What is a wifi adapter for pc. Network adapter - how to choose by power, type, connection method, network standard and price. Problem with IP address recognition

Wi-Fi connection uses wireless router to transmit your Internet signals to the wireless band. Wireless Internet connections have many benefits, such as reducing cable clutter and making it much easier to connect many devices to connect to the Internet at home. However, wireless networks also have the disadvantages of being slower than an Internet connection along with security issues.

Internet connection

You need an active subscription to a broadband Internet Service Provider, or ISP, to Wi-Fi Internet. Cable, DSL, and other forms of high-speed Internet work with wireless networks. The speed of the Internet connection provided by your ISP sometimes limits the transmission speed on your wireless network. The ISP modem connects to the wireless router and not directly to your computer when you set up the wireless network. Your ISP can rent you a modem, otherwise you can buy your own.

Wireless router

There are hundreds of wireless routers different types. Unlike a modem, which is always given to you by your ISP, a router will almost always have to be purchased on your own. Routers use various wireless standards such as Wireless-G and Wireless-N. The protocols have different maximum speeds, although in practice the speed outside of intranet transfers is greatly drowned out by the speed of your Internet connection. Wireless routers transmit Internet signal throughout the house. Along with wireless connectivity, wireless routers have ports so you can also connect wired devices.

Wireless card interface

Your computer needs a wireless network interface card installed in order to receive wireless signals. Wireless network interface cards exist both as internal and external models. Internal cards, PCI or PCI-E cards, suitable for desktop computers, and PCMCIA cards are for laptops. Some motherboards include wireless networking chips. Wireless USB dongles provide an external solution for easy installation and settings.

Wireless network

You need a wireless network that is designed to share the Internet signal between all computers. Windows, Mac and Linux provide the usual installation wizards home network, including implementing a wireless security protocol, setting a wireless network name, and generating a private network key. Your installation CD router can also create a security system or help you set up a home network.

What is a Wi-Fi adapter?

Wireless technology allows you to connect your computer to the Internet without the need for any cables, such as telephone or Internet cords. Accessing the Internet over a wireless network involves the use of two parts of the device: your wireless router or modem, which transmits the Internet signal and receives from the wall outlet to the wireless signal; and your computer Wi-Fi adapter, which picks up this signal and provides access to the Internet.

How the Wi-Fi adapter works

If you still don't understand the concept of wireless Internet, think of your computer's Wi-Fi adapter as a TV antenna. Although a TV with an antenna is not physically connected to the data source that transmits channels to it, nevertheless, the very existence of the antenna allows you to enjoy watching programs. The use of wireless Internet does not limit your ability to access Internet features in the same way that your TV antenna does compared to cable, but the mechanism behind this system is the same.

Functions

Your Wi-Fi adapter is used to pick up wireless Internet signals that your computer can use to connect to the Internet. Various Wi-Fi adapters are more or less capable than others: some are able to pick up signals coming from a distance of hundreds of meters, while others can only pick up signals within their access area. How your adapter picks up wireless signals depends on several factors, including the age of your computer, in general, computers are never more equipped with capable wireless adapters or Wi-Fi adapters on their own.

As you know, you can connect to a computer various devices that expand its capabilities and functionality. Additional equipment can be connected both to the motherboard, and with the help of separate designs - adapters.

What is an adapter?

The adapter is a special purpose board with electronic parts. This device has two connectors. The first is for connecting to the equipment itself, the second is for connecting to the required bus.

At first, the PC used the ISA bus. Specially for it, adapters were produced to control a scanner, printer, disk drives and other devices. The work of the hard drives was controlled by the HDC / FDC-card adapter, and LPT ports and COM were released as a separate I/O-card.

But these various options have been replaced by a single universal adapter, which is a control system hard drive. Now serial and parallel data exchange is provided by one board, called a multicard.

Adapter classes

Now that you've learned what an adapter is, let's take a look at its classes and distribution principles.

This contact device is associated not only with connected elements, but also with combinations of individual control elements. Any device communicates with a computer through a unique adapter class. In this case, the corresponding instances on both sides logically contact each other.

The following classes are defined for each device type:

  • base adapter class from which all other boards inherit properties;
  • a converter associated with the page and its properties;
  • adapter of controls that match components operating system;
  • a form converter that works with the skin of each page.

