Hot USB wireless adapters

[cuzzzzzz]

Hi.. networked two desktop computers to my main router-ed computer with wireless USB adapters (Trendnet TEW-424UB). They both installed seamlessly (one with XP, one with Win98SE) and work well with an "excellent" signal, but both adapters get quite warm (one apparently more than the other) to the touch... the metal parts are hot. Is this normal? They're both connected to the computers via the short USB extension cords that they came with.

I emailed Trendnet re the problem, but all I got back was a boiler-plate response on how to get an RMA (a complicated "return everything, receipt, pay-for-shipping, we refuse anything not perfectly sent, and you may get a refurbished one back" answer). The adapters are less than a month old.

They do work well, however.

Thanks for any insight,

cuzzzzz

[mbossman2]

well, there is electricity flowing thru the adapter so it is bound to generate some heat...hot to the touch would concern me.

[cuzzzzzz]

mbossman2.. thanks for reply. BOTH adapters get quite warm, so maybe normal for this item? Both work fine. When I disconnect the adapter from the extension, and touch the metal part of the USB, that's what is really warm.

Hate to go through the ridiculous RMA procedures for both only to get two others that behave the same (no money refunded). Maybe I'll buy one of another brand (netgear, iogear, etc) and see how it behaves. Can always use it for one of my kids or grandchildren.

Thanks again.
cuzzzzz

[mbossman2]

I personally am not a big fan of USB wireless...it can be flaky and is a resource pig.

it would explore dedicated NIC

[cuzzzzzz]

OK.. thanks. No problem for me.. i build my own.. just took the easy route this time when I decided to network. They are working fine, though.

cuzzzzz

[cuzzzzzz]

mbossman2... I switched the TrendNet adapters, and the one that got the hottest on one computer is now the cooler one, so appears that the USB port on the different computers is a factor in the heat. One of them is has the USB added by an Adaptec USB2 card, and the other (hottest) has the USB on the MB.

Thanks again,
cuzzzzz