Cable Vs. USB For WIFI

Cable Vs. USB For WIFI


WIFI Best Practice:  Coaxial Cable or USB extension?

Coaxial
Coaxial cables for antenna have a little issue: The loss of Signal.
If you buy a cheap cable, you'll have a cheap result and the cable will absorb some of the signal, the longer the cable, the greater the loss.
To be noted:  dBi or signal strength is a logarithmic value, a loss of only 3dBi means in fact that you have a 50% signal loss.  Regular Coaxial cable cable would be my very last choice. 

Low Loss Cable
Low Loss Coaxial Cable  Better than the previous, but more expensive. About $30 for 8m feet, and you still have a loss.

USB

By far, the best choice when possible: No Loss and much cheaper than a Low Loss Cable.  About $10 per 15ft for
So, when you can, Extend the USB cable instead of extending the Antenna Cable.

If you have made the mistake to buy a Hawking,  Edimax, D-link or any other USB Stick, don't extend the Cable to the antenna, extend the USB to the USB Adapter and keep the coaxial cable as short as you can.
If you haven't made the mistake yet,  get an Alfa AWUS036H or a Alfa AWUS036NHR ,  I pulled a signal @ 15km with one of those babies :)
Check this page, Benchmark, pictures and details ....

The maximum length of USB cable is generally 30 meters with hubs.  If you are over 30m underground, just use a repeater and come to the surface from time to time.  :- )

A 15 foot USB 2.0 is generally less than $3 and can replace a Coaxial cable without the loss. The Coaxial is also more expensive