Compact WiFi—Add 802.11n (Wi-Fi 4) Wireless N network connectivity at up to 150Mbps in an incredibly small package. Perfect to upgrade an older computer or bypass a broken wireless card. 2.4GHz support only. Does not support 5GHz Wi-Fi
Windows Compatible—Driver downloads provided for Windows 10/11, 8.x, and 7. Not compatible with Win RT. Uses the Realtek RTL8188EUS chipset. Automatically installs in Windows 10 and 8.x with another active network connection. Drive built into Windows 11
Backwards Compatibility - Backwards compatible with Wireless G/B networks and USB 1.1 ports. Supports Ad-hoc and Infrastructure modes. Please note—Windows 11, 10 and 8.x do not support using wireless adapters to create a hotspot (Ad-hoc network)
2-Year Coverage, Lifetime Support—Every Plugable product, including this USB Wi-Fi adapter, is covered against defects for 2 years and comes with lifetime support. If you ever have questions, contact our North American-based team - even before purchase
The Plugable Nano WiFi USB Adapter is a simple way to add WiFi to a desktop, or to keep plugged into a laptop whose built-in WiFi isn't working anymore.
Simple, sturdy, and compatible with Windows 11, 10, 8.x, and 7. The adapter is ready to work on most devices out of the box, with drivers available separately for download (not included with the adapter).
Compliant to the Wi-Fi Alliance's Wi-Fi 4 specification, with backward compatibility to previous WiFi standards, this adapter can establish up to a 150Mbps link rate to a 2.4GHz wireless access point for a fast and stable connection.
The adapter fits snugly against the side of your laptop or PC, reducing the likelihood of breakage and staying out of the way of your other devices. The unobtrusive red LED inside the adapter helps indicate wireless activity while keeping your focus on the task at hand.
Choose Better Connection Stability or Better Performance
WiFi relies on a harmony between your router, and the device connecting to it. In less populated areas be sure that your access point uses 40MHz channel widths (instead of 20MHz) to get the optimal performance from the adapter, otherwise performance will be halved. However, for more dense urban environments, it may be necessary to use 20MHz channel widths to compete with surrounding radio interference.
Due to being a single-band adapter, the adapter will only connect to 2.4GHz access points. 2.4GHz WiFi technology has the advantage of offering better range than those using 5GHz.
Configuring for the Best Connection While Avoiding Wireless Interference
To get the best performance, there are technical considerations to make. Be sure that the adapter is plugged into the front of your computer if using a tower-style PC, use a USB 2.0 port (instead of USB 3.0), and try to keep a clear line-of-sight between your WiFi adapter and the router. This will help to avoid common sources of 2.4GHz wireless interference in order to provide optimal range and performance.
In The Box
Item and Quantity
Item Notes
1x USB 2.0 Wi-Fi Adapter
Power
Port
Placement
Power Host / Device
Connection Type
Notes
Voltage
Amperage
Wattage
USB-A to Host
Bottom
Device
Bus Powered (No Power Adapter)
5.0V
190mA
0.95W
Connection To Host
Port
Placement
Version and Link Rate
Features
1x USB-A
Bottom
USB 2.0 (480Mbps)
Wireless Network
Port Type
Port Specification
Supported Channel Width
Antenna Design
Features
Chipset
USB-A
USB 2.0 (480Mbps)
40 MHz (150Mbps)
1x1 (2.4 GHz Only)
WPS
Realtek RTL8188EUS
Physical Stats
Item
Size (H x W x D) or Length
Weight
SKU or Part Number
USB Wifi Adapter
0.2 x 1.5 x 2.5 centimeters 0.1 x 0.6 x 1 inches
2 grams 0.1 ounces
USB-WIFINT
Operating System
Supported
Notes
Windows 11, 10, 8.x, and 7
Not compatible with ARM-based Windows devices.
macOS
Linux
Some third-party independently-produced drivers can be found on GitHub, but we cannot vouch for, or support, these drivers.
Windows 11 and 10
Drivers are preinstalled. Just plug the USB-WIFINT into your PC and use.
