We’re looking for a wireless adapter for a computer so we can use it in a room other than the one that has the wireless router which she got from Verizon FIOS Internet service. What exactly are we looking for? We were told we needed to get a higher end one such as a “Netgear Powerline 200”. We were recommended a higher end product as we didn’t want the connection slowed. I tried looking that up but it was a wall-plug-in unit whereas the computer tech told my friend that she needed one to plug into the USB port. Please advise! Thanks!
What you need is something like this, which you plug into the USB port on your computer, allowing you to pick up a wireless connection from your router.
Generally, you’ll get better reception from one with an antenna, like the one linked above, and if the computer is a desktop, or a laptop that is rarely going to get moved, then the extra size of this adapter shouldn’t be a problem.
If it’s a laptop that is getting moved around a lot, then you might want a smaller adapter, like this. Sometimes these smaller dongles have less range than the larger, antenna-equipped adapters, but many of them work just fine in a typical house, and have the advantage of being so small that they don’t get in the way.
The Netgear Powerline 200 is a system that allows you to run wired (not wireless) internet through your house using the power lines. It’s useful if you have a large house, or your wireless signal is weak or inconsistent in certain parts of the house.
I bought a similar powerline kit for my internet-connected TV and Blu-Ray player, because although both the TV and the Blu-Ray had wireless, they are at the opposite end of the house from my router, and i would sometimes have connection problems. The powerline kit fixed all that, and was an excellent investment, but it’s probably not what you are looking for here.
If her computer is a desktop, then you could use a powerline kit, and just run an ethernet cable from the powerline adapter to the computer. This has the advantage of the speed and stability of a wired connection, but i don’t think you need to go this route unless there’s something about your house that makes a wireless adapter unsuitable to your needs.