Best Wireless USB Adapter for Win 7?

[pamelaj]

Hello,

I just upgraded to a new computer with Win 7 installed. The old USB Network Adapter did not work so we bought a Belkin N Wireless "high performance" USB Network adapter (F5D8053 N Wireless USB Adapter). The specs on the box did NOT say it worked with Windows 7, but the clerk said drivers would be available.

So far, the adapter does not work, the install of drivers does not help, and I don't find anything anywhere that says this adapter will work with Windows 7. So, it's going back in the box and I'm going to exchange it. But, to avoid any more wasted time, I would like any recommendations on what adapters do work and which are best.

I appreciate any help on this . . . too much time has been wasted fiddling with this hopeless project! Thanks,
Pamelaj

 

[pamelaj]

HAWKING USB 2.0 Hi-Gain Wireless

Just a little bump and a really, really sincere appeal for advice. Just looking for testimonies of exactly WHAT network adapters have worked with Win 7 with little difficulty. One recommendation from the Microsoft site is the HAWKING HWUN3 IEEE 802.11b/g/n USB 2.0 Hi-Gain Wireless Adapter.

Does anyone here have any experience with this? Really, getting decent performance from a new system with a new OS should not be this difficult.

Help please!

 

[zigzag3143]

Hello,

I just upgraded to a new computer with Win 7 installed. The old USB Network Adapter did not work so we bought a Belkin N Wireless "high performance" USB Network adapter (F5D8053 N Wireless USB Adapter). The specs on the box did NOT say it worked with Windows 7, but the clerk said drivers would be available.

So far, the adapter does not work, the install of drivers does not help, and I don't find anything anywhere that says this adapter will work with Windows 7. So, it's going back in the box and I'm going to exchange it. But, to avoid any more wasted time, I would like any recommendations on what adapters do work and which are best.

I appreciate any help on this . . . too much time has been wasted fiddling with this hopeless project! Thanks,
Pamelaj

hi and welcome

are the drivers you have tried from an older oS, is vista?
If so you might want to etry them again. You may hust need to install them in compatibility mode. to do so right click on the installer>properties>compatibility>your OS

Good luck
KDJJ

 

[Pauly]

Have a look at this lists different stuff thats compatible
Windows 7 Compatibility Center home
or check out manufacturers sites and see what drivers they got in advance
or check the comments on newegg/ebuyer etc to see what people think that have already bought a product there normally pretty useful

 

[pamelaj]

Hello Pauly and Zigzag,

Thank you both for your responses. I have been languishing sadly all day without wifi on my new big system.

To Zigzag, yes, I did try compatibility installation. I selected the newest "compatibility" there was, but got no response . . . nothing moved, nothing installed, nothing worked. Tried this several times. If I could have found any evidence anywhere that this adapter DID work with Win 7, I would have kept working . . . but I wasn't seeing anything. The upshot is, the adapter is now back at Best Buy in the RETURN pile.

I appreciate the link Pauly posted for compatible hardware, and will look that over next. In the meantime . . . if anyone has experience with that Hawking adapter, please let me know!

With gratitude . . .
'Pamelaj

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

I appreciate the link Pauly posted for compatible hardware, and will look that over next.

Hi pamelaj,

I've narrowed your search a bit, in case you haven't gotten to it yet:

Compatible with Windows 7 with logo (Microsoft has officially certified these devices)

If it turns out the clerk who helped you didn't know what he was talking about, these devices are your best bet.

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[pamelaj]

OK, thanks for the input and the links. However, these seem to be for 32 bit and I'm 64 bit . . . will look around here but if you have items to suggest let me know. Is it a good idea to get a network adapter which is the same brand as your wireless router? Just a thought.

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

OK, thanks for the input and the links. However, these seem to be for 32 bit and I'm 64 bit . . . will look around here but if you have items to suggest let me know. Is it a good idea to get a network adapter which is the same brand as your wireless router? Just a thought.

That's just the default when viewing devices in a list like that - if you click on a device you'll go to its individual page, which has both 32-bit and 64-bit compatibility information listed on separate tabs.

Ultimately though, if a device has the 'Compatible with Windows 7' logo, it is certified 100% compatible with both versions.

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

EDIT: Also, no it is not important to match network adapter and router brands.

 

[smackheadz]

what router do you have as you may be just as well off getting a 802.11b/g adapter instead of an 802.11/n ?