Windows 8.x and 7
Plug the WiFi adapter into a USB 2.0 port (recommended)
Windows Update will automatically download and install the most recent drivers from the Internet. If no connection is available, download the drivers at another location from our website.
Linux Kernel 2.6.18+ - 3.9+
Unofficial drivers are available from this GitHub repo .
The drivers are fully built into the operating system. If there is an issue with this, please contact support.
Windows 10, 8.x, and 7
If you are on Windows 10, 8.x, or 7—and you have an active network connection other than the Wi-Fi adapter—the driver should install automatically from Windows Update.
Windows XP to Windows 10
Once the drivers are installed, a restart is recommended. You may use the included Realtek utility and/or your operating system’s standard built-in support for making a new wireless connection to an access point.
Once the drivers are installed, a restart is recommended. You may use the included Realtek utility and/or your operating system’s standard built-in support for making a new wireless connection to an access point.
macOS 10.15 and above are not supported as Realtek has not updated drivers and software for new requirements from Apple for DriverKit and 64-bit operation in a non-beta driver. We do not have an estimate for updated drivers from Realtek and do not expect them at this time.
There are no official drivers for the RTL8188EUS chipset, used in the adapter, for Linux. There are some community-created drivers that can be found on GitHub, but we have not found one that is reliable, and we do not support this adapter on Linux.
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Computer networking is a complex topic. In this article, we'll be taking a deep dive on the nuances of network performance for those who need some additional explanation while striving to be concise, and to educate users of various experience levels relating computer hardware and computer networking.
If you just need to know how to perform a network performance test/benchmark, jump down to configuring iPerf.
Core Network Concepts
LAN vs WAN
With regards to network performance, it is crucial to first separate whether an issue is with Wide Area Network (WAN) performance, or if the issue is with Local Area Network (LAN) performance.
Your LAN is essentially the network inside your home or business. Many homes use a combination modem/router device provided by their Internet Service Provider (ISP). In some cases, especially in businesses, you may have a separate modem and router, along with other equipment connecting to the router such as a network switch.
Your modem, and the connection it establishes to your ISP—whether through coaxial cable, fiber, phone lines, or long-range wireless—essentially marks the point between the WAN and the LAN. The connection your modem makes to your ISP is the WAN, and any devices you connect through your router behind that modem belong to the LAN.
Link Rate
Almost every type of connection your computer makes to any piece of hardware will have a link rate of some kind. The link rate establishes how fast data can possibly be transferred across any given connection, but it does not guarantee how fast the hardware on either end of the connection will actually transfer data.
The concept of link rates, and their related bottlenecks, is likely best conveyed by giving an example of what connections might be involved in transferring a file from one computer on your LAN to another.
800Mbps—The file source is a USB 3.0 thumb drive capable of 100MB/s (800Mbps) read/write.
480Mbps—The USB 3.0 thumb drive is plugged into a USB 2.0 port on the PC, which has a maximum throughput of 480Mbps
1000Mbps—PC1's Ethernet connection establishes 1Gbps (1000Mbps) link to the router via Ethernet
300Mbps—The router connects to a second PC (we'll refer to this as PC2) via Wi-Fi, and it has established a 300Mbps link to the Wi-Fi adapter on PC2
480Mbps—The Wi-Fi adapter on PC2 is connected via a USB 2.0 port. The link rate of the USB connection to PC2 is at 480Mbps
6000Mbps—PC2 is going to store the file on an internal hard drive with a link rate of 6Gbps
1600Mbps—File Destination: SATA hard drive capable of 200MB/s (1600Mbps) read/write.
Following this chain, we see that 300Mbps is the slowest link rate established. This means that, regardless of the link rates established elsewhere, the absolute maximum the data can possibly be transferred is 300Mbps.
if we were to change the Wi-Fi connection to a wired Ethernet connection capable of 1Gbps, our performance bottleneck would then become the USB 2.0 connection to the USB drive where the file is stored.
Ports and Interfaces
Interfaces
A network interface represents connections, whether wired or wireless, that are made to form a network between devices.
