The case of laptops is different, since they all incorporate an RJ-45 connector in addition to a Wi-Fi connection, however, their range is very limited. In both cases, whether it is a desktop PC or a laptop, there are different ways to add or expand its wireless connectivity options, either using a Wi-Fi dongle, or a PCIe card.
USB Wi-Fi dongles
If we want to expand the connectivity options of our laptop so that in addition to being compatible with the 2.4 GHz band, it is also compatible with the 5 GHz band (especially when it comes to older models ), we can use one of the different dongles that we show you below.
One of the best options and which is also the most sold on Amazon is offered to us by the manufacturer Maxesla. This manufacturer offers us a Wi-Fi dongle that connects via USB and adds support for dual band, both for 2.4 GHz (up to 300 Mbps) and 5 GHz (up to 867 Mbps). It is compatible with computers managed from Windows XP and even with Mac computers.
The manufacturer TP-Link also has a USB Wi-Fi dongle compatible with the two most used bands and offers a maximum speed of 867 Mbps and 400 Mbps for wireless networks. 5 years 2.4 GHz respectively. It supports MU-MIMO to offer a secure wireless connection, it is compatible with USB 3.0 ports and we can use it on any computer from Windows XP as well as Apple Mac computers.
But if we want to extend the coverage of our laptop and a dongle without antenna is not enough, we can opt for this model with adjustable antenna integrated compatible with 2.4 and 5 GHz networks. Offers support for MU-MIMO technology to improve network coverage and security. Like all previous models, this one is also compatible with Mac computers and any PC running Windows XP and later.
PCIe Wi-Fi cards
Using a dongle on a desktop computer doesn’t make much sense whether you connect it to the front or back because the PC case itself limits its coverage. In this case it is advisable to use a PCIe card with Wi-Fi connectivity which also includes one or more antennas that we can direct.
If we want to enjoy the maximum possible speed, the TP-Link Archer TX20E PCIe Wi-Fi card is the model we are looking for. This model includes support for WiFi 6, which allows us to connect to networks at a maximum speed of 1,201 Mbps. In addition to Wi-Fi 6 support, it also includes Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity and two adjustable antennas to improve coverage. This PCIe card is only compatible with PCs running Windows 10 and Windows 11.
Another option that we should also analyze is the TX50E model from this same manufacturer, a PCIe card that includes support for Wi-Fi 6 in addition to Bluetooth 5.0 and includes two addressable antennas. The connection speed that it offers us using 5 GHz networks reaches 2,402 Mbps, it offers support for networks with WPA3 encryption and reduce latency by up to 75% compared to other models, which makes it ideal for enjoying online games if we do not have an Ethernet cable to connect our PC.
The best option currently available on the market is offered by the MA86XE model from the manufacturer Mercusys. This PCIe card offers Wi-Fi6E supportso, in addition to allowing you to connect to 2.4 and 5 GHz networks, it is also compatible with 6 GHz redes, networks that are faster and more secure than previous ones. It supports WPA3 encryption, MU-MIMO technology to improve connectivity and is only compatible with computers equipped with Windows 10 and Windows 11. It has two addressable antennas as well as Bluetooth 5.2 connectivity.
