Need recommendations on USB3 802.11ac wireless network cards

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  1. Posts : 1,033
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #11

    Actually, I am considering an extender as an option. Please confirm that it is not hard-wired - and thanks for the recommendation.
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  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #12

    It is a WiFi extender and bridge. It connects to your main router via WiFi on both bands. It then repeats the signal using cross-band technology so it doesn't cut the speed in half. If your computer connects to the extender on 2.4 Ghz, the extender will route that traffic on the 5 Ghz channel to the main router. If your computer connects on the 5 Ghz band, the extender will route that traffic via the 2.4 Ghz band to the main router. The bridge function also passes the WiFi network traffic to the Ethernet ports.
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  3. Posts : 4,224
    Windows 10
       #13
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  4. Posts : 1,033
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #14

    Ed, I hate to admit it - but I'm confused. My laptop doesn't have Bluetooth and there no place for a Bluetooth card. I use a USB Bluetooth dongle. The photo you sent to me looks like it's a combination Bluetooth and Network card. Also, the sticker on the card (your screenshot) doesn't mention the network card designation. That's probably why I didn't recognize it on eBay. Also, I'm curious as to how you managed to cut out the screenshot of the card. You'd have to trace the outline. Does Screenpresso do that?
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  5. Posts : 1,033
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #15

    I need a little time to digest this cross-band technology. Thanks for the explanation.

    NavyLCDR said:
    It is a WiFi extender and bridge. It connects to your main router via WiFi on both bands. It then repeats the signal using cross-band technology so it doesn't cut the speed in half. If your computer connects to the extender on 2.4 Ghz, the extender will route that traffic on the 5 Ghz channel to the main router. If your computer connects on the 5 Ghz band, the extender will route that traffic via the 2.4 Ghz band to the main router. The bridge function also passes the WiFi network traffic to the Ethernet ports.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #16

    @Nisko, the combination network/bluetooth card is what adds the Bluetooth capability to the laptop internally. Laptops without Bluetooth have a network only card. Laptops with Bluetooth have the combination network/bluetooth card in them.
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  7. Posts : 1,033
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #17

    Thanks - now I get it!
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  8. Posts : 1,033
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #18

    @NavyLCDR: If I get an extender, I want the best performer and, hopefully, with a simple setup. Is the one (above) the best out there? It depends on which reviews I read. Each set of reviews come up with totally different extenders. That makes it hard to decide on which one to purchase. Can you help me out with this dilemma? I've tried Googling reviews of extenders - but, because they're all so different in what they recommend, I'm "confused." I'm thinking that, with your knowledge and connections, you might point me in the right direction. I get a little over 100Mbps next to my router - but I use my PC on the next floor up and just now, I did a test and only got about 11 Mbps. Sometimes it climbs to 30 Mbps. It varies tremendously. Where it hurts the most is in getting videos, i.e., Skype, Facetime, movies (Netflix and Amazon), news clips, etc. Father's day is coming up and I'd like to "suggest" to my son which one to get for me. Thanks for the help!
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  9. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #19

    It depends on what speed your main router is, IE: AC1900. For maximum performance you would want the extender to match or exceed that speed. My previous system was a Netgear Nighthawk R7000 (AC1900) router in my basement. On the second floor of the house I had the Linksys RE6500 (AC1200) range extender - yes the range extender was lower speed than the router, not the ideal setup. The system was set up with the same SSID and password for both the 2.4 GHZ and 5 GHZ bands so I only had to have one network profile on my computers. I was never concerned about reserving one band for anything. That system worked great.

    When I bought my new house, I also purchased a Netgear Orbi RBK50 system which is 1 AC3000 router + 1 AC3000 satellite repeater (extender). They are tri-band meaning there is a 2.4 GHZ and 5 GHZ channel for the computers to connect to and a separate 5 GHZ channel for exclusive use between the router and satellite.

    To be honest, I think I prefer my previous setup - it seemed to give me better file transfer speeds between computers and my 2 NAS storage units than the Orbi system does. I would steer clear of the extenders that just plug into a wall outlet and hang right there at the outlet. I would definitely get one with external antennas and make sure to get one with the cross-band technology. Also check for the number of Gigabit ports on the extender if you are going to connect wired devices.

    If you want to upgrade in the future - you can always connect a faster extender to a slower router, they are all backward compatible. Then when you upgraded the router, you would already have the range extender to match it.
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  10. Posts : 1,033
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #20

    Thanks for the great advice, Commander!
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