If functionally there is a need to provide access to the context of the control element, then it must be placed in the base class of the adapter.

WiFi adapter

Having found out what an adapter is in a general sense, let's move on to more specific cases.

A wireless adapter is a device that allows you to connect a PC or other mobile device to a Wi-Fi network.

Very often, when trying to set up a home wireless network, technology is used that cannot be connected to an environment without cables. These may be desktop computers, gaming consoles, televisions and other appliances.

But even if the device has a built-in adapter, this does not guarantee the absence of difficulties when connecting. Often you have to buy a more modern converter that supports the required communication format on the network. This problem is, perhaps, the key one now.

Popular interfaces for connecting adapters

In addition to the question of what an adapter is, I would like to separately touch on the topic of their interfaces. If earlier on the shelves of computer stores you could find cables with micro-PCI, PCMCI and PCI connectors, now all this variety has disappeared. There is only one most popular and flexible format left - USB.

Indeed, if you buy a USB adapter, you can connect it to any computer. And even changing the platform is not able to affect the functionality of this device.

A USB adapter is a converter that increases the functionality of various devices.

Typically, such boards are consistent interface mapping schemes for adjacent devices. A USB hub can also be attributed to the class of such devices.

Summing up

There are a huge number of different adapters. Some of them are designed to connect devices to a computer, others are used to convert power electrical network, expanding the functionality of diagnostic devices in a car service.

But all adapters have one thing in common - they serve to increase the functionality of the device to which they are attached.

How to set up a wireless WiFi adapter is a fairly frequently asked question. This is due to the fact that this technology of data transmission over the air is very widespread all over the world. Such distribution is explained by the extremely simple setup and easy use of WiFi networks anywhere, for example, in a cafe, at home, at work, in a shopping center, and so on.

As a rule, to connect to the network, the user simply needs to turn on the wireless adapter on a laptop or smartphone. After that, the device will start searching for available connections and offer a list. You will only have to choose desired network and connect to it. But, before the adapter starts to work normally, it must be configured. And this is where some difficulties can arise for many.

Equipment pre-configuration

Pre-configuring the wireless WiFi adapter is a software installation. In other words, installing drivers and necessary utilities for working with networks and equipment.

So, if we are talking about a laptop, then all the necessary drivers are available on the disk that was bundled with the computer upon purchase. If this disk is lost and you cannot find it, then you can download everything you need on the official website of the manufacturer, indicating the full name of the laptop model.

If you separately bought a WiFi adapter, then a disk must be attached to it. Also, knowing accurate name module, you can easily find the right software on the Internet. After installing the drivers, new hardware will appear in Device Manager. The computer will determine its name and exact model.

How to install WiFi driver: Video

Setting up the wireless module

After installing the drivers and utilities to work with the device, it is recommended to restart the computer. After that, you can proceed to further settings. Everything is just as simple here. All available settings that you can change are located in the network control center. It is this service that should be run first of all to configure network adapters. You can open the service by simply right-clicking on the network icon in the tray (area in the lower right corner of the desktop).

So, how to set up a wireless WiFi network adapter? In the Network and Sharing Center, select "Change adapter settings". Here you will find a label for the wireless network. Depending on the version of the operating system, it may be called differently. In the seven - wireless network connection, in the eight - wireless network. If you press right click this shortcut will bring up the preliminary menu. Here you can disable the adapter, run troubleshooting, and enter its properties.

Diagnostics allows you to automatically find problems and fix them. Users only need to carefully follow the prompts on the screen. As a result of the diagnostics, the system will provide a report on the work performed, from which you can find out what errors were found and what was fixed.

WiFi adapter properties

How to set up a network Wi-Fi adapter at a deeper level? To do this, enter its properties. Here you can select the components and protocols that will be used by the device. In addition, there are cases when you need to enter the connection IP address manually to configure the network. To do this, select Internet Protocol version 4 (TCPIPv4) and enter its properties. Here you should move the marker to the item "Use the following IP address" and enter the network data manually. You will find this information in the contract with the provider. You can also just call the customer support service of your provider and find out all the data.

  • Are common.
  • Additional.
  • Driver.
  • Intelligence.
  • Power management.

The first tab displays information about the device. If an error occurs, its code and general information will be displayed here. If no errors are found, you will see the message "The device is working properly." In the second tab, you will see all the available functions and properties of your WiFi adapter. Here you can enable and disable certain functions, as well as set their values.

