
The D-Link control utility has a graphical status bar that shows the wireless signal strength, so it's easy to know when you've wandered too far.Īt 11 Mbps, the speed's plenty fast for most uses, like browsing the Web, accessing a file server, updating a database, etc. The manufacturer suggests a range of up to 328 feet indoors and up to 984 feet outdoors, and we found that to be a decent approximation of the maximum range you can expect. So, for instance, if you're separated from the access point by several thick walls, reception will be much poorer than if a glass partition is all that separates you. In general, we found that the construction of the walls between the wireless card and the access point had as much to do with reception quality as did distance. Of course, the card worked equally well in an office environment, letting us take our notebook from the conference room to the lunchroom without losing our network connection. We even could go outside on the patio and browse the Web from a chaise lounge. Using it in a two-story house, we were able to go from room to room, never losing our Internet connection. The printed manual and online help gave helpful guidance on getting the card installed and connecting to our network.Īs we tested our wireless setup, we reveled in the freedom the D-Link Air gave us. Once connected to the LAN, the little green LED on the end of the card stopped blinking, telling us we were good to go. Then, using the D-Link configuration utility, we configured it for our specific LAN. Windows XP immediately recognized the card and installed the drivers. We just ran the setup program from the included CD and plugged the card into an empty Type-II slot on our notebook PC. The DWL-650 installed easily, as a PCMCIA card should. Plus, as wireless networks continue spreading to hotels, airports, and even coffee shops, it will help you keep connected no matter how far you travel. 128-bit WEP data encryption for a secure wireless networkĪ notebook computer is all about portability, so why should your network cable keep you tethered to one place? The D-Link DWL-650 PC card Type-II 11 Mbps 802.11b wireless LAN adapter, known as the D-Link Air for short, gives you back your mobility, letting you connect to your home or office wireless network from whichever desk (or couch) you happen to be at.

D-Link DWL-650 Wireless Cardbus Adapter, 802.11b, 11Mbps Reviewsĭ-Link DWL-650 Wireless Cardbus Adapter, 802.11b, 11Mbps Feature
