[SOLVED] Best Wireless Adapter for PC?

[bamitscon]

What is the best wireless adapter to get for my Computer, ATM I have the :
TP-Link Archer T4E AC1200 Dual Band Wireless

But it doesn't seem to be giving me the correct download speed I should be getting, when I do a speed test on my phone in the exact same spot as my computer, I get nearly double compared to what my computer is pulling, my pc is next to the wall, has 2 antennas coming out of the back of the adapter in the pc.

is this a wireless issue or is it because the adapter just isn't that good?

 

[kanewolf]

What is the best wireless adapter to get for my Computer, ATM I have the :
TP-Link Archer T4E AC1200 Dual Band Wireless

But it doesn't seem to be giving me the correct download speed I should be getting, when I do a speed test on my phone in the exact same spot as my computer, I get nearly double compared to what my computer is pulling, my pc is next to the wall, has 2 antennas coming out of the back of the adapter in the pc.

is this a wireless issue or is it because the adapter just isn't that good?

PC WIFI adapters are often blocked by the case. Yes there are two antennas, but they are blocked in several directions by the PC case.
In some ways, an adapter like this -- https://www.amazon.com/Techkey-1750Mbps-1300Mbps-Antennas-Wireless/dp/B07PKMFPF7 which has a USB cable that lets you move the antennas out from behind your PC can work better.
BUT -- Have you tried powerline networking or MoCA ?? If you home has coax cable you may be able to use MoCA. Otherwise, powerline networking will provide lower latency than WIFI in most situations.

 

[bamitscon]

PC WIFI adapters are often blocked by the case. Yes there are two antennas, but they are blocked in several directions by the PC case.
In some ways, an adapter like this -- https://www.amazon.com/Techkey-1750Mbps-1300Mbps-Antennas-Wireless/dp/B07PKMFPF7 which has a USB cable that lets you move the antennas out from behind your PC can work better.
BUT -- Have you tried powerline networking or MoCA ?? If you home has coax cable you may be able to use MoCA. Otherwise, powerline networking will provide lower latency than WIFI in most situations.

I have a Ethernet WIFI adapter that is plugged into the wall beside my PC that i then run a Ethernet cable to, and then one near the router which is also plugged in and going into the Router, but strangely enough it actually gives me super high ping and less download speed than wireless, i started getting really bad spikes and done a speed test and its 130+ ping each time, whereas on wireless i get around 25-30ping? so I went back to using Wireless in the mean time. but now i just get such unreliable download speed on my computer its ridiculous, and I don't know what to do other than hardwire an ethernet cable through the loft and down into the router, but then ill have an ugly cable and a hole in the roof

 

[kanewolf]

I have a Ethernet WIFI adapter that is plugged into the wall beside my PC that i then run a Ethernet cable to, and then one near the router which is also plugged in and going into the Router, but strangely enough it actually gives me super high ping and less download speed than wireless, i started getting really bad spikes and done a speed test and its 130+ ping each time, whereas on wireless i get around 25-30ping? so I went back to using Wireless in the mean time. but now i just get such unreliable download speed on my computer its ridiculous, and I don't know what to do other than hardwire an ethernet cable through the loft and down into the router, but then ill have an ugly cable and a hole in the roof

Wired connectivity is always best. Anything that has a wireless link, has instability designed in.
If you own the property, then consider hiring a low voltage wiring specialist to install an ethernet port. They have specialized tools and knowledge to get cables in without "ugly".

 

[bamitscon]

Wired connectivity is always best. Anything that has a wireless link, has instability designed in.
If you own the property, then consider hiring a low voltage wiring specialist to install an ethernet port. They have specialized tools and knowledge to get cables in without "ugly".

if I get the thing you linked, and plug it in via USB and sit it somewhere better where the antennas aren't blocked, then perhaps it would make a difference, would I have to disconnect the adapter I have now or can I just disable it via settings, if I was to use the one you linked. if an ethernet port is installed to the wall, how does it connect to the router, is there an ethernet link which goes between the walls up the loft and into the router? and then I put another ethernet link from that outlet to the pc?

