Buffalo AirStation G54HP

For those whose ability to set up a wireless network is limited by poor signal quality due to obstructions or distance, the Buffalo AirStation G54HP could be the answer.

It has an improved aerial and offers better range with all routers, not just Buffalo's own high-power router. This is the PC Card version and is designed for notebooks with a spare slot in the side.

Installation is simple and the aerial does not protrude too far. There is a mini connector for an external aerial, which should be able to extend the range further.

It is possible to use the Buffalo with the Windows Zero Configuration Utility, so it is easy to connect to wireless networks. In testing, the card had a better range than our notebook PC's standard internal Wi-Fi adapter.

The Buffalo is more expensive than other PC Card wireless adapters but it does offer a real advantage in terms of performance.

However, if there is more than one computer in the vicinity trying to connect to an out-of-range access point, it would be cheaper to buy another access point to work as a range extender, rather than buying one of these adapters for each computer.