When connecting to the Internet we can do it both by cable and Wi-Fi. Most computers, especially laptops, have both options available. However, sometimes we may have problems with the cable. Perhaps we have somewhat old equipment or there has been a hardware failure and the connection is not going as it should. In this article we are going to explain how to know if you should buy a USB to Ethernet converter and be able to connect to the Internet via a network cable.
When to buy a USB to Ethernet converter
The reason why you should buy a USB to Ethernet converter is if you find that the wired connection is not working well. It can happen because you have an old adapter, but it can even be due to some physical failure, for example, because you yanked hard on the cable and it broke.
What you should do is check what Internet speed you get by cable. Simply use an Ethernet cable and connect your computer to the router and perform a speed test of the connection. Do you get what you have contracted? Doesn’t go over 100 Mbps? If the latter that we mentioned occurs in your case, it means that you have a Fast Ethernet network card. That will mean that, even if you have a 600 Mbps fiber optic contract, for example, no more than 100 will reach you.
But to be completely sure, it is best to update the network card and also see that the model you have installed is really Fast Ethernet. However, you can have a Gigabit Ethernet card and for some reason it does not work well, since if some pins are broken it would stop working beyond that 100 Mbps limit.
In those cases you clearly need a new card and an ideal option is to buy a USB to Ethernet converter. You do not need to open the equipment, or touch anything on the motherboard. In fact, in some cases you will not be able to do it. They are cheap devices and will allow you to have a stable connection.
Which ethernet adapter to buy
Our advice is that you buy one with guarantees, that is Gigabit Ethernet and has good ratings. It is essential that it be USB 3.0 or higher versions. This will allow you to connect to the network with the maximum fiber optic speed and not have problems both downloading and uploading content.
For example, one option is this Wavlink model. It is a USB to 2.5G Ethernet adapter. It supports speeds of up to 2500 Mbps and also works through both USB C and classic USB ports, since it has a converter included. You can use it on Windows, macOS or Linux.
You can also opt for this other USB to Ethernet adapter. It is a Ugreen model and works through a USB C port. It is ideal for newer laptops that only use this type of port. It supports speeds up to 1 Gbps and has great compatibility.
In short, as you can see, sometimes you may have to buy a USB to Ethernet adapter. It is important to have the highest possible speed and stability and for this it is a good idea to connect the computer via cable. If the adapter you have is old or gives you problems, a very good option is to buy a converter of this type.
