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What is a wireless Wi-Fi adapter for? How to connect a regular (stationary) computer to Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi routers are an irreplaceable thing in the life of a modern person. Saving on tariffs, using the Internet from several devices at once and the absence of annoying wires made them welcome guests in all homes. The problem can arise only when connected to a stationary computer that does not know how to work with wireless networks.

You should not despair and call a computer specialist: you can connect your computer to Wi-Fi on your own. There are three simple and straightforward ways to install Wi-Fi on a PC, which will be discussed in this article.

Method one: using an external adapter

To connect to Wi-Fi using an external adapter, you first need to purchase this device. This is a compact device that connects to a PC via a USB input, and looks like a USB flash drive or mobile modem. On the side, a Wi-Fi antenna is connected to it, the task of which is to catch the signal of the router. And also there can be two antennas.

An external adapter for connecting to Wi-Fi looks like this:

In order to configure the adapter and activate the work of Wi-Fi on a PC, you will need to perform the following sequence of actions:

  1. Connect the adapter to the computer via the USB-input, connect the antenna to it. Wait for the message about the successful installation of the drivers.
  2. Insert the device driver disc into the PC drive, start the installation. Click "Next" until the installation begins, ignoring possible messages about an unknown manufacturer of drivers.
  3. When the drivers are installed, the wireless Internet icon will appear on the taskbar. Click on it to select the required network and enter the password.

Mini USB adapter video review:

If you have Windows XP, the icon will not appear, and you will need to find the Wi-Fi network manually. To do this, go to the "Network Connections" tab, use the PCM to select the "View available wireless networks" item. You will see a list of networks in which you need to find the one you need and enter a password for it. It looks like this:

As you can see, setting up an external adapter is a simple task that even a beginner can handle.

Method two: using an internal adapter

The situation with the internal adapter is somewhat more complicated. To install this device, you will need to disassemble the system unit, which may frighten an inexperienced user. But you should not be afraid: it is much easier than it might seem at first glance.

The internal adapter connects to the motherboard through a dedicated PCI slot. Outwardly, it looks like this:

To properly install Wi-Fi on your computer using an internal adapter, you need to follow these step-by-step steps:


After the external adapter is installed on the desktop computer, it will need to be configured. To do this, you will have to repeat the steps used in the first method: install drivers for the device, wait for the icon to appear, or find the desired wireless network manually, enter the password.

Video to help you choose between 2 types of adapter:

After completing all these steps, the Internet without a wire should work.

Method three: using a router

Another way how you can connect a stationary computer to Wi-Fi is to use a router (router). For this method, you will need a stable router and a cable to connect to your PC.

This video will help you understand internet hardware:

As you can see, connecting a PC to the Internet without a cable is a snap. The wireless connection is very convenient, and to set it up yourself, you just need to spend a little time studying the instructions.

Most of the currently produced devices have the function of connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi. Thanks to the adapter already built into the gadget by the manufacturer, the user has access to the Internet literally as soon as he took out the purchased device from the package, for example, a laptop, camera, smartphone, tablet, etc.

You just need to enable the necessary function and you can enjoy surfing the Internet. But what to do when you need to provide access to the World Wide Web through a stationary computer? In this article, the owners of such PCs will find detailed instructions for solving this urgent issue in the modern world.

What additional components are needed?

If the computer is not equipped with the necessary equipment to connect to the Internet via WiFi, then you can equip it with such. Below we will consider the types of devices that can enable a stationary PC to recognize wireless networks.

Outdoor WiFi dongle

Adapters that provide connection to Wi-Fi, belonging to the category of external devices, have the ability to connect to a computer via USB connectors.

Sometimes such devices are equipped with a special antenna that amplifies the received Wi-Fi. The device is easy to operate and connect, because you just need to insert its USB plug into the computer system unit and install the drivers to the adapter. The software on CD is always included with the instrument. Below will be presented step-by-step instructions on how to perform the subsequent settings in the case of choosing an adapter in the form of an external Wi-Fi receiver.

Internal WiFi dongle

The connection to the wireless network of a stationary PC is often provided using another method. The built-in type Wi-Fi receiver can be used by connecting it through the computer motherboard.

