Does buying a wireless usb adapter improve wifi range?

Amazon.com: Medialink- 150Mbps Wireless N USB Adapter - 802.11n, 2.4ghz, Windows 2000 / 2003 / XP 32-Bit and 64-Bit / Vista 32-Bit and 64-Bit / Windows 7 32-Bit and 64-Bit Compatible: Electronics


Wifi doesn't work well in a room that is far away from the router for one computer. Does getting this actually improve the wifi range? Someone said try and get this and plug in laptop and maybe the wireless signal strength would be better?

 

I'm guessing that you will see more improvement in signal strength by upgrading the router, rather than the adapter. I'm not familiar with that particular usb adapter but, again mostly guessing, I kind of doubt that particular adapter would help much with the issue but you don't say what adapter you are using now so it's kind of hard to know if this one would be any better.

 

Hi. That laptop uses its default wireless card thats built in the computer. Someoen told me buying an adapter usb could solve this problem..

 

Check Device Manager under Network Adapters and see what the default adapter is, e.g., Is it Atheros, Broadcom, Intel? You might also check for new drivers . . .

 

I don't know if that USB will help. You can buy signal booster type stuff so no USB dongle. Also buying a new router as suggested could help but I don't know what you have.

 

anyone have advice?

 

It would have to be a good USB adapter with a decent antenna and so on- not a $15 piece of cheese.
More like something Alfa makes.

Replacing an internal card for something better is also a viable option and the one I would prefer.

 

...or try this Alfa brand adapter.
Claimed to be best long-distance USB WiFi Adapter for 802.11N wireless networks.

or Premiertek has one.

 

It does improve range if you have antennas and amplifiers that are powerful enough.