D-Link AