Anyone who uses a Wi-Fi connected notebook on a regular basis will most probably be able to tell you about the occasional connectivity issue.
Most of the time this isn’t really a big deal, but due to the current COVID-19 pandemic and the ever increasing need to use the likes of Zoom, Google Hangouts, Skype, etc., then a dodgy Wi-Fi connection can become a major issue.
In my case, my son had just purchased a new 15.6 inch ASUS C523NA Chromebook for college, the majority of which, would be done online via Microsoft Teams.
Now considering he would be sharing the Wi-Fi connection with two other people working from home, not to mention a multitude of other devices all connecting to Wi-Fi, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out that some Wi-Fi drop-out problems were just around the corner!
Therefore, we needed a more permanent – and by that I mean reliable – means of connecting to our fibre internet connection, so step forward the Anker PowerExpand USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter.
This lightweight and compact ethernet adapter was instantly able to turn the Chromebook’s USB-C port into an ethernet port and with it my son was able to enjoy a stable connection with high speed, although not quite up to the quoted product limit of 1 Gbps.
Another attraction of the Anker ethernet adaptor was its compact size, being just 5.2cm in length and 1.3cm wide, meaning it won’t take up much room on your desk and making it small enough to carry about when travelling.
The adaptor is made from aluminium and features a braided nylon cable between the ethernet and USB-C connectors, making it both study and lightweight.
Thus far, its been a great purchase and has certainly helped ensure that my son has an uninterrupted internet connection for his online college studies.
This review is based on the Anker PowerExpand USB-C to Gigabit Ethernet Adapter (Model Number: A8313) which was released on 8 July 2020.
At the time of writing, the adaptor could be bought on Amazon.co.uk for £16.99 with free next day delivery for Amazon Prime members.