We’ve recently started a series of tests of Draft N wireless adapters, beginning it with a review of the Trendnet TEW-624UB. The device we are going to discuss today is another Wi-Fi adapter with a USB interface. It is manufactured by D-Link and called DWA-142.
D-Link’s Draft N products fall into three categories (in the order of lowering performance): Xtreme N, RangeBooster N, and Wireless N. The DWA-142 is a medium-performance product, belonging to the RangeBooster N category. You’ll see shortly how it differs from Xtreme N, for example.
So, let's get started and meet our today's hero.
Specifications
First let's take a look at the official specifications of the D-Link adapter:
Parameter | Characteristics |
Wireless standard | - IEEE 802.11n (draft)
- IEEE 802.11g
- IEEE 802.11b |
Encoding standard | - WEP (64/128bit)
- WPA
- WPA2 |
Antenna | 2 integrated PIFA antennas (2dBi) |
Signal modulation | - OFDM (BPSK/QPSK/16 QAM/64-QAM)
- CCK
- DQPSK
- DBPSK |
Operating frequency | 2400 – 2483.5 MHz |
Nominal data transfer rate | - 802.11g: 6/9/12/18/24/36/48/54 Mb/s
- 802.11b: 1/2/5.5/11 Mb/s
- 802.11n (draft): 30/60/90/120/180/240/270/300 Mb/s |
Transmit power | - 802.11b: 16dbm
- 802.11g/802.11n (draft): 14dbm |
Transmit sensitivity | - 802.11b:
(typical PER < 8% for 1024 Byte packet and 25ºC + 5ºC temperature)
11 Mbps (CCK): -87dBm
5.5 Mbps (CCK): -88dBm
2 Mbps (DQPSK): -89dBm
1 Mbps (DBPSK): -91dBm
- 802.11g:
(typical PER <10% for 1024 Byte packet and 25ºC + 5ºC temperature)
54 Mbps (OFDM): -72dbm
48 Mbps (OFDM): - 75dbm
36 Mbps (OFDM): -77dbm
24 Mbps (OFDM): -80dbm
12 Mbps (OFDM): -85dbm
6 Mbps (OFDM): -88dbm
- 802.11n (draft):
(typical PER <10% for 1024 Byte packet and 25ºC + 5ºC temperature)
300 Mbps (OFDM): -63dbm |
Operating channels | 11 for North America, 14 Japan,
13 Europe (ETSI), 3 (non-overlapping) |
Interface | USB 2.0, 1.1 Standard |
Other interfaces | None |
Power | From the USB port |
Current | - Transmitting: 270mA
- Receiving: 460mA |
Dimensions | 97.33mm (diameter) x 19.3mm |
Additional features | None |
Package and Accessories
The box contains standard accessories:
- Wi-Fi adapter
- CD with drivers and user manual
- Brief user manual
- Safety instructions
