Home > Consumer Reviews > D-Link DWA-556 Xtreme N PCI Express Desktop Adapter

I use it with the D-link DIR-655 router (another product I wholeheartedly recommend) and it works perfectly. I can stream video with a reliable wireless connection that doesn't constantly peter out like those other manufacturers. Plus I don't have to worry about more adapters clogging up my desktop. Always on, always fast, and great range; what more could you want out of your wireless adapter?

I don't have much to write about this great product except to say that it works 110% to the good, has no obvious faults or problems, achieves close to 300Mb/s speed without tweaking, fiddling around, or special configuration, and overall is not to be feared as a PCI-Express network adapter. I was using its PCI equivalent, the DWA-552 "N" Adapter for almost 2 months with similar success, and was forced to start using the PCI-Express variety because I started using twin EVGA GTX-285 video cards in the PC, and lost the PCI slot in the process. This is an install it, and forget it system, and works 100% seamlessly with any Vista 64-bit system. I've never booted the computer and not had wifi-it just simply works every time, without fail, no questions asked!

There's a green activity light on the back of the device that blinks off, and on whenever the signal is being accessed, which is 100% of the time, so it's blinking a lot but it's not annoying at all. The three "antenna" that stick out the back of the unit are flexible and can point up at a 45-degree angle to acquire the signal better. The adapter is small, only weighs a few grams, certainly less than 4-ounces or so, and takes up very little space in the PCI cavity of the computer, a plus.

I just used the drivers off the original CD ROM, never even bothered with the D-Link web site and the "latest drivers" which I guess should be done at some point, but I'm having zero problems with the adapter so I've been reluctant to test fate and change a thing at this point.

That's about it for my review of this product. It works, it's simple to work with, install, there is no maintenance or trickery needed to get it functioning 100% with a Vista 64-bit system, so I recommend it highly and give it my 5-Stars Seal of Approval: ***** !

Wavey Davey 7-26-2009

This is one of the few PCIe wifi cards on the market and it is draft 2.0 802.11n compatible as well (with latest firmware update).

After my neighbor installed a pre-draft 2.0 802.11n access point (which was blowing my connection out of the water on a regular basis) I purchased this card to replace a 802.11G ethernet bridge I had been using for the past few years. This new adapter seems to be solid and gives better throughput as well.

I recommend this product to anyone with a legacy-free desktop (i.e. no standard PCI slots) who wants a draft 2.0 802.11n wifi adapter.

I recently bought a desktop computer without a wireless card thinking I was going to wire it directly to the router. When it arrived I decided to install the computer in a separate room from the router and therefore needed to use a wireless adapter. I had a Belkin USB adapter already and tried to install it on the new computer with Vista Home Premium 64. After several frustrating hours and multiple driver downloads and visits to online forums I still could not get the adapter to recognize my network. I then decided to go with an internal wireless card. Since my computer only has PCI express slots available this seemed to be my only choice. I ordered it Thursday morning (payed up for overnight shipping) and it arrived the following day. I opened the computer, installed the card in < 5 minutes. I booted up the computer and Vista asked me for a driver. I downloaded the latest driver from D-link site to my flash drive. Inserted the flash drive in my computer, added my MAC address to my router, entered my security password AND I WAS ON THE INTERNET. Not only that but the speed seems excellent. I cannot express how happy I am with a product that works as advertised and was so easy to install. Thank you D-Link!!!!

Installed with Windows Vista 32 Business SP1
Immediately recognized, best connection ever.
Do not use D_Link driver, just make sure you are connected to Internet via LAN and the OS will automatically choose the driver.