In the vast majority of cases, nothing needs to be configured in this menu, since all parameters are specified during driver installation. However, if necessary, here you can change the MAC address of the adapter by assigning absolutely any values. This is done only in extreme cases, when a change of physical address is necessary to connect to the network.

The Driver tab displays all information about the software and its version. Here you can uninstall or update the driver. The next tab "Details" allows you to find out detailed information about the device. It is worth noting that here you can find out absolutely all the information regarding your WiFi adapter. In the "Property" line, you select the function or service that you want to learn about. Below, in the "Value" line, detailed data about the support of the function and its properties will be displayed.

The last tab "Power Management" is the power settings for the Wi-Fi adapter. Here you can enable or disable automatic shutdown energy saving devices.

Let's go back to the adapter properties. Now go to the "Access" tab. Here we can enable or disable general access Internet connection to other users connected to the network. This option is used when you are creating virtual network using a laptop or computer as an access point or server.

Setting up an external Wi-Fi adapter

We figured out the settings for the wireless module on the laptop. But what if it is a USB module that is used in desktop computer? How to setup wireless usb WiFi adapter? Here it should be understood that it works in exactly the same way as the built-in models in laptops. Therefore, it supports the same properties and protocols and has similar settings.

The difference between them is only in the power of the antenna. Laptops have better signal reception and can be located further away from the access point. This is due to the fact that USB modules are compact in size, which limits the size of the antenna. Otherwise, the principle of operation and functionality are exactly the same.

Why do you need a Wi-Fi adapter: Video

Wireless technologies are becoming more and more part of our daily lives. Until recently, the best way to connect personal computer A twisted-pair connection was considered to the local network and the Internet, which provides a speed of 100 Mbps (and even higher) and excellent stability. However, progress does not stand still and there are already quite a lot of wireless devices on the market that can provide a fairly fast and reliable connection.

If you already have a wireless router  (aka a router) installed in your home or office that allows you to organize a wireless network, then you will need a wi-fi adapter  to connect a personal computer or smart TV  to it. It will be a good alternative to a wired connection, which requires labor-intensive cabling work.

There are hundreds of models of wi-fi adapters on the market. How to choose the right model?

WiFi standards

First of all, you need to decide on the supported wireless standards. Modern devices can support the following standards (in order from slowest to fastest): 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g, 802.11n , 802.11ac .

The 802.11n and 802.11ac standards are the most modern and fastest. At the same time, the 802.11n standard was adopted in 2009, and at this point in time, most wireless devices support it. The 802.11ac standard was adopted in 2014. Devices that support this standard are produced less and they are usually more expensive. The remaining standards are considered obsolete, but all modern devices also support them for compatibility.

Below is a summary table that reflects the main differences between different standards.

Wireless connection speed

The speed of a wireless connection depends on the supported standard, as well as on the number of transceiver antennas. In the 802.11n standard, the maximum data transfer rate with one antenna is 150 Mbps, in the 802.11ac standard it is 433 Mbps.

It should be noted that the theoretical data transfer rate in all standards differs significantly from the real one. Firstly, wi-fi devices spend half their time transmitting data and the other half receiving data. Therefore, the theoretical speed must be immediately divided by 2 (which is reflected in the table). Secondly, along with useful information quite a lot of service traffic is transmitted, including the one necessary to ensure  noise immunity.

That is why even under ideal conditions, the data transfer rate from one device to another will be 2-3 times lower than the theoretical one (the one indicated on the box), depending on the class of the device. Budget models, as a rule, show noticeably more modest results than top-end adapters. In the presence of interference in the form of walls or household appliances, the speed may drop several times more.

Frequency range

Wireless devices can currently operate in two frequency bands - 2.4 and 5 GHz.

Number of antennas

standards wireless communication 802.11n and 802.11ac provide the ability to use multiple antennas (MIMO, from the English. Multiple Input Multiple Output), which increases the connection speed by a multiple. The 802.11n standard allows up to 4 antennas, 802.11ac - up to eight.

For achievement maximum speeds and a stable connection, it is advisable to choose wireless equipment with multiple antennas. As a rule, adapters and routers with multiple antennas are more expensive.