 

[kanewolf]

if I get the thing you linked, and plug it in via USB and sit it somewhere better where the antennas aren't blocked, then perhaps it would make a difference, would I have to disconnect the adapter I have now or can I just disable it via settings, if I was to use the one you linked. if an ethernet port is installed to the wall, how does it connect to the router, is there an ethernet link which goes between the walls up the loft and into the router? and then I put another ethernet link from that outlet to the pc?

The more you simplify the problem the easier it is to find a cause. I would remove it.

 

[bamitscon]

The more you simplify the problem the easier it is to find a cause. I would remove it.

Is there any others better or would that still do the job?

 

[kanewolf]

Is there any others better or would that still do the job?

I don't know. WIFI is trial and error. NOBODY can tell you if a specific WIFI device will perform in your exact situation.

 

[logainofhades]

I use this adapter, on my second system. My main rig came with wifi, as it is an ITX setup.
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/dB...x1-80211abgnacax-wi-fi-adapter-archer-tx3000e

 

[bamitscon]

I use this adapter, on my second system. My main rig came with wifi, as it is an ITX setup.
https://pcpartpicker.com/product/dB...x1-80211abgnacax-wi-fi-adapter-archer-tx3000e

and it works well for you? do you have the main antenna part placed somewhere with no objects etc?

 

[logainofhades]

It works well, as I can place the antenna, on top of the case, or wherever else the cables will reach.

 

[bamitscon]

It works well, as I can place the antenna, on top of the case, or wherever else the cables will reach.

seems good, do you know if there is a link for the UK?

 

[bamitscon]

It works well, as I can place the antenna, on top of the case, or wherever else the cables will reach.

Is this thing still actually being sold? 6 websites i have tried and they are all out of stock?

 

[bill001g]

Likely the problem is they are very quietly switching over the manufacturing to use the ax210 chip rather than ax200. Many of the competitive brands have already done this on internal pcie cards and it seems the cost is about the same.
Ax210 is running the newer wifi6e.

Since all these device are using the same intel chipset they likely will all perform about the same so you might find other brands by searching for the chipset number rather than a particular part.

You could also just try to get some antenna extension cables for your current card.

BUT did you consider the suggestion in the first post about using powerline or moca instead of wifi.

 

[bamitscon]

Likely the problem is they are very quietly switching over the manufacturing to use the ax210 chip rather than ax200. Many of the competitive brands have already done this on internal pcie cards and it seems the cost is about the same.
Ax210 is running the newer wifi6e.

Since all these device are using the same intel chipset they likely will all perform about the same so you might find other brands by searching for the chipset number rather than a particular part.

You could also just try to get some antenna extension cables for your current card.

BUT did you consider the suggestion in the first post about using powerline or moca instead of wifi.

I currently use Powerline using 2 plug in adapters, one thats near the router which is etherneted, then the other near my computer in a socket with an ethernet but this ends up being more unreliable than WIFI, normally having to switch back to WiFI to get my ping better or download speed better than the adapters plugged into my socket..

havent tried Moca no, i know you can also get double socket faceplates which boost wifi around the house also.

so what is the next version up from the adapter linked above which is out of stock?

 

[bill001g]

Just search for the intel chipset part number you will get lots of hits. Maybe stay with better known brands if you are going to get the newer AX210 intel chipset. There likely will be bugs and firmware updates. The ax200 has been around long enough it should be stable even with lesser known brands.

It seems most pcie cards are using the intel chipsets, not sure why. You can find many that have external antenna cables. You can also find just the cables if you want to try that method with your current card.

 

[bamitscon]

Just search for the intel chipset part number you will get lots of hits. Maybe stay with better known brands if you are going to get the newer AX210 intel chipset. There likely will be bugs and firmware updates. The ax200 has been around long enough it should be stable even with lesser known brands.

It seems most pcie cards are using the intel chipsets, not sure why. You can find many that have external antenna cables. You can also find just the cables if you want to try that method with your current card.

I'm not sure what's best, I tried googling but didn't know what as different ones appeared

 

[bill001g]

You look for ax210 or ax200.

I don't think intel sell PCIE cards so it will have a different brand name for the card itself. What is important is that it have the intel chips on the board.