Forums Forums Wanted - Items Wanted: USB to Ethernet converter

Someone in work has just got the broadband but her computer doesn't have a Ethernet port.
Anyone know where you can get locally a usb to ethernet converter... Otherwise I have seen them online for under a fiver..
The alternative is a usb wireless dongle which would also do.

Cheers

A usb port will restrict the bandwidth that a user can get through a normal ethernet cable. Best thing to do is buy a ethernet card from as little as £2.49 from here. Easy enough to fit and depending on the broadband speed you have, you will be able to cope with the bandwidth.

http://www.scan.co.uk/Shop/Computer-Hardware/All/Networking/Network-Cards

It's an old computer so it's not going to be very quick anyway...
I have a couple of them at home but it's not my computer... It's someone in work who wants a simple plug and play solution

thanks

I will have a ethernet card you can have?

Thanks but I have got some in a box of crap and bits in my loft

I can't see any shops such as pc world having them, just looked on their website. The only thing you would have to do if you reall want a ethernet to usb converter is to phone a number of local pc repair shops, there are quite a few in birkenhead wallasey. Though from the same shops you could buy an ethernet card for under a fiver, take 5 mins more just to fit it.

I know exactly what your saying! and if it was mine I would slap in a card straight away... I'm just trying to help someone out at work... and if my cars not being rubbish I will probably drive round this weekend and do it for them just to shut you all up

Thanks for your help guys

If the computer is old and slow, don't use USB for networking - USB puts load onto the CPU, whereas an ethernet card doesnt. Also, ethernet is built for networking, so generally works straight out of the box without any issues (and since most cars use the same few chipets, most versions of Windows don't even need you to install drivers etc). Put simply, USB isnt built for networking, it is a jack of all trades and master of none.

Also, if it has USB 1.0 or 1.1, it will suffer a severe bottleneck as the capacity simply isnt there for modern broadband connections (its probably okay upto about 2Mbps though).

If you can, look for an Intel ethernet controller on the card, they are the mustard. I got an Intel Pro card on the bay for a few quid some years back, they were about £50 to buy at the time. But generally any chipset will do.

I was going to make the same point. Using USB on an old machine would seriously slow the connection. I know its an old machine and speed is not the issue but there may be problems keeping a steady connection using usb. I would use an ethernet card.

Hope that helps! If not, tough!! That cheap b*stard at your work should buy a new computer!!

That was my initial advice