D-Link DWA-130 Wireless N USB Adapter Reviews

• 300Mbps on my local network!

  
  By A1RG4WKNMPYS4X on 2008-01-09
  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.
  
  

• Rock Solid Out the Box

  
  By A8EYY7L1IXMUQ on 2008-01-25
  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.
  
  

• Beware: not for 64-bit Vista

  
  By AO97OTN6KXKD0 on 2008-02-22
  the ad and product details include Vista - not 32-bit Vista only. Big surprise! bad surprise!
  
  

• The DWA-130 Solved My Networking Issues!

  
  By A3FD8J4DPA83LV on 2008-02-06
  I couldn't be happier with this little USB adaptor. It was a breeze to set up and works better than I'd expected (especially compared to the Linksys WUSB54GSC it replaced).
  
  Initially I connected this to my a Linksys WRT54GX4 802.11g access point. Though positioned identically to the my original Linksys USB wireless adaptor, the D-Link DWA-130 often reported 100% singnal strength and data transfer rates were almost always right at 54Mbs. This where the Linksys adaptor had conectivity issues and often reported speeds of 1 to 5.5Mbs.
  
  I recently upgraded the access point to a D-Link DIR-655. Once again, a breeze and now (for about what I spent on the Linksys components) I've gone from sub-10Mbs connecton speeds to speeds typically between 117Mbs and 130Mbs! This was the best $182 I've spent in awhile!
  
  

• Right for the job

  
  By A1UGTP349VSLEN on 2008-04-06
  I use my laptop at work on a wireless network that recently upgraded to the latest "N" technology. Bought the D-Link adapter based on the price and reviews. I had it up and running within about ten minutes. The instructions for install were helpful and clear. The only downside is the size. The adapter is bigger than most USB add-ons (such as a USB mouse) and blocks any adjacent USB port. There is an included wired USB cradle for the times when you need to use your other USB port. One other caution is that the adapter gets quite warm after extended use. Not sure if that is normal for this type of adapter. So far it works great!
  
  
• GOOD d-link Product
  By AZKBV3NJQHIHB on 2008-05-25
  I honestly don't like D-link products buttt The cheaper usb adapter draft N that I found was this one IN a local store so I went and bought one.. it has a good signal reception... I use it on a VERy VERYYY old PC running Xp professional and where other usb adapters had 0% signal this unit had 44% of the signal...Then I went and change it for the DWA-140model which says it comes with range booster but it had the same signal strength than the DWA-130 and for 20$$ more so I went Again and changed it for the DWA-130 and to get it work with 70-84% of signal I bought a 16ft usb cable extender and place it on a better place.... BUT IT is a very Good Choice... OHH very easy Setup!!!
  
  
• Good for PC but.
  By A20DZX38KRBIT8 on 2008-05-22
  My PC connected fine but it has no MAC support and is screwy with Vista (what isn't) Great product just watch the specs. D-Link is the best in Wireless ineternet.
  
  
• I get 130-150mbs speeds, but it gets hot!
  By A32GSADG132N75 on 2008-08-09
  What can I say, it works as advertised. Installation was simple: pop in the driver CD and begin installation. When prompted, plug in the adapter. Mine connected as soon as the installation was complete. After setting up WPA on the router, I plugged in the security key and reconnected. I did notice after a couple hours of use, the adapter was hot to the touch. I dont know what that means for its longevity. If it runs that hot all the time, it might break sooner rather than later.
  
  My only other beef is that there's nowhere to store the cap. It would've been cool if there was a lanyard or if you could put the cap at the back of the adapter like a pen. As it is, it could easily get lost. It's a minor annoyance and it doesn't affect the functionality, but I think dlink should consider this for their next version.
  
  Bottom line: it does what it claims in a pretty package. I get 130mbs connections consistently. That's more than twice my old adapter/router combination. Fyi, I also bought the dlink dir-655. Beware, the usb adapter does get hot.
  