Supported OS and other hardware

Manufacturers of wi-fi adapters, as a rule, release drivers for their devices for most operating systems. However, older versions of operating systems (such as Windows XP) may not be supported. There may also be issues with device support on newer operating systems.

Therefore, when choosing an adapter, be sure to pay attention to the list of supported operating systems.

If you are purchasing an adapter for connecting to a TV network , it will not be superfluous to familiarize yourself with the list of supported adapters on the manufacturer's website (if available).

Conditional price ranges for wi-fi adapters (note that the pricing policy of manufacturers can vary greatly):

    adapters costing up to 1200 rubles. As a rule, these are inexpensive 802.11n adapters that have either an internal antenna or 1-2 external antennas. Declared data transfer rates are from 150 to 300 Mbps. Provide acceptable communication quality at an affordable price.

Wireless connection is “gaining momentum” every day and becoming more and more popular. Due to its mobility and openness, wifi will soon completely replace its “wired brother”.

But, as with any device, malfunctions, problems and other “misunderstandings” are possible in wireless networks. In this article, we will analyze how to fix the problem of a wireless network adapter or access point that occurs on both windows 7/8 and windows 10.

Wireless network adapter or access point problem windows 7

One of the most common problems is “No connection”, i.e. the router is turned on, the network is configured, but there is no connection.

In this case, the problem with the wireless network adapter may occur for the following reasons:

  1. 1. If all the indicators on the router are on, but there is no connection, check if the network is available on different devices, for example, a phone. If, for example, then the problem lies not in the "wifi adapter" itself - the router, but in the laptop (especially if the list of networks available for connection is empty). To resolve the issue, do the following:
  • - if they are outdated, then update accordingly;
  1. 2. The network is available, the password is entered, but there is no connection. This situation is possible when the password is entered incorrectly, but the system does not issue an error and saves the network. In this case, to fix the problem with the wireless network adapter or access point, delete the connection and reconnect with the correct security key.
  2. 3. One of the most common problems is this. Check your router settings:

In the browser, enter 192.168.1.1: login and password "admin";

If it is enabled, but the problem persists - write down "Statistical IP address";

Also, the solution to the problem of the adapter can be resetting the router settings to factory settings.


  1. 4. The network is connected, but the error "No access to the Internet" occurs:


  1. 5. Check if it is activated on the router wifi distribution. For example, in this item "Enable wireless connection".

Also, the router interface may indicate “Enable wireless broadcasting”, “Enable router wireless broadcasting” or “Enable SSID broadcasting”.

How do I fix a wireless adapter or access point issue?

Now let's look at what to do if the network is unavailable and the indicators on the router are off.

  1. 1. Only one "Power" indicator is lit.

This is the most difficult case. Since this situation clearly indicates physical problems on the router. The only thing you can try is a factory reset or use a different power adapter. If it doesn't help, then it will help service center either refund or repair under warranty.

  1. 2. The "WiFi" indicator is off.

First, check if there is a “WiFi” button on the back of the router - it can be recessed into the case (for example, on the “Tp-link TL-MR3220” router). If there is no such button, and the indicator is off, try updating the router firmware. Download latest version firmware from the manufacturer's official website, save it in the router interface backup configurations (to be on the safe side) and update the firmware according to the manufacturer's recommendations.

Otherwise, the problem with the wireless adapter or access point is most likely caused by a physical malfunction of the router.

  1. 3. The "WAN" indicator is off.

In the "WAN" connector, the so-called "provider cable" is connected, which provides Internet access. If the indicator is off, the following causes of the problem are possible:

  • - a problem in the cable: the network cable may be “broken”, the connectors are incorrectly crimped, or another physical malfunction;
  • - a problem on the provider's side or lack of payment for Internet access. The issue is resolved accordingly at the level technical support internet provider.

A router with a wireless connection is most in demand among users, because it is convenient and practical, especially in most cases the client receives high-speed and high-quality Internet. But any equipment has problems due to which the connection is intermittent or completely absent.

Most problems with Wi-Fi equipment can be solved by yourself

Let's look at what problems most often occur when using a router and how to fix them?

First of all, we check if the router is turned on, since the wire often touches, which is why it disconnects from the network. If the device is powered on but the WLAN indicator is off, turn off the access point, wait about a minute, and start it again.

