Why You Can Trust CNET DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless CardBus Adapter review: DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless CardBus Adapter
DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless CardBus Adapter
Dong Ngo SF Labs Manager, Editor / Reviews
CNET editor Dong Ngo has been involved with technology since 2000, starting with testing gadgets and writing code for CNET Labs' benchmarks. He now manages CNET San Francisco Labs, reviews 3D printers, networking/storage devices, and also writes about other topics from online security to new gadgets and how technology impacts the life of people around the world.
2 min read
Review summary
The D-Link DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G wireless cardbus adapter comes in a simple package that includes a colorfully illustrated, intuitive quick-installation guide and a software CD. The extensive guide makes setup a breeze, but it may actually contain too much information. The DWL-G650 works with Windows 98 SE or later and requires one available Type II PC Card slot on your notebook.
You can use Window XP's built-in configuration utility to set up the DWL-G650 or use the included software. The D-Link utility provides information on your connection status and lets you view signal strength and transmission statistics in graphical form. You can also create network profiles and enable 64- or 128-bit WEP encryption. (Support for 802.1x authentication and the more secure Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) will be available as a firmware upgrade later this spring.) If you need more help, the CD contains an electronic version of the manual as a PDF file.
CNET Labs' tested the DWL-G650 using the DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G wireless router and got fairly poor results. The card delivered just 11.1Mbps of throughput in an 802.11g-only network. When we tested the card in a mixed network (802.11b and 802.11g), the D-Link operated at only 5.2Mbps, just a bit faster than the speed of a typical 802.11b card.
D-Link backs the DWL-G650 with a generous three-year warranty and 24/7, toll-free phone support. The company's Web site offers firmware updates, drivers, manuals, and FAQs.
Editors' note:
D-Link has released a firmware upgrade that significantly improves the performance of this product. Unfortunately, the D-Link DWL-G650 comes in multiple revisions, and the upgrade is not available for earlier revisions of the product. If the D-Link DWL-G650 you own has H/W:B1 or H/W:B2 on the back label, we recommend that you download the latest firmware from D-Link's site in order to take advantage of its performance enhancements. (October 24, 2003)
D-Link has released a firmware upgrade that significantly improves the performance of this product. Unfortunately, the D-Link DWL-G650 comes in multiple revisions, and the upgrade is not available for earlier revisions of the product. If the D-Link DWL-G650 you own has H/W:B1 or H/W:B2 on the back label, we recommend that you download the latest firmware from D-Link's site in order to take advantage of its performance enhancements. (October 24, 2003)
The D-Link DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G wireless cardbus adapter comes in a simple package that includes a colorfully illustrated, intuitive quick-installation guide and a software CD. The extensive guide makes setup a breeze, but it may actually contain too much information. The DWL-G650 works with Windows 98 SE or later and requires one available Type II PC Card slot on your notebook.
You can use Window XP's built-in configuration utility to set up the DWL-G650 or use the included software. The D-Link utility provides information on your connection status and lets you view signal strength and transmission statistics in graphical form. You can also create network profiles and enable 64- or 128-bit WEP encryption. (Support for 802.1x authentication and the more secure Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) will be available as a firmware upgrade later this spring.) If you need more help, the CD contains an electronic version of the manual as a PDF file.
CNET Labs' tested the DWL-G650 using the DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G wireless router and got fairly poor results. The card delivered just 11.1Mbps of throughput in an 802.11g-only network. When we tested the card in a mixed network (802.11b and 802.11g), the D-Link operated at only 5.2Mbps, just a bit faster than the speed of a typical 802.11b card.
D-Link backs the DWL-G650 with a generous three-year warranty and 24/7, toll-free phone support. The company's Web site offers firmware updates, drivers, manuals, and FAQs.