How to set up dwa 131 for a wireless network. Miniature adapter

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Very often to home network you need to connect a regular desktop (home Not laptop), not having (in 99% of cases) Wi-Fi adapter. There are quite a lot of inexpensive USB adapters sold in stores now. I want to consider one of these, the D-link DWA-131 Wi-Fi adapter, within the framework of this article.

Start

Low price, small size, fairly well-known manufacturer, support for almost all Wi-Fi network standards (802.11 b/g/n) - these are the basis of user interest in wireless USB adapter from D-Link, a fairly successful adapter in its “niche”.

The new version of this adapter (the so-called DWA-131/E) corrects almost all the shortcomings previous version, which cannot but please the user (see review of the previous version of the adapter DWA-131 rev.A http://tele2life.ru/1/content/view/459).

Dimensions and appearance

The DWA-131/E is a very compact device in size, only one and a half to two times larger than a standard wireless mouse adapter.

Device size: 30 x 16 x 8.5 mm

Weight: 27.22 g

IN new version the device now has a branded “cap” (for the absence of which the DWA-131 was criticized by some “aesthetes” of network Internet magazines)

The adapter's signature cap is painted to match the adapter body.

In addition, now the LED located on the device body and signaling network activity is now green, which does not irritate the human eye.

Equipment

The Wi-Fi adapter is packed in a box that is quite large in size (compared to it).

In addition to the DWA-131/E, the package also includes a couple of instructional documents.

Specifications

The new modification of D-link DWA-131 supports a maximum Wi-Fi speed of up to 300 Mbps, which is twice as much as the previous one.

The D-link DWA-131/E adapter uses a PIFA antenna. The features of this type of antenna, in addition to its very small size, are: a fairly wide band of used frequencies (up to 10% of the resonant carrier frequency), high antenna efficiency (ratio of radiated power to input power, sometimes reaching ~65%) and support for multi-band (though unfortunately, not within the scope of this adapter).

All this allows you to count on:

Good signal reception despite the small size of the device

The DWA-131/E has twice the speed of its predecessor.

Drivers and software

The USB adapter comes with a CD with drivers for the OS. Windows family(Windows 2000/XP/Vista/Windows 7/Windows8/Windows8.1/Windows10) and the D-Link Portable Wi-fi Application utility.

There are also drivers for this device for Linux and Mac.

http://ftp.dlink.ru/pub/Wireless/DWA-131_E1A/Drivers/rev.E/5.02/20151229_DWA-131E_V5.02b04.zip

After downloading the drivers from the ftp server of the manufacturer's official website, unpack the archive, open the resulting folder and activate Setup.exe.

Do not connect the USB adapter to the computer until the program prompts you to do so. .

When installing the driver, it is possible to refuse to install the proprietary D-Link Portable Wi-fi Application utility (on the first screen when you start installing drivers). This is also one of the conveniences of the new version of the DWA-131/E1 device.

Adapter testing

I tested the DWA-131/E1 Wi-Fi adapter and an adapter from another manufacturer (also supporting the 802.11n standard), so measuring the speed should not be difficult. On the one hand it was used personal computer with OS Windows 7 installed, on the other - a laptop with OS Windows 8. Both computers (with wi-fi adapters) were connected to the DIR-825 router.

Testing showed that the maximum data transfer speed between computers was about 90-95 Mbps, which was still much less than the 300 Mbps promised to me by the “box”.

The whole issue turned out to be the peculiarities of Wi-Fi operation, or more precisely, the peculiarities of taking into account the speed of Wi-fi (300 Mbps) that is written on the box of the device. This speed is rather marketing - the maximum achievable under absolutely ideal conditions, so to obtain real speed Wi-fi works, the numbers on the box should be divided by approximately 2 and subtract another 5-10% (for service data).

In any case, the speed of the adapter obtained in the test should be more than enough for almost most common everyday tasks.

The D-Link Wi-Fi adapter works without problems with any Wi-Fi 802.11n standard networks. No problems were identified during the tests.

The lack of sensitivity on the “old” Wi-Fi b/g standards was also tested, for which the previous modification DWA-131 (A1) was blamed

The “old man” DIR-300 A1 was used as a router supporting old standards.

As a result, no signal drop was detected.

The DWA-131/E adapter showed the same “excellent signal” as the built-in Wi-Fi adapter in a laptop.

