Why Does My USB Wireless Adapter Perform Poorly When Connected to the Back of My Desktop PC?
USB wireless adapters may experience reduced range, slower performance, or an unstable connection when connected to the back of a tower-style computer. Moving the adapter away from the rear of the PC can help reduce interference and improve the wireless signal.
Why the Back of a Desktop PC Can Cause Wireless Interference
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.
How to Improve the Wireless Connection
If you don’t have a port available on the front of 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.
Applicable To
- Plugable USB-BT4LE Bluetooth 4.0 Adapter
- Plugable USB-BT5 Bluetooth 5.0 Adapter
- Plugable USB-WIFINT Wi-Fi 6 USB 2.0 Adapter
- Plugable USB-WIFIAX Wi-Fi 6 USB 3.0 Adapter
- USB wireless adapters connected to tower-style desktop computers
- Wireless adapters affected by radio interference or reduced signal strength near the rear input/output panel of a PC
