MSI BE6500 WIFI 7 USB ADAPTER REVIEW

Introduction to the characteristics of the MSI Be6500 Wifi 7 USB Adapter

Wi-Fi 7 introduces the highest levels of scope and performance that we have known for Wi-Fi technology. It has improvements that go beyond access speeds, which are also faster, but also in the support of devices connected at the same time and also how the different devices that give this service within a network interact.

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)

• Enter the use of the 5 GHz band, allowing greater speeds with respect to 2.4 GHz.
• The first Mesh networks appear, although with limited interoperability and normally owner between manufacturers.
• Mu-mimo modulation (multi-muser multiple input multiple output) is implemented, allowing simultaneous communication with several devices, improving network efficiency.

Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

• Improves performance in the 5 GHz band and maintains compatibility with 2.4 GHz.
• It supports bandwidths up to 160 MHz and a greater number of connected devices simultaneously.
• Mesh networks are consolidated as an interoperable and reliable solution between different manufacturers.
• Enter technologies such as OFDMA (Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access) and Mu-Mimo improves, optimizing network traffic in dense environments.

Wi-Fi 6e

• Add a new 6 GHz band, with cleaner and less saturated channels, ideal for high transfer applications, such as video streaming in ultra high definition or virtual reality.
• Although 6 GHz coverage is more limited because of its lower penetration capacity, it offers less latency and better performance in nearby environments.
• The maximum bandwidth is still 160 MHz.

Wi-Fi 7 (802.11be)

• It operates in three bands (2.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 6 GHz) with total compatibility with previous versions.
• Enter the MLO technology (Multi-Link Operation), which allows combining links in different bands for faster speed and better stability.
• A new bandwidth mode of up to 320 MHz is enabled, doubling the speeds with respect to Wi-Fi 6, although only available on compatible devices.
• Improves the abilities of Mu-Mimo and Ofdma, as well as energy efficiency and latency.

With all this, this MSI interface with USB format, which we can use on any PC with a USB 3.2 gen1 type A port, and link up to 5GBPS (the most normal in the world) in all these network technologies since it has full compatibility with Wi-Fi 7 although, as we already mentioned in the description of the standard, with access to only the band of up to 160MHz. This limits its speed, which is still extraordinary, as we will see now.

Specifications and technical characteristics of the MSI BE6500 WIFI 7 USB ADAPTER

• WiFi standards:

  • WiFi 7 (802.11be)
  • WIFI 6 (802.11ax)
  • WIFI 5 (802.11ac)
  • WiFi 4 (802.11n)
  • 802.11g
  • 802.11b
  • 802.11a

• WiFi speed:

  • 2.4GHZ BE: 2×2 (Tx/Rx) up to 688 Mbps
  • 5GHZ BE: 2×2 (Tx/Rx) up to 2880 Mbps
  • 6GHZ BE: 2×2 (Tx/Rx) up to 2880 Mbps

• Operation Frequency:

  • 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz / 6 GHz

• WIFI encryption:

  • WPA-PSK
  • WPA2-PSK / Enterprise
  • WPA3-Personal / Enterprise

• Interface:

  • 1x USB 3.2 Gen 1

• Compatible operating systems:

  • Windows 11
  • Windows 10 (with limited functions)

• Dimensions:

  • 111 × 33 × 20 mm

• Weight:

  • 48.2 g / 1.70 oz

• Package contents:

  • USB WIFI7 BE6500 (GUBE65) adapter
  • Base
  • Quick Start Guide
  • 2x high gain tri-band

Chipset and benefits of the MSI Be6500 Wifi 7 USB Adapter

An easy way to identify the benefits of a Wi-Fi 7 device is that manufacturers normally add their technology, the definition standard and the maximum access speed of their three frequencies available. In a be6500 device like this, the configuration of antennas and Your chipset are able to generate 6500Mbps bandwidth distributed among frequenciesin others we can find even higher speeds:

• 2.4GHZ BE: 2×2 (TX/RX) up to 688MBPS
• 5GHZ BE: 2×2 (Tx/Rx) up to 2880 Mbps
• 6GHZ BE: 2×2 (Tx/Rx) up to 2880 Mbps

For a total of 6448MBPS bandwidth. This also helps us to understand the nature of this MSI interface that is still a network card connected to a USB port, which is also really useful on this device because MSI takes advantage of this versatility of the USB functions to host the software and controller directly on the card, as a pendrive, so we always have the controllers by hand and available for installation.

The data above also give us clues of the assembly of this unit. It has a two antennas configuration, with simultaneous entry and output and Mu-Mimo modewhich allows you to reach these speeds close to 3Gbps. That being limited to 160MHz, with the 320MHz mode, with this same antenna configuration, we would achieve almost 6Gbps of bandwidth.

Although MSI does not give details of the chipset that it incorporates, I would bet a cane that it is a Realtek® Wi-Fi 7 RTL8922AE that is perfect for these integration configurations in USB, the penalty is that the possibility of also offering Bluetooth 5.4 connectivity in the same interface has also been eliminated. Surely to simplify the solution, although it is a shame.

MSI has also built this unit to be very versatile, both in installation and coverage and compatibility with all types of computer. We will take better advantage in Windows 11, which has a comprehensive support for Wi-Fi 7, but it is also compatible with Windows 10.

Installation and compatibility

The format of this unit is really careful. MSI has introduced an elegant body that also allows you to extend its double antenna system for better coverage. In addition, an extended cable connector is added that allows the unit to be used vertically, which also enhances the scope and bandwidth.

The installation is really simple, as we comment before, MSI houses the controllers in a storage unit on the card itself (It simulates an Optical Unit only reading accessible from the Windows file explorer). When we click the unit on the PC, a USB unit will appear where we can find the drivers. We install and in a couple of minutes we have the card and detecting the available networks.

Wi-fi 7 is not limiting at all, you do not need your entire wireless network to be compatible, it can be any previous format, but if you want to access the entire potential of this device, So yours is a 6E or Wi-Fi 7 Wi-Fi Network. It also supports the most recent safety and encryption technologies, such as WPA3, so we can trust rapid and safe communication.

What we do not have are many options for the parameterization of the operation of the interface; Advanced configurations are very limited, a couple of options nothing more. Although, certainly, for 90% of users, this is not necessary and the behavior of this network device, as we will see now, is fantastic.

Scope and speed tests

In these tests I have not only wanted to try their capabilities in a fast network with Wi-Fi 7, or its reach, but also how it takes with older networks. I have a good mixture of everything in the laboratory and these are my results.

Short distance, 2 meters maximum. (Band and link speed in title, real speed in bar)

Average distance, 10 meters maximum. (Band and link speed in title, real speed in bar)

Analysis and conclusion

The performance is very good, although that plus of the 320MHz is missingbut honestly, although we had them, the network makes us much more complex since we have to have all the devices with capacity for these speeds and also the growing load of Wi-Fi devices does this even more complicated.

It is a very resolutive card, easy to install, moderate price and with excellent operation. Perfect to forget the cable at home if we already have any router or access point with these extended speeds. A highly recommended way to forget the cables forever.