- How to Improve the WiFi Performance of Your Windows Laptop with a USB Adapter
- What Does a USB WiFi Adapter Do?
- Benefits of a USB WiFi Adapter
- Considerations Before Buying a USB WiFi Adapter
- How to Set Up a USB WiFi Adapter
- How to Improve the WiFi Performance of Your Windows Laptop with a USB Adapter
- What Does a USB WiFi Adapter Do?
- Benefits of a USB WiFi Adapter
- Considerations Before Buying a USB WiFi Adapter
- How to Set Up a USB WiFi Adapter
- WiFi 5 USB Adapter Dual-Band AC1200 WiFi 5 USB Adapter
How to Improve the WiFi Performance of Your Windows Laptop with a USB Adapter
With the plethora of streaming services offering on-demand music, movies, and TV shows, there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of entertainment possibilities at your fingertips. But if your older computer’s WiFi functionality can’t meet the demands of streaming high-quality content, all you’ll have is meagre, half-buffered clips. The solution? A USB WiFi adapter. It’s the easiest, most cost-effective way to upgrade your older WiFi laptop, and it can make a world of difference for your Internet connection.
What Does a USB WiFi Adapter Do?
A USB WiFi adapter overrides the computer’s built-in wireless functionality, giving you a faster, more reliable connection to your available network signals through the USB port instead. Since most computers have at least one USB port, you’ll typically be able to use it on both laptops and desktops. Plus, the plug-and-play convenience means you can remove the device when it’s not needed to use in another computer.
Benefits of a USB WiFi Adapter
There are several benefits of using a USB WiFi adapter:
- There’s no tricky installation of internal hardware—it’s simple enough for even the least tech savvy user.
- It’s less expensive than other upgrade options since you’re not paying someone for the repair work—or worse, buying a newer computer with better WiFi access when your current machine is otherwise operating properly.
- It gives new life to an old machine, garnering quicker connection speeds (with an AC adapter, you can even reach MU-MIMO speeds—the fastest available as of 2016). Your older computer was likely bogging down the network with its slow connection rate, so getting it up to speed will free up the rest of your home network for faster connectivity.
- AC adapters also support beamforming, a technology that concentrates the signals from a WiFi router on specific devices instead of broadcasting them to a general area.
Considerations Before Buying a USB WiFi Adapter
Even for a simple upgrade, there are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing a USB WiFi adapter:
- If you use your network for Netflix streaming or online gaming, select an adapter with a high rate of data transfer—ideally, 500 Mbps or more.
- Determine the security protocol of your current router. You can find this by checking the network settings on a device that’s already connected to the access point or by logging into your router’s configuration dashboard. Select a USB adapter that uses the same protocol, whether it’s WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), WPA (WiFi Protected Access), or WPA2.
- Determine if the device has single- or dual-band signal range. Single band adapters connect only to the 2.4GHz band, while dual-band adapters work on both the 2.4GHz band as well as the 5GHz band. The latter offers a more reliable connection and is better at avoiding interference.
- Confirm that the adapter is compatible with your computer’s operating system. The adapter’s packaging should list its compatible systems.
How to Set Up a USB WiFi Adapter
Begin by inserting your USB adapter into an available port on your computer. The machine should recognise it and prompt you to instal the proper driver, but if it doesn’t, insert the CD that came with the device so you can instal the software manually. Once the instalation is complete, position the adapter so it’s within range of your router and isn’t obscured by cables, furniture, or other obstacles.
Then it’s just a matter of connecting to the nearest WiFi Access Point and you’re ready to surf and stream with ease. Your computer will run faster with the updated network adapter, and you’ll be happier having saved a chunk of change on buying a new computer.
How to Improve the WiFi Performance of Your Windows Laptop with a USB Adapter
With the plethora of streaming services offering on-demand music, movies, and TV shows, there’s an all-you-can-eat buffet of entertainment possibilities at your fingertips. But if your older computer’s WiFi functionality can’t meet the demands of streaming high-quality content, all you’ll have is meager, half-buffered clips. The solution? A USB WiFi adapter. It’s the easiest, most cost-effective way to upgrade your older WiFi laptop, and it can make a world of difference for your Internet connection.
What Does a USB WiFi Adapter Do?
A USB WiFi adapter overrides the computer’s built-in wireless functionality, giving you a faster, more reliable connection to your available network signals through the USB port instead. Since most computers have at least one USB port, you’ll typically be able to use it on both laptops and desktops. Plus, the plug-and-play convenience means you can remove the device when it’s not needed to use in another computer.
Benefits of a USB WiFi Adapter
There are several benefits of using a USB WiFi adapter:
- There’s no tricky installation of internal hardware—it’s simple enough for even the least tech savvy user.
- It’s less expensive than other upgrade options since you’re not paying someone for the repair work—or worse, buying a newer computer with better WiFi access when your current machine is otherwise operating properly.
