USB Wireless lan stronger than Internal wireless?

[Super Warrior]

I've been using a USB wireless adapter to connect to the net for a while now. Recently i thought i'd try to install internal wireless on my laptop, so i bought a Intel 2200 b/g MiniPCI card and antenna off e-bay. Before i went through the trouble of installing the antenna i thought i'd try everything out first. I have the MiniPCI wireless card inside my Pc with the antenna connected to it but hanging outside of my computer.

Now it works but gets POOR signal strength. When i'm out of my room and closer to the wireless router, it performs decent, but in my room i get little to NOTHING(proper intel drivers have been installed).

My USB wireless adapter on the other hand, always gets Good signal strength no matter where i am! Are USB adapters just better than internal wireless w/antenna? Did i buy an inferior miniPCI card?

Any input would be appreciated.

[TaoTeWingChun]

Hi Super Warrior,

If you bought it off ebay, was it new or used? If it was used you may just have discovered why it was for sale in the first place.

OTOH, I know my best friend has a PCMCIA WiFi card and he gets mediocre reception (it too is an Intel card), but when he uses his USB WiFi adapter he can zoom all over the place. It is likely a driver issue there, as I can see no other reason why there would be poor reception/signal quality issues.

Post back and let us know whether that was a shrink-wrapped purchase or not.

Cheers!

TTWC

[Super Warrior]

It was advertised as new, OEM i think, so no box/shrinkwrap. It was from this seller who has cards just like the intel 2200 on auction right now:

http://stores.ebay.com/Oldegg-Wireless-Depot

He seems to have good seller rating.

[TaoTeWingChun]

Check out this link from Google Grups, others have had a similar issue:

http://groups.google.com/group/alt.internet.wireless/browse_thread/thread/1bcc892d4c0c...cc1cd8a86e1687

Looks like it may be a driver issue after all.

Good Luck!

TTWC

[Super Warrior]

Does it matter if the card is just a b/g and not an a/b/g?

[TaoTeWingChun]

Why would it? The a standard is older and slower than both b and g, so it wouldn't (read shouldn't) make a difference.

if your concern is signal strength and/or poor reception, I'd look at the driver issue.

Cheers!

TTWC

[Super Warrior]

The drivers i got were from Intel's site, dated this year, and i even tried using an older version of them. Same thing.

Meh i'm just going to try a better card later on.

[oldandinthe way]

Wifi is subject to interference from many sources. Your laptop may be interfering with the internal card. Another brand of card could also see problems. The USB interface may be in a more reliable position.

[Super Warrior]

Wifi is subject to interference from many sources. Your laptop may be interfering with the internal card. Another brand of card could also see problems. The USB interface may be in a more reliable position.

Doubtful of the positioning as the USB is just connected to the side of my laptop. Even when i put the antenna wire nearby it, it was the same. As for the card itself receiving interference, i dunno.

Maybe this intel card just sucks. I remember even when outside of my room and getting decent reception, it would randomly drop sometimes and have to reconnect.

I've decided to try out this MSI MiniPCI card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16833158015

[AlanHK]

I doubt whether USB or not has anything to do with it. Some just have better antennae or circuitry.

Netstumbler is an interesting, free app that tells you about local WiFi networks, including signal strength.

I've got a very old laptop with a PCMCIA WiFi card. (D-Link AirPlus, cost $14 new.) A friend was visiting and had her brand new laptop with built in WiFi. My laptop could detect, and use, five Wifi signals from our neighbours, hers could only detect two.

With an external antenna wire, you can connect more sensitive directional antennae to that, DIY from tin cans or buy.
http://www.google.com/search?&q=wifi+antenna

[Super Warrior]

Naa there would be no point in using an external antenna. If i was willing to do that i might as well keep with my USB wireless which aside from being external, always works great.

[Super Warrior]

Well i just tried out that MSI Mini PCI card i linked to earlier. It functioned only a little bit better than the intel 2200 did. Like before my USB wireless still easily kicked their ass.

I dunno...guess i'll just stick with my USB for now.

Edit: BTW this is the USB wireless i have:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833320107