Distinctive advantages and disadvantages of external and internal adapters

The cost of these devices is almost the same. Software installation and configuration are also not very difficult. It is advisable for owners of several computers to purchase an external type of device, since it can be quickly disconnected from one PC and immediately easily connected to another computer to access the Internet. However, the external device takes up valuable desktop space, so aesthetics and lack of space are advised to purchase a built-in adapter, the advantages of which can also be attributed to the absence of the risk of damage as a result of external influences.

Wireless Source

Obviously, without the presence, near the location of the computer with the installed Wi-Fi network receiver, its source, and more specifically the router, it will be impossible to connect to the Internet.

In turn, the WiFi router itself must be connected to the global network via an Internet cable. Then you can already turn on the router to distribute the Wi-Fi network to PCs and other gadgets.

Installation procedure for outdoor WiFi adapter and subsequent configuration

The procedure will be described for "TP-LINK TL-WN721N", but all steps are similarly applicable for other devices of this type.

Stage 1

Remove all of the following items from the packaging:

  1. Adapter;
  2. YUSB cable;
  3. User guide;
  4. CD with software.

Stage 2

Connect the PC system unit to the Wi-Fi receiver via the USB cable. It is recommended not to pay attention to the display of notifications on the PC monitor that the software has been found and installed on the equipment, since the driver must be installed manually from the CD.

Stage 3

Insert a CD into the drive and activate the installation procedure. In the displayed window of the installation wizard, find and specify the model of the WiFi receiver and click "Install driver and utility".

After that, the installation wizard will guide you through intuitive menus, where the user is only required to follow the sequential instructions of the pop-up windows.

When the procedure is over, an icon will appear in the system tray about the start of the Wi-Fi device.

Stage 4

In the next menu that appears, type the WiFi access code and click "Ok".

Ready! Now you can turn on the browser on your PC and start active Internet surfing.

The procedure for installing the built-in WiFi adapter and subsequent configuration

The procedure will be described for "TP-Link TL-WN751ND", but all steps are the same and applicable for other devices of this type.

Stage 1

Take the device out of the packaging and disconnect the antenna from it.

Stage 2

Turn off the PC and open the system unit. Insert the device into a PCI slot.

Install the antenna back to the original place of the wireless Internet receiver.

Stage 3

The process for setting up the built-in receiver is completely similar to the above procedure for an outdoor unit.

In order to connect a computer to the required wireless network and the World Wide Web, we need 2 devices, which will be:

  1. Distribute the Internet, thereby creating this network at the place of its installation
  2. P access the Internet on your home computer

Connecting and installing a router

The main center that distributes the Internet is a router (router). First of all, it must be configured correctly, without this step, sites will not open. So what we do:

  • We place the router in the apartment so that our network is accessible from anywhere in the apartment. In an ordinary apartment, almost any convenient place is suitable (so as not to interfere), but if later the signal is weak, then you will have to rearrange the device.
  • We plug it into a regular 220 volt outlet and turn it on by pressing a special button. (We look at the instructions for a specific model, if necessary)
  • We connect a network cable from your Internet provider to a special socket. Also, make sure that you have a username and password from your operator, because without this our router will not be able to access the Internet and distribute it to everyone. It is usually given when concluding a contract for Internet services.

The first stage is completed, upon its completion we have a switched on router, which automatically creates a network and you can connect to it, but in order to access the Internet, at least you need to specify the same login and password from the provider in its settings (for example, Beeline, Dom.ru, etc.) about which it was written above.

Connecting a Wi-Fi adapter to a PC

Although now there are already on sale motherboards with a built-in Wi-Fi adapter to which an antenna is connected, nevertheless, a desktop computer usually does not have any built-in wireless network signal receiver. Therefore, we need a special gadget - a Wi-Fi adapter with a USB connector. Typically, it can operate in IEEE 802.11 b / g / n networks with a speed limit of up to 300 Mbps. New adapter models are designed for speeds up to 1300 Mbps (802.11ac technology).

Like any other peripheral device, a Wi-Fi adapter needs special software and drivers to be installed with it. They must be installed and after that in Windows in a special program - Device Manager, our receiver should appear in the "Network adapters" section.

When it becomes possible to access the Internet through a computer, it will not be superfluous to check the manufacturer's website for driver updates. And if it is, then download it and install it. It also happens that you need to right-click on the corresponding adapter in the list and update it manually.

