How do I get a faster wireless connection?

Q I have a fairly new Acer laptop with an integrated wireless network adapter with a maximum speed of 54Mbits/sec. I want to upgrade to a faster adapter. Can I buy a faster one for the PC Card slot without removing the existing one?

I also plan to replace my broadband modem router with a faster model for faster wireless internet.
Mrs Watkins

A Before you spend any money on better adapters it is important to decide whether or not you actually need them. If you are only using the single laptop on the wireless network then a 54Mbits/sec connection will comfortably exceed the speed of the internet connection and a faster adapter will make little difference to web surfing.

If low signal is a problem or other people are using the network to stream music and video then a faster router is worth the money. As you are buying both the router and adapter together, try to get them from the same manufacturer. This makes setting up the network much easier and can sometimes offer faster network speeds than the normal standards.

Using a new adapter alongside the integrated adapter in the laptop should not cause any problems but it is best to disable the integrated one if possible. There is normally a keyboard shortcut or switch to toggle the built-in adapter on a laptop.

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