D-Link DWA-556 Xtreme N PCI Express Desktop Adapter

10 Review to this product

• 

  E. Collins
  December 5th, 2010 on 1:13 am

  Rating

  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!!!!
• 

  G. Bovara
  December 5th, 2010 on 2:43 am

  Rating

  I bought this card for my Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit system – it seemed like a great way to use the PCIe x1 slot. It installed very quickly and easily with no issues. It found my Dlink DIR-655 router right away with no setup or driver issues. It is only about 15′ from the router but there is a wall in between; my measured speeds through the Dlink interface are 100% signal and 300MBPS rate. Also, just a warning – use the Dlink supplied drivers in the box & at their website with Vista and NOT the ones from Windows Update – those have messed up my system requiring a System Restore.
• 

  R. Schuler
  December 6th, 2010 on 1:16 am

  Rating

  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?
• 

  James E. Heiner
  December 8th, 2010 on 3:12 pm

  Rating

  I have had a DIR-655 D-Link wireless router for some time now, and just installed this DWA-556 into a new PC that I built. Works like it should – no setup problems at all. Running Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit on a Gigabyte GA-P55A-UD4P mobo, Core i5-750 2.66ghz overclocked to 3.40ghz, 8 GB DDR3 SDRAM PC3 12800. What more can I say – it works like it should!
• 

  Roberto Rezzo
  December 8th, 2010 on 4:24 pm

  Rating

  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.
• 

  Wavey Davey
  December 10th, 2010 on 5:09 am

  Rating

  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
• 

  Ken W.
  December 10th, 2010 on 1:01 pm

  Rating

  Contrary to the conflicting information from D-Link and others, this DWA-556 PCIe wireless adapter DOES WORK IN WINDOWS 7!!!! Just DO NOT INSTALL the D-Link drivers from the disk. Turn off the computer, insert the card, turn on the computer, AND LET WINDOWS 7 DO THE REST.

  And it’s FAST >>>>>>>>>>>>>
• 

  Sanjay H. Patel
  December 11th, 2010 on 10:24 am

  Rating

  The D-LINK has always been the best wireless product I experienced. I get full 300mbps speed using DIR-655 router. No complicated installation. Remember to turn on Wireless Zero Configuration (Do NOT use D-Links wireless config—garbage), Use Windows wireless config instead.
  
  This product rocks over the last product (DWA_552) because of PCI-Express connection. Works with Windows 7 also flawlessly
• 

  Bookish One
  December 11th, 2010 on 2:22 pm

  Rating

  I bought this for a standalone Ubuntu box and, given the reputation Linux has for being driver-challenged (think it would be fairer to say that hardware manufacturers don’t support Linux well enough), was concerned the DWA-556 wouldn’t work at all or would require a lot of driver fiddling.

  I was extremely pleased that I installed it, booted up and machine, and presto! the wireless connection came up immediately.

  Am very pleased with the product and would definitely recommend it.
• 

  J. Guadagnoli
  December 11th, 2010 on 9:15 pm

  Rating

  I recently returned a Linksys WRT610N and an accompanying adapter because I had some serious problems with it.

  This product was easy to setup, worked right out of the box with no problems.

  Definitely worth the price.