Entering settings for the router

In the next step, we need to set special settings for our router. For different models, this procedure is somewhat different and in order to do everything correctly, you need to find instructions from your router, which will say how you can enter it for configuration. This option is possible:

  • Open the browser
  • In the field for entering the site address, we drive something like " 192.168.0.1 "without quotes, there may be other options" tplinklogin.net", "192.168.1.1 "and pushing Enter
  • A page will open in which you will be asked to enter your username and password. This is the login and password for entering the router. They are usually indicated either in the same instructions or on the box from the router. Attention! Do not confuse them with a password and login to access the Internet. For example, it could be login: admin, passwod: admin or 1234 ... We enter ours and click Enter.
  • Following the instructions, we indicate in the right place in the settings the login and password for Internet access
  • We specify the settings for the wireless network. At this stage, you need to come up with your password, which will be used to connect PC and other devices to Wai Fai

For example, for Zyxel models go to the “Internet” tab, find the parameter “ PPPoE / VPN"And click on the button" Add connection”.

In the window " Setting up the connection”Make sure that this connection is activated and used to access the Internet. PPPoE must be specified as the protocol type. In the fields “ Username" and " Password”Indicates the data provided by the provider in the contract for connecting to the Internet. Usually, the IP address from the provider is issued automatically.

If everything is done correctly, then in the “ Connections”The corresponding access profile to the web space will be added. After that, the network can be used by any device connected to the network access point.

After configuring the adapter in Windows, the corresponding wireless network icon will appear on the bottom right, by clicking on which you can find our network and connect to it by entering the password created in the previous step.

It should also be noted that the configuration can also be performed by wired connection of the router to the PC with the supplied network cable. The process itself, described above, will not differ.

Most routers support WPS - Wireless Quick Setup. The adapter itself has a dedicated button for this.

Using proprietary software for the Wi-Fi adapter, you can easily connect to the Internet center by activating the WPS function. To do this, you just need to press a button on the adapter, and then immediately a similar WPS button on the access point.

Some problems connecting the computer to Wi-Fi

Sometimes there are problems connecting the computer to the router. We find the list of connected devices in the corresponding parameters of the router, for example, in the “System Monitor”. Here we pay attention to the current connection speed.

If the connection speed differs significantly from the one stated in the instructions, then it is advisable to increase it. This is done in the submenu that is responsible for the Wi-Fi network.

Other devices, such as keyboards or wireless headphones, can interfere with WiFi. Therefore, you can try to change the channel number through which data is transmitted. If the computer is far from the access point, then it is necessary to increase the signal strength to 75 - 100%.

You can also bring the WiFi adapter as close as possible to the router using the USB extension cable, which usually comes with the kit.

To increase the speed of work in the Wi-Fi network, you must constantly monitor the software updates of the Internet center itself, since now it is available directly through the dashboard, without going to the manufacturer's website.

Mobile technology has completely changed our lives. With their introduction, the need arose for wireless networks. By strictly following the instructions for the router and adapter, you can achieve comfortable work from any phone, tablet or computer. A personal computer is a stationary device, therefore, for maximum connection speed, it is necessary that the Wi-Fi receiver connected to it has a sufficient level of reception from the router.

Over the past decade, mobile technology has made a dramatic leap towards mass adoption. That is why such developments as a Wi-Fi adapter for a computer are trying to be implemented in almost every existing sample.

Simplification of data transfer

The idea of ​​transmitting information "over the air" was first voiced in a scientific sense back at the beginning of the twentieth century by Nikola Tesla. But then it was somewhat difficult to implement, but now it is difficult to imagine that someone would refuse to install a Wi-Fi adapter for a PC and would prefer to mess around with laying cables.

If back in the early 2000s, the same wireless standards 802.11a and 802.11b simply could not compete for the most part with wired Internet in terms of speed and cost, then with the arrival of "g", which could deliver up to 54 Mbps, real competition had already begun ... And when in 2009 they patented and began to actively implement the "n" protocol with its 150/300/600 Mbit / s, the obvious advantage of Wi-Fi over an ordinary 100 Mbit card became obvious even to the average user. The development of the mobile industry of microprocessor technology, which includes tablets, smartphones, smartwatches and the same laptops with netbooks, also played an important role.

But be that as it may, a fairly large percentage of computer users prefer to use stationary PCs. And they, in the basic configuration, are not equipped with wireless modules, such as Wi-Fi adapters for a computer or Bluetooth. Fortunately, motherboard manufacturers carefully allocate everything necessary for such needs. Therefore, it is worth considering the options available on the market that a user who wants to upgrade their PC can use.