If the indicated indicator lights up, but there is no connection, but the WAN or DSL light is off, then this means that there is no signal from the provider. To check this, reboot the router again, but after turning off, wait about 5 minutes. Internet still not available? So, connection problems arose from the provider.

If the Wi-Fi indicator is on, and there is a connection when you connect the wire to the computer, then there is a problem in the hardware settings or settings of the computer from which you want to connect.

How to check it? Do the following:

  • Go to the router settings through address bar browser and enter the network IP address, after which the equipment parameters will appear in front of you.
  • Turn on the wireless mode so that the router distributes a signal through the Wi-Fi module.

If in the settings you find that the network is on, but it is not on your computer or laptop, then follow these steps:

  • Restart your computer, after which the network should appear.
  • If you have a laptop, then you should look for the menu for enabling the wireless network adapter and activate it.

Did not work? You should find out what is the root of the problem - in your equipment or router? If the list of networks is completely empty, try connecting to the access point through another device. In the case when the rest of the equipment cannot detect the connection, you need to change the router settings as follows:

  • Enter the settings through the browser address bar and go to the Wi-Fi or Wireless menu.
  • Change the operation mode to mixed mode (b/g/n).

If you cannot connect to the access point from your computer, but it is available on other devices, you will have to reinstall the operating system.

Entering the wrong password

A problem with a wireless network adapter or access point often occurs when users accidentally enter the wrong key when connecting, which causes the network to be saved in the settings and it seems that it works. In fact, the equipment constantly repeats attempts to connect to the network, without receiving a signal as a result.


To fix this, reconnect to the network, type correct password. If the device skips this step, then remove the connection from the list and add it again so that you are prompted to enter a password.

Problem with IP address recognition

It happens that you successfully establish a connection to the network, enter all the data and the equipment reports a successful connection, but the whole process stops at the line “Obtaining an IP address”. If the device cannot find the correct address, then the signal is cut off, and the computer constantly tries to re-establish communication. To prevent this from happening, in the router settings, find the item on obtaining IP data and activate the mode for automatically obtaining this address.


Weak signal and interruptions in speed

In a situation where all passwords are entered correctly, the connection is established, but the speed is lower than necessary or the signal is constantly cut off, it is worth considering whether there are any interferences with the normal operation of the router. It can be interfered with by walls, objects that reflect the signal, or other networks. In the first two options, you need to install the router so that it can create the largest possible coverage area or move closer to it.

If several similar devices are installed in parallel near your apartment or house, then they all interfere with each other due to the communication channel used. This means that all equipment uses the same channel, which is overloaded as a result, and the only way fix the situation - change it.

You can do it like this:

  • Go to the router settings through the IP address in the browser, find the Internet connection menu (in most cases, this is the Wireless section).
  • In the Chanel line, change the channel to 5.6 or 11 so that there is a maximum distance between the operating modes used on other devices.

Connection without internet access

In many cases, Wi-Fi problems are the following: when viewing the properties of the connection, you see that the connection is established, but the message "no Internet access" is displayed. What does it mean?

Most likely, the IP address was spelled incorrectly. This option is relevant when, when viewing the connection properties, the line "Without network access" is opposite the value of the IPv4 connection. To fix this, check if the DHCP server is enabled in the network equipment settings. Next, look at the IP address settings, in the connection settings, click on properties, and in the window that appears, you will see the IP and DNS address settings. If they are set manually, then rewrite the combinations for yourself just in case, then select the options for obtaining addresses automatically.


Did not help? Enter manually the standard combination of addresses inherent in most routers:

  • IP address is 192.168.1.2, subnet mask is 255.255.255.0, gateway is 192.168.1.1. In the DNS settings, enter the same address in the server line as for the gateway, an alternative value is 8.8.8.8.
  • For D-Link and NetGear models, the values ​​are slightly different - in the IP address lines, enter 192.168.0.2, the mask is 255.255.255.0, the gateway is 192.168.0.1 and the DNS address is 192.168.0.1.

No changes as before? Check the settings of the local network with the settings of the router - all IP and DNS data must match in order for the computer to access the Internet.