Ports
Some may refer to physical hardware connections as "ports". For the purposes of networking, ports are logical constructs that can also be referred to as "network ports". Each network interface has 65,535 of these logical ports. Each port on a network interface is a separate data connection.
Benchmarking Network Adapter Performance
To properly benchmark network adapter performance, we need to:
Use a simple LAN configuration
Eliminate bottlenecks, especially link rate bottlenecks
Websites like speedtest.net, fast.com, and other performance tools in your web browser are going to use your WAN connection, and are not appropriate for determining if a network adapter is working well.
Transferring files from one computer to another on your LAN is typically not the best way to benchmark a network adapter. File transfers are bottlenecked by a number of things, including performance limitations of the disk the data is on, and often times a lack of establishing parallel network connections to perform the task.
One of the most accurate ways to benchmark network performance on a LAN is by using iPerf . To more effectively benchmark network adapter performance, it is best to establish a point-to-point connection between two PCs, rather than connecting through a router or switch.
Next, you'll need to run iPerf in client mode, targeting the IP address of the server/interface where iPerf is running in server mode. Additionally, we'll run the test for 30 seconds using -t 30 and with four parallel connections using -P 4. Running 4 parallel connections is optimal for saturating a network link.
Windows
Open Command Prompt
Press Windows Key + R or + R, then enter cmd in the window that appears
Search the Start Menu for Command Prompt, and open it
Navigate Command Prompt to the directory the directory where iPerf is located
The cdcommand is for 'change directory'
If you have a folder named 'iperf' on your Windows desktop, you can reach it in command prompt with the command cd %USERPROFILE%\Desktop\iperf
Run iperf in client mode via Command Prompt (replace 192.168.0.200 with the IP address of the server/interface where iPerf is running in server mode)
iperf3.exe -c 192.168.0.200 -t 30 -P 4
macOS / Linux
Open Terminal
Run iPerf in client mode (replace 192.168.0.200 with the IP address of the server/interface where iPerf is running in server mode)
iperf3 -c 192.168.0.200 -t 30 -P 4
iPerf should start performing a network performance test. If the test fails to start, make sure that iPerf is not being blocked by your PC's/Mac's firewall.
Why iPerf is Ideal for Benchmarking
Unlike a file transfer, iPerf runs in memory on the PC and generates data to send using the CPU directly. This alleviates potential bottlenecks generated by storage devices, and allows you to explicitly control how many parallel connections are being used to transfer data rather than being unsure if parallel network connections are being used by other means.
Conclusion
There's a lot more to networking that isn't covered in this article, but we hope this helps explain enough to get an accurate measure of your network performance.
In part, because the higher speed of the USB 3.0 port (also known as USB 3.1 Gen 1 and USB 3.2 Gen 1) offers no advantage if the device itself is USB 2.0. For Plugable's USB 2.0 Bluetooth and Wi-Fi adapters, the performance is far below even the throughput of USB 2.0.
While this interference can be reduced through heavy shielding, it cannot be entirely avoided as it is inherent to the core design of USB 3.0. USB 2.0 ports do not have this issue. However, a USB 2.0 port that is in close proximity to an in-use USB 3.0 port may also be affected by radio noise leaked by it.
Components inside a tower-style computer case are largely exposed, and there is very little shielding to reduce the radio interference they produce. This is particularly true at the rear input/output panel of a PC. This is why cables that are designed to plug into the back of a computer often have a ferrite bead attached to them, to reduce radio interference. Also, the wireless signal weakens as it travels through the metal and plastic computer case and goes past the noise-producing components.
If you don’t have a port available on the front your PC, consider using a USB 2.0 hub to add ports located away from the back of your PC, or use a USB 2.0 extension cable to move the adapter to a location in line-of-sight with your receiving device.
Without getting into too many details, the 150Mbps value represents the maximum “Link Rate” of the adapter, which essentially tells you what wireless specifications are being used for the adapter. Environmental factors such as surrounding radio interference, distance from your access point, and other issues will reduce the performance and possibly the link rate being achieved. 150Mbps (18.75MB/s) is the theoretical maximum transmission speed that can be achieved providing all conditions are ideal, such as in a radio testing facility. For home and office use, there will always be factors that reduce performance.
