How to Choose a Network USB WiFi Adapter for a Computer or Laptop. Why do you need a wireless Wi-Fi adapter?

To connect your computer to the desired wireless network and world wide web, we will need 2 devices that will be:

1. Distribute the Internet, thereby creating this network at the place of its installation
2. P use the internet on your home computer

Connecting and installing the router

The main center that distributes the Internet is the router. First of all, it must be configured correctly; without this step, sites will not open. So what we do:

• We place the router in the apartment so that our network is accessible from anywhere in the apartment. In an ordinary apartment, almost any convenient place will do (so as not to interfere), but if later the signal is weak, you will have to rearrange the device.
• We plug it into a regular 220 volt outlet and turn it on by pressing the special button. (See instructions on specific model if necessary)
• We connect to a special socket network cable from your internet service provider. Also make sure that you have a login and password from your operator, because without this our router will not be able to access the Internet and distribute it to everyone. It is usually given when concluding a contract for Internet services.

The first stage has been completed, upon completion we have the router turned on, which automatically creates a network and you can connect to it, but in order for access to the Internet to become possible, in its settings you at least need to specify the same login and password from the provider (for example, Beeline, Dom.ru, etc.) about which was written above.

Connecting a Wi-Fi adapter to a PC

Although there are now motherboards on sale with built-in Wi-Fi adapter ohm to which the antenna is connected, however, a desktop computer usually does not have any built-in wireless network signal receiver. Therefore, we need a special gadget - a Wi-Fi adapter with a USB connector. Typically, it can operate on IEEE 802.11 b/g/n networks with a speed limit of up to 300 Mbps. New adapter models are designed for speeds up to 1300 Mbit/s (802.11ac technology).

Like any other peripheral device, Wi-Fi adapter needs to be installed specially software and drivers that should come with it. They must be installed and then in Windows in special program- Device Manager, our receiver should appear in the “Network adapters” section.

When it becomes possible to access the Internet through your computer, it would be a good idea to check on the manufacturer’s website for driver updates. And if it is, then download it and install it. It may also be necessary to right-click on the corresponding adapter in the list and update manually.

Entering settings for the router

In the next step, we need to set special settings for our router. For different models this procedure is somewhat different and in order to do everything correctly you need to find instructions from your router, which will tell you how to log into it to configure it. The following option is possible:

• Open the browser
• In the field for entering the site address, enter something like " 192.168.0.1 "without quotes, there may be other options" tplinklogin.net", "192.168.1.1 " and press Enter
• A page will open asking you to enter your username and password. This is the username and password to log into the router. They are usually indicated either in the same instructions or on the box from the router. Attention! Do not confuse them with the password and login for Internet access. For example, this could be login: admin,passwod: admin or 1234 . Enter ours and click Enter.
• Following the instructions, indicate in in the right place settings login and password for Internet access
• Specify settings for the wireless network. At this stage, you need to come up with your own password, which will be used to connect your PC and other devices to Wi-Fi

For example, for Zyxel models, go to the “Internet” tab, find the parameter “ PPPoE/VPN” and click on the “ Add connection”.

In the window Connection setup“we make sure that this connection activated and used to access the Internet. You must specify PPPoE as the protocol type. In the fields Username" And " Password” indicates the data provided by the provider in the contract for connecting to the Internet. Usually the IP address is issued automatically from the provider.

If everything is done correctly, then in the “ Connections” the corresponding access profile will be added to the web space. After this, the network web can be used by any device connected to the network access point.

After setting up the adapter in Windows, the corresponding wireless network icon will appear at the bottom right. By clicking on it, you can find our network and connect to it by entering the password created in the previous step.

It should also be noted that the setup can also be done wired by connecting the router to a PC network cable included in the kit. The process itself, described above, will not differ.

Most routers support WPS feature – quick setup demon wired connection. There is a special button on the adapter itself for this.

Using proprietary software for the Wi-Fi adapter, you can easily connect to the Internet center by activating the WPS function. To do this, you just need to press a button on the adapter, and then immediately press a similar WPS button on the access point.

