D-Link DIR-655 Extreme-N Gigabit Wireless Router Review

May 22
08:32

2012

Roberto Sedycias

Roberto Sedycias

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With the release of the dual-band, multi-antenna router from Apple, the seemingly settled router wars were reopened and today it is D-Link DIR-655 Extreme-N Gigabit Wireless Router that has helped to keep things stirred up.

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With Apple's release of its dual-band,D-Link DIR-655 Extreme-N Gigabit Wireless Router Review Articles multi-antenna router, the seemingly settled router wars were reopened and today it is D-Link DIR-655 Extreme-N Gigabit Wireless Router that has helped to keep things stirred up.

Looking at it closely, you can hardly help but miss its three antennas set in the rear between the three Gigabit Ethernet wired connectors. So, from the start you know the D-Link is for high-speed networking. It is compatible with Standard 802.11/n. This is the standard that raised the bar on high-speeds by 14 times and extends the reach of your wireless network at least six times.

It might seem as though, with speeds like these available, one would have to run right out and purchase the D-Link and higher-speed peripherals, however, that is not the case as the D-Link is backward compatible to your a/b/g networks so your investment is protected. However, if you are just starting out, why not?

Set up, like other D-Link products is not hard. The toughest part is determining which wireless security schema you would like to use, WEP, WPA or WPA2. Once you have determined that the rest is quite easy as you simply powerup your device, add it to the already running security management software on the D-Link. Once you have done that step, all you have to do is answer the questions on your piece of hardware and you are linked at the higher speed.

That, perhaps, more than anything else is the reason one should be looking at the D-Link (or the Apple, for that matter) as you have more capability and farther reach. Plus, it adds to your system's flexibility as running three antennas, usually in multi-reach format, means the antenna with the best signal will pull in the data and this can certainly ensure date reliability.

On another front, this type of router, when used with a service such as Skype, virtually eliminates aggravating drop out, images squiggles and lost of service altogether. For videoconferencing or just chatting a router like the D-Link is a must.

The D-Link has some rather rich credentials to its name, including its QoS engine that sets video and network priorities so that your data stream remains reliable. Indeed, that is one of the reasons for Standard N, high-speed data and video streaming and the D-Link is up to the tasks. It also adds dual firewall capabilities to the picture (NAT and SPI).

Finally, by including an accessible USB connector that is recognized by any of the networks available, you can connect a USB printer or storage device to your router and allow users to access them from anywhere on the network. It is an advance that lots of people have been waiting for. Apple may have started this war, but the others joining will keep the standard coming and pushing Apple to the next level.