D-LinkDWL-G520 Wireless PCI Adapter, 802.11g, 108Mbps

Usually you should discount reviews complaining about problems with a computer add-on: they say more about the reviewer and their systems, perhaps, then they do about the product you are trying to evaluate. I think, though, that some aspects of my experience might be generalizable, maybe even applicable to your situation.I have been a satisfied user of D-Link wireless products for over three years now. I upgraded to the 802.11g products (WAP and PCI cards) a year ago to a run a network of up to five computers, usually three Win XP or Win 2000 workstations and two notebooks. As I look around my office, though, I see boxes full of failed or problematic routers, WAPs, and cards. It seems, although I have only just realized the extent of it, that these D-Link products all fail with remarkable regularity. In the past, I have just routinely replaced them: that's how much I have liked their ease of use and their performance.Well, that's over with my latest purchase: the DWL-G520 adapter (my second). It taught me two disturbing things about D-Link wireless. First, the adapter can really screw up your system. This one's driver (regardless of the update version) consumes 90+ percent of a very high-powered CPU. (Windows XP Home, all the latest updates, etc.) It has brought an essential machine to its knees by hugely slowing down everything it does. Disabling the adapter (which solves the problem, at the price of disconnecting me from the world) brings on the fabled Blue Screen of Death. The second disturbing thing is that D-Link support simply has not responded to e-mail messages, period. Their Web site lies when it promises 36 hour response. I can cope--I have a strong background in computing and can devise temporary workarounds--but I shudder to think how uncomfortable this behavior would make most people feel.Those are the proverbial three strikes: consistently short times to failure, occurrence of really bad driver behavior, and hopelessly bad support. My relationship with D-Link is over; I will have to try some other vendor's offering. If you don't mind the risk of having a similar experience, and think you can cope with absolutely no support, then by all means consider this product. I hope and trust, though, that you (and I) can do better with a different vendor.

Using a D-Link DI-624 as the wireless router/access point for my home network, I got my laptop linked up fairly easily but connecting to the net with a second desktop using this wireless adapter took some trial and error. I followed the manual's instructions (with latest drivers/firmwares) and got WIRELESS CONNECTION on the PC BUT CAN'T ACCESS the INTERNET!Here's what I finally did to make it work (the wireless linked PC is a Dell 8200 running WinXP):Removed the wireless adapter from a PCI slot close to the fax/modem.Uninstalled first software install. Rebooted. Reinstalled DWL-G520 software. Shut off PC.Reinstalled wireless adapter in an empty PCI slot farther away from the fax/modem.Turn on PC, hardware detected. Install the NEWEST driver that was downloaded previously via ethernet on my new Dell 8300.MAKE SURE the ROUTER DI-624 is properly configured!!! I had enabled WEP (write down the KEY!) and used the MAC filter (only the MACs of my router and ethernet/wireless adapters CAN access my network). I also disabled SSID broadcast (I can detect several of my neighbors' SSIDs with WEP disabled).MOST Importantly the DHCP server was enabled with just enough starting to ending IP addresses for the number of computers in my network.NOW enter ALL necessary info of the network using the DWL-G520 config. utility. Click the WinXP network icon for wireless networks avail. Check your network, enter the WEP key and........FINALLY, access to the internet!!!It took some time to dial in my preferences but now my downstairs wireless PC is 3712/407 kbps down/up with a LOW (38%)signal.Good Luck!

OK. This card would get a 5 star rating, but for the fact that no card/wireless system deserves it. First, every company designs their own products only to work with their own company's proprietary devices -- This, in spite of their all using the same IEEE 802.11 configuration standards. VERY annoying. But, OK, every company wants you to buy EVERYTHING just in their brand. Secondly, to set up a wireless network takes more than just plug and play skill -- There are basics that the consumer just has to know when setting up, and then INEVITABLY troubleshooting when the network goes down. (All networks go down from time to time, no matter who supplies the hardware). So, then, what about D-Link? The signal is strong, travels well through insulated, and sound-proofed walls, communicates very well with the 624 router and affords extremely fast data transfer rates. I am VERY happy with D-Link; it has lived up to its other consumer reviews, as found in PC Magazine, and other sources. Just read carefully BEFORE installing, just as you will have to do before installing ANY wireless network system.

I'm not sure about what people are saying about this card and Windows but on Linux this card is perfect. Running Ubuntu 6.06 and the card works with no extra leg work. Only thing is that you do have to bring the network card 'up' before you can scan for a network and to do that all you must do is "sudo ifconfig ath0 up". This card in Linux supports Master mode operation, so it's perfect for those wanting to build your own access point.However, do be careful! There are a lot of versions of the hardware and one version will not work period, end of story, don't even try it. However, the odds are on your side as it was only one version out of many. However, don't be disappointed if you end up getting one of the off versions that use the T.I. chip.

La carte wifi fonctionne parfaitement mais...toutefois pour le prix, la fourniture du pilote aurait été la bienvenue car celui-ci a été plus que difficile à trouver!

Hallo, ich verwende den DWL-G520 nur in Verbindung mit einer anderen WLAN Antenne. Grund dafür ist die Beschafenheit der Umbgebung. Ich habe auch ander Produkte getestet und bin mit WLAN immer wieder auf Propleme gestoßen. Dicke Wände und Wände aus Stahlbeton könne oft negative Auswirkungen auf die Reichweite von WLAN Netzen haben. Was bei mir leider der fall ist. Der DWL-G520 ist kein schlechtes Produkt und auch die Installation war gut zu handhaben. Sehr von Vorteil ist die Wechselbare Antenne, die leicht durch eine leistungsstärkere ersetzt werden kann. Als Router nutze ich eine Fritzbox WLAN 3070. Mit der Fritzbox bin ich nicht zu frieden. Ich habe vorher ein Gigaset SE515 (Simens) genutzt (mit gutem resultat). Fazit die Karte ist OK aber man muß auch einen entsprechenden Router in einer brauchbare Umgebung besitzen um gute verbindung zu haben!

I already knew what to expect with a D Link xtreme and for sure it did not let me down. The antenna at the back gives it that extra range. It is a stable performer which does not drop signal like others I have purchased in the past.

Habe diesen Artikel im Januar 2006 bestellt und benutze es mit der Fritzbox Fon Wlan 2+ (7170). Der Rechner an dem die D-Link installiert ist, steht auf dem Dachboden (Zweistockwerke über der Fritzbox) und funktioniert bis heute ohne Probleme mit einer WPA2 (AES) Verschlüsselung. Ich kann es nur weiterempfehlen. Habe mir kürzlich einen weiteren bestellt für ein Freund.

Facile da installare con il CD in dotazione, nessun problema sul mio PC con Vista. Spedizione molto celere e ottimo imballaggio.