  
• First generation wireless N adapter. Claims Vista compliant but read the fine print.
  By AT5X2CIZF86PC on 2008-08-27
  Found a lot of installation issues. You may have to read the d-link websites for new drivers and if you use Vista you will have to dig more. It's a wireless N but very basic. I would say it's a first class generation wireless N adapter.
  
  
• Works great
  By A2PMR2PIGWKCQ9 on 2008-09-09
  Gets excellent signal strength even when upstairs from the router - I was worried a usb dongle wouldn't get as good a signal as an adapter with multiple external antennaes but it does just fine. Installation was painless and if you have a newer router, it'll pretty much set itself up using the push to connect - basically you click a button on the adapter setup then click the push to connect button on your router and it will get the settings and connect itself. I have it connected to a linksys router with no problems, operating in a mixed G/N environment. It reports wi-fi thruput at 270mbps which is max for my router - I haven't benchmarked actual thruput, so I'm not sure if it really is getting that kinda speeds or not. Overall, it performs better than I expected, which often isn't the case with wireless products.
  
  
• Works like a charm
  By A1Y7R06XLD2NYA on 2008-09-28
  I just got the DWA-130 and initially I was surprised at the size. It is replacing a Belkin USB network adapter, and it is about the same width and thickness, but not as long. The cap, when taken off to plug in the adapter, doesn't have a place to go, so I assume that it will be lost in short time. It will probably go in the laptop bag and stay there.
  
  I am currently running Vista-32, and all I needed to do was plug the device in and Windows installer prompted me to load the CD for the device drivers. Once the drivers are installed, then it found my network, and here I am writing this review. I can't really test the blazing speeds that it promotes since I only have a G router at home. I will have to give an update when I get onto campus.
  
  At this time, there is a flashing red/orange light that shows that there are packets being transferred. Not bright, but there to let you know it is working. Somewhat warm to the touch, but that is to be expected. I can't say how long it will hold up, but I am going to keep it on the USB stand that came with the adapter, since my last adapter broke because it was plugged straight into the laptop and the adapter fell apart from all the abuse of it bending up and down.
  
  Easy install (for my system) and it being small enough to travel with makes this a wonderful adapter.
  
  
• Bad Customer Service, Good Product, (DOES NOT WORK ON x64 bit OPERATING SYSTEMS)
  By A3VEXU77ZTJ2OT on 2008-09-30
  I bought this device hoping to get Wi-Fi Connectivity, to my upstairs room. I recieved the product 1 day late, but when I got it took it out of the box. I tried installing it but the disk would not run! untill I used Administrator account. Then I installed it and The Software Didn't even detect the Adapter! Then after an hour, I called Customer service and Tech Support, but They were Clueless! They just told me to buy a new one and return this one WHICH I bought on amazon. Just to let you know, they the drivers, are not Compatible with x64 bit Windows XP Pro Edition, and x64 Bit Vista! Other wise I used on a laptop and it works great! Better reception too!
  
  
• Doesn't play well with Vista
  By A2HYBJO64JVU61 on 2008-10-23
  This is my first item review. I just returned this adapter, as it doesn't seem to work with Vista. Now, it could be that I got a bad adapter, but it would start to work and then just lose the connection. Also, the software that D Link provides is not compatible with Vista and the driver is not digitally signed. It took me quite a bit of research to figure out why the software kept failing to run... I did however get the DLink Xtreme router, and am so far very pleased with it, even though all my adapters are G...
  
  
• Ok product
  By A9BLACH3N9Y4 on 2008-11-17
  I've been using this adapter for several months. I've not been overly impressed with this device. When it connects to my D-link wireless N router it gets a decent speed (faster than wireless g). My problem is the software. It's been buggy. I installed it on a WinXP machine and it worked half of the time. I also installed the software on another computer that was a new computer that had Vista and had the same issues. The software is supposed to start up automatically when when the computer is turned on and make the connection to the router. This works 70% of the time. And when it doesn't, I have to double click the icon on my desktop, tell it to find the network and usually have to type in the password to make the connection. I shouldn't have to do this. There have also been times that after surfing for a while, I'll close the Internet Explorer and then my wireless connection just drops. I'll double click D-Link wireless icon, click on my network and tell it to make the connection and it won't respond. The software won't make the connection. My only option is to reboot the computer and then it works again. I hate the software that came with this device. D-Link has yet to update the software since the current release back in March 3, 2008. Maybe once they update the software, I'll change my opinion.
  
