Which Wireless Network Adapter, PCI card or USB

I am interested in getting a wireless adapter for my desktop to
periodically hop onto ambient unsecured wireless signals to check my
email. I'm wondering which make and type will work best, a PCI wireless
network adapter or a USB wireless network adapter. Maybe there is no
difference, but if there is I'd like to know about it. My roommate has
a notebook computer and with it she finds we are in range of about six
wireless networks, but all show a low or very low signal strength. So
I'd be interested in an adapter that will be best at picking up these
low-strength signals. Most of the networks within range appear to be
Linksys. I guess that means I should probably go witrh a Linksys
product to maximize the possibility of picking up the signals.

Thanks

dejola wrote:
> I am interested in getting a wireless adapter for my desktop to
> periodically hop onto ambient unsecured wireless signals to check my
> email. I'm wondering which make and type will work best, a PCI wireless
> network adapter or a USB wireless network adapter. Maybe there is no
> difference, but if there is I'd like to know about it. My roommate has
> a notebook computer and with it she finds we are in range of about six
> wireless networks, but all show a low or very low signal strength. So
> I'd be interested in an adapter that will be best at picking up these
> low-strength signals. Most of the networks within range appear to be
> Linksys. I guess that means I should probably go witrh a Linksys
> product to maximize the possibility of picking up the signals.
>
> Thanks

I don't think the type of adapter is going to make a difference in
getting a stronger signal from a weak one. Your best bet is to find a
closer spot.

On 22 Jul 2006 09:58:23 -0700, "dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote
in <1153587503.906277.119400@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups .com>:

>I am interested in getting a wireless adapter for my desktop to
>periodically hop onto ambient unsecured wireless signals to check my
>email.

Do you also shoplift, or only steal service?

>I'm wondering which make and type will work best, a PCI wireless
>network adapter or a USB wireless network adapter.

Getting Permission First.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Hi,

I have tried both!
I think that PCI wireless adapters can perform better than USB because
PCI ones always equiped with higher gain antennas.

Naim
www.networkingland.com/wifimain.htm


dejola wrote:
> I am interested in getting a wireless adapter for my desktop to
> periodically hop onto ambient unsecured wireless signals to check my
> email. I'm wondering which make and type will work best, a PCI wireless
> network adapter or a USB wireless network adapter. Maybe there is no
> difference, but if there is I'd like to know about it. My roommate has
> a notebook computer and with it she finds we are in range of about six
> wireless networks, but all show a low or very low signal strength. So
> I'd be interested in an adapter that will be best at picking up these
> low-strength signals. Most of the networks within range appear to be
> Linksys. I guess that means I should probably go witrh a Linksys
> product to maximize the possibility of picking up the signals.
>
> Thanks

On 23 Jul 2006 07:23:53 -0700, "Panda" <naim@networkingland.com> wrote
in <1153664633.249094.9730@p79g2000cwp.googlegroups.c om>:

>I think that PCI wireless adapters can perform better than USB because
>PCI ones always equiped with higher gain antennas.

Depends. Small USB dongle devices do have limited antennas. But not
all USB devices are dongles, and some USB devices have better antennas
than most PCI cards. Case in point: Hawking HWU8DD
<http://www.hawkingtech.com/products/productlist.php?CatID=32&FamID=60&ProdID=280>
--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

No, I don't shoplift. But if someone throws a donut into my window I'll
eat it.

John Navas wrote:
> On 22 Jul 2006 09:58:23 -0700, "dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote
> in <1153587503.906277.119400@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups .com>:
>
> >I am interested in getting a wireless adapter for my desktop to
> >periodically hop onto ambient unsecured wireless signals to check my
> >email.
>
> Do you also shoplift, or only steal service?
>
> >I'm wondering which make and type will work best, a PCI wireless
> >network adapter or a USB wireless network adapter.
>
> Getting Permission First.
>
> --
> Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
> John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
> Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
> Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>

Bad analogy, as I'm sure you know.

On 23 Jul 2006 08:38:39 -0700, "dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote
in <1153669119.002209.274760@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups .com>:

>No, I don't shoplift. But if someone throws a donut into my window I'll
>eat it.
>
>John Navas wrote:
>> On 22 Jul 2006 09:58:23 -0700, "dejola" <johnandjanet@gmail.com> wrote
>> in <1153587503.906277.119400@m79g2000cwm.googlegroups .com>:
>>
>> >I am interested in getting a wireless adapter for my desktop to
>> >periodically hop onto ambient unsecured wireless signals to check my
>> >email.
>>
>> Do you also shoplift, or only steal service?
>>
>> >I'm wondering which make and type will work best, a PCI wireless
>> >network adapter or a USB wireless network adapter.
>>
>> Getting Permission First.

--
Best regards, FAQ for Wireless Internet: <http://Wireless.wikia.com>
John Navas FAQ for Wi-Fi: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi>
Wi-Fi How To: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_HowTo>
Fixes to Wi-Fi Problems: <http://wireless.wikia.com/wiki/Wi-Fi_Fixes>