Trendnet Wireless N-Draft PC Card

Manufacturer: TRENDnet Part number: TEW-621PC

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CNET Editor rating:
3.5 stars Very good
Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

More product information:: Editors' review; User reviews; Specifications; Manufacturer info

Bottom Line:: The Trendnet Wireless N-Draft PC Card seems like a compelling choice for your notebook PC, but we recommend waiting until the 802.11n spec is finalized before choosing an adapter.

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CNET editors' review

Trendnet Wireless N-Draft PC Card

price range: $39.99 - $95.99

The Trendnet Wireless N-Draft PC Card seems like a compelling choice for your notebook PC, but we recommend waiting until the 802.11n spec is finalized before choosing an adapter.

The good: Easy to install; all-around fast performance; supports the latest wireless security protocols.

The bad: Expensive; not based on a finalized spec.

The bottom line: The Trendnet Wireless N-Draft PC Card seems like a compelling choice for your notebook PC, but we recommend waiting until the 802.11n spec is finalized before choosing an adapter.

Read full review

The Trendnet Wireless N-Draft PC Card (TEW-621PC) is the companion wireless adapter to the Trendnet Wireless N-Draft Router. Together, the card and router made an impressive showing in our Labs' throughput tests--besting most of the competition--but as they are based on Draft N of the yet-to-be ratified 802.11n spec, we remain wary. So far, the Draft N networking gear we've seen has shown significant speed and range improvements over 802.11g equipment, but the numbers fall well short of the promise of 802.11n. Our advice is to stick with your current wireless networking gear until the spec is finalized (around mid 2007) and to see where the cards fall then.

The TEW-621PC card is a standard wireless adapter, just like any other. The majority of the slim body slides right into your notebook PC's card slot, and the black plastic bit that sticks out houses two LEDs that indicate connectivity and data transfer activity. Installing the card is simple: just pop in the included CD to install the drivers, then power down and insert the card when instructed. You can use either the card's own utility or Windows XP to scan for available networks and to make a connection. The card supports WEP, WPA, and WPA2 security.

In CNET Labs' test, the Trendnet duo beat the bulk of its competition in all three tests. We need to point out, however, that the rest of the Draft N router/card combinations that we've reviewed were tested several months ago. Networking vendors regularly release firmware updates that usually improve throughput speeds somewhat. There's a good chance that the routers and cards from Trendnet's competition--with their most recent firmware upgrades--would post scores higher than those we have on record. That said, we were impressed by the Trendnet router and card. In the short-range maximum-throughput test, the pair posted a score of 83.3Mbps. In the mixed-mode test, with 11g and 11b adapters in the mix, they scored 57.1Mbps, just behind the offerings from D-Link and Buffalo. Finally, in the long-range throughput test (at 200 feet), the Trendnet pair won again, scoring 54.1Mbps. While these numbers are impressive, they still fall well short of the promised speed improvements of 802.11n. The theoretical maximum for 802.11n is 300Mbps. We don't expect to see even next year's finalized 11n gear reach 300Mbps, since that is the maximum burst speed and not a maintainable rate. Still, we'd like to see throughput numbers higher than where they are now.

CNET Labs' maximum throughput tests (at 10 feet)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Trendnet N-Draft router TEW-621PC

83.3

Netgear WN511B RangeMax Next adapter

72.7

Linksys WPC300N Draft N adapter

71.5

D-Link N 650 adapter

68.1

CNET Labs' maximum throughput tests with mixed 802.11b/g and Draft N clients (at 10 feet)
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Buffalo Airstation Nfiniti wireless notebook adapter

60.23

D-Link N 650 adapter

58.82

Trendnet N-Draft router TEW-621PC

57.1

Belkin N1 Wireless Notebook Card

53.3

Linksys WPC300N Draft N adapter

Netgear WN511B RangeMax Next adapter

26.2

Note: Throughput in Mbps

CNET Labs' long-range tests
(Longer bars indicate better performance)

Trendnet N-Draft router TEW-621PC

54.1

D-Link N 650 adapter

41.04

Buffalo Airstation Nfiniti wireless notebook adapter*

38.18

Belkin N1 Wireless Notebook Card*

33.8

Netgear WN511B RangeMax Next adapter

Linksys WPC300N Draft N adapter

Note: Throughput in Mbps measured indoors at 200 feet

Trendnet provides a generous three-year warranty for the TEW-621PC wireless adapter. Toll-free phone support is available 24/7. Trendnet's site has an online help desk that was down for an upgrade when we checked. You can also e-mail tech support, search the online knowledge base, and download user guides from the site.

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User reviews

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Average user rating: 5.0 stars out of 1 review

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10 stars

Simply AWESOME!!!

by jmembry on January 7, 2008

Pros: Works well with Wireless-G, and other maker's routers. Lightning fast!

Cons: None so far.

Summary: I purchased this card with the intent to later purchase the TEW-631BRP router. I currently use the Linsys WRT54G router, and had been using the WPC54GR card. I was becoming ...

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Summary: I purchased this card with the intent to later purchase the TEW-631BRP router. I currently use the Linsys WRT54G router, and had been using the WPC54GR card. I was becoming frustrated due to the fact that I could barely pick up my router using my laptop in the next room...by the door...with the door open...and with high-gain antennas on the router! The Linksys card was also performing poorly in hotels on business trips. And, I won't even get started in Linsys' customer service.

After much research, I thought wireless-N might be the ticket. I read very promising reviews of the above mentioned TrendNet products. After purchasing the card, I decided to try it using the Linksys router, before purchasing the TrendNet router. WOW! The TrendNet card not only got a much stronger signal, my internet speed is actually FASTER than when I have my laptop hooked directly to my router via hard line! I am truly impressed! I will definately get the TrendNet router soon.

I am a true believer in the old rule "You get what you pay for". I don't usually go for the cheapest option. But, I am also a believer in the old rule "To every rule there is an exception". The TrendNet Wireless-N products are truly the EXCEPTION. Not only impressive performance, but the most economical of the highly rated wireless-N products.

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Specifications

Manufacturer: TRENDnet
Part number: TEW-621PC

General
Device Type Network adapter
Form Factor Plug-in module
Width 2.1 in
Depth 4.5 in
Height 0.1 in
Networking Device Type Network adapter
Weight 1.4 oz
Interface (Bus) Type CardBus
Form factor Plug-in module
Antenna
Antenna Internal integrated
Networking
Data Link Protocol IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Wireless Capability This product uses the draft version of the upcoming 802.11n standard. Its compatibility with other and future products is not guaranteed, and it may interfere with current 802.11b and g products.
Connectivity Technology Wireless
Data Transfer Rate 300 Mbps
Networking type Network adapter
Status Indicators Link activity, Power
Frequency Band 2.4 GHz
Compliant Standards IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n (draft)
Line Coding Format 16 QAM, CCK, QPSK, DQPSK, OFDM, BPSK, DBPSK, 64 QAM
Expansion / Connectivity
Expansion Slots Total (Free) None
Interfaces 1 x Network - Radio-Ethernet
Compatible Slots

Trendnet Wireless N-Draft PC Card

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Specifications

General

Antenna

Networking

Expansion / Connectivity