These days, most Wi-Fi adapter installation routines are short and painless, and Belkin's Pre-N PC Card adapter is no exception. You begin by inserting the accompanying CD into your computer. The CD automatically launches a wizard that guides you through a few prompts and ends by asking you to insert the Pre-N PC Card, which initiates the adapter's driver installation. After the drivers are installed, the wizard guides you through the installation of Belkin's Wireless Client Utility, which you can use to manage the Pre-N PC Card adapter.
The Wireless Client Utility lets you scan for available networks; view connection statistics, such as the card's transmit-data rate; and set up individual connection profiles for specific networks you connect to regularly, for example, those at home and work. If you prefer to manage your adapter with the Windows native wireless configuration tool, you can. Belkin's installation wizard prompts you with check boxes that let you choose the tool you want to use. We like Belkin's utility better than Microsoft's because it shows you more granular network traffic statistics and gives you greater control over the adapter's transmit power.
Belkin's Pre-N PC Card is unlike other high-performance adapters currently available, such as the Netgear WG511T and the Linksys WPC54GS, because it doesn't have a separate turbo mode that works only with other devices equipped with matching chipsets. The Belkin adapter's MIMO-enabled chipset uses a single mode to connect to 802.11b, 802.11g, and Belkin Pre-N devices; our Labs' tests demonstrate that this results in significant performance gains on mixed networks with standard 802.11b and 802.11g devices. When used with a matching Pre-N router, Belkin's Pre-N PC Card delivers the best range we've seen to date. At 60 meters, it pumped out a speedy 36.4Mbps, more than twice as fast as the Atheros-based solutions we've tested at that distance.
Belkin offers a lifetime warranty and its support Web site is easy to navigate and offers free software, firmware and downloadable manuals for the Pre-N PC Card adapter.
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Throughput in Mbps |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Throughput in Mbps |
(Longer bars indicate better performance)
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Thoughput in Mbps measured indoors at 200 feet |
NOTE: Products in this test are for comparative purposes only and are not necessarily available in the Australian market.
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Opensecret
24/01/2006, 01:09 PM
Best I've found for range and speed
I bought the desktop combo -- wireless card and a pci cardbus adapter. Biggest problem was figuring out that the card went into the slot face down. Second, minor problem was you have to kill the client Belkin installs, and rely on WinXP's wireless networking in order to use WPA encryption. But once up and running, it's providing very fast, reliable connection in an area where I could never get wireless to work before.
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06/12/2005, 03:32 PM
Doesn't fit 3rd Party PCI Adapters
As yet Belkin does not provide a Pre-N PCI adapter and the profile of this card is such that it will not fit 3rd party adapters. This card will only run on laptops.
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Bast
25/06/2005, 04:40 PM
Great card for long distance use.
I work and live in the Adelaide CBD close to Rundle St (Cafe's and Restaurants) and I can get Wireless internet from my place while i'm out having a coffee! I'm not stuck inside all day. Got mine from snet.com.au. Cheers Belkin.
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