Selective connection operation

Most of all, users are surprised by the situation when the connection is present, but the pages are not loaded, but Skype works as if nothing had happened. This happens in case of incorrect DNS settings. You can enter the correct data in order to continue using the Internet in the following way:

  • Select your network connection, click on its properties, and in the window that appears, select the button with the same name.
  • In the IPv4 connection protocol, change the DNS address combination - enter the numbers 8.8.8.8 in the first line, and 77.88.8.8 in the second.


We examined the most common problems that occur in the operation of Wi-Fi routers. As you can see, all of them are quite simple to solve, so every user will be able to find and eliminate the reason for the lack of an Internet connection - it will take quite a bit of time and effort.

Today we will talk about such a device as a USB adapter. But first, let's understand what it is and how it works.

What is a USB adapter and how does it work

USB adapters are small devices that convert a USB interface to another type of interface, and vice versa. The USB adapter is the same as the adapter. USB-HUB is also no different from them, it has power distribution schemes for USB channels. And in general, there a large number of all kinds of adapters - from computers and up to TVs and Bluetooth interfaces.

The very first USB device appeared in nineteen ninety-six. Its purpose was to connect directly to a computer, as well as self definition it in "Windows" and installing the driver. It also required a small power supply from the bus itself, so the speed of the device had to be such that it would be suitable for most peripherals.

If earlier the search for free ports in a computer with a large number of peripherals constantly annoyed the user, because there were a lot of interfaces for connection, now, with USB standard, if you need to connect a couple of devices at once, there should be no problems. And also there will be no difficulty with the fact that you will not have enough space to connect all the devices - this is where the USB adapter will help us. This device has many advantages. The main thing is connectivity: you can plug other non-USB ports into the USB adapter and they will work properly. It is also worth noting that they are cheap and very easy to buy, plus everything, they are universal. If before something was connected, for example, only to a modem, now they can connect almost anything (but it depends on the device model) - be it a keyboard, gamepad, mouse or headphones.

Today we see that most peripherals use a USB adapter, and now every PC has at least four and even more corresponding ports built into it. So you can connect many devices - both wired and wireless. Also, adapters take up little space and do not require anything from you, except for connection.

USB WIFI adapter

This is the same as what we described above, with the exception of one nuance: these devices work specifically to transmit a signal from a router or modem (WI-FI access point) and other devices that are used in a similar way. But, perhaps, everyone knows that the network adapter built into the motherboard works much better than the wireless USB adapter. But if it is not in the computer, then there is no other way out. And it will be more profitable, of course, to buy a wireless option, because it is much cheaper than changing the motherboard.

But even with their choice it is worth considering. The most suitable option would be an adapter with the following characteristics: the data transfer rate should be up to three hundred MB, the standard type is 802.11n, the reception power is at least twenty decibels, it is also recommended to take a USB WIFI adapter with an antenna in the kit or with a built-in adapter - this will improve the reception connection between the device and the access point. Encryption method e. b. WPA2-PSK - this one will be the most reliable.

So, having familiarized yourself with the above requirements, you can already find a suitable model for yourself. And remember: having such an adapter, you can connect it to any device, even to a TV.

USB adapter as an access point

At the present time WIFI technology Virtual allows you to use a USB network adapter that supports this technology as a replacement for a router. He will be able to work as the last one, distributing WIFI signal for all devices. Models that work with this technology can be found on the manufacturer's website. This feature is absolutely free. In addition to the main mode of operation, it allows you to switch the adapter to Ad Doc mode, which makes it possible to create a peer-to-peer network. Do not worry about whether your laptop or computer supports the mentioned function, because all modern desktop and stationary PCs are equipped with it.

Drivers

If you have a router at home, and you want to take an adapter for yourself, then you can get by with a model of a thousand rubles. If someone is willing to overpay for technology auto tuning WPS, this is only acceptable in the case of a router, because not everyone knows how to configure it, but in order to make the device we are considering work, you just need to plug it into the connector and install the driver suitable for your USB adapter. Usually this process happens automatically , or the buyer is provided with a driver disk in the kit, but if suddenly there is none (which happens very rarely), and automatic installation did not happen, then go to the website of the manufacturer of your model and download the driver manually. Usually, after this, no additional manipulations are required. As for manufacturers, we recommend taking devices from the company that owns your router. This will save you from any conflicts between devices.

