which gives a better internet connection: wireless or wired?

so I just recently got a second computer in my house. my current PC is hooked up to the internet w/ a modem. prob is I dont know which one, wired or wireless is better for the internet on my two PCs? also I got a few other questions:

1. if I get wired, that means I need to get a long cable to connect my two PCs? and what would I need if I stuck w/ wired?

2. if I got wireless, what would I need to buy?

thanks!! :)

If it is a pc use a wired connection. Wireless can have a lot of problems and is really best for a laptop.coolcole1

Actually, PC Wireless cards (especially PCI ones) are inherently more reliable when it comes to wireless. The only difference is in convienence. A desktop doesn't roll around, so it doesn't need wireless. Laptops usually move, and so they require wireless. Ahem.

Wireless, in your case, will probably be easier. As long as you don't have any significant interference or stuff like microwaves or cordless phones on the 2.4ghz spectrum. First you'll need a wireless router, such as this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124284 there are cheaper alternatives if you wish. For your second PC, you will need an adapter. I highly recommend using a PCI adapter, as it's much more reliable and less likely to have a problem than a USB one. You have to install it yourself, but all you have to do is put it on a PCI slot which I promise is not very difficult at all :) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124115.

The router will plug into the modem. From the router, your main PC (the one currently connected to the modem) will connect to the router. The PCI card will install into the second (new) PC and wireless connect.

Just to be sure, what is the approximated distance between the modem and the new computer? Are there any microwaves inbetween?

-Betta

[QUOTE="coolcole1"]If it is a pc use a wired connection. Wireless can have a lot of problems and is really best for a laptop.Thebettafish

Actually, PC Wireless cards (especially PCI ones) are inherently more reliable when it comes to wireless. The only difference is in convienence. A desktop doesn't roll around, so it doesn't need wireless. Laptops usually move, and so they require wireless. Ahem.

Wireless, in your case, will probably be easier. As long as you don't have any significant interference or stuff like microwaves or cordless phones on the 2.4ghz spectrum. First you'll need a wireless router, such as this one: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124284 there are cheaper alternatives if you wish. For your second PC, you will need an adapter. I highly recommend using a PCI adapter, as it's much more reliable and less likely to have a problem than a USB one. You have to install it yourself, but all you have to do is put it on a PCI slot which I promise is not very difficult at all :) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16833124115.

The router will plug into the modem. From the router, your main PC (the one currently connected to the modem) will connect to the router. The PCI card will install into the second (new) PC and wireless connect.

Just to be sure, what is the approximated distance between the modem and the new computer? Are there any microwaves inbetween?

-Betta

so what your saying here is I will have my good PC wired to the internet then have my other PC using wireless to connect to the internet?morpheusnj

Wired obviously... But you can hardly tell the difference anymore, wireless technology is almost good as wired nowadays.

I have a DLink PCI wireless N (with three small antennas) and a USB Linksys WiFi adaptor, both installed in my computer . The Linksys WiFi is more reliable because it comes with a usb six foot extension cord and usb 2 docking station for the USB Linksys WiFi adaptor. I tried both separately and I receive up to six Wireless networks with the Linksys adaptor and only two wireless networks with the DLink PCI network interface.

If the visible networks are unsecured you can connect to their network if you have two or more signal bars (if you are lucky). My Linksys not only connects to other networks (with 4 to 5 bars of signal strength) across the street from me but because of the six foot extension cord I was able to position the docking station on my window sill and are downloading at speeds of 400 bytes per second (the fastest download was over 800 KB/s).

I downloaded a 106 megabyte file in 4 minutes with my Linksys adaptor at a download speed of between 300Kb/s to 553 Kb/s. Not bad considering the DLink would only give me two available unsecured networks with only two bars showing...basically limited or no connectivity and constently loosing signal.

The Linksys (by Cisco) is a high-speed, long-range wireless adaptor that can be faster than Wireless-G when connected to RangePlus or Wireless-N but also works great with Wireless-G and -B devices. Its wireless coverage range is maximized by MIMO smart antenna technology which captures faint signals for extended range and reduced dead spots.

Linksys RangePlus Wireless Network USB Adaptor (Model No. WUSB100-CA). You won't be disappointed and you won't have to open your computer case to use it.

Good Luck