What is USB WI-FI adapter? Description, objectives, and types

As time passes, all traditional approaches are replaced by modern and advanced technical devices and gadgets.

What is USB Wi-Fi adapter? Wi-Fi USB adapters are a fairly widespread medium in the IT world and allow users to access a remote Wi-Fi access point quickly and easily. Their installation and use through intuitive software make it easy to use.

1. What is USB WI-FI adapter?

A Wi-Fi adapter is useful to implement the wireless network function on devices that do not support Wi-Fi. It allows the computer to receive a signal from the wireless network; there are now two kinds of adapters: the first can only receive one signal, the second can work in receive mode and signal transmission mode. Adapters with a built-in SoftAP function allow you to create a Wi-Fi hotspot on your computer.

2. What is USB WI-FI adapter; what does a wireless adapter do?

To use a wireless adapter, you need a wireless router to provide wireless connectivity. The Wi-Fi router transmits wireless signals that are captured by devices equipped with adapters and wireless cards. The Wi-Fi adapter allows your computer or laptop to use the Internet wirelessly; it provides LAN (Local Area Network) connectivity to the office or home. It also upgrades your PC to the latest wireless protocols for the fastest and safest wireless transmission over the network.

A wireless adapter provides the best internet connection with super-fast speed and support for the latest wireless security encryption protocols on a laptop or computer.

3. What is USB WI-FI adapter; how to install and use a Wi-Fi adapter?

The installation of a USB Wi-Fi adapter is slightly different from one to another. However, here is the standard installation procedure:

- You must first insert the installation CD into your computer's DVD drive, leaving your Wi-Fi adapter unplugged for the moment.

- It is then necessary to launch the installation program, which will install the drivers necessary for the adapter's operation. During the installation, you will need to insert the USB adapter into the port provided for this purpose.

- You must then activate your modem's Wi-Fi mode or configure your Wi-Fi access point.

- To finish, all you have to do is launch the software installed previously, which will offer you to choose the wireless network on which you want to connect. If your network is protected, then you will be asked to enter a WEP key. Enter it, and the connection should be established.

4. What is USB WI-FI adapter; how to choose an adapter

When choosing Wi-Fi, it is important to consider the connection method. There are USB adapters that are very easy to use as they can be easily removed and plugged into another computer. There are adapters that use the PCI-E interface. It is a set of chips inserted in special slots of the central unit. Before buying such an adapter, you should first of all check the system unit for free PCI-E slots, where you can connect the device.

One of the most essential criteria in choosing an adapter is the Wi-Fi standard. Today the recognized wireless standard is 802.11n, guaranteeing fast data transfer up to 300 Mbps. In addition, there are new communication standards such as 802.11ac. The latter standard can transfer data from 3000 Mbps to 10 Gbps. But for home use, you don't have to pay too much for speed, because 300Mbps is enough.

Also, pay attention to the transceiver. The recommended transmit power is 20 dBm. If the original transmitter's power is lower, the signal will be very weak, even if the internet source is in the apartment.

If the appearance of the adapter is not too important, you can purchase an adapter with an external antenna. It is able to receive a much better signal but has a large size. Besides, there are devices with removable external antennas.

When choosing a Wi-Fi adapter, you should pay attention to its frequency. Manufacturers began to release devices with a frequency of 5 GHz, but now adapters operating at a frequency of 2.4 GHz are still common.

It is also worth paying attention to the presence of the SoftAP function in the adapter. We recommend that you purchase adapters from the same company as the routers in the house, as their compatibility will be much better. This will help you avoid all kinds of connection issues.

5. What is USB WI-FI adapter; types of wireless adapters

5.1 External Wi-Fi adapter

The external Wi-Fi adapter adds Wi-Fi connectivity to desktop PCs. In addition, you can upgrade your older laptops that do not have Wi-Fi capability to Wi-Fi connection with the Wi-Fi adapter.

5.2 Internal Wi-Fi adapter

To connect such an adapter to a computer, you will need to disassemble the central unit. Adapters are very easy to connect, and they are much larger than external adapters.

Many people are concerned that when switching to Wi-Fi, the speed of downloading files will drop significantly, but in reality, it is not. Generally, each Wi-Fi adapter has its own speed ... Let's say the internet connection speed is 1 Mb / s, and the adapter bandwidth is 54 Mb / s. Based on this data, we can conclude that the internet speed will not drop because the adapter bandwidth is much higher.

5.3 Bluetooth

A Bluetooth adapter cannot provide Internet access, but it does allow wireless data transfer between multiple Bluetooth devices such as computers, mice, keyboards, etc.

5.4 Wireless cellular adapters

Cellular modems, which are known as broadband adapters, airline cards, or broadband cards, provide the ability to access 3G or 4G internet network service on smartphones.