The simple and affordable DWL-G650 offers easy installation and great support, but its erratic performance makes it hard to recommend.

The D-Link DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G wireless cardbus adapter comes in a simple package that includes a colourfully illustrated, intuitive quick-installation guide and a software CD. The extensive guide makes setup a breeze, but it may actually contain too much information. The DWL-G650 works with Windows 98 SE or later and requires one available Type II PC Card slot on your notebook.

You can use Window XP's built-in configuration utility to set up the DWL-G650 or use the included software. The D-Link utility provides information on your connection status and lets you view signal strength and transmission statistics in graphical form. You can also create network profiles and enable 64- or 128-bit WEP encryption. (Support for 802.1x authentication and the more secure Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA) will be available as a firmware upgrade later this year.) If you need more help, the CD contains an electronic version of the manual as a PDF file.

Our labs tested the DWL-G650 using the DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G wireless router and got fairly poor results. The card delivered just 11.1Mbps of throughput in an 802.11g-only network. When we tested the card in a mixed network (802.11b and 802.11g), the D-Link operated at only 5.2Mbps, just a bit faster than the speed of a typical 802.11b card.

D-Link backs the DWL-G650 with a generous three-year warranty and free phone support. The company's Web site offers firmware updates, drivers, manuals, and FAQs.

D-Link DWL-G650 AirPlus Xtreme G Wireless PC Card
Company: http://www.dlink.com.au/
Price: AU$160.60
Distributor: Selected resellers
Phone: 1300 766 868

Copyright © 2009 CBS Interactive, a CBS Company. All Rights Reserved.
ZDNET is a registered service mark of CBS Interactive. ZDNET Logo is a service mark of CBS Interactive.