Conclusions

Pros DWA-131: Low price, Small physical size, Supports all 2.4GHz Wi-Fi standards (802.11b/g/n)

Cons DWA-131: No.

USB Wi-fi Adapter D-Link DWA-131/E left me with only positive feelings.

Small dimensions, low price (compared to competitors), almost all the shortcomings have been corrected (unstable operation on old Wi-Fi standards, unobtrusive LED, proprietary cap).

It is clear that the company listens to user requests and eliminates shortcomings.

Wireless USB adapters allow you to access the Internet via a Wi-Fi connection. For such devices, it is necessary to install special drivers that will maximize the speed of data reception and transmission. In addition, this will save you from various errors and possible connection failures. In this article we will tell you about the ways by which you can download and install software for Wi-Fi adapter D-Link DWA-131.

The methods below will allow you to easily install software for the adapter. It is important to understand what each of them requires active connection to the Internet. And if you do not have another source of Internet connection other than a Wi-Fi adapter, then you will have to use the above solutions on another laptop or computer from which you can download the software. Now let's proceed directly to the description of the mentioned methods.

Method 1: D-Link website

The latest software always appears first on the official website of the device manufacturer. It is on such sites that you should first look for drivers. This is what we will do in in this case. Your steps should look like this:

We disable third-party wireless adapters during installation (for example, built-in laptop wifi adapter).
We do not connect the DWA-131 adapter itself yet.
Now follow the provided link and get to.
On home page you need to find the section "Downloads". Once you have found it, go to this section by simply clicking on the name.

On the next page, you will see a single drop-down menu in the center. It will require you to indicate the prefix of the D-Link product for which drivers are needed. In this menu, select the item "DWA".

After this, a list of products with the previously selected prefix will appear. We look for the DWA-131 adapter model in the list and click on the line with the corresponding name.

As a result, you will be taken to the page technical support adapter D-Link DWA-131. The site is made very convenient, since you will immediately find yourself in the section "Downloads". You just need to scroll down the page a little until you see a list of drivers available for download.
We recommend downloading the most latest version software. Please note that select version operating system you won’t have to, since the software from version 5.02 supports all operating systems, from Windows XP to Windows 10. To continue, click on the line with the name and version of the driver.

The steps described above will allow you to download an archive with software installation files to your laptop or computer. You need to extract all the contents of the archive and then run the installer. To do this, double-click on the file with the name "Setup".

Now you need to wait a little while preparations for installation are completed. A window will appear with the corresponding line. We wait until such a window simply disappears.
Next, the main window of the D-Link installer will appear. It will contain the greeting text. If necessary, you can check the box next to the line "Install the SoftAP". This function will allow you to install a utility with which you can distribute the Internet through the adapter, turning it into something like a router. To continue the installation, click the button "Setup" in the same window.

The installation process will begin. You will learn about this from the next window that opens. Just waiting for the installation to complete.

When finished, you will see the window shown in the screenshot below. To complete the installation, simply press the button "Complete".

All the necessary software is installed and now you can connect your DWA-131 adapter to your laptop or computer via a USB port.
If everything goes without errors, you will see the corresponding wireless icon in the tray.

All that remains is to connect to the desired network Wi-Fi and you can start using the Internet.

This completes the described method. We hope you will be able to avoid various errors during software installation.

Method 2: Global software for installing software

Drivers for wireless adapter DWA-131 can also be installed using special programs. There are many of them on the Internet today. They all have the same principle of operation - they scan your system, identify missing drivers, download installation files The software is installed for them. Such programs differ only in the size of the database and additional functionality. If the second point is not particularly important, then the base of supported devices is very important. Therefore, it is better to use the software that has proven itself positively in this regard.

Representatives such as Driver Booster and DriverPack Solution are quite suitable for these purposes. If you decide to use the second option, then you should check out our special lesson, which is entirely dedicated to this program.

As an example, we will consider the process of searching for software using Driver Booster. All actions will have the following order:

Method 3: Search for driver by ID

We have a separate lesson dedicated to this method, in which all the actions are described in great detail. In short, first you need to find out the ID of the wireless adapter. To make this process easier for you, we are immediately publishing the ID value that relates to DWA-131.

USB\VID_3312&PID_2001

Next, you need to copy this value and paste it on a specialized online service. Such services search for drivers by the ID of the device itself. This is very convenient, since each equipment has its own unique identifier. You will also find a list of such online services in the lesson, the link to which we will leave below. When the necessary software is found, all you have to do is download it to your laptop or computer and install it. The installation process in this case will be identical to that described in the first method. More detailed information you will find in the tutorial mentioned earlier.

