What is the difference between a smart antenna and a regular one?

Is there a benefit to a PCI wireless card with two "antennas" over one with just one?

• I want to hook my desktop computer into my home wireless network and have found the PCI card option to be relatively easy and inexpensive. In my online browsing, I've seen the ones with one "antenna" are slightly cheaper than the ones with two... If the additional antenna actually makes a big difference in speed, I'd go with that one, but if doesn't, why not save the money, right? Also, is going internal PCI card better than a USB wireless adapter? Is one faster than the other or is there really no difference? THANKS!!

• Answer:

  External antennas help with range and signal strength. If your wireless router or acccess is fairly close by and gets a good signal, don't worry about it. If you're trying to pick up a signal from a router that's separated by multiple walls or floors, then it helps. USB adapters are convenient because you don't have to open the case to install them. Internal cards don't have to share the bus with other USB devices, or suffer occasional disconnects- not too common, but some people experience bugs with Windows handling of USB devices. Sometimes a camera, printer, scanner or flash drive being plugged/unplugged affects other USB hardware. In most cases, there's no difference.