What Is A WiFi Dongle? What Are the Pros & Cons of WiFi Dongle?

You can use a dongle to connect to the Internet when you're on the go. It is lightweight and easy to use. What is a WiFi dongle? Keep reading to learn more about this pocket-size device and its pros and cons.

WiFi dongle meaning

What Is A WiFi Dongle? 

First off, it is crucial to understand what is WiFi and what is WiFi short for. 

WiFi is short for “wireless fidelity”, a wireless networking technology that connects devices to the Internet, including computers (laptops and desktops), mobile devices, and other equipment (printers and video cameras). 

WiFi stands for wireless fidelity

So what is WiFi dongle? It is a small and portable WiFi USB stick plugged into laptops, smartphones, or tablets to enable Internet access when you're away from your home. 

It acts as a portable Internet modem and connects to the Internet when inserted into a computer. 

The WiFi dongle is compatible with laptops or computer

How Does WiFi Dongle Work?

Dongles connect and communicate with the software or devices they are intended to be used with when you plug them into USB ports on computers. 

By serving as an interface, the dongle enables communication and data exchange between the computer and the hardware or software.

How WiFi dongle works

Read also: What is Wifi 4?

Pros And Cons Of WiFi Dongle 

Pros 

It allows you to access the Internet from anywhere, such as on vacation, traveling, in a coffee shop, train, park, or at work. It is also lightweight and compact enough to carry around. If your dongle plan allows, you can even use it abroad. 

Also, it's easy to use due to plugging it into a USB port on your devices. Short-term contracts and pay-as-you-go options are available, making it ideal for temporary connectivity.

There is no need to charge because it gets your laptop's power. It's portable to have on hand if your Internet connection goes down. You can still access the Internet at high speed. Take a WiFi speed test on your laptop if you are using a WiFi dongle for checking. 

In locations where fixed-line broadband is slow or unstable, this device can provide you with an Internet connection.

The WiFi dongle is portable and flexible 

Cons

Your device can not use a WiFi dongle if it doesn't have a USB port. Thus, a dongle can be only compatible with a laptop, not a tablet, ebook reader, or mobile phone.

At any given time, it can only connect to one device. You'll need MiFi instead if you wish to connect additional devices.

What’s more, it's more expensive and slower than fixed-line broadband. Besides, its downloads and the range of receiving a good 4G signal are limited.

What are the drawbacks of WiFi dongle 

When To Use A WiFi Dongle 

If you can not connect WiFi at shared workspaces, cafés, or coffee shops, a dongle for Internet access can be useful.

Fiber broadband is rapidly becoming the norm worldwide, as it delivers ultrafast Internet speeds to your house and allows you to connect to the Internet quickly. If you don't have available fiber broadband, you can use a WiFi dongle to access the network. 

Dongles can be a great choice for accessing the Internet on buses and trains if you commute to work. Plug it in, and you're ready to go if you're in an airport with many crowded WiFi sites. You can always connect with a dongle without looking for a WiFi hotspot or asking for a password.

When should you use a WiFi dongle?