Comments on: D-Link DWA-556 Xtreme N PCI Express Desktop Adapter

By: Paul Desroches

Paul Desroches — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:57:44 +0000

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”.
Rating: 4 / 5

By: Soby

Soby — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 06:18:17 +0000

Don’t get me mistakened, this thing works, but for a pcie card and dlink’s current top of the line wireless card, the range is shamefull. I’m not talking three floors above the ground…no…just one floor. My previous wireless card D-link dwa-2320 had only one antena and gave me 3 bars from my office upstairs. This adapter has 3 antenae’s, it is 3 years newer, but it too gave me only 3 bars. Whats the point? That was $70 down the drain and a waste of a pcie slot on my motherobard.

Guess what I’m doing now? I’m running wireless using the onboard adapter on my motherboard…. its only wireless G, but it gives me 4 bars.
Rating: 2 / 5

By: Frequent Amazon customer

Frequent Amazon customer — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 04:11:01 +0000

Put it with my Vista 32 installation. Basically does not work. Loses connection to the router itself on a non-stop basis (every 3rd ping or so gives a general failure)

Works fine with XP from what I hear. Avoid this product at all costs if you’re on Vista!
Rating: 1 / 5

By: Donald R. Hoffman

Donald R. Hoffman — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 01:11:14 +0000

Only works in G mode with Vista. Spent most of 2 days on phones with technical service, could not get to work with Vista-32 or Vista-64 in N mode. Might work with XP?
Rating: 1 / 5

By: Bob Breckenridge

Bob Breckenridge — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:01:49 +0000

I had always thought a 56K modem should get 56K transfers but they never did. It seems wireless N now gets 54K when setup with optimum equipment. It’s not noticable under most conditions, to be honest, but in case you were wondering about the wild claims from the industry, this is a real world result. Who exactly is supposed to be keeping these guys honest, anyway? At least the 802.11N broadcast signal makes it throughout our house, unlike the 802.11G. But you’re still better off wiring your house for speed.
Rating: 3 / 5