USB adapter or range extender or...

[Q-BZ]

My 6 year old networking gear is getting ready to die.

I've been using a DGL4500 from D-link and its matching USB adapter across two floors with success for the most part.

I'm likely going to go ahead and get the Netgear AC1900 R7000 Nighthawk and get the AC1200 USB 3.0 adapter that matches it from Netgear for that second computer. (No AC1900 USB adapters exist that I'm aware of)

I'm reasonably confident that should do the job although I'm curious:

I see that there is a Netgear AC1900 Nighthawk Range Extender. I understand what these are for. I'll keep the concept in my back pocket in case I end up needing it but here is what I was wondering:

Would I be better off plugging that second computer via ethernet cable into this and using this instead of the USB Adapter?

Thanks!

 

[Deleted member 12106]

USB adapter is going to give you further range of motion. if USB 2 port then you will never realize those "AC" speeds. Chances are between floors you will not anyways. Do you have a link to this range extender? When you say 'plug into it' then it sounds to me more like a bridge. Typically "extenders" or "repeaters" are operating in WDS mode which =50% perf lost typically.

 

[Q-BZ]

USB adapter is going to give you further range of motion. if USB 2 port then you will never realize those "AC" speeds. Chances are between floors you will not anyways. Do you have a link to this range extender? When you say 'plug into it' then it sounds to me more like a bridge. Typically "extenders" or "repeaters" are operating in WDS mode which =50% perf lost typically.

http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-range-extenders/EX7000.aspx This is the range extender.


http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-adapters/a6210.aspx

^^ Conventional wisdom would say use this on the second machine.

I do have a USB 3.0 slot this would go into on that second machine.

If I read you correctly you would confirm my hunch to stick with "conventional wisdom" and keep the idea of an extender in my back pocket if I needed it as opposed to an outright replacement for the USB adapter.




http://www.netgear.com/home/products/networking/wifi-routers/R7000.aspx

^^ I'll be running it all off of this.

 

[michaelvvang]

I don't have a good experience with USB adapters. I feel that they overheat if you use them for an extended period of time.