My brother recently received an older PC that does not have built-in Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. We are looking for an affordable adapter that plugs into a USB port and can connect the computer to Wi-Fi. Ideally, it would also support Bluetooth. Since the PC runs Linux, we would appreciate suggestions for models that are easy to set up and have good Linux compatibility.
3 Answers
BrosTrend makes USB adapters with fairly good Linux support. Some models require installing a driver, but the setup can be as simple as running one command. For Bluetooth, most reputable USB dongles should work similarly, so Linux compatibility is the main thing to verify.
Make sure the adapter supports both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz Wi-Fi if the router offers both. A combined Wi-Fi/Bluetooth dongle saves a USB port, but separate adapters can sometimes be easier to troubleshoot on older Linux systems.
A USB Wi-Fi adapter is probably the simplest and cheapest solution. Combination Wi-Fi and Bluetooth dongles are common—look for dual-band Wi-Fi/Bluetooth models. With Linux, check recent reviews for kernel and driver compatibility before buying, since some very cheap adapters need extra setup. Basic models in the $15–$25 range should be fine for browsing.
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