Transition to wireless networks

So, first of all, it is worth considering how to choose a Wi-Fi adapter for a computer, and for this you need to determine the purpose of the module, its type design and the needs of the user himself.

It's worth starting with the fact that this type of device is stationary and mobile. Their difference lies in the interface itself, through which the gadget will connect to the system unit of the personal computer. There are many variations on the market right now that may satisfy the needs of even very old owners, but the cost and benefits are ephemeral at best.

Types of adapters

So we will look at three of the most popular and mainstream interfaces:

  • PCI-Express.

The first belongs to the mobile type, since to use this kind of device, it is enough to plug such a USB-Wi-Fi module into any USB socket and, if necessary, it can be quickly removed, and then installed in another system unit or device, without even turning off the PC. ... In general, this is a typical dongle, that is, a gadget in the format of a regular flash drive, which many are accustomed to using. Most of these adapters are designed for very short distances and have low power. True, there are serious powerful devices that are not inferior to stationary ones, but their cost will be much higher.

The second and third types are stationary devices. They fit directly onto the motherboard itself and are not well suited for frequent removal. In addition, you need to make sure which type of interface is present on the motherboard of the user's PC. This can be done either through special programs such as AIDA64 or Everest, or by removing the cover from the system unit and examining the connectors available there, which in most cases are signed. Offhand - the PCI slot is large enough and has 3 sections: two small on the sides, one large in between.

PCI-Express, on the other hand, is rather small, about half to a third of the PCI length and consists of only two sections, where one is a couple of pins larger than the other.

As for the cost, the USB gadget will be somewhat more expensive than a stationary sample of similar characteristics. So it is worthwhile to study this issue in advance, and it will also be useful to familiarize yourself with the reviews on specific models of Wi-Fi adapters for your computer before you go shopping.

Transmission speed

The second parameter to pay attention to is the baud rate; it directly depends on the standard on which the Wi-Fi module operates. Currently, three standards are considered relevant for the common user:

  • 802.11g.
  • 802.11n.
  • 802.11ac.

Their theoretical speeds are presented accordingly:

  • 54 Mbps
  • 150/300/600 Mbps
  • From 433 Mbps to 6.77 Gbps.

If everything is clear with the first, then the second and third need explanations. Depending on the quality of materials, software, microcircuit layout and signal strength that the equipment can produce, the speed for the same protocol (for example, "n") will be different. Accordingly, the higher the quality, the more productive the Wi-Fi device itself will be. As you might guess, the more functional and high-quality the gadget is, the higher its cost will be.

This also includes such a detail as "equipment coordination". For example, a PC owner decided to spend money on an expensive, powerful and high-quality Wi-Fi adapter with the "n" protocol, but his router only works with "g" (including "a" and "b", of course, since these protocols are backward compatible). Of course, the maximum that a user can get in such a bundle of equipment (Wi-Fi-card-router) is the very 54 Megabits. The second point is the speed coming through the cable from the provider itself. If the contract with him is concluded only for 20 Mbit / s, then even with the use of the module and the 802.11ac router, the final speed will be only 20 Megabits.

Based on the foregoing: it is worthwhile to decide in advance on your needs and capabilities before choosing a Wi-Fi USB adapter for your computer or even purchasing one.

Power

This criterion is often simply discarded as unnecessary, since for the most part it is irrelevant for owners of small apartments. But for the owners of large houses or land plots, this parameter will be more than significant. Firstly, on the basis of this aspect, some providers supply access to the world wide network, and secondly, if you need to cover a large distribution area of ​​the Internet, then the capacity is of paramount importance here.

Wireless networks are gaining in popularity. Increasingly, users prefer to use Wi-Fi not only for tablets and other mobile equipment, but also for connecting ordinary stationary computers. In this regard, many questions arise about how to connect a computer to Wi-Fi. In this article, we will try to answer these questions and consider several ways to connect a regular desktop computer to a Wi-Fi network.

Connecting a computer to Wi-Fi using an external adapter

To connect your computer to Wi-Fi, you can use external Wi-Fi adapters. Such adapters are connected using. Thanks to the use of USB to connect this, there is no need to disassemble the system unit. In addition, external Wi-Fi adapters with USB connection can be used with laptops. For example, in order to provide a higher connection speed or replace a faulty one.

For example, consider a Wi-Fi adapter ASUS USB-AC56... This adapter is very similar to a regular USB flash drive. On one side of the adapter there is a USB, and on the other there is a socket for connecting a Wi-Fi antenna.

