WiFi dongle for MacBook Pro M2

Hey Folks,


My MacBook Pro is having some connectivity *sometimes* in my own home. We've get a pretty low spec router/modem setup from our provider that is a real pain to upgrade (that's a whole other story).


The easiest thing to do is to upgrade the WiFi adapter on any devices using the network.


Unfortunately my reliable ALFA AWUS036ACM doesn't seem to be compatible, can someone recommend me a similar dongle?

MacBook Pro 13″, macOS 13.4

Posted on Aug 14, 2023 11:03 PM

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Question marked as Best answer

I’d tend to go toward switching to and adding APs, and with improved coverage.

Posted on Aug 15, 2023 12:50 PM

13 replies

Aug 15, 2023 1:03 AM in response to FormerWinslows

Any adapter will be only as good as the gear you have. If you have low quality router and modem, they are the limiting factors. The adapter simply passes a usable signal. And that signal's characteristics are determined by the router and modem.


All an adapter does is allow for the use of the signal, it does not increase strength or quality of the signal.


Obviously you have to have a fully compatible adapter.

Aug 24, 2023 6:44 AM in response to FormerWinslows

Adapters do just that .. they adapt two different ports in the case of a Mac and its peripherals. Adapters do not generate or change a signal, those are far more complicated devices. For instance you use an adapter to connect a USB-A cable to a USB-C port.


Hubs and docks are adapters of a sort, but they contain chips and circuitry that do more than simply remap the wiring.


What you are showing has a signal icon on it, antennas and a means to either generate or strengthen the signal and to rebroadcast that signal or to accept the signal and use it. That is not an adapter, that's a device capable of changing the signal's basic characteristics in one way or another. True adapters do not do that.


Don't let advertising jargon define what a device is. What it does defines what it is, and more than likely the person writing the ad campaign is not an electronics expert. And very likely is translating one language into another. The term "Lost in translations" applies many times more than we realize.

Aug 24, 2023 8:08 AM in response to FormerWinslows

You would be better served (and preserve your portability) by moving your Router closer, adding an additional access point to boost your received signal at home, or running an Ethernet cable (with adapter for that model MacBook Pro.)


I live "in the woods" but my home is solid masonry construction, and has wire lath behind the plaster. it is a wi-fi 'dead zone'. I am up to 5 access points, which I chose to implement as separate routers in 'bridge mode' (DHCP turned off to make them access point only.) I have the luxury of using the whole wi-fi spectrum, because I have no competition from neighbors. You may not have that luxury, or perhaps there will be no competition in your 'fallout shelter' room.


For typical cable-TV setup. the cable-Modem/Router combo unit can connect to ANY cable tap in your home, you might just need different cable splitters.


if you have separate cable-modem and Router, you can run Ethernet cable between the two devices, up to a football field long. If Ethernet cabling is onerous, you could use Ethernet-over-Powerline devices, but setup can be sometimes take extra work in the US with typical 120 volt 2 phase wiring.

Aug 24, 2023 8:04 AM in response to FormerWinslows

Research and check the specs. You may have to contact the developers for a definitive answer.


Your main focus should be on correcting this: "We've get a pretty low spec router/modem setup". With advancing technology, low spec will shortly become very low spec and so on with time.


To "keep up with the times" I've found it necessary to upgrade both router and modem about every 3-4 years if not sooner. If I don't, I can still use the ISP signal, but sooner or later your ISP is likely to tell you to upgrade to use their equipment. I've had that happen with Comcast. Nothing happened when I didn't upgrade right away, but the curve of ever expanding capabilities is quite steep and frankly I wanted to "future proof" our LAN as far as possible.

Aug 24, 2023 2:27 PM in response to ku4hx

It's not a "signal booster."


https://www.alfa.com.tw/products/awus036acm?variant=39477234597960


The manufacturer describes it as an "802.11ac AC1200 High-Speed USB Adapter". It is a network interface card (NIC) that presents itself to a computer as a USB peripheral.


It's unusual that an external WiFi NIC would have such huge antennas (even they are detachable, and their use is presumably optional). Most people wouldn't want to add large antennas to their desktop setup, let alone attempt to juggle a notebook and an external WiFi NIC which had large antennas.


But all WiFi NICs have to generate and receive radio signals. The huge antennas might help this one to get a good connection in environments where the signal from the access point is weak, and clients with unobtrusive antennas are having a hard time connecting.

WiFi dongle for MacBook Pro M2

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