If you are consistently seeing a link rate of 72Mbps reported by your operating system, this is either due to a configuration error on the router you are connecting to, or because of limitations on the router. If the router’s 2.4GHz channels are set to use 20MHz widths, the link rate will never exceed 72Mbps. To get the 150Mbps link rate, the router must be using channels with 40MHz widths.
The Windows Firewall may block some networking features when the local network is not set to Private. This article will describe the process for setting the local network, either wired Ethernet or Wi-Fi to be a Private network.
Windows 11
1 - Connect the computer to the network, either wired or wireless
2 - Open the Windows Settings - right-click on the Start Menu and select “Settings” from the pop-up menu
3 - On the left column select “Network & internet”
For Wired Networks
4 - Select the “Ethernet” option
5 - The connected network should be expanded, if not click on “Network Connected" to expand the section
6 - Select the “Network profile type” either “Public network” or “Private network” to suite your needs
For Wi-Fi Networks
4 - Select the “Wi-Fi” option
5 - Select your Wi-Fi network name “properties”
6 - Select the “Network profile type” either “Public network” or “Private network” to suite your needs
Windows 10
1 - Connect the computer to the network, either wired or wireless
2 - Open the Windows Settings - right-click on the Start Menu and select “Settings” from the pop-up menu
3 - Select “Network & Internet” fro the bottom section
4 - Select the “Ethernet” option from the left pane
5 - Select the “Connected” network from the right pane
6 - Select the “Network profile type” either “Public network” or “Private network” to suite your needs
Windows PowerShell
If the option does not show up in the Windows Settings GUI, or if you prefer to use the terminal.
1 - Open a new terminal: Right-click on the Start Menu and select “Terminal”
2 - Run the following command to list the available networks
When choosing a docking station or USB hub, it's important to understand the difference between Power Delivery (PD) and Pass-Through Power Delivery. While both terms refer to charging capabilities, they function differently and impact how power is distributed to connected devices.
What is Power Delivery (PD)?
USB Power Delivery (PD) is a fast-charging standard that allows devices to negotiate power levels dynamically. Key aspects include:
Enables higher power transfer (up to 100W or more, depending on the device and cable).
Ensures efficient charging by dynamically adjusting voltage and current.
Commonly used in USB-C chargers, docking stations, and hubs that provide power directly to laptops, tablets, and smartphones.
Example: A USB-C docking station with PD output can charge a connected laptop while simultaneously powering other peripherals. Additionally, these tend to come with their own AC adapter.
What is Pass-Through Power Delivery?
Pass-Through Power Delivery refers to a hub or docking station that does not generate power itself but instead allows power to pass through from an external power adapter. Key aspects include:
Requires a dedicated power adapter (e.g., a USB-C PD laptop charger) plugged into the docking station or hub.
Typically, a portion of the incoming power is allocated to the dock’s functionality (such as data transfer and peripheral connections), and the remaining power is sent to the connected laptop or device.
May reduce the total power available to the laptop compared to direct charging.
Example: A USB-C hub with pass-through PD allows a laptop's original USB-C PD charger to be connected to the hub, which then distributes power to the laptop while also supporting external peripherals.
Choosing the Right Option
If you need a docking station that can directly charge your laptop, look for one with dedicated Power Delivery (PD) support.
If your laptop already has a high-wattage charger and you want to maintain power while expanding connectivity, a pass-through PD hub may be a better choice.
Be mindful of power limitations with pass-through charging, as some hubs may reserve power for their own operation, reducing the power available for the laptop.
Some examples of hubs with PD pass-through would be our USBC-9IN1E with 140w pass-through charging or our smaller USBC-4IN1 with 100w pass-through.
On the flip side, we have our docking stations that power your devices by themselves. Examples such as our UD-7400PD which is capable of 140w of charge and 5 displays.
Understanding these differences will help ensure you select the right docking station or USB-C hub for your setup. If you have any questions or would like a recommendation, feel free to reach out to our support at support@plugable.com