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D-Link AirPlus DWL-650+ Wireless 22 Mbps PC Card

D-Link AirPlus DWL-650+ Wireless 22 Mbps PC Card

List Price: $59.99
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Product Info Reviews

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Rating: 4 stars
Summary: Simple install, fast(er) wireless
Review: Unlike the crummy experience I had configuring D-Link's matching 22Mbps WAP, installing and configuring this card was a breeze.

The "quick install" card was clear and concise (they must have fired the technical writer who produced the WAP documentation...), and things were up and running in minutes. The card works just fine under WinXP, and seamlessly switched back and forth from wired to wireless when appropriate. My only gripe is that D-Link's claims of range are maybe a bit exaggerated: I was geting 50% signal reporting from room away from the WAP, through an open door with no obstructions. This knocked down the available bandwidth a bit, but it still performed OK. Roaming the rest of the house led to the discovery of a few hot spots, as well as a few dead areas. I expected this, but it was a little more random than I would've thought.

In any event, I like the card, wireless is *the way* to go, and if only D-Link could get all of their documentation and configuration like this they'd have something to be proud of.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Doesn't work with Windows 98 First Edition
Review: I ordered this card for a HP Omnibook Laptop running Windows 98 (First Edition). The documentation included with the DWL-650+ card and on the D-link website listed Windows 98 as a supported OS. The card didn't work and after investigation (D-link website DWL-650+ FAQ) I determined that the only version of Windows 98 that the DWL-650+ card works with is Windows 98 Second Edition. I am returning the DWL-650+ and ordering a DWL-650.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Freedom - with fast connection too!
Review: My husband and I weren't coexisting well on our shared desk - so I opted for the dining table. Problem? Hated the CAT5 cabling running all over the house. Solution? When paired with the AirPlus 614+ router and wireless access point, this AirPlus 650W card freed me from the wires, and gave virtually the same fast cable internet connection I had with wires. Easy to install and to configure. The bonus is I learned that my hotels also have wireless connections in the lobby and bar area, I can "work" in a relaxed environment on the road with this card too! (Needs Texas Instruments chip in the router to get this fast access - check the specs at the D-Link web site.)

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: Great when it works, but seems prone to problems.
Review: This is an update to my earlier review below. I've since had two of these cards go bad on me, causing spontaneous reboots and lock-ups on booting (the only problems I've ever had with this ThinkPad running Windows XP!). I've tried the cards in two different laptops (one a Gateway, one an IBM) and the bad cards (I also have a good one) cause the same problems in both laptops, so it's definitely a problem with the cards, not the computer. D-Link replaced the first one (though it took about a month to get it, even with cross-shipping) and now I have to deal with them again to get this one replaced. It's a great card when it works, but I definitely will not be buying another one. From what I've read here in the reviews, these problems aren't uncommon, and may be a heat-related issue. Beware!

Original review:
I can't imagine much has changed in the week and a half since somebody complained about this card not working with XP, but be that as it may, it worked fine for me! There most certainly *are* XP drivers for the 650+ on the D-Link website (Perhaps you need to look a little more carefully...? I admit the D-Link site isn't obvious to navigate, but c'mon--it's not rocket science!) and they work perfectly. I got two of these, put them on two different laptops running XP and set up a peer-to-peer network using one of them as a router to my cable modem, all in less than half an hour, and I've never had any experience with wireless networking before, just regular Ethernet. It's easy, very fast, and the range seems pretty decent for just doing peer-to-peer. I'm happy with it, XP and all.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: It's okay, but not on XP
Review: The AirPlus 650+ works well on Windows NT. I upgraded my notebook to Windows XP, however, and it stopped working. That is, it would still connect to my access point so the card itself works. But the "D-Link AirPlus Utility" no longer sees the card--it says, "No card found." If I keep my access point on its default settings, everything is fine. But the AirPlus Utility is needed for setting up WEP (encryption), changing the default channel, etc. If the utility cannot see the card, then you cannot configure WEP; the only way you can use the card is by opening up your network to the world. Terrific. I see that D-Link offers an XP driver for its DWL-650, but not for the DWL-650+. What's up with that? I have tried a lot of kludges involving a lot of drivers to no avail. It would help things if D-Link would get their act together.

Bottom line: Avoid if you're on XP or thinking about going there.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: I'm Glad I didn't Listen to the BAD Press...
Review: In reading the reviews here I was concerned about the performance of this card. The price was right so I purchased it. I'm glad I didn't worry about the other negative comments about this card (and the partner wireless router I purchased too - DLINK DI-713P - they work great together!).

I've had this card installed about 4 weeks now. Installation was SIMPLE, just load the drivers off the CD and then stick the card in - EASY! The performance of the card has been great. I'm sitting outside on my patio typing this. I'm listening to MP3's stored on my main PC at the same time.

I've been all over the yard checking signal strength, and yes, it does drop here and there, but never lost the signal (including the MP3 playback). My wireless router is upstairs (2nd floor) and on the other side of the house. Everyhing is working just fine. I don't know what others expect, but this card has met my expectations (and I'm usually hard to please).

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great Product!
Review: It took me less than 5 min to finish the setup. The laptop w/ windows XP home works well with this card. I use a D-Link wireless gateway DI-713P for the net work. Even with 128bit encryption the signal strength and quality are always over 90% anywhere in the apartment. I can watch treaming video wirelessly the same quality as the other computer that directly connects to the gateway with cable.

My only concern is that the extended antenna sticking out of the computer frame could be broken accidently. But all of the PC cards are the same way anyway.

Rating: 5 stars
Summary: Great one!!
Review: It a good piece. Only thing I did not like is the card peeping out. I have to be careful when I keep inside the carrying case.
Otherwise I love the concept of getting rid of the messy LAN cables and you can carry your internet connection when you move from one room to another.

Rating: 1 stars
Summary: Poor performance - doesn't work out of the box Win 98 se
Review: The DWL-650+ hads many short commmings, including abisimal performance. Instalation is is falt riden under WIN 98 SE. (The aplication would not complete the install.)I downloaded version 1.3 of the application from the D-link site. installed OK.
Finally up and running, but stinky through put at 3 feet less than 1 Mb, zero throughput at 20 foot, My Socket communications CF 802.11b card is faster 11 Mb using same Dlink DI-713P router. I hope a firmware rev changes thingselse back to the MFG.

One spot of good news; Tech support answered on the third ring (800 number) very knowledgeable... But alas, this product is only supported by a special D-link second level support contact.

Rating: 2 stars
Summary: all hype not action
Review: this wirless card performs quite poorly. First off, it has its own propreitery client software which contradicts the signals strenght that xp displays. The transfer rate is not impressive at all. The highest transfer rate I got was 6 MB and the wirless ap was right next to it ! Its all hype. The only impressive thing about it is the performace under wep when used with the 614+ router... no noticable perfromace drop at all.


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