Adding Wi-Fi Capability to My Desktop Computer with TP-LINK 300Mbps Mini Wireless N USB Adapter

The box inside a box.

I have been so used to my laptop and other mobile devices being able to connect to a Wi-Fi network without any add-on; and my computer before this, a desktop PC, connected to the Internet via a USB modem. I have not used a desktop PC for quite some time now. So, when I borrowed my brother’s computer, I overlooked this part; the Wi-Fi connectivity part. It was after plugging in the desktop that I realised I could not connect to my wireless modem.

Anyway, searching around, I found out that you’d need an adapter for that. So, I bought the TP-LINK 300Mbps Mini Wireless N USB Adapter [Model No TL-WN823N] after considering a few options.

The whole package.

The process from opening the package to getting it working was simple enough, straightforward and painless. The package came with the tiny adapter, documentations and a ‘Driver and Utility’ installation CD. You can install it online at www.tp-link.com but without Internet connection, which is the purpose of this adapter, I don’t see how; unless they are assuming that you have wired connection or some other means to connect to the Internet.

The adapter works with the operating system I'm using, which is Windows 7, but there's an installation option for Mac OS X as well.

Look how small it is.

The installation process was simple; I just followed the InstallShield Wizard. Joining a wireless network was also simple; I chose ‘option 3’ from the installation guide, which is to connect via ‘Windows Wireless Utility’, and selected the ‘Automatically connect’ option so that I don’t have to reconnect to the network every time I turn on my computer.

There hasn’t been any problems so far. I don’t have any other adapters to compare it to. I don’t notice if the speed is affected in any way, even when I connect both my laptop [which has its own Wi-Fi capability] and the computer to the network. The device is small enough; I stick it into the USB port at the back of my computer, but I can easily put it in front and it will still be inconspicuous enough and you can just leave it there and forget about it until, of course, you change computers or decide not to use it anymore.

& Buy

- USB Network Adapters [Amazon]
- TP-LINK - TL-WN823N, 300Mbps Mini USB Wireless WiFi Adapter with Soft AP [Lazada Malaysia]
- TP-LINK 300mbps Mini Wireless N USB Adapter [eBay]
- TP-Link TL-WN823N N300 Mini USB Wireless WiFi network Adapter for pc, Ideal for Raspberry Pi [Amazon]