Easily Connect to Your Wireless Network with the Best Wireless Adapter

There's a lot to like about this USB wireless adapter which combines terrific performance and easy setup. This is a USB 3.0 adapter though it’s compatible with USB 2.0 if you need it, but 3.0 will give you the best speed and performance. Although this works with older 802.11n and previous versions of Wi-Fi for optimal connectivity, it’s designed to work with newer Wireless-AC1200 networks. This gives you a wireless connection that can handle up to 867Mbsp over a 5GHz network, much faster than older wireless standards. You can connect this adapter directly into a USB port which flips open to function as an antenna, but it also includes a connection cord as well. An included docking station lets you then set the adapter itself wherever you need to for the best wireless reception, giving you great set-up flexibility.

If you're looking for a USB wireless adapter that’s a bit more stationary, then give this one a good look. While somewhat portable, the very large antennas on this pick make it a bit less convenient than other models which fit into your pocket. This model uses a USB 3.0 connection for optimal transfer speeds, includes support for Wireless-AC1200 standards, as well as backwards compatibility for Wireless-N and earlier networks.

The adapter itself is fairly small and can connect directly into a USB port, though the large antennas can make it too heavy to easily sit in the back of a computer tower. This is offset by a USB cord and docking station that you can use to set the adapter in a more remote location to better pick up your wireless signal. The cradle is designed well and provides better support for the large antennas which makes this a great option for a more stationary setup. This high-power model is great if you need to pick up a wireless signal over a fairly long range as it has a boosted transmit signal so you can get data to and from wireless networks more effectively than with many other models.

This is a great option if it fits all your networking needs, but there are a few things to consider before choosing it. For portability, this one is hard to beat since it is nice and small and lacks any antennas or other attachments. You can easily carry this adapter in your pocket, or a small compartment in a laptop case or other bag. Keep in mind, this model lacks anything resembling an external antenna. If you need to connect to a network over a fairly long distance or have signal issues, then there won’t be much you can adjust to improve performance. However, over short ranges this pick should be more than sufficient for your needs. It uses USB 3.0 technology for fast data transfers with USB 2.0 support if necessary and it also includes WPA and WPA2 security to work with encrypted networks.

Your setup and networking needs will definitely determine if this is a good choice for you. While most adapters just plug right into a USB port on a computer, this one instead uses a USB cable to connect. That makes it a bit less portable than some other options since the adapter itself is a bit large and the cable is required for connectivity. On the other hand, it also gives you some freedom on where you place the adapter for optimal signal reception. Two included antennas help boost signal strength making this a great choice if you’re unsure of network quality. You get 64-bit and 128-bit encryption with this adapter so it’s appropriate for when you need to connect to private, secure networks.

This adapter is a great model which provides excellent speeds with support for both Wireless-AC1200, and older Wireless-N technology as well as great connectivity through internal antennas and dual-band support. This adapter supports WPA and WPA2 as well as WEP encryption, so it works with a wide range of secure networks, making it a great choice for connecting to networks are a variety of locations. However, it lacks some of the nicer features you can get with other models.

There's no externalized antenna at all, including a lack of any type of "fold out" feature other adapters offer. This can limit your reception a bit and certainly can't compete with the external antennas on some other models out there, though this enhances the portability factor. You also don't get a USB cable though it does use a USB 3.0 connection, so you're limited on connecting this device directly to your system.

This is a Wireless-AC1900 model which gives you pretty much the best speed and signal quality you’ll find on the market. It has dual-band support with 600+1300Mbps which lets you take full advantage of the best wireless routers and modems out there and it’s also backwards compatible with older Wireless signal types. The detachable antenna module gives you great options for picking up a wireless signal while its three antennas can be connected directly to the back of the card, or used with the module to position for the best signal possible. It supports 64-bit and 128-bit wireless security protocols and the custom heat sink is designed to handle long-term, demanding use without losing stability.

In many ways this pick is just as good, if not better, than many other top-end wireless adapters on the market. It supports Wireless-AC1900 standards so you get very fast speed and performance as well as dual-band support with 600+1300Mbps speeds. This wireless adaptor can handle anything from simple file sharing and web browsing, to intense online gaming and streaming high-quality HD media. The heat sink on this card is well designed so the overall unit can run for extended periods of time without stability issues due to heat build-up.

The only real potential downside to this adapter is it lacks an external antenna module. It has three antennas which are great for signal reception and clarity, but they only connect directly to the back of the card. That can be an issue if your computer is in a location that has issues receiving your wireless signal, but otherwise this is a fantastic choice.

This is a great wireless adapter for a lot of setups, but there are a few issues with it to keep in mind before choosing it as part of your system. It is a Wireless-AC1200 model with dual-band support, so it runs fast and can handle a wide range of tasks including VoIP chat, media streaming, and online gaming. It won't give you data rates quite as high as a Wireless-AC1900 card, but if your router or other hardware only utilizes AC1200, then this is a great choice.

This pick offers a pair of antennas for signal reception but there is no module included. This means the antennas connect directly to the back of the card, so this is only a good choice if your computer is in a location that doesn’t have signal reception issues. There’s also no custom heat sink on this card, so it doesn’t handle heat buildup well, something to consider if you plan on extended periods of high demand use, such streaming hours of HD media or lengthy online gaming sessions.

This is a solid wireless adapter which supports Wireless-AC1900 standards, so it runs fast and offers dual-band performance with 600+1300Mbps data rates. It is a great choice for demanding tasks such as streaming hours of HD media or playing online games that require low latency and fast data rates. You get three antennas on this card for great for signal reception and performance, but they only connect directly to the card. If your computer is in a location with good signal quality, then that is not a problem. However, the lack of a module means you can’t easily position the antennas in the optimal location. It has a very good heat sink to handle long-term use without heat issues. On a final note, Rosewill products aren’t typically found on a wide range of sites or in stores which limits where you can buy this model.