Labs

The D-Link's short-range data throughput was the fastest we saw at 30Mb/sec, enough to wirelessly stream HD video with multichannel sound. However, 20m away through two partition walls, speed fell to 2Mb/sec. You can't extend range with access points because WDS (Wireless Distribution System) isn't supported.

The USB port can be used to transfer wireless settings on a USB flash drive using Windows Connect Now. The PC Card adapter is easy to install, the simple utility

ADVERTISEMENT

showing all networks with signal strength and channel.

Router menus look busy, but help is well organised, with general guidance and links to more detailed help. Separate wizards take you through WAN and wireless security setup, while manual settings include RADIUS authentication, but not WEP. DHCP reservation assigns IP addresses to specific MAC addresses.

The Advanced menu is well stocked, including virtual servers, port forwarding and port triggering. You can add schedules and inbound filters, restricting WAN sources to specified IP addresses. Like the Zyxel, QoS mentions gaming but also works with apps such as VoIP, and you can set custom priorities.

Access control includes web filters, port filters and schedules. The web filter blocks everything but the URLs you specify. Transmit power can be adjusted, while the Dynamic DNS feature lists ten servers.

However, with only a one-year warranty and poor long-range performance, the D-Link's abundance of advanced features isn't quite enough to challenge the leading routers.