 

[pamelaj]

Hi there Smackheadz,

I have a d-link DIR 655. My Vista laptop connects to it without a problem. My iPod touch 8 gig also connected right out of the box, but then suddenly stopped and works elsewhere but not here.

I'm getting very frustrated with wireless problems. I have a 30 foot LAN line running down my hallway to keep the desktop online!

Pamela

 

[pamelaj]

I appreciate the link Pauly posted for compatible hardware, and will look that over next.

Hi pamelaj,

I've narrowed your search a bit, in case you haven't gotten to it yet:

Compatible with Windows 7 with logo (Microsoft has officially certified these devices)

If it turns out the clerk who helped you didn't know what he was talking about, these devices are your best bet.

Cheers,

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

Hi Walker, thanks for the links. My son says I should also consider getting a card as opposed to just looking for USB adapter. Are these items you've suggested listed in any particular order? I.e., is the first one listed (which is also a d-link like my router) considered the BEST, or is the order completely random? Yes, I think the clerk didn't know what he was doing.

Pamela

 

[pamelaj]

Hello Walker,

I'm checking out the list of adapters, and the first is a d-link which sounded fine to me. $49.00 at Best Buy online. However, the 5 reviews posted there are not that great. People report it breaks down, loses power, etc. after about a year.

Another adapter there is a dual band, something my son says I really don't need with the work I do. However, I don't care, I'm just looking for the GOOD one. So, is a dual band overkill?

I also looked for the TEW 624UB, and reviews at NewEgg are pretty mediocre. Another nice person on this board recommended LinkSys . . . I checked them out at Best Buy and again . . . not great reviews!

So IS there one out there that works and is also reliable? I've already wasted so much time trying to get that Belkin to work . . . and it was completely lousy!

Pamela

 

[WalkerA WinTeam]

My son says I should also consider getting a card as opposed to just looking for USB adapter. Are these items you've suggested listed in any particular order? I.e., is the first one listed (which is also a d-link like my router) considered the BEST, or is the order completely random?

I assumed you wanted this for a laptop, since you started by asking about USB adapters - but reading your 30 foot ethernet cable comment, I understand now! Your son is correct - you should definitely consider a PCI card instead of a USB adapter.

The problem with that is what you have already discovered - there are a million brands out there, none of which is clearly the best. (And no, the Windows 7 Compatibility Center doesn't rank devices). I tend to trust Newegg when it comes to computer hardware, especially internal components like this. Unfortunately I'm not savvy enough to recommend a particular one. Perhaps some of the other contributors can Good luck!

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

 

[manhunter2826]

I've already wasted so much time trying to get that Belkin to work . . . and it was completely lousy!

Yes, the Belkin client software itself also is quite flaky IME. Best to let Windows Zero Configuration manage your wireless setup.

 

[smiths22]

Don't buy linksys that's for sure, crappy drivers, crappy tech support.

Which is the best brand right now for windows 7?

 

[mgmcc]

I'm using the D-Link DWA-140 Wireless N USB Adapter installed in Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and it connects reliably at 300Mbps to my D-Link router.

 

[CarlTR6]

My son says I should also consider getting a card as opposed to just looking for USB adapter. Are these items you've suggested listed in any particular order? I.e., is the first one listed (which is also a d-link like my router) considered the BEST, or is the order completely random?

you should definitely consider a PCI card instead of a USB adapter.

Walker
Windows Outreach Team

Most definitely install a PCI card. I don't know how far you are away from your router; but with a card you have the added advantage of being able to install a desktop or wall mount antenna. The card will have its own antenna on the back; but sometimes, at any distance, you will not get the strongest signal because the antenna is in back of the computer and the signal can be partially blocked. You simply unscrew that antenna from the card and screw on the cable from a desktop or wall mount antenna.

I've already wasted so much time trying to get that Belkin to work . . . and it was completely lousy!

Yes, the Belkin client software itself also is quite flaky IME. Best to let Windows Zero Configuration manage your wireless setup.

Several folks are having trouble with Belkin right now.

Don't buy linksys that's for sure, crappy drivers, crappy tech support.

Which is the best brand right now for windows 7?

I have heard these complaints about Linksys also; but I have not experienced them. Some of the Linksys models are very poorly shielded and should be avoided. I have not heard any complaints about D-Link and I am running an older D-Link card on my Windows 7 machine. I have had no driver problems with it. And since your router is a D-Link, that should work well.

 

[guiLe]

Hi Pamelaj,
Im using Huawei USB E series, almost 1 year and never got any problem.
Before, Im using Xp and after I migrate to 7,it doesn't need new driver.