D-Link DWA-160 Extreme-N Duo Dual-Band Draft 802.11n USB Adapter

by D-Link

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 3.5 x 1.5 x 0.5 inches ; 7.2 ounces
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S.
• ASIN: B00127OVHI
• Item model number: DWA-160
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (68 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank:
  • #89 in Electronics > Computers & Add-Ons > Networking Products > Network Adapters > USB Network Adapters
• Date first available at Amazon.com: January 4, 2008

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The D-Link Xtreme N Dual Band USB Adapter (DWA-160) is designed for users looking to get a reliable wireless connection that can handle High-Definition (HD) video streams throughout the house. This is achieved by using the DWA-160 together with an 11n dual band router (D-Link DIR-855 or DIR-825 recommended).

Key Features

See larger image.

• Wireless N connectivity for superior wireless performance, clarity, and coverage

  

• Dual-band Wireless N connectivity for enhanced throughput

  

• Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) for secure, simple 1-button setup

  

• Backward compatible with 802.11g devices including game consoles and digital media players
• Access a secure wireless network using advanced WPA or WPA2 encryption

Benefits Of Dual Band

The dual band N technology in the DWA-160 supports selectable 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz wireless signals. This allows you to check e-mail and browse the Internet using the 2.4 GHz band or stream HD movies and other media on the 5 GHz band. The 5 GHz wireless band is the best technology available for wirelessly streaming HD videos across your network. It achieves this by operating in a clear wireless band to help avoid interference that may slow down and limit the range of current wireless technologies like 802.11g*. The DWA-160 is also backward compatible to 802.11g, which means it can be used in existing 802.11g networks.

Easy To Set Up, Easy To Use

The D-Link Quick Adapter Setup Wizard guides you step-by-step through the installation process. Configure this USB adapter without having to call a networking expert to help you. The DWA-160 features a Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) Push Button for easy connection to a wireless network. The D-Link Wireless Manager is also included with this product to keep track of your most frequently accessed networks so that you can join them quickly and easily.

With unmatched wireless performance, reception, and security, the D-Link Xtreme N Dual Band USB Adapter (DWA-160) is the best choice for easily adding or upgrading wireless connectivity to your PC.

What Is Dual Band N?

Dual band N is the latest addition to the award-winning Xtreme N product family. The dual band technology in the DWA-160 supports 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz wireless signals. This allows you to check E-mail and browse the Internet using the 2.4 GHz band or stream HD movies and other media on the 5 GHz band. The 5 GHz band helps avoid interference by providing a clearer wireless band for HD file streaming.

What's in the Box

Xtreme N Dual Band USB Adapter, USB extension cradle, quick installation guide, CD-ROM with installation wizard and product documentation

* Maximum wireless signal rate derived from IEEE Standard 802.11g, 802.11a, and 802.11n specifications. Actual data throughput will vary. Network conditions and environmental factors, including volume of network traffic, building materials and construction, and network overhead, lower actual data throughput rate. Environmental factors will adversely affect wireless signal range. Wireless range and speed rates are D-Link RELATIVE performance measurements based on the wireless range and speed rates of a standard Wireless G product from D-Link. Maximum throughput based on D-Link 802.11n devices.

** Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) push button available on hardware version A2.

Product Description

The D-Link® Xtreme N Dual Band USB Adapter (DWA-160) is the latest addition to the award-winning Xtreme N product family. The DWA-160 is designed for users looking to get a reliable wireless connection that can handle High-Defi nition (HD) video streams throughout the house. This is achieved by using the DWA-160 together with an 11n dual band router (D-Link DIR-855 or DIR-825 recommended).

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars 300Mbps Connection Requirements! Please Read!, August 18, 2009

By 

Walter L. Williams "Cadman75" (Ocoee, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: D-Link DWA-160 Extreme-N Duo Dual-Band Draft 802.11n USB Adapter (Personal Computers)

I was unhappy with by Linksys adapter, I just purchase a extended warrenty on the adapter and I call tech support. They wouldn't help me; stating my router is out of warrenty. I decided to purchase all D-link products; Dir-825 router with the D-Link DWA-160 Xtreme N Duo Dual Band. Tech support was easy to reach and the tech directed me to the manual setting of the router, once there I had a idea from my research what to do and mention it to him. We followed the direction I got from [...] to the letter. I was only getting 130 Mbps with my adapter. I'm using Rev. A from Amazon.com with XP Professional. The only thing I did differently from the instruction I'm going to provide was to rename my network name by putting a "1" on the previous name so I would be sure to connected too the changed network. I'm running a total of three computer at the same time on the network and getting a very strong signal; the wireless connections are on the second floor of my house. You also would be safe to retype your password while in your manual setup. The instructions are as follows:

300Mbps Connection Requirements! Please Read!
« on: April 28, 2008, 11:21:08 AM »

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To have your Draft N wireless network connect at 300Mbps as it should, ensure that the following requirements are met.