Method 4: Standard Windows tool

Sometimes the system cannot immediately recognize the connected device. In this case, you can push her towards it. To do this, it is enough to use the described method. Of course, it has its drawbacks, but you shouldn’t underestimate it either. Here's what you'll need to do:

We have described to you all the ways in which you can install drivers for the D-Link DWA-131 wireless USB adapter. Remember that you will need internet to use any of them. Therefore, we recommend that you always store external drives necessary drivers so as not to find yourself in an unpleasant situation.

About 10 years ago, Wi-Fi adapters only worked as an “Internet receiver.” Now they can not only distribute the Internet directly from a laptop, but also expand the coverage of surrounding routers. The D-Link DWA-131 model is no exception.

Review of Wi-Fi adapter D-Link DWA-131

Unlike its brothers - D-Link DWA-125/140, comparable in size to the Huawei E1550 3G modem - the DWA-131 adapter takes up at least three times less space.

Wi-Fi module is several times smaller than a 3G modem

There is no cap - this is not a flash drive or modem, and “micro-devices” have no use for it. The device just begs to be permanently installed in one of the USB ports. And there is no need for large packaging here.

Could have done without the CD and box

However, the developers also included a driver disk with the DWA-131. IN at the moment it is not needed - Microsoft developers have released a stable version universal driver for adapters of the DWA-13x line.

The price of the DWA-131 adapter ranges from 300 to 800 rubles. - depending on the store or retail chain and the region of delivery (for online orders with delivery by mail). The cheapest place to order is in China - with free delivery to Russia.

Table: Wi-Fi module characteristics

Wi-Fi speed of 300 Mbit/s covers almost all the needs of a modern user. However, routers that support gigabit Wi-Fi technology, including the 5 GHz band, will be useless for the DWA-131A.

In practice, the DWA-131 showed a maximum WLAN speed of no more than 45 Mbit/s - it is too low, and with such antennas signal losses increase sharply. To achieve a speed of 300 Mbit/s for the adapter, you will need to open the DWA-131 and resolder the antennas.

Installing the driver for DWA-131

Drivers are officially available on the D-Link website.

Attention: if you have a DWA-131 device, then the driver from other DWAs of the “130th” line will not work. D-Link has sharply limited the use of “wrong” drivers. Use the native driver from your device.

Installing the driver via the proprietary D-Link DWA installation package

Download the installation package with the driver specifically for your model. Sequence of actions with different DWA modules, despite the incompatibility of drivers from different models, is the same and simple. For the convenience of users, all commands are translated into Russian.

Run the installer from the archived driver file.
Proceed to configure the D-Link installer.
Click the continue installation button DWA-131
Wait until the D-Link DWA installation wizard is ready and insert your adapter into an available USB port.
Insert the Wi-Fi adapter to continue installation
If the adapter is not inserted, is damaged, or the failure is due to a fault USB port(for example, power loss) - the D-Link DWA installation wizard will ask you to check whether the connection between the PC and the Wi-Fi adapter is working. If everything is ok, continue with the installation.
Check if the USB connection to the adapter is working properly
If everything is in order, the DWA Installation Wizard will prompt you to install the driver in the default folder (for example, C:\Program Files\).
It is advisable to copy the driver files to the Windows program directory
Select the interface language of the program itself.
Select Russian language D-Link Installation Wizard
Confirm the installation of the program by clicking the “Install” button.
Confirming installation of D-Link Connection Manager

The D-Link DWA Setup Wizard will begin installing the driver for your Wi-Fi adapter.

Wait until the files are copied and DWA-131 is installed

Do not remove the adapter (or USB extension cable - from the PC port or from the adapter itself) until the driver is installed. If the D-Link DWA installation program detects that the connection between the PC and the adapter is broken, the driver will not be installed or the entire installation process will be “rolled back”.

Installing the DWA-131 adapter through Windows Device Manager

If you don't want to go through Wi-Fi installation adapter through the D-Link installer - use the device manager.

