WiFi on laptop: internal card or USB external adapter ?

[ViVelDOP]

Well, everything is pretty much in the title: I must change my WiFi adapter on my laptop (mine sucks), and I'm wondering which one is the best for having a stable connection. I'm in a flat, the router is 10 meters away with a wall between, and there's a lot of other networks nearby. I can't change anything on the routers. And don't tell me I should connect on Ethernet or CPL, if I had the opportunity, I wound not ask the question. Well, these are the cards I'm hesitating:
- Internal card : Intel Dual Band Wireless-AC 7260 (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
- USB adapter : TP-LINK Archer T2UH (also dual band, with an external and removable antenna)

Thanks for your help !!

PS: I don't want the best download speed ever, I just want a stable connection

[vadim]

Its always better to have internal wireless card.

[ViVelDOP]

I don't care about space managements, I've got enough. And I'm on a laptop. And I'll use an external only for gaming.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

What's wrong with it? Intel offer some of the best around.
Internal is best because Laptops have quite a long antenna, it goes from the base bottom (where the card is) all the way up, along the sides of your screen's chassis and up to the top. And they are typically a Dual-Band antenna.

Most WiFi issues are due to WiFi Channel and Interference.

If you having slow WiFi or random dropped connections; best bet is go on a Wired system, login to your Modem/Router config page; then go to the WiFi settings and try a difference WiFi Channel. On 2.4Ghz range, each channel is a slightly different band withing the 2.4 - 2.5 Ghz ranges; changing the WiFi channel to something different from what your near-by neighbors use for theirs, can help a great deal.

If the channel IS your issue here; you can try every WiFi adapter you want, the issue will most likely remain.

[ViVelDOP]

Right. I thought by having an external Wifi adapter would boost the signal (what I need coz I'm also having trouble with the strengh of the signal), since it has an external antenna (+7dbi). But the problem is that I can't change the channel, and the building direction (I don't know the correct translation) don't want and con't do anything about it. My only chances are having a better WiFi adapter. If I'm keeping the internal, problem is that I'm still far away from the router, and I can't get closer. I though by having an external one, I could put the adapter closer by a USB extender (or a 2-3m USB wire, and I know this length lowers speed, but I'd be on USB3.0, so it does not matter).
If I could an Ethernet connection, I'd the happiest man in the world

[Bad 💀 Motha]

It is external for the most part. The internal WiFi antenna is basically that whole upper/outer screen chassis on your laptop. That is the part that matters as far as a connection goes; sure the card/chipset matters (cause that's what determines overall features) but the card's location doesn't matter, it's the antenna.

USB has crap for antenna. Now you can extend/move a USB one away from the system via a USB extension cable. As why most good USB ones come with a cradle w/ extension cable. So a user can get the USB dongle away from the system and in a better location if needed.

[ViVelDOP]

I get it. So I should get the Intel card ? Coz price is likely the same with the external. And thanks for the whole explanation !!

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Well if USB and it has an external antenna; like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704053

as opposed to this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704141

The first option here would be MUCH better overall.

But I see no reason the included Intel MiniCard wouldn't already be good.
Unless perhaps the antenna is broken; the card is faulty; or there is a Driver issue.

But yea connection issues, can easily be WiFi Channel; but that is on the Modem/Router (in the Config). So if you not have permission to change any of that, might want to ask and/or have the "owner" do it.

Some older homes, or even many office buildings, schools, hospitals; something as much as a thick wall between your device and the modem/router can sometimes be enough to cause an issue; as on older homes or such building; they might be thick concrete, or have massive amounts of electrical wiring within that wall; all interfering with your WiFi signal, or simply enough to block it.

[ViVelDOP]

Yeah, the USB one has external antennas: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833704254

And I don't have yet an Intel card, this is just the other card I saw with good performances to replace my stock card (atheros AR5BWB222).

Plus, I can upgrade the antenna with a more powerful antenna (8dbi, the original one is 3dbi) for like 7€

I also know that the router is compatible with AC wifi, so do the USB adapater and the Intel. So that'd be great

[vadim]

TP-Link obviously worse. For instance, it has only one antenna while 7260 has 2.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Ok what is the full brand + model of the laptop?
and the WiFi card it already has inside it?

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Messaggio originale di vadim:

TP-Link obviously worse. For instance, it has only one antenna while 7260 has 2.

the 1st one I linked above in Post#7 has two and is Dual Band ~ Omni Directional

[ViVelDOP]

ACER V3-772G. And yes, the Atheros card is plugged in for years now.

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Messaggio originale di NiGhtMan:

ACER V3-772G. And yes, the Atheros card is plugged in for years now.

Have u tried an updated Driver for the WiFi card?

What OS does the Laptop have?

[ViVelDOP]

Messaggio originale di Bad-Motha:

Messaggio originale di vadim:

TP-Link obviously worse. For instance, it has only one antenna while 7260 has 2.

the 1st one I linked above in Post#7 has two and is a dual-band, N300

Is yours better than mine ? I can have AC WiFi on my Laptop thanks to both adapters I found, but yours is not compatible. Though, I only have one antenna with mine

I tried about 6-7 different driver versions. I went on Windows 7, Windows 8, Windows 8.1 (current), Windows 10, Ubuntu 14.04, Ubuntu 16.04, Fedora 20. The issues are not with the drivers and the OS

[vadim]

Messaggio originale di Bad-Motha:

the 1st one I linked above in Post#7 has two and is Dual Band ~ Omni Directional

Sorry, but you're wrong. This Archer supports only one spatial stream (up to 433 Mbps bandwidth) while Intel supports 2 (up to 867 Mbps). Words about "600 Mbps" are pure marketing - they are summarized 150 Mbps while adater works in 802.11n mode in the 2.4GHz freq band and 433 in 802.11ac and 5GHz.