1) The router and adapter are both D-Link 802.11N products and are using the latest firmeware/drivers. Ensure that the 802.11 Mode of the router has a 802.11N mode selected. Also if you have issues with mixed mode, try locking the 802.11Mode to either 802.11N Only or 802.11G/N.

2) If you are using encryption the router must be configured to use AES cipher. In some firmware versions/models, the only way to get the AES cipher is to run WPA2. If you can not select the Cipher, selecting WPA2 only will force this cipher type.

3) The channel width needs to be set to 20/40Auto, if it is not, the adapter will report a connection speed of 130Mbps. This is a feature that was added for compatibility with Intel 802.11N adapters, as they only operate on a channel width of 20.

D-Link reccomends that you use the D-Link Wireless utility, however the Windows Zero Config will also work.

Assuming you have met all of these conditions, you should see a 300Mbps connection speed with either the D-Link Utility or WZC.

Note: Not all Intel adapters are the same as D-Link's N line. Some Intel adapters do not support the broader 40 Channel Width option. This (by design) limits their connection speed to 130. Check the specifications of your Intel adapter to ensure that it is capable of bonding on the 40Mhz range to achieve the full 300Mbps.

23 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't possibly have been so simple!, September 6, 2008

By 

hyytekk - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: D-Link DWA-160 Extreme-N Duo Dual-Band Draft 802.11n USB Adapter (Personal Computers)

Like most DIYers and pseudo-geeks, I've learned that all "quick upgrades" are really Trojan horses; nervous breakdowns in a box. Days later and exhausted on the floor from error messages, tech guys with foreign accents saying that rebooting will fix everything after a 2 hour wait on a telephone cue before your call gets cut off mysteriously. So I usually take a week off, put on a sweat band and have sedatives in reach. I did due diligence and found this product to have relatively good reviews so picked it up. (Sorry Amazon, this one time Best Buy actually had a better price!) My home network connects a Tivo, SlingBox, Vista Laptop, voip telephone, all-in-one printer via an Apple Airport Extreme hub. This D-Link was to try to cut the wires on my XP desktop to distance the spaghetti of wires from external hard drives etc. and a tethered printer. OK, those details aside, I installed the drivers via the supplied CD, chose the "manual" installation choice, typed in the name of my network and security password....."great Scott, Marty"....it was on line in an instant! OK, this should be the norm in installing things. But we all know when it does happen, shock and awe wash over us like the "08" Beijing Olympics opening ceremony. My chin is back off the floor and life is returning to normal. What to do with all the time I cleared to do this? Maybe go to the beach. Oh wait, hurricane Ike will be here tomorrow. Well, I'll savor the moment and hope my house doesn't blow away and take my network with it. Highly recommended.

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars High Signal.. with major latency periods, needs work, February 11, 2009

By 

Kyle A. Smith (Round Rock, TX) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: D-Link DWA-160 Extreme-N Duo Dual-Band Draft 802.11n USB Adapter (Personal Computers)

Annoying, purchased after acquiring a DLINK DIR-825 with the intention to move to a full 802.11n network. Easily installed drivers and Vista x64 worked with no crashes... But every 60 seconds of connectivity there is a large lag of 2-4 seconds of non-responsiveness when on either the 2.4GHz or 5GHz bands (and same on Vista64 and Windows XP). I thought it was the router, but changed it out with another companies 802.11n router and the network connection still exhibits the lag. So no gaming and no streaming media over the 802.11n adapter.

Openned tickets with DLINK and have either 'move your router' response (when I thought the DIR-825 router was the issue, and not very helpful when I explicitly said the router and adapter where in line of site less then 10ft apart) with no followup to my reply or no response what-so-ever (when I opened a trouble ticket specifically about the DWA-160). Poor DLink, poor product.

Wish I could return both of the DWA-160's...