Belkin Wireless G Plus MIMO Notebook Card review

The Wireless G Plus MIMO Card houses an Airgo Networks True MIMO antenna and chipset, which the company claims will significantly enhance the card's speed and range. However, compared with the Belkin Pre-N card, the device gave a generally uninspired performance in CNET Labs' tests, though it stacked up favorably with some other MIMO and non-MIMO cards. At a long distance of 200 feet, the card achieved a mediocre throughput speed of 18.2Mbps, while the Belkin Pre-N PC Card scored a spectacular 36.4Mbps. The Pre-N PC Card also beat the Wireless G Plus MIMO Card in mixed-mode throughput, with the former transferring data at a very fast 42.1Mbps and the latter at 27.6Mbps. Though the two were nearly on a par in maximum throughput (the Pre-N Card scored 45.7Mbps, and the Wireless G Plus MIMO Card 43.3Mbps), the D-Link DWL-G650M edged out both of them with its fantastic 51.5Mbps time. Still, the Belkin Wireless G Plus MIMO card fared well against the more expensive Buffalo MIMO card and the Linksys WPC54GX.

Belkin goes above and beyond most Wi-Fi adapter manufacturers by providing a lifetime warranty with the Wireless G Plus MIMO Card. The company also offers a toll-free tech-support number that's available 24/7. However, Belkin's support Web site is nothing special; it lists a few drivers for the device but lacks product-specific FAQs and other helpful features, such as customer forums and real-time chat with a tech-support rep.