This Wi-Fi adapter supports 802.11ac connection. The manufacturer claims a maximum connection speed of up to 867 Mbps. In real tests, this adapter shows a data transfer rate of up to 25 MB / s, that is, up to 200 Mbit / s.

Connecting a computer to Wi-Fi using an internal adapter

In addition to external Wi-Fi adapters, you can also use internal adapters to connect your computer to a Wi-Fi network. Internal Wi-Fi adapters have several advantages over their external counterparts:

  • Internal adapters do not occupy the USB port;
  • For the same price, internal adapters provide faster connection speeds;

To connect to, PCI or x1 interfaces are used. Therefore, when purchasing an internal Wi-Fi adapter, you need to make sure that your motherboard supports the interface that the adapter you choose uses. Otherwise, you will not be able to connect it.

For example, consider an internal Wi-Fi adapter. ASUS PCE-AC68... This Wi-Fi adapter is connected to the PCI Express x1 interface. Its entire upper part is covered by a large radiator that protects the components from overheating.

The external panel of the adapter has three connectors for connecting Wi-Fi antennas. This Wi-Fi adapter supports 802.11ac connectivity. The manufacturer claims a maximum connection speed of up to 1900 Mbps. In real testing, the data transfer rate when using this adapter reaches 93 MB / s (or 744 Mb / s).

Connecting a computer Wi-Fi by replacing the motherboard

There are also motherboards with a Wi-Fi adapter. So if you don't know how to connect your computer to Wi-Fi, then the problem can be solved by replacing the motherboard.


Unfortunately, built-in Wi-Fi adapters are now available only on compact motherboards, as well as on expensive top-level motherboards. Therefore, a replacement will turn out to be the most expensive option for connecting your computer to Wi-Fi. Besides, replacing the motherboard is quite troublesome. Therefore, this option looks completely uninteresting.

Connect and configure WiFi routermost likely everyone can access the Internet. The next stage is to make sure that our personal computer, which does not have a Wi-Fi router, starts to catch the Wi-fi network. To do this, we will need to purchase wifi adapter and install it on your computer. Applying such usb adapter your computer will truly be able to receive Wi-fi over the air without being tied to wires, thus you can move your PC to any convenient place at any time. Moreover, we installed a router for those purposes in order to get rid of wires in the house.

After we installed the router, made the settings for the Wi-Fi network in the house, if at work means the office, accordingly, all our mobile gadgets such as a laptop, mobile phone, tablet will instantly find and connect to a Wi-Fi network, without wires. " by air. " If for some reason you still do not know how to set up a wi-fi router, I recommend reading this topic ... Because in these devices, the manufacturer took care of the built-in Wi-Fi receiver, and we are talking about a computer that is not initially equipped with this Wi-Fi adapter and most likely would also like to connect to the global network without red tape with wires. For these purposes, there are a couple of options:

The first method most likely will not work for us, since it involves connecting our computer to the Internet by laying a network cable to it. And since our topic is about wi-fi adapters, this option will not work for us.

And here is the second method, which we will consider just for us. This option suits us in this case. Now we will consider two types of adapters, internal and external, in simple terms, a Wi-Fi adapter that looks like an additional board inserted into a special PCI slot located in the middle of the computer will be called internal. A little knowledge is required to install it. And it looks like the pictures below.

The most convenient and easy to configure and use is an external Wi-Fi adapter that we will connect to a stationary computer today. After you read this topic, the computer will finally become independent of network cables, turn into a portable one and will be able to catch a Wi-Fi network over the air. It was one of these usb Wi-fi receivers that I installed on my PC, the appearance of which you can find in the pictures below, such Wi-Fi adapters are also called flash drives.

Now that we have already familiarized ourselves a little with what kind of wi-fi devices and devices are, it's time to start connecting it to a computer.

Let's start installing a wifi adapter on a TP-LINK computer

Let's take the Wi-Fi adapter and connect it to the computer. Despite its small size, I recommend connecting to the USB connectors that are located on the back of your computer. Assuming that all your jacks are occupied, then you can use various extension cords or the one supplied to connect the TL-WN725N adapter.

After you insert the device into the usb socket, your operating system will automatically search for drivers, as a rule, it finds them by itself, it is possible that Windows will not find them and will give an error. Don't worry, ignore it, then insert the disc that comes with the kit and install the drivers and utilities from the disc. If the installation disk is missing for some reason, I recommend looking in the search engines for the wi-fi adapter model, in my case it is TL-WN725N. Well, if you have not already found it, then I recommend reading this topic?

