USB Wireless Adapters - My Take...

As a side note to this thread http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?p=1876682#post1876682, I wanted to give my take/experience with external USB wireless adapters for those of us who desire increased reception strength in comparison to the devices that originally shipped within our notebooks...

With my E1505 and Dell 1390 adapter (with settings for maximum performance reception), the main network I connect to out on the road came in at low/very low signal strength (using Windows WZC), or around -75dBm on NetStumbler.

First up: Belkin F5D7050 - I was basically looking for an inexpensive adapter, and something highly portable...this seemed to fit the bill.

Only problem was, no matter what I tried, I couldn't get the thing to work...so back to the store I went.

Second: Linksys WUSB54GC - I've always had good luck with their products, and out of the box, this one was no different - was able to connect to the network just fine.

Only issue is that is was very, for lack of a better descriptor, picky in terms of placement. Move it one inch one way or the other, and your connection strength would be all over the place.

Best consistent reception was -70dBm.

Third: After doing a bit more reading, I came across the Belkin F5D9050. Have such bad luck with the first Belkin adapter, I was a bit hesitant to get this one, but I figured it was worth the shot to do so...

Once again, right out of the box, it worked just fine, but what truly surprised me was the reception I was getting, coming in at a solid "Very Good" and -60dBm on NetStumbler.

As it's within one dollar of the same price of the Linksys, combined with the much improved reception, this is certainly the best pick I've found available at a local (read: easy returns) big-box store...

 

Great info, thanks