Setting up a WI-FI Virtual hotspot

To get started, install necessary software e.g. Connectyfy. It will turn the adapter into an access point. Connect the device to the port (after that, the actions described above will occur). Next, run the software that you installed. First you need to specify a name for the wireless network, in the "Password" line, enter your password to protect against the connection of unwanted users. We recommend that you do not use only letters, signs with numbers and capital letters will not be superfluous either. You will need to write it every time you log into your network, or just click the "Remember" button and you will be automatically logged in. In the Internet line, you need to select the communication device you connected. In the "Advanced" tab, you need to specify the WI-FI adapter itself. If you have only one, then select "Default". If there are two or more of them, you need to select the one that will be used as an access point. That's all, it remains only to turn on the device and press the "Start" button.

The network with the name you gave it will appear in the list of networks. You can start connecting.

Conclusion

Today you understood what a USB adapter and a USB WI-FI adapter are. We also discussed what they are, why they are needed at all, how they work and how to choose them correctly. We figured out how to change the router to a USB adapter and how to configure the network, that is, create an access point.

The network adapter for a computer / laptop is responsible for accessing the Internet, which in modern devices is connected via a USB or BNC connector. Since it is built-in, and the ability to explore World Wide Web in most cases, the wizard is set up, the question of what it is and how to make it work arises if breakdowns occur. It's not easy to figure this out, but it's possible.

What is a network adapter

An additional connecting element between a PC or laptop and other devices that provide access to the Internet is called a network adapter (the terminology of the manufacturer Intel processors). Most modern computers it is built into the motherboard. There are other names for the device. What's happened LAN card, card or Ethernet adapter? These are all variants of the names of one device.

What function does

In the OSI system model, the network adapter is responsible for the functioning of the second, link layer. In conjunction with the driver, it also makes the physical hardware work. The task of distributing responsibilities between them, each manufacturer decides for himself. In addition, the OS (operating system) module is responsible for the link layer. Together they perform two main operations: sending and receiving data from the network to the PC and vice versa, and also take part in:

  • monitoring of incoming/outgoing traffic;
  • remote configuration change;
  • improve performance and prioritize the network;
  • remote activation from a central workstation;
  • encoding/decoding of sent/received data;
  • packet formation (transmission/reception mode).

Classification

Although most modern PCs have built-in network cards, they can break and require replacement. To do this, it is not necessary to completely disassemble the computer, since there are two large groups of these devices:

  1. External. Some are connected via the motherboard's PCI connector, others use the ISA bus.
  2. Embedded. They are also called integrated. The output is presented as a connector on the panel next to the USB ports. Nearby there are indicators - LEDs, which are guided by the performance of the device. Plus built-in device: convenience. Minus: unreliability.

3Com approached classification from a different angle. In it, all adapters are divided into generations. Varieties include:

  1. First generation adapters. Built on discrete logic chips. They had low performance - even if the computer memory was large, the adapter buffer could only hold one frame. They had many types, each of which needed its own driver. In addition, OS modules have not been standardized. As a result, configuring the network card was difficult. Used devices on old computers.
  2. Second generation adapters. ASIC chips are used, the size of the buffer memory allows for multi-frame transmission in parallel mode. The reliability of 2nd generation adapters has been improved, standard specifications for drivers and interfaces have been developed. In addition, the transmission speed has increased.
  3. Third generation. These are the latest devices that 3com lists its EtherLink III cards as. Frame processing is pipelined. The adapter is configured automatically. It connects to the network via a BNC connector (for cable type - twisted pair).
  4. Fourth generation. High speed boards that support Fast Ethernet standards.
  5. Fifth generation. gigabit ethernet, which supports modern network protocols.
  6. Sixth generation. 400 Gigabit Ethernet, which is currently in development. It will start to be applied no earlier than 2020 for home PCs. Sixth-generation Ethernet adapters for servers have already appeared (they are used by providers).

There are other parameters by which devices are classified. The main ones are listed below:

  • by data transmission medium (wired, wireless);
  • by functions performed (implementing the first two OSI levels / the first four);
  • topology (similar local networks: tire, ring, star, tree, combined);
  • by belonging to the type of PC (client, server);
  • by bus type (ISA, EISA, PCI, MCA).

Species

Although in order for the selection and configuration of the device to be correct, it is desirable to know some of the subtleties and features of the adapters, to have all the knowledge system administrator not necessary. The main types of boards you need to know:

  • wired;
  • wireless;
  • virtual.