- It gives new life to an old machine, garnering quicker connection speeds (with an AC adapter, you can even reach MU-MIMO speeds—the fastest available as of 2016). Your older computer was likely bogging down the network with its slow connection rate, so getting it up to speed will free up the rest of your home network for faster connectivity.
- AC adapters also support beamforming, a technology that concentrates the signals from a WiFi router on specific devices instead of broadcasting them to a general area.
Considerations Before Buying a USB WiFi Adapter
Even for a simple upgrade, there are a few things to keep in mind when purchasing a USB WiFi adapter:
- If you use your network for Netflix streaming or online gaming, select an adapter with a high rate of data transfer—ideally, 500 Mbps or more.
- Determine the security protocol of your current router. You can find this by checking the network settings on a device that’s already connected to the access point or by logging into your router’s configuration dashboard. Select a USB adapter that uses the same protocol, whether it’s WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy), WPA (WiFi Protected Access), or WPA2.
- Determine if the device has single- or dual-band signal range. Single band adapters connect only to the 2.4GHz band, while dual-band adapters work on both the 2.4GHz band as well as the 5GHz band. The latter offers a more reliable connection and is better at avoiding interference.
- Confirm that the adapter is compatible with your computer’s operating system. The adapter’s packaging should list its compatible systems.
How to Set Up a USB WiFi Adapter
Begin by inserting your USB adapter into an available port on your computer. The machine should recognize it and prompt you to install the proper driver, but if it doesn’t, insert the CD that came with the device so you can install the software manually. Once the installation is complete, position the adapter so it’s within range of your router and isn’t obscured by cables, furniture, or other obstacles.
Then it’s just a matter of connecting to the nearest WiFi Access Point and you’re ready to surf and stream with ease. Your computer will run faster with the updated network adapter, and you’ll be happier having saved a chunk of change on buying a new computer.
WiFi 5 USB Adapter Dual-Band AC1200 WiFi 5 USB Adapter
Upgrade your laptop or desktop computers to the next-generation 802.11ac standard for higher speeds and better range.
- Selectable dual band
- Up to AC867 Mbps speed* on 5 GHz band
- Up to N300 Mbps speed* on 2.4 GHz band
- Supports Microsoft Windows® 10, 8, 7
- IEEE 802.11a
- IEEE 802.11ac
- IEEE 802.11b
- IEEE 802.11g
- IEEE 802.11n
- Linksys Wireless Dual Band USB Adapter AC1200, WUSB6300
- CD-ROM with Setup Software and Resources
- Quick Start Guide
Rated 1 out of 5 by AggressiveFruitBowl from Slow and unreliable Bought this around eight months ago and all I can really say is I regret it. The card is slow and only has a decent connection half the time. I live with room mates who also use wifi cards (Not linksys) and they have absolutely no issue getting a connection and staying connected. Disappointed I wasted money on this. Save yourself the trouble and get something that will actually work.
Rated 1 out of 5 by Rich96 from Would not recommend. Just bought this a month ago, it worked well for a week and then all of a sudden would randomly start dropping the internet on me. My connection is either incredible or not at all so its not a signal issue from my end. I’ve been forced to move on to a different device for internet, this was $50 thrown down the drain. Unfortunate
Rated 1 out of 5 by Dannr5 from Doesnt work Stopped working doesnt connect to wifi if there is any way to make it work please email me
Rated 2 out of 5 by foreverpoland from It worked, but was unacceptably inconsistent. I have had this adapter for probably about two years now. The adapter is completely fine when it works, but has always had a tendency to stop working randomly. This is an extremely annoying issue and I have to take out and plug the adapter back in when this happens. Drivers are updated, as far as I know. This issue does not happen all the time, but happens enough that it is something that makes me not want to use this product anymore. I have been disappointed with this product and intend to seek a more consistent and reliable alternative for internet connection to my desktop.
Rated 1 out of 5 by dissappointed from did not work at all, extremely outdated The installation process was not clear at all and required me to use a third party device as the pc that I wanted to use this product on does not have a means of connecting to ethernet where I am. Ended up not even working in the end. Genuinely confused as to how this has 4.5 stars.
Rated 1 out of 5 by Gage from Please help Is this a v2 or a V1 I need the v2 because that’s the one I had before
Rated 2 out of 5 by gbear from Product misrepresented. Poor labeling. The product website claims compatibility with Windows 10, 8, and 7. However it doesn’t explain that there are two different version of the WUSB6300, v1 and v2. The version number isn’t shown on the package or mentioned in the printer instructions. v2 does not work with Windows 7. If this is an issue for you, make sure to open up the box and look at the label on the back of the device to check the version number. Two days wasted trying to get it configured, and now a trip back to the store. C’mon Linksys, you can do better.
Rated 5 out of 5 by Jim In Fresno from Cannot use. Old desktop. Can’t use. 2007 desktop cannot connect to Ethernet cable to allow setting up this wifi adapter.
- Dual-Band AC1200 WiFi 5 USB Adapter Reviews — page 2
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