  
• Couldn't get it to work!
  By A2GFMHO56ISE5V on 2008-04-23
  The installation process didn't work as described in the manual (I use Win2000) and the connection to the access point was only very occasional (there were within inches of each other) so I gave up on this adapter after hours of frustration. Customer service spoke English well but was without a clue.
  
  
• d-link dwa-130 N USB rocks with D-Link Extreme N
  By AWAMERNKODQ8Z on 2008-05-01
  Use two USB on seperate machines with the DIR 655 wireless and have improved distance, speed and performance. Highly recommend.
  
  
• Just don't hibernate or plug in other device, or else...
  By A3GCXBBZ5M69QR on 2008-05-03
  Works great...until you hibernate. Then you have to unplug and plug several times before it works again. Also, I plug in my Canon camera and it stops being able to access the net. Stay away.
  
  
• Excellent Wireless USB Adapter
  By A43TUNSWJTNH5 on 2008-05-04
  I bought the D-Link DWA-130 wireless USB adapter to connect to my Linksys WRT160N router. It has been fantastic. It has never lost connection and maintains high connection speeds with high signal strength. I also like the USB extension cradle that is included in the box. It is a nice feature to be able to place the USB adapter wherever you would like.
  
  
• Couldn't Get to Work on Vista
  By A1CE171OWP5DPS on 2008-06-15
  I bought this for my relatively new Vista desktop. I didn't see anywhere that it wouldn't work on Vista. I even downloaded updated firmware from the internet.
  
  I tried multiple installations, precisely following instructions, and it just caused my system to crash. I eventually had to do a system restore.
  
  I finally relented and installed the adapter on an older XP machine. The result--an immediate loss in signal strength and some decline in transmission speeds (when compared to my older Linksys USB G adapter).
  
  
  
  
• Good, but not as good reception as laptop internal card
  By A1L6V3YR8CGU1R on 2008-06-18
  Works as advertised, and unless the wireless router is near, you'll probably need the usb extension dock that comes with it in order to get a good signal. No major problems thusfar.
  
  
• Doesn't work that great
  By A3BR34XYVI8AAL on 2008-06-21
  The D-Link DWA-130 Wireless N USB Adapter doesn't work that well. It has a very poor quality signal. I do not recommend this product.
  
  
• Good Buy
  By AFSL1CLQEYR6K on 2008-06-28
  I read up on many adapters before purchasing this one. It has worked consistently on my old Dell Latitude laptop running Windows XP. I am connected as we speak at 54 Mbps. I keep it plugged into the laptop at all times.
  
  I don't use the software that came with it, as I am weird and don't like a lot of software open.
  
  
• Not what I wanted...
  By A3UZJV53XPVCK0 on 2008-06-30
  I was hoping this pen could broadcast wi-fi signal, but it does not.
  It only does what it was built to do, extend your signal to you laptop or pc.
  It's an ok product, but since I already have a wireless device I didn't notice a difference.
  
  
• didn't last 3 hours
  By A2W17HWO2YSVC5 on 2008-07-10
  Bought the adapter from Amazon a couple of days ago and received it yesterday. Setting up was easy. You insert CD and follow the instruction of installation of driver. It was fast while it's working. But around three hours after installation, I noticed my network is not connected and found out the adapter was simply dead - light is off and computer does not recognize it any more. This is third time I experienced this "burn-out" with their USB product. So I wouldn't buy any USB product from D-Link
  
  
• Good but has one problem.....
  By A1Q6QSDVNK3L7M on 2008-07-22
  I have had no drop outs and the speed is very good. However, this thing burns like the sun. Who woulda thought a USB device could get this hot.
  
  

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