Customer Reviews

Belkin F5D6020 Wireless Notebook Network Card

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(12)

 

 

I did not have any problems setting this up on my notebook. I followed the directions (very carefully) and ShaaZamm! I was connected and walking all over the house. The cats thought I was nuts and my wife laughed at seeing me carrying the notebook outside, out the door and halfways across the street. Works for me. 8^)

...I normally use a D-Link DWL-650+ but couldn't pass up the chance to get a backup wireless adapter for really, really, really cheap (it would be a backup for my wife's laptop too). After reading the reviews, I was worried about being able to use it and having to take it back. However, I pressed on and installed it on my laptop which has Windows XP Home on it. The first time I tried to install it, I didn't follow the directions closely and got the same error message others have mentioned. So, I uninstalled the driver and started over...this time following the directions (I even used the drivers on the CD). Lo and behold everything went smoothly and I was on the network. I use a D-Link DI-614+ Wireless Router which operates at up to 22 mbps and has encryption enabled...still worked fine. The wireless card does not have the range of my other card, but enough to justify keeping it. As to some of the longer term concerns expressed by others, I cannot comment...I'll just have to see.

In all, I don't doubt others have had trouble...but I would caution potential buyers that the quality of their experience is likely to be a function of being able to follow directions carefully and having modest expectations.

i must admit it gave me the headaches at the beginning.. but then i read that there was an XP Driver on Belkin's website.. so I downloaded and installed it IT WORKS!!!!!!!!....Try it...

One word: Junk. Card would only maintain connection with my D-Link DWL-1000 WAP for a few minutes before suddenly losing signal. Signal strength fluctuated between 20% and 45% and signal quality was always decent...but just coudn't maintain a continuous conversation with the WAP. Every couple mins I would get a message on my screen saying the "Wireless Access Point could not be found." When I plugged my D-Link wireless notebook card back in, it worked perfectly...same signal strength, but it never lost the connection. BTW, also bought a Belkin USB wireless adaptor for an old Win98 machine and the installation CD was practically useless. Had to install drivers manually (and even that wasn't straightforward); luckily I know a bit about PC's. A novice would have been completely stumped. Overall, I am not impressed with Belkin at all. Will stick to D-Link.

I bought this wi-fi card for a Dell laptop running Win98. It communicates just fine with my D-Link 713P wireless router. I'm no techie, but it was easy to get this card up and running. And that's what I was looking for. I recommend this card.

After hours of trying to get this card (version 1) to work with my win2000 laptop I finally in a desperate attempt installed the driver for the Compaq WL100, which is also based on the PRISM-2 chip set. To my astonishment it WORKED !! For the first time my card connected to the access point. After this I could use the Belkin configuration utility to configure wep etc. Moral of the story: do not use the Belkin driver and things will work out fine. Thumbs up for compaq, definite thumbs down for Belkin ...

Seriously - with all the terrible reviews regarding wireless notebook cards in general, it's surprising that this form of networking ever caught on.

I was very reluctant to try any of the cards, until I saw this one was discounted down to just under $10...I figured, worst case scenerio, I'm out just the $10...on the other hand, if it works, it would certainly increase the value of my laptop...

When I say that installation was a breeze, I mean, it was just as simple as pushing the card into the slot..Windows XP detected the card and found the drivers on the CD, and literally, within 30 seconds, I was surfing the 'net. I was quite surprised to find that I live inside a 'hotspot', being that there is an 'internet cafe' within a block of my house.

That laptop has now become my primary computer, and I simply couldn't be happier -

*As a side note, I did use the software that Belkin sent with the card for about a day, and decided I liked the XP interface much better...but that's just personal preference...good work, guys!

Card installed, but never worked correctly. Tried upgrades from Belkin, had assistance from tech support. Nothing worked. This was on a Sony z505hs with windows 2000. Everything else works fine in this computer/pc card port, not the Belkin card.

I have the original of the three versions of this card. The chipset was changed, and it is confusing to figure out which driver works for the card. However, I have used it on several different laptops, under Windows NT, 2000, and XP. I have been disappointed with Belkin suport as the drivers seem to come and go on their site. Today, for example, the site does not list the model number, nor does it show a hit on a search for the model number, and they seem to have no drivers on the site, despite that I've downloaded drivers from there in the past.

Once installed the unit is more reliable than some better known brands I use. In particular, the unit will connect with access points even when I have had trouble with other brands such as Linksys, Proxim, Alvarion, TrendNet and D-Link for the same access points. Overall, you need to search for drivers, but once it is installed correctly it works great.

One particular probem is that the card and drivers do not suport WPA or WPA2 security encryption, only WEP. If you are using this anywhere you need encryption then you will need to use a VPN, since WEP is no longer an adequate encryption method.

i bought this wireless card and it was shipped the next day.

it was the easiest install ever. I'm in college and my onboard Wireless card was horrid. Never connected to the wireless access points here. I installed this and I have yet to find a place it doesn't connect. I highly recommend this card. Yes it is only a B rather than a G. but how many places can afford an internet connection capable of producing the high speed. so for a home wireless network I would say this card is perfect.

I loved the price!!!