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

by D-Link

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B000068UY7
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (145 customer reviews)
• Date first available at Amazon.com: June 3, 2002

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

The DWL-650+ is an enhanced 802.11b CardBus that is fully compatible with the IEEE 802.11b standard, making it interoperable with all existing 802.11b-compliant devices. Now you can transfer files or communicate up to 20 percent faster than with earlier 802.11b solutions, even when connected to a standard 802.11b network. When you're connected to other D-Link AirPlus products, the performance is even greater--up to 22 Mbps. The DWL-650+ also features 256-bit WEP encryption, giving you a higher level of security for your data and communications.

The D-Link AirPlus DWL-650+ also includes a configuration utility to discover available wireless networks and create and save detailed connectivity profiles for those networks accessed most often. The DWL-650+ is a powerful 32-bit CardBus adapter that installs quickly and easily on laptop PCs, and, when used with other D-Link AirPlus products, automatically connects to the network. And all D-Link wireless adapters can be used in ad hoc mode to connect directly with other cards, or in infrastructure mode to connect with a wireless access point for access to the Internet in an office or home network.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ok for home network, lousy support, PPTP VPN won't work, February 26, 2003

By 

StealthLS2 (Beautiful Northern New Jersey) - See all my reviews

This review is from: D-Link AirPlus DWL-650+ Wireless 22 Mbps PC Card (Personal Computers)

I've been running the D-Link AirPlus DI-614+ with a D-Link DWL-650+ wirless card for about 6 months.
The good:
Easy install (READ the instructions FIRST!)
Good connection quality and decent speed.
Worked great for sharing my cable modem for Internet access, file sharing across computers, printer sharing.
The utility that comes with the DWL-650+ card allows you to setup separate profiles for different wireless networks, a great convenience if you want to switch easily between home, work and Starbucks!

The bad:
The DWL 650+ PCMCIA failed after a few weeks.
Tech support was really bad, blamed everything but the card. After about a dozen e-mails & phone calls I finally got a tech to admit the card wasn't working since the indicator wouldn't even light up.
Replacement card required securing with my credit card and signing / faxing a 'cross shipment agreement' so they could ship immediately while my old card was being returned. Well they got my old card in a couple days but didn't ship the replacement for several weeks!
After finally getting the defective card resolved (2 months!!) everything worked again fun until ..
It wouldn't support my company's VPN connection through the wireless. (Wired connection does work though!) They're documentation says it supports PPTP VPN Pass through but after several more calls to their tech support, a bunch of configuration changes, the last tech finally said I 'had to understand that VPN requires too many packets for a wireless connection'. So why do my coworker's Linksys systems work fine then?!

Bottom Line:
It's fine for setting up a home network and sharing a broadband internet connection. But be wary if you need to do anything more sophisticated, especially if you ususally need support. Me? I'm buying a Linksys and selling the DLink stuff!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 22Mbps does make a difference! Good range too., December 11, 2002

By 

yum beans (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: D-Link AirPlus DWL-650+ Wireless 22 Mbps PC Card (Personal Computers)

I am going to say this again.
The 22Mbps does make a difference. I checked my throughput with NetIQ's Qcheck on my laptop (XP) with this DWL-650+ through a DI-614+ to my wired (10/100Mbps) PC (XP) and I get an average of 7.5 to 8Mbps. When I take that very same laptop to my work or a friends house that has just the standard 11Mbps Access Point and do the same setup (2 XP machines) I only get about 3.5 to 4Mbps max. The tests I've run show that XP seems to be a little better for speeds, I am not sure exactly why though.

This card, even though it can handle 22Mbps, can and does perform just fine in an 11Mbps 802.11b environment. D-Link just has a chipset that can modulate 802.11b signals more efficiently and thus gets the higher speeds than everyone else.

The range on this card is good and I've seen different results in different environments, obviously. I've been places where I have to be literally like within 50 feet from the Access point to receive a signal at all. I've been other places where I can roam as far as about 250+ feet indoor, and even further outdoors. I am not sure of all the equipment that was used in these situations, but I can only tell you my experiences and what I know.

To make a long story short I recommend this card and especially if you have or will get other D-Link equipment. Heck, even if you think you will come in contact with another 22Mbps D-Link product out there in wireless land I'd get it because even if it only one time you will see how much faster your speeds will be.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Quick Easy Install and Strong Signal Strength, September 5, 2002

By 

Richard - See all my reviews

This review is from: D-Link AirPlus DWL-650+ Wireless 22 Mbps PC Card (Personal Computers)

I bought this so I can finally have true freedom from wires with my laptop. I work a lot on the Internet and being plugged into my local LAN with a bright blue Ethernet cable isn't what I call freedom. I bought a D-Link Router (easy install as well) and once this card was installed it was able to see the router with the default settings. I was very pleased not having to configure this card further just to get myself connected to the Internet.

I notice no big downfall in speed on the Internet as compared to my previously wired setup. The signal strength is good through out my home and even some places outside. I can actually sit out on my porch and do my work on the Internet.

I am very pleased with every wireless networking device I bought from D-Link (3 products) and I would definitely recommend them to others.