[SOLVED] Please advice on fast usb wifi device and bluetooth device (need Windows 10 and Linux compatibility)

[modeonoff]

Hi, I just bought a Panda PAU0A AC600 Dual Band Wireless AC USB Adapter. It supports 150Mbps 2.4GHz and 433Mbps 50GHz but it is slow even when downloading simple driver. Perhaps the specs are a bit out of date?

Could anybody please recommend fast wifi usb devices that are compatible with Windows 10 and the latest version of Linux? If having a big antenna is better in terms of performance and stability, I don't mind having an antenna or two. As I will upgrade the router of home network in the future, having a fast device that is future proof is good. PCI ones are not preferred.

 

[Onus]

Weak antennas are a common problem on USB adapters, so definitely look for an adapter that has prominent external antennas. If there is metal between the router and adapter, the signal might be considerably weakened. Of course, file download speeds are often most dependent on the host server, so you may need to rely on something like http://speedtest.net to more accurately measure your speed.

 

[modeonoff]

Weak antennas are a common problem on USB adapters, so definitely look for an adapter that has prominent external antennas. If there is metal between the router and adapter, the signal might be considerably weakened. Of course, file download speeds are often most dependent on the host server, so you may need to rely on something like http://speedtest.net to more accurately measure your speed.

Thanks. Any good product recommendation?

I think my BeQuiet Dark Base Pro 900 Rev 2 has metal frame. The dongle is connected to a usb 3.1 port at the back. The computer is on my desk but I may put it under the desk later.

Will those with big antennas perform better than juse a small usb one? The one I have is:

https://www.amazon.com/Panda-Wireless-PAU0A-AC600-Adapter/dp/B07C9TYDR4

For your reference, the speedtest results are as following:

My new i9-9900K Windows PC:
PING 11ms, Download Mbps 32.21, Upload Mbps 9.03

10 years old MacBook Pro connected to the same home network:
PING 41ms, Download Mbps 35.17, Upload Mbps 10.45

How come the 10 years old MBP has better download and upload performance than the latest much more powerful PC?


From Windows, I got the following properties:
802.11n
2.4Gz

 

[Onus]

That little Panda adapter is about as bad as you can get for antenna quality; I've got something similar (a Rosewill) that will work in a pinch, but is really slow.
Something like https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=9SIADA28C91180 will be a lot better.
If you can accept a PCIe x1 card, those will ALWAYS be faster and have better range. I installed one I was testing (now obsolete model), and discovered networks in my neighborhood of detached houses I'd never known existed; it cost around $40 iirc.
Edit: Similar to https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704129 I believe.

 

[modeonoff]

Should I look for one that supports AC1200 or AC1600? Is the ltter a new standrd that is future proof? I guess one problem is to find one that is compatible with hoth Windows 10 and the latest version of Linux.

I have an upcoming EVGA RTX 2080 Untral XC gpu. It will take 3 slots. If I add one more, six slots will be taken. If I add an extra pcie card in between, will it be too crowded?

I am also looking for a bluetooth device that is compatible with both Windows 10 amd Linux. If I go for pcie option,any good PCIe card that can do both wifi and bluetooth yet compatible with the two OD I mentioned?

 

[Onus]

I have not set up Bluetooth devices on my PC. The cards I've seen that do both are typically for laptops. Since range is less important for Bluetooth, I'd probably consider a USB dongle acceptable for that. How far away is the router? Another option to consider might be a pair of powerline adapters, for example if the router does have a free Ethernet port but is located in another room. I use this method myself with good results.
There will be no backplate space available if your graphics cards occupy three slots.

 

[modeonoff]

To make it simple, let's get a bluetooth usb dongle and a wifi usb dongle or device.

The router is in the dinning room and I am using the PC in a bedroom in an apartment.

Due to space issue, that is why I prefer a usb option.

 

[Onus]

If you are in the US or Canada and can shop at Newegg, the first USB dongle I listed would be a decent choice for the wifi.

 

[modeonoff]

If you are in the US or Canada and can shop at Newegg, the first USB dongle I listed would be a decent choice for the wifi.

Thanks but it has no linux support.

 

[Onus]

Sorry, I cannot access their web site from where I work, to see if they have a Linux driver.