I see no point in describing the driver installation process itself. Now we just have to wait for the end of the installation. After the installation is complete, in the notification panel where the clock is located, you can observe the status of the Internet connection in the form of sticks with a yellow snowflake, this will indicate that our Wi-Fi adapter has found networks available for connection.

Now we press this status to connect Wi-Fi, if there is an available network for connection, select it and click on the "Connect" button.

Today, Wi-Fi technologies are very widespread both in the field of public Internet networks and for home use. This internet connection has many advantages. Therefore, I want absolutely all devices to be connected to Wi-Fi, including a home computer without a built-in Wi-Fi receiver. In this article, we will tell you about the main methods that allow you to connect Wi-Fi to a stationary computer.

How to connect a computer to Wi-Fi via an internal receiver

The internal receiver is a board with antennas. To install it, you need to open the system unit and insert it into the motherboard via the PCI interface. You don't need to have any special knowledge for this, because there is not a lot of choice where you can insert the board for the internal Wi-Fi receiver in the system unit. After installing the board, you need to go to "Wireless networks" and connect to your network using the access password, if your network is secure.

Among the advantages, we can note the hidden installation of the receiver and the reliability of the connection between the Wi-Fi receiver and the computer. Among the disadvantages is the need to remove the casing of the system unit and the fear of inserting the board somewhere in the wrong place.

How to connect a computer via Wi-Fi via an external receiver

Connecting your computer to Wi-Fi through an external receiver is as easy as opening a USB flash drive with your computer. You just need to plug the external receiver into the USB port and install the receiver drivers that are on the CD included with the Wi-Fi receiver. After all the drivers are installed, you need to go to "Wireless networks", find your Wi-Fi network and connect to it using a password, if any.

The advantages of this method include ease of installation and getting started. Among the disadvantages is the open installation method. If there are no free USB ports on the back of the system unit, then it will have to be installed, and this will be somewhat inconvenient.

The speed of the Internet on a computer practically does not depend on the strength of the receiver, but the signal strength can be different, but this has nothing to do with the length of the antenna. In terms of price and signal strength, external and internal receivers practically do not differ, therefore, if you want to connect your home computer to the Internet via Wi-Fi, then the decisive factor is most likely the ease of installation and the presence of a sufficient number of USB ports in your system unit. ...

Most of the currently produced devices have the function of connecting to the Internet via Wi-Fi. Thanks to the adapter already built into the gadget by the manufacturer, the user has access to the Internet literally as soon as he took out the purchased device from the package, for example, a laptop, camera, smartphone, tablet, etc.

You just need to enable the necessary function and you can enjoy surfing the Internet. But what to do when you need to provide access to the World Wide Web through a stationary computer? In this article, the owners of such PCs will find solutions to this urgent issue in the modern world.

What additional components are needed?

If the computer is not equipped with the necessary equipment to connect to the Internet via WiFi, then you can equip it with such. Below we will consider the types of devices that can enable a stationary PC to recognize wireless networks.

Outdoor WiFi dongle

Adapters that provide connection to Wi-Fi, belonging to the category of external devices, have the ability to connect to a computer via USB connectors.


Sometimes such devices are equipped with a special antenna that amplifies the received Wi-Fi. The device is easy to operate and connect, because you just need to insert its USB plug into the computer system unit and install the drivers to the adapter. The software on CD is always included with the instrument. Below will be presented step-by-step instructions on how to perform the subsequent settings in the case of choosing an adapter in the form of an external Wi-Fi receiver.

Internal WiFi dongle

The connection to the wireless network of a stationary PC is often provided using another method. The built-in type Wi-Fi receiver can be used by connecting it through the computer motherboard.


Distinctive advantages and disadvantages of external and internal adapters

The cost of these devices is almost the same. Software installation and configuration are also not very difficult. It is advisable for owners of several computers to purchase an external type of device, since it can be quickly disconnected from one PC and immediately easily connected to another computer to access the Internet. However, the external device takes up valuable desktop space, so aesthetics and lack of space are advised to purchase a built-in adapter, the advantages of which can also be attributed to the absence of the risk of damage as a result of external influences.