They differ in case size and external parameters, they can be connected directly to the motherboard or via a USB socket. Otherwise, they look similar, representing a cable with corresponding key to connect to a computer port. Provide wired network data transmission, connect PC/laptop and router. Sometimes sold with software(drivers) for various operating systems, but most modern operating systems find and install it automatically.

Wireless

Often, a network adapter refers to the wireless type of device. It is small, mobile and versatile, it is also called a modem (although they are designed for 3G), but within this variety, the concepts are interchangeable. To work with wireless networks - that's what the network card is for in this case. Looks like a flash drive, connects to a USB port, configures and searches for available wifi hotspots. A handy thing if integrated peripheral device broke.

Virtual

Designed to create private and secure networks (VPNs). Work with the help special programs, are based on physical adapters. The installation depends on the type of virtual card and the selected software. For example, in the operating room Windows system there is a special section "Control Panel" for configuring the adapter. Another feature of this type of board is the possibility of remote configuration.

The two most important points regarding connectivity are what type of connector the network adapter uses and what drivers are required to make it work. There can be several answers to the first question: USB slot, PCI port, or ISA bus. The last two options involve connecting directly to the motherboard. Drivers in most cases are detected automatically or come with the adapter. If not, you need to search for them on the Internet by device model. Full instructions Wired NIC Connections:

  1. Buy a device in one of the stores in Moscow, St. Petersburg or any other city in the Russian Federation.
  2. Unpack, read the instructions, use it to determine the type of connector.
  3. Connect plug to desired port router and computer.
  4. (option a) See automatic installation, wait for it to finish.
    (option b) If there is a disk with drivers, insert and run the program.
    (option c) Find the required software on the Internet (use proven services!), download and run.
  5. Go to Control Panel - Device Manager - Network adapters. The list should display the name of the board. If he is not near exclamation point- everything is installed correctly.

Connection wireless device carried out in a similar way, but in this case only a PC and a USB connector are used. Drivers are installed automatically. After this operation, the computer immediately starts searching for available WiFi networks. There may be conflicts with the OS, so that they do not arise, you need to select a device with the correct parameters (will be discussed below).

If there is no network adapter in the device manager, it means that something went wrong during the connection. But what exactly? The main reasons and ways to solve them:

  1. Board failure. Unlikely cause unless there was physical damage. If there were, you need to carry it in for repair or replace the adapter yourself.
  2. Errors in the operating system. Solution: roll back to a previous restore point. If not, reinstall the system.
  3. Problems with drivers. Solved either similarly to the previous paragraph, or updated in manual mode. You need to download the software from the official website, since dubious services are the main reason why the network card for the computer does not support the driver.
  4. Built-in antivirus intervention Microsoft Windows or otherwise. Start the system in safe mode, disable your antivirus and check the operation of the hardware.

What to do if the adapter does not work

Make sure that the computer sees the device, if not, use the instructions above. Check the system for viruses with built-in OS protection. If the problem persists, check out the following solutions:

  1. Diagnose the card through the Device Manager. To do this, call the context menu and find the corresponding item.
  2. Remove all adapters from the Device Manager list. Restart your computer/laptop.
  3. Open as Administrator command line. Scan the system: type sfc /scannow and Enter.
  4. Update or roll back your drivers.
  5. Check the board's operation indicators. If they do not light up or do not blink, it is time to contact the service center.

Network adapter price

The higher the generation and capabilities, the higher the cost of the device. But there is no reason to chase the highest price, since the question is not what technology the adapter supports, but what the computer's processor can work with. Characteristics can be viewed on the packaging, check with the seller, or read on the screen by going to the official website of the manufacturer. The difference in prices for Moscow and the region is in the table below:

How to choose

If you know exactly which model you need, you can order it in the online store. If not, it is better to contact the seller for advice. When choosing, pay attention to such factors:

  1. View. Wired - for a regular network, wireless - for WiFi. External boards, in addition, can be used to create your own Wi-Fi points.
  2. Connection method. You need to first check if you have a suitable free connector on your computer.
  3. network standard. Although, for example, 802.11ac provides speeds higher than 802.11n (up to 10 Gb / s), it makes no sense to overpay if the provider provides only 100 Mb / s.
  4. Power. Optimal - 20 dBM, receives signals even from weak sources.

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