Does a wireless usb adapter improve the range of a laptop that already has wireless built in?
Not much difference unless the USB adapter has an external antenna that sticks out which has a higher gain than an internal antenna. In some cases, you can even detach the antenna and replace it with an outdoor antenna to significantly extend its range. Answer: Probably. Depends on what’s built in vs. what you install and the type of router you’re connecting to. If you have an older notebook and the wireless card they installed was 802.11b, then installing an 802.11g or 802.11n will increase your range, as long as the wireless access point or router supports the faster standard. Also, the newer cards are a bit more sensitive. For more info, check out: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_802.11 It’s important to note that it’s best to turn off the old wireless card, whether by flipping a switch (if your notebook has one), using the function keys (Function-F4 is a common one), or disabling it in the device manager. Hope this helps.
