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My home network uses the D-Link DIR-825 router configured with a 2.4GHz network and a 5GHz network operating simultaneously. I did not catch this when I first ordered the card. It appears to connect to 802.11g over 2.4GHz with no problem, but no one should be paying $60 for a card that's stuck with 2.4GHz. I'm very disappointed in the way this product is marketed by D-Link. I hope that anyone else who is using an 802.11n router (with 5GHz support) reads this before purchasing this particular card. They omitted 802.11a because that operates using 5GHz. Note that I've gotten pretty good results with the DWA-160, but this review is focused on the performance of the DWA-643.
When I installed the device and drivers, I realized that the only networks the card could detect were those operating over the 2.4GHz frequency range. That's a real shame. No online review that I've read for this device mentions that it doesn't support anything on the 5GHz frequency. Terrible. Someone who bought this card with the intention of migrating from a mixed 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz network to a purely 802.11n network should send the card back ASAP, as you'll be very disappointed when you disable 2.4Ghz.
While this device supports 802.11n over 2.4GHz it does NOT support 802.11n over the 5GHz frequency. I assumed that an "Xtreme" card would actually operate over "REAL" 802.11n which is 5Ghz. When you look at the literature, note that the backwards-compatibility is limited to 802.11g and 802.11b. To limit confusion, I have named one "network G" and another "network N." Because I thought that the DWA-643 may offer better performance than the USB-based DWA-160, I ordered the DWA-643 unit from Amazon. The DWA-160 sees our 802.11n network operating at 5GHz AND a neighbor's newer 5GHz network.
What a waste of money but I have only myself to blame. I just went back to my built-in 802.11g card and have the DWA-643 in a drawer. Trust reviews at newegg Xtreme N Express Card AdapterI looked at the reviews at newegg and saw that this adapter had a problem dropping connection with the router, but I had a DIR-655 and other d-Link products and thought I should keep the configuration the same. Anyway, I emailed d-Link tech support and was told to update the firmware on the router, which I did, but it didn't help.
The seller was very responsive and helpful - granted an immediate refund incl shipping. It turned out I had selected the wrong item.
Saw no speed improvement over standard Wirless G connection, built into Dell Laptop and not dependable. Needs to be inserted multiple times and doesn't hold signal. Other reviews were correct. Read negative reviews but tried it anyways. Card does not start up each time with Vista.
Consequently I have quit using the adapter and gone back to the built in hardware in my notebook as it gives about 30% better reception and more speed than the internet permits anyway.This is my second attempt at upgrading to N spec, maybe someday N spec will live up to the hype.I wouldn't waste your money on this unless you don't have any other options. It reported faster speeds but I honestly couldn't tell the difference in actual usage.The other problem is that if anybody else logs on to the network with a G spec card (or lower) it drops the whole network down to that level. I upgraded my router to the N spec and eagerly looked forward to higher speeds and greater signal strength using this Express card adapter. I was able to get it setup and working only to find the signal strength worse than my built in G spec network adapter in my HP notebook.
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