard– This card is great. It will connect to pretty much any access point. It features High-speed Wireless-N (draft 802.11n) networking for your ExpressCard PCs. MIMO technology uses multiple radios per band to create robust signals for maximum range and speed, with reduced dead spots. Operates in the 2.4 and 5GHz radio bands — choose the one with least congestion in your area. Also connects to Wireless-G, -B, and -A networks. And it can be had for around $19.95 on Amazon.
2. D-Link DWA-652 Xtreme N Wireless Notebook Adapter – Another good card. I’ve had a few D-Link cards over the years, and have never had a bad experience. This one has the ability to draft 802.11n Speeds Up to 14x Faster than Wireless G. Wirelessly Stream HD Video, Share Files, and Go Online. Enable Superior Reception from Farther Distances. Backward Compatible with 802.11g Networks. You can score this one for about $13.00.
3. TrendNet Wireless N Express Card – I used this one personally for a while before replacing my internal card. I still keep it on hand just in case something else goes wrong with my laptop’s card. This card allows you to connect wirelessly with supercharged speed, range and reliability. Wireless speeds increase up to 300Mbps when connecting to TRENDnet Wireless N-Draft access points or wireless routers. This 802.11n device seamlessly connects to your wireless network without performance degradation. This one is a little more spendy, as the cheapest one I could find was over $50.00.
1. Edimax EW-7811Un 150 Mbps Wireless 11n Nano Size USB Adapter– I like this one for no other reason than because it’s so cheap. It can be had for less than $10 on most sites and does a phenomenal job. Currently smallest wireless adapter to be hidden well in USB port. Supports 150 Mbps 802.11n Wireless data rate – the latest wireless standard. Permits users to have the farthest range with the widest coverage. (Up to 6 times the speed and 3 times the coverage of 802.11b.). Power Saving designed to support smart transmit power control and auto-idle state adjustment. Supports WMM (Wi-Fi Multimedia) Standard so that you can let different types of data have higher priority.
It would allow better streaming of real-time data such as Video, Music, and Skype etc. Includes multi-language EZmax setup wizard. Channels (FCC) 2.4GHz : 1~11. Power Input USB Port (Self-Powered). Dimensions 0.28″ x 0.59″ x 0.73″. Temperature 0 -40 degree C (32-104 degree F). Humidity 10 ~ 90% Non-Condensing. System XP/Vista/Win7, Mac, Linux. Port 1 x 2.0 USB Type A. Wireless Data Rates Up to 150 Mbps. Modulation OFDM: BPSK, QPSK, 16-QAM, 64-QAM, DSSS. Frequency Band 2.4GHz – 2.4835GHz. Antenna internal chip antenna. Spec Standards IEEE 802.11n; backward compatible with 802.11b/g Wi-Fi Certified. Security 64/128 bit WEP Encryption and WPA-PSK, WPA2-PSK security; WPS compatible IEEE 802.1X
2. Medialink – Wireless N USB Adapter – Another inexpensive but dependable card. It’s compatible with any brand 802.11g or 802.11n Router Using 2.4ghz Wavelength. Simplified One Click Wi-Fi Installation. Microsoft WHQL Certified. Docking Station Included with Attached 3ft USB Extension Cable for Desktop Convenience. Supports the Following Security Protocols: WPA/WPA2, 64/128/152-bit WEP. It can be had for around $20.00 online.
3. Alfa AWUS036H 1000mW 1W 802.11b/g High Gain USB Adapter – This card is a favorite for many wardrivers. If you don’t mind having an adapter that connects with a long cable then this is a nice adapter for sure. The Alfa AWUS036H is the latest version of the most powerful card available. This has a stunning 1000mW output power. So if you are looking for a device to connect to an outdoor 2.4 GHz antenna, such as on a boat or an RV, this is a perfect solution. It outperforms wireless cards that are built in to newer laptops. Adding this to your laptop or desktop computer will enhance range and signal quality at longer distances. And works with Win98SE/200/ME/XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7, Linux (kernel 2.6.6 and later) and Macintosh (OS version 10.4). This one is the most costly, but not by much. It’s $25.00 on Amazon.
So that’s my list of personal favorites. I’ve used them all and have had zero problems with any of them. Never a connectivity issue or a hardware failure with any of the six. Unlike the dozens of problems I had with cheaper $2.99 units I had shipped in from all over Japan and China. Not saying that everything that comes from there is crap, but it seems that Wi-Fi just isn’t their thing. If you have a favorite adapter, feel free to post it in the comments.