In Windows 10, give the command: right-click on the “Start” button - “Device Manager”.
Find in the list unknown devices your Wi-Fi adapter and give the command: right-click on the device icon - “Update driver”.
Command the 802.11n driver to update
Select manual installation driver and specify the folder where the (unpacked) archive with the driver is located.
Find the driver manually if you know the location of its folder
Confirm the driver installation by clicking on the continue button.
Make sure the path to the DWA-131 files is correct
Wait until the installation of the DWA-131 device is completed.
The driver for the DWA-131 adapter has been updated

The Wi-Fi adapter will be installed.

IN Windows wizard Installing a driver for DWA-131A from another adapter, for example, from DWA-140B3A...B3G, may work, but this does not always happen. This technique is prohibited in the D-Link installation program - this is how the manufacturer protects users from malfunction of your equipment. Your unauthorized actions in this case are your own responsibility.

Video: DWA-131 adapter auto-installation test

Working with the DWA-131 adapter

You can configure the DWA-131 module using the standard wizard wireless connections Windows and supported software interface D-Link DWA.

Connecting to a Wi-Fi router using the D-Link wizard

Configuration using the D-Link wizard is the same for all DWA adapter models.

Launch the D-Link Connection Wizard and select a WPA-2 password connection.
Select to enter a WPA-2 key when creating a connection
Enter the SSID of your router (gadget or other adapter that works as a point Wi-Fi access) to which you are connecting.
Enter the exact name of your Wi-Fi network as configured in your router
Enter the Wi-Fi network password set in your router settings.
The WPA-2 key must match the key in the router settings
Follow below to connect to the router.
D-Link Connection Manager Wizard completes DWA-131 setup
The D-Link wizard will automatically connect the DWA-131 device to the router and complete the work.
D-Link Connection Manager has saved the connection data to the router

The Wi-Fi Connection Wizard will launch the D-Link Connection Manager and display a list of networks and information about the router you are connected to.

DWA-131 is within the coverage area of several neighboring routers

You have connected to the Internet. To change the router, select another network and enter the WPA-2 password for it. If the router is open to everyone, you can connect to the Internet without entering the password for this router.

Switch between Wi-Fi networks using the Windows Wizard

Working with the adapter Wi-Fi D-Link DWA-131 is no different from the operation of a standard laptop network card: the same list of wireless networks, the same connection using the entered WPA-2 password. Clicking on the icon wireless network, you will find a list of routers working near you.

It's easier to use the list of networks in Windows 7 to configure the DWA-131

Select a router you know and enter the password for its network.

Connect by entering the correct password for your Wi-Fi network

Lack of network monitoring using Windows- approximate display of the signal level “by sticks”: in comparison with the built-in wizard for new connections, the D-Link Connection Manager program shows the exact signal value as a percentage.

Using the DWA-131 module as a Wi-Fi hotspot

Every Wi-Fi adapter released today is guaranteed to work as a Wi-Fi access point. This reduces the cost of a new router or hotspot several times.

It’s cheaper to buy a Wi-Fi module for 300–700 rubles than to spend money on a new router - even the cheapest one for 2000 rubles. such as Xiaomi Router Mini, or any of the budget TP-Link models.

To operate DWA-131 as an access point you need Windows version no older than Vista/7. The fact is that Windows XP completely lacks support for Wi-Fi Direct technology. Thanks to the latter, the “sharing” of Wi-Fi adapters is realized, which initially do not have the ability to work as a repeater of the Internet access already available on the PC.

Operation of the DWA-131 module as an access point using the D-Link wizard

You can organize Internet distribution from your PC or transfer files via Wi-Fi to a gadget by “sharing” the adapter as an AdHoc point.

Internet distribution from your PC is ready, you can connect from your gadget to the DWA-131 adapter network.

Internet distribution on DWA adapters using Connectify Hotspot

The Connectigy Hotspot program is the most omnivorous: working with it will not cause any difficulties in setting up traffic distribution from the DWA-131, and indeed from any Wi-Fi adapter, be it even a standard network card in a laptop.

When finished, click “Stop hotspot”.

Version Connectify Hotspot, released in 2018 (Hotspot Max), will turn your DWA-131 module into a repeater. Thus, there is no need to buy a professional router of the “Internet center” category for 10 thousand rubles or more.

Internet distribution on DWA adapters using the command line

This method is troublesome - but also trouble-free.

Now you have several ways to turn your Wi-Fi module into a full-fledged point or even a router.

If a laptop has a built-in 3G/4G network card, it also functions as a completely wireless 4G/Wi-Fi router.