Wireless Source

Obviously, without the presence, near the location of the computer with the installed Wi-Fi network receiver, its source, and more specifically the router, it will be impossible to connect to the Internet.


In turn, the WiFi router itself must be connected to the global network via an Internet cable. Then you can already turn on the router to distribute the Wi-Fi network to PCs and other gadgets.

Installation procedure for outdoor WiFi adapter and subsequent configuration

The procedure will be described for "TP-LINK TL-WN721N", but all steps are similarly applicable for other devices of this type.


Stage 1

Remove all of the following items from the packaging:

  1. Adapter;
  2. YUSB cable;
  3. User guide;
  4. CD with software.

Stage 2

Connect the PC system unit to the Wi-Fi receiver via the USB cable. It is recommended not to pay attention to the display of notifications on the PC monitor that the software has been found and installed on the equipment, since the driver must be installed manually from the CD.

Stage 3

Insert a CD into the drive and activate the installation procedure. In the displayed window of the installation wizard, find and specify the model of the WiFi receiver and click "Install driver and utility".

After that, the installation wizard will guide you through intuitive menus, where the user is only required to follow the sequential instructions of the pop-up windows.


When the procedure is over, an icon will appear in the system tray about the start of the Wi-Fi device.

Stage 4

In the next menu that appears, type the WiFi access code and click "Ok".


Ready! Now you can turn on the browser on your PC and start active Internet surfing.

The procedure for installing the built-in WiFi adapter and subsequent configuration

The procedure will be described for "TP-Link TL-WN751ND", but all steps are the same and applicable for other devices of this type.

Stage 1

Take the device out of the packaging and disconnect the antenna from it.


Stage 2

Turn off the PC and open the system unit. Insert the device into a PCI slot.


Install the antenna back to the original place of the wireless Internet receiver.


Stage 3

The process for setting up the built-in receiver is completely similar to the above procedure for an outdoor unit.

This article will show you how you can connect your computer to the Internet via Wi-Fi. We will talk about stationary PCs, which, for the most part, do not have this capability by default. However, even a novice user can connect them to a wireless network.

Today, when almost every home has it, using a cable to connect a PC to the Internet may be impractical: it is inconvenient, the location of the router on the system unit or table (as is usually the case) is far from optimal, and the Internet access speed is not such that the wireless connection did not cope with them.

What is required to connect a computer to Wi-Fi

All you need to connect your computer to a wireless network is to equip it with a Wi-Fi adapter. Immediately after that, he, just like your phone, tablet or laptop, will be able to work on the network without wires. At the same time, the price of such a device is not at all high and the simplest models cost from 300 rubles, excellent ones - about 1000, and very cool ones - 3-4 thousand. Sold literally in any computer store.


Wi-Fi adapters for a computer are of two main types:

  • USB Wi-Fi adapters, which look like a USB flash drive.
  • A separate computer board that is installed in a PCI or PCI-E port can connect one or more antennas to the board.

Although the first option is cheaper and easier to use, I would recommend the second - especially if you need more reliable signal reception and good Internet speeds. However, this does not mean that a USB adapter is bad: in most cases it will be enough to connect a computer to Wi-Fi in an ordinary apartment.

Most simple adapters support 802.11 b / g / n 2.4 GHz modes (if you use a 5 GHz wireless network, consider this when choosing an adapter), there are also some that provide 802.11 ac work on sale, but few have routers that work in this mode, and if there is, these people know what's what without my instructions.

Connecting Wi-Fi adapter to PC

The connection of the Wi-Fi adapter to the computer itself is not difficult: if it is a USB adapter, you just need to install it in the corresponding port of the computer, if the internal one, then open the system unit of the turned off computer and put the board into the corresponding connector, you will not be able to make a mistake.

The set with the device comes with a disk with drivers and, even if Windows automatically detected and enabled access to the wireless network, I still recommend installing the supplied drivers, as they can prevent possible problems. Please note: if you are still using Windows XP, then before purchasing the adapter, make sure that this operating system is supported.

After the installation of the adapter is complete, you can see the wireless networks on Windows by clicking on the Wi-Fi icon in the taskbar and connect to them by entering a password.

Wireless networks are gaining in popularity. Increasingly, users prefer to use Wi-Fi not only for tablets, and other mobile equipment, but also for connecting conventional ...

Wireless networks are gaining in popularity. Increasingly, users prefer to use Wi-Fi not only for tablets, and other mobile equipment, but also for connecting conventional ...

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