Home > Consumer Reviews > D-Link DWA-130 Wireless N USB Adapter
D-Link DWA-130 Wireless N USB Adapter
See it at Amazon.com for $22.48Average Customer Rating
(3.0 out of 5)
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Most Helpful First | Newest First | + Share22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:
300Mbps on my local network!
(4 out of 5) by airfirehorse on Jan 9, 2008 (Outer Space)I assumed when I bought this adapter that I wouldn't actually see the top speed any time soon, but after buying a TrendNet N-wireless/Gbit LAN I am happy to say it actually works. My local connection tends to register between 130 and 300Mbps according to the pop-up bubble in my taskbar (if you display your connections there as I do, you can hold the cursor over them to see what speed you are getting at any given moment).
Previously, with a regular wireless dongle I was getting 54Mbps tops. What an improvement. Increased local speeds have meant quicker video streaming and file copying for me. You have to have a router (or I guess maybe a cable/DSL modem directly connected to your PC) that will get N-wireless speed to do this so it won't do you much good if you use an older technology 801.11B/G with this dongle. And your Internet speed is more a result of your service provider so it may or may not help with that. But more speed is always better to me.
I use this on my laptop and I often shut the laptop so that it goes into Standby. I have had no serious problems reconnecting after coming out of Standby. I think once or twice I have had to "Repair" my connection from the taskbar. I don't even bother to use the little USB "stand" that comes with it since I can directly connect this to one of my USB ports, but this brings up a negative: This adapter is too fat for me to plug anything into the USB port that is adjacent to it. It's simply too wide. Unfortunately, especially on laptops where space is at a premium, the USB ports are not spaced well enough. I guess if I were traveling with the laptop that might become an issue since I might actually need all 3 of my USB ports and not want to carry around that little stand, but I think the compromise is worth it for the speed.
There is an amber light on the top of this dongle that goes on and off with network activity. Another negative that most other people may not have a problem with is that 2 out of 3 of my laptop USB ports are upside down. I have no idea why it was designed that way, but if I use those other 2 ports I obvioously can't see the light on the adapter. I like to know what's going on so this is not optimal for me.
Other than those two very system-specific issues, I love this adapter. It was easy to install with good directions (you have to run the CD prior to attaching it for a smoother install) and it appears to perform beautifully on my WinXP SP2 laptop.
Previously, with a regular wireless dongle I was getting 54Mbps tops. What an improvement. Increased local speeds have meant quicker video streaming and file copying for me. You have to have a router (or I guess maybe a cable/DSL modem directly connected to your PC) that will get N-wireless speed to do this so it won't do you much good if you use an older technology 801.11B/G with this dongle. And your Internet speed is more a result of your service provider so it may or may not help with that. But more speed is always better to me.
I use this on my laptop and I often shut the laptop so that it goes into Standby. I have had no serious problems reconnecting after coming out of Standby. I think once or twice I have had to "Repair" my connection from the taskbar. I don't even bother to use the little USB "stand" that comes with it since I can directly connect this to one of my USB ports, but this brings up a negative: This adapter is too fat for me to plug anything into the USB port that is adjacent to it. It's simply too wide. Unfortunately, especially on laptops where space is at a premium, the USB ports are not spaced well enough. I guess if I were traveling with the laptop that might become an issue since I might actually need all 3 of my USB ports and not want to carry around that little stand, but I think the compromise is worth it for the speed.
There is an amber light on the top of this dongle that goes on and off with network activity. Another negative that most other people may not have a problem with is that 2 out of 3 of my laptop USB ports are upside down. I have no idea why it was designed that way, but if I use those other 2 ports I obvioously can't see the light on the adapter. I like to know what's going on so this is not optimal for me.
Other than those two very system-specific issues, I love this adapter. It was easy to install with good directions (you have to run the CD prior to attaching it for a smoother install) and it appears to perform beautifully on my WinXP SP2 laptop.
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
Rock Solid Out the Box
(5 out of 5) by wanderingtaoist on Jan 25, 2008 (Kansas City, MO United States)Installed within just a couple minutes. Allowed to totally mypass my internal wireless card which is stuck at 11 Mbps, 802.11b and WEP only, and worked only half the time. I was considering getting a whole new laptop.
Don't worry if you don't have a 2.0 compliant usb. I don't and I still connect at between 162 and 243 Mbps. I should mention that I have the D-Link DIR-615 which is 802.11n compliant, so compatibility issues were nil.
It comes with its own cradle or you can plug it directly into the usb slot.
Even though it's small, it's still a bit bulky as it sticks out on the side and if you're mobile with it, you'll have to careful you don't bump or hit it.
Overall I'm very impressed. I didn't expect this kind of performance from a usb adapter over 1.1 usb at that.
Don't worry if you don't have a 2.0 compliant usb. I don't and I still connect at between 162 and 243 Mbps. I should mention that I have the D-Link DIR-615 which is 802.11n compliant, so compatibility issues were nil.
It comes with its own cradle or you can plug it directly into the usb slot.
Even though it's small, it's still a bit bulky as it sticks out on the side and if you're mobile with it, you'll have to careful you don't bump or hit it.
Overall I'm very impressed. I didn't expect this kind of performance from a usb adapter over 1.1 usb at that.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
Beware: not for 64-bit Vista
(2 out of 5) by E. Robbins on Feb 22, 2008 (NJ)the ad and product details include Vista - not 32-bit Vista only. Big surprise! bad surprise!
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
Do NOT purchase if usinf Windows XP SP3
(1 out of 5) by Scott on Jan 18, 2009I purchased this product and spent multiple hours trouble shooting why it wasn't working. After being cut-off after 15-minutes of worthless trouble-shooting with a technician on D-Links less-than helpful service lines, I dialed back in I was told by the next person that they do not support Windows XP SP3 and I was out of luck. No option but to set my PC back to SP2.
I rate the product a zero, and couldn't be more disappointed in this purchase. I also purchased the DIR-655 router, and wish I would have stuck with Linksys for both products.
Scott
I rate the product a zero, and couldn't be more disappointed in this purchase. I also purchased the DIR-655 router, and wish I would have stuck with Linksys for both products.
Scott
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
Beware if you have 64-bit Vista!
(1 out of 5) by J. Floyd on Mar 25, 2009What they don't tell you is that they only make drivers for 64-bit Vista for the Revision B and C versions of the adapter, and apparently there is no way (at least that I've been able to find) to order a specific revision. Plus D-Link's policy is to not do exchanges if you have the wrong revision; they only do exchanges if an item is broken - I called D-Link to try and find out and had to explain the problem THREE times before they told me I couldn't trade it. I ordered one through a local business who didn't know about the different revisions, got an A, and they can't return it or order a specific revision. Another store I called told me they couldn't order a specific revision, either.
So if you have Vista, I'd only recommend purchasing if you have the 32-bit. I'm now looking for an adapter I can use with a Motorola SB5101 and a D-Link DIR-615 that I can find 64-bit Vista drivers for without having to worry about getting the right revision of the adapter.
So if you have Vista, I'd only recommend purchasing if you have the 32-bit. I'm now looking for an adapter I can use with a Motorola SB5101 and a D-Link DIR-615 that I can find 64-bit Vista drivers for without having to worry about getting the right revision of the adapter.