D-Link DWA-556 Xtreme N PCI Express Desktop Adapter by D-Link
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Digital camera reviews of D-Link DWA-556 Xtreme N PCI Express Desktop Adapter
Digital camera Review: D-Link DWA-556 Extreme "N" Network Adapter Works Fantastic!
Summary: 5 Stars
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
Digital camera Review: D-Link DWA-556 PCI Express N desktop adapter
Summary: 4 Stars
Adding this to a computer is very straightforward if you have previous experience opening your box and adding a card. You need to first look at your computer board to make sure you can install a PCI Express receiver slot that fits this adapter. It took 5 minutes to install, and the setup using instructions included took an additional 5-10 minutes, moving very carefully and slowly. Instructions are well executed. Entire experience was painless and easy. Reception is good from D-Link DIR-655 Extreme N wireless router, but not at the speed I was hoping for. Traveling through a ceiling and one or two walls seems to prevent N speeds. Pretty much always at 54 Mbs speed, not anywhere near the possible 300 Mbs advertised. Using Comcast High Speed Internet cable connection, which has not been reliable in the last 1 month of installation. Goes out every couple of days or so. Needs to be unplugged from power, and reconnected and always comes back on. My previous 3 year old Belkin G router almost NEVER lost its connection, which has caused me concern. Only difference is that the G router was connected to a pc, and the N router was relocated and not connected to a pc. I don't think that configuration should affect the connection. So, the DWA-556 adapter is working fine, when the router is working, except I cannot get the anticipated N speed of "up to 300 Mbs".Digital camera Review: D-Link DWA-556 Xtreme N - A Very Good Router
Summary: 4 Stars
Since upgrading to this router, a lot of the distance-to-computer issues previously experienced are now resolved, but I was expecting an even greater distance capability based on some of the other reviews posted. I have 5 machines (3 laptops, 2 pcs) and a blackberry - using both N and G technologies.
Overall, a very well equipped router with all of the latest bells and whistles. Especially nice, was the guest network, which was easy to setup and worked great when we had a large house party. The second band only works in close range and seems to get used a lot more than would be initially expected.
For example, I am beta testing Starcraft2, transferring files between machines and wife is on video Skype all at the same time routinely. I see a minor performance hit on the game is about all and that is the pc farthest away.
The price was good too, I am very impressed with D-Link and think it is far superior to many of the other brands I have used in the past (and not just for the N technology). You won't go wrong with this one, unless you are pushing the distance from your router by more than 4 rooms.
Digital camera Review: D-Link DWA-556 matched to DIR-655 FAST n Easy
Summary: 5 Stars
Tired of the G I went back to trunk line ethernet off my D-Link DIR-655. Unsightly, and a trip hazard though super fast.... So I bought this DWA-655 matching 3 antenna tranciever to the 3 antenna router... Didn't even need the CD. Though the instructions say not to let the system discover it. Microsoft had the drivers, the system recognizes itself. No headaches... let it roll.
I will buy another for the other system pieces as I go...
Digital camera Review: D-Link Needs to Work on Their Software
Summary: 3 Stars
I have a D-Link 655 Xtreme N router, and it has worked very well. I decided to purchase an Xtreme N PCI-E network adapter (D-Link DWA 556) to make the most of the speeds these units were supposed to be capable of together. I purchased the DWA 556 through Amazon and had my son bring it to me in Thailand, as he was about to visit. I also purchased a D-Link DWA 130 Xtreme N USB network adapter. The DWA 130 has worked very well, for the most part. The DWA 556 has been another story.
To make a long story short, I had multiple problems installing the card and getting it to work. Some of these had to do with the bios, as my motherboard is about a year and a half old and it had issues with getting the pci-express slot to work. I (my son actually) was able to get the card to work after using a very good bios update utility from Asus. However, upon returning from a trip of a few days, the software for the card seemed to be acting up. It appeared at times to have difficulty making a secure connection with the router after entering the password, though I have Windows XP and this was apparently a known issue only with Windows 2000. If I disabled the card through windows, windows was unable to enable it. If I tried to open the connection manager, often the window would not open at all, so no adjustments could be made.
Inspired by the fact that the card had worked well for a brief period, I went ahead and updated the driver from the D-Link website. The updating process was not smooth at all. At times the update would hang up part way, but then still act as if it was installed later. When I tried again later, the installation went through, but terminated with a sign that told me there was no card to be found on the machine. A final installation seemed to be successful, but I was then unable to boot my machine at all. It would get to the Windows screen, then shut down and restart repeatedly. I first removed the card, but this did not help. Finally I booted in safe mode and removed all of the software for the DWA 556. At that point everything returned to normal.
When I called tech support, they said that my mistake was to have purchased the card in the US and then to have used it on a machine purchased in Thailand. They said my having taken the card out of the country also voided the warranty, so I am left with a loss of about $80.
I am not fully persuaded by the argument that the source of the problems was my using the card in a different region. Some of the problems I experienced were also mentioned in reviews of a similar card (D-Link 552) within the US with a US-made machine. An example would be the fact that at certain points when using the D-Link connection manager, the load on the CPU would be really high (in my case making for a whine from the computer that was very hard to tolerate or work with). Furthermore, some of these problems, like getting the connection manager to open up, also occurred with an older D-Link wireless G network adapter that I had purchased in Thailand.
Since I am not an expert in these matters, I cannot thoroughly assess the idea about using parts in a different region. I feel I have to give D-Link the benefit of the doubt there. I do want to say this, however. Why don't the makers of these products spend more time on developing decent software? If you read online reviews of supposedly high-end network adapters (D-Link as well as others), you wouldn't really want to buy ANY of them. Often the problems appear to be in the software. To summarize my own experience, my D-Link software was unable to work fluidly with two different adapters from D-Link (one a card and one as USB backup). The connection manager for the DWA 556 overloaded the CPU. Often I could not get the connection manager to open up at all. Finally, I had problems several times getting through the password stage on a secure connection (with a very good D-Link router).
I would like to urge big companies like D-Link to ease up on the breakneck race to make new products available at an ever faster pace, and instead start offering software that is fully tested, reliable, and easy to work with. This would save many earnest computer users hours of figuring and trying things out, when their technicians and developers should be doing that work in advance.
I give this product a three because I think it probably can work well given the right conditions, but I feel the software is really poor.