D-Link DIR-625: Another Draft N Router comes up short
by Gary Key on September 20, 2006 2:20 AM EST- Posted in
- Networking
Feature Set and Options: Draft N Routers
The D-Link DIR-625 product we are testing today is based on the Atheros XSpan chipset that is also found in the Belkin N1 router. Our Linksys and NetGear products are based on the competing Broadcom Intensi-fi chipset. We will be testing other Draft N routers in the near future including the NetGear RangeMax Next Gigabit Edition (WNR854T) that sports the Marvell TopDog chipset and D-Link's RangeBooster N 650 (DIR-635) router that carries the same Atheros XSpan chipset that is in the DIR-625.
In our initial testing results we found that our Draft-N equipment at times does not interoperate with each other at full speeds or fails to connect at all due to the differing chipsets utilized by the suppliers. While we will be fully exploring this issue in our next article it is disconcerting that you can purchase different Draft N chipsets from the same vendor. NetGear offers several different RangeMax Next Wireless Routers that feature both the Broadcom Intensi-fi and Marvell's TopDog chipset. To make matters worse the RangeMax Next Gigabit Edition PC Card (WN511T) is TopDog based and our RangeMax Next PC Card (WN511B) uses the Broadcom Intensi-fi chipset technology.
While all of the routers support the vast majority of connectivity and security protocols we did find one difference that will be important to the home user expecting to use their router for streaming media or VoIP operations. All products except the NetGear unit fully support QoS (Quality of Service) technology that helps to ensure consistent streaming media and clear VoIP transmissions by prioritizing multimedia packets on the network. NetGear plans to add this capability in future firmware upgrades, and it already fully supports UPnP which enables peer-to-peer connectivity of networked computers, external storage devices, and even game consoles.
Of noted interest, the D-Link DIR-625 does not support WEP security, a feature the other products fully support. WEP security protocols are not specifically addressed in the current Draft 1.0 protocol and as such D-Link believes they are adhering to the spirit of the standard. While we no longer recommend or even use the WEP security protocol there are numerous legacy products in the marketplace that utilize WEP. If your card or other device cannot be updated to WPA security then you will need to purchase a new device in order to utilize this router.
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The D-Link DIR-625 product we are testing today is based on the Atheros XSpan chipset that is also found in the Belkin N1 router. Our Linksys and NetGear products are based on the competing Broadcom Intensi-fi chipset. We will be testing other Draft N routers in the near future including the NetGear RangeMax Next Gigabit Edition (WNR854T) that sports the Marvell TopDog chipset and D-Link's RangeBooster N 650 (DIR-635) router that carries the same Atheros XSpan chipset that is in the DIR-625.
In our initial testing results we found that our Draft-N equipment at times does not interoperate with each other at full speeds or fails to connect at all due to the differing chipsets utilized by the suppliers. While we will be fully exploring this issue in our next article it is disconcerting that you can purchase different Draft N chipsets from the same vendor. NetGear offers several different RangeMax Next Wireless Routers that feature both the Broadcom Intensi-fi and Marvell's TopDog chipset. To make matters worse the RangeMax Next Gigabit Edition PC Card (WN511T) is TopDog based and our RangeMax Next PC Card (WN511B) uses the Broadcom Intensi-fi chipset technology.
While all of the routers support the vast majority of connectivity and security protocols we did find one difference that will be important to the home user expecting to use their router for streaming media or VoIP operations. All products except the NetGear unit fully support QoS (Quality of Service) technology that helps to ensure consistent streaming media and clear VoIP transmissions by prioritizing multimedia packets on the network. NetGear plans to add this capability in future firmware upgrades, and it already fully supports UPnP which enables peer-to-peer connectivity of networked computers, external storage devices, and even game consoles.
Of noted interest, the D-Link DIR-625 does not support WEP security, a feature the other products fully support. WEP security protocols are not specifically addressed in the current Draft 1.0 protocol and as such D-Link believes they are adhering to the spirit of the standard. While we no longer recommend or even use the WEP security protocol there are numerous legacy products in the marketplace that utilize WEP. If your card or other device cannot be updated to WPA security then you will need to purchase a new device in order to utilize this router.
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yyrkoon - Friday, September 22, 2006 - link
How you got 'overheating NICs' out of what I said, is beyond me. As for routing overhead. the PCI version of the intel Pro GbE NIC, was second ONLY to its onboard counterpart last I checked (which WAS about a year ago).Anyhow, thats only the LAN portion of said router anyhow, it seems its the wireles portion of these devices that is severly lacking.
Beenthere - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
Based on D-Link's history of shoddy products and I have personal experience that supports this, D-Link's Non-existent Customer and Tech Support, (sic) and I have proof of this, and based on class action lawsuits against their defective products, I couldn't in good conscience recommend any D-Link products to anyone. D-Link may not even be around when the dust settles on law suits?It's no surprise their product didn't perform as advertised. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the FTC files a class action lawsuit for fraud on this product too.
seabat - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
I couldn't agree more.I have had the misfortune of using D-Link products at home and work, in both situations their products have let me down. My company recently spent 1000's changing over 80 D-Link switches because of reliability/stability issues.
drebo - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
We've had good success with D-Link's print servers, but I don't really like their routers all that well.Just personal preference, though, of course.
TowerShield - Wednesday, September 20, 2006 - link
Of course, all draft-N routers from every manufacturer so far have basically been crap, so might as well file a class lawsuit against everyone if you think that is justification.(Can only think of one decent D-Link, that's the DGL-4300).