Some problems connecting your computer to Wi-Fi

Sometimes there are problems connecting the computer to the router. We find the list of connected devices in the corresponding parameters of the router, for example, in “ System Monitor" Here we pay attention to the current connection speed.

If the connection speed differs significantly from that stated in the instructions, then it is advisable to increase it. This is done in the submenu, which is responsible for the Wi-Fi network.

WiFi may be interfered with by other devices, such as a keyboard or wireless headphones. Therefore, you can try to change the channel number over which data is transmitted. If the computer is located far from the access point, then it is necessary to increase the signal strength to 75 - 100%.

You can also bring the WiFi adapter as close as possible to the router when USB help extension cord, which usually comes with the kit.

To increase the speed of your Wi-Fi network, you need to constantly monitor software updates for the Internet center itself; fortunately, it is now available directly through the dashboard, without going to the manufacturer’s website.

Mobile technologies have completely changed our lives. With their introduction, the need for wireless networks arose. By strictly following the instructions for the Internet center and adapter, you can achieve comfortable operation from any phone, tablet or computer. A personal computer is a stationary device, therefore, for maximum connection speed, it is necessary that the Wi-Fi receiver connected to it has a sufficient level of reception from the Internet center.

Wireless technologies are increasingly becoming part of our daily lives. More recently in the best possible way connecting a personal computer to local network and the Internet, a twisted pair connection was considered, which provides a speed of 100 Mbit/s (and even higher) and excellent stability. However, progress does not stand still and there are already quite a lot of wireless devices on the market that can provide fairly fast and reliable communications.

If you already have a wireless router installed in your home or office (aka router), which allows you to organize wireless network, then to connect to it personal computer or smart TV  you will need a wi-fi adapter . This will be a good alternative to a wired connection, which requires labor-intensive cabling.

There are hundreds of models of wi-fi adapters on the market. How to choose the right model?

Wi-Fi standards

First of all, you need to decide on the supported standards. wireless communication. Modern devices can support the following standards (in order from slow to fast): 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n, 802.11ac.

The 802.11n and 802.11ac standards are the most modern and fastest. At the same time, the 802.11n standard was adopted in 2009 and at the moment most of the time wireless devices supports him. The 802.11ac standard was adopted in 2014. Devices that support this standard, are produced in smaller quantities and are usually more expensive. The remaining standards are considered obsolete, but all modern devices they are also supported for compatibility.

Below is pivot table, reflecting the main differences between different standards.

Wireless connection speed

Speed wireless connection depends on the supported standard, as well as on the number of transceiver antennas. In the 802.11n standard, the maximum data transfer rate per antenna is 150 Mbit/s, in the 802.11ac standard - 433 Mbit/s.

It should be noted that the theoretical data transfer rate in all standards differs significantly from the real one. Firstly, wi-fi devices Half the time is spent transmitting data, and the other half is spent receiving. Therefore, the theoretical speed must be immediately divided by 2 (which is reflected in the table). Secondly, together with useful information Quite a lot of service traffic is transmitted, including that necessary to ensure noise immunity.

That is why, even under ideal conditions, the data transfer speed from one device to another will be 2-3 times lower than the theoretical one (the one indicated on the box), depending on the class of the device. Budget models, as a rule, show noticeably more modest results than top-end adapters. If there is interference from walls or household appliances the speed may drop several times more.

Frequency range

Wireless devices can currently operate in two frequency bands - 2.4 and 5 GHz.

Number of antennas

The wireless communication standards 802.11n and 802.11ac provide the ability to use multiple antennas (MIMO, from the English Multiple Input Multiple Output), which increases the connection speed by a multiple. The 802.11n standard allows the use of up to 4 antennas, 802.11ac - up to eight.

To achieve maximum speeds And stable connection it is advisable to choose wireless equipment with multiple antennas. As a rule, adapters and routers with multiple antennas are more expensive.

Supported OS and other hardware

Manufacturers of wi-fi adapters, as a rule, release drivers for their devices for most operating systems. However, older versions of operating systems (such as Windows XP) may not be supported. There may also be problems with device support on new operating systems.

Therefore, when choosing an adapter, you must definitely pay attention to the list of supported operating systems.

If you purchase an adapter to connect to a TV network, it would be a good idea to read the list of supported adapters on the manufacturer’s website (if available).

Conditional price ranges for wi-fi adapters (please note that the pricing policies of manufacturers may vary greatly):

adapters costing up to 1200 rubles. Typically this is inexpensive adapters standard 802.11n, having either an internal antenna or 1-2 external antennas. Claimed data transfer rates range from 150 to 300 Mbit/s. Provide acceptable communication quality at an affordable price.

After construction home network Wi-Fi connecting laptops, mobile phones and tablets, the owner of a stationary personal computer has a question: how to connect the computer to Wi-Fi. Most often, such a PC was previously connected directly to a network cable, and it does not have a built-in wireless module.

You can solve the problem in Moscow in the following ways:

• installation additional router, followed by a wired connection to a PC. Advantages - the ability to significantly increase and improve the quality of wireless coverage home internet. The main disadvantages are the high cost of the router; experience with configuring “bridge” type routers is required;
• Another option for connecting a PC to Wi-Fi is to connect the built-in Wi-Fi module. In this case, you create a stable PC to the wireless network. The only drawback is the need to dismantle the cover of the system unit and the knowledge of installing devices into the PCI bus;
• The best option is to use an external Wi-Fi module, also known as a “Wi-Fi flash drive” or “whistle”. Its advantages - budget solution, does not require special skills, provides stable computer access to the network.

Selecting, connecting and setting up a Wi-Fi adapter

Let's figure out how to connect desktop computer to Wi-Fi with the least chance of problems during the connection process.

Let's decide on the type of Wi-Fi module used. The newer the desktop computer and the “fresh” operating system installed on it, the higher the chance that the device will be recognized by the system and work without additional settings. To eliminate the possibility of problems with drivers, we recommend that you contact your provider, and, regardless of the choice in favor of external or indoor module, purchase a device accompanied by a set of drivers to ensure its operation.

For most situations, using an external Wi-Fi module to solve the problem of how to connect a computer to Wi-Fi wirelessly is the most preferable. Therefore, we will consider further connection primarily for external modules.

Follow the step by step instructions:

• Connect external Wi-Fi adapter to USB port your PC. We recommend choosing a port located on the back of the computer.
• Once the device is detected by the system, it will notify you of the required actions. If, according to our recommendations, you have chosen a Wi-Fi adapter equipped with drivers for your operating system, insert the disk into the CD/DVD drive and follow the autoloader instructions.
• Restart your computer after the driver installation is complete.
• After reboot, find the operating icon in the lower right corner of the desktop wireless adapter and double click on it. In the menu that opens, select your home wireless network by name and enter the password to access it.
• Congratulations! If accessing sites via Wi-Fi works fine, you have just verified whether you can connect your computer to Wi-Fi without hiring the services of a network engineer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the benefits of built-in Wi-Fi solutions?

Most computers detect them and find the drivers necessary for operation, regardless of operating system. Since such modules are equipped additional antennas, they can also be recommended for networks in which a stationary PC is located a considerable distance from the router.

Is there an alternative way to connect a computer to Wi-Fi?

Residents of Moscow and the Moscow region who use the WIFIRE Internet provider can instead self-configuration access Wi-Fi networks from desktop PCs, call a network engineer to professional installation internal or external Wi-Fi adapters, installing drivers, setting up and connecting a desktop PC to a Wi-Fi network.

Call by phone and get a free consultation and selection of an adapter, followed by installation and configuration of the device on your PC at a time convenient for you!

Tariffs and services of Net By Net Holding LLC may be changed by the operator. Full up-to-date information about tariffs and services is in the “tariffs” section or by calling the phone number listed on the website.

Desktop computers are usually connected to the Internet using a wired connection. But sometimes it’s not very convenient to pull wires and you want to organize everything using wireless connection. If you are also interested in how to connect a desktop computer to Wi-Fi networks, then we suggest you read this article.

Equipment for connecting a desktop computer to Wi-Fi

In order to connect your computer to a Wi-Fi network, you need to have a Wi-Fi adapter installed on it. Such adapters are available on any laptop, but with desktop computers it’s not so simple.

Motherboards for desktop computers are very rarely equipped with built-in Wi-Fi adapters. Such adapters can only be found in the most expensive models or models designed for HTPC. Other motherboards are produced only with a regular network adapter designed for connecting to wired Ethernet networks.

If you don't know if yours has motherboard Wi-Fi adapter, then just look at back computer, where the motherboard connectors go. If the motherboard has a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, then there will be two connectors for connecting antennas.

Connectors for Wi-Fi antennas

But, most likely, you will not find such connectors, which means that to connect your desktop computer you will need to purchase a separate Wi-Fi adapter. There are two types of such adapters: external and internal. External ones are connected to the computer via USB, like a regular flash drive, and internal ones need to be installed in the connector PCI Express x1.

The speed that Wi-Fi adapters can provide depends on the wireless standards they support and the class of the device itself. Models from the lower and mid-price range usually support the 802.11n standard and in practice provide speeds from 50 to 100 Mbps. More expensive adapters support the 802.11ac standard and in real use can provide 200 Mbps or more.

At choosing Wi-Fi adapter you need to take into account not only what speed you need, but also what kind of router you have. If your router only supports 802.11n Wi-Fi, and you do not plan to change it to more modern model, then overpay for the expensive and fast wifi the adapter makes no sense. Because without support from the router, the Wi-Fi adapter will not be able to show everything that it is capable of.

Connecting a desktop computer to Wi-Fi

Connecting a desktop computer to Wi-Fi is not much different from connecting a laptop. First you need to install the drivers for the Wi-Fi adapter. If your motherboard has a built-in Wi-Fi adapter, then you need to look for drivers for it on the website of the manufacturer of such a board. If you use a separate Wi-Fi adapter, then you need to look for drivers on the website of the manufacturer of the adapter itself. Installing drivers is not difficult; they are installed into the system in the same way as regular programs. After installation, you may need to restart your computer.

After installing the drivers, a Wi-Fi icon should appear on the taskbar, next to the system clock. Depending on Windows versions This icon may look different. The screenshots below show how this icon looks in Windows 7 and Windows 10.

Wi-Fi icon on the taskbar

To connect your computer to Wi-Fi, you need to click on this icon and select one of the available networks. Below is shown how this happens in Windows 7 and Windows 10.

Connecting a computer to a Wi-Fi network

After selecting a network, you may be asked for a password, or the Wi-Fi connection will occur automatically. If you have any connection difficulties, we recommend that you read our articles on how to connect Wi-Fi to and. The entire connection process is described in more detail there.

Hello friends! After I wrote an article about it, it collected a lot of comments, which means that the topic Wi-Fi installations routers is very relevant. The people are actively establishing in their Wi-Fi at home networks, and this is due to the fact that now almost everything mobile devices(smartphones, tablets, laptops) have the ability to connect to a wireless network.

And another plus is, of course, the absence of wires throughout the apartment, you can hang it at the entrance Wi-Fi router, and connect to the network within your home, and if you don’t put a password on the network, then it will be enough for your neighbors too :).

I saw that people were asking search engines Questions like this:

We bought a router, now how to connect the computer (it doesn’t have a Wi-Fi card) and the phone

This means that I don’t know everything yet, that there are both external and internal network adapters, they are Wi-Fi receivers. These are like this small devices, which can allow your computer to connect to a Wi-Fi network. Now I’ll tell you more about them.

Slightly larger than a flash drive. They are connected to a computer mainly via the USB interface. They look something like this:

Mainly connected via PCI interface, which means that to install you need to open system unit. They'll look like this:

In terms of price, they are almost the same as external receivers. The installation shouldn't cause any problems.

As you already understand, the absence of computer Wi-Fi can be resolved very quickly and without major costs. But you don’t need to lay a network cable throughout the apartment. And perhaps you will ask whether there will be Wifi speed lower than via cable. I answer, my Internet goes through TP-Link router TL-WR841N, so far connected to the computer via cable, and the laptop is connected via Wi-Fi; according to my observations, it works even faster on the laptop. That's it friends. Good luck!

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How to connect a regular (desktop) computer to Wi-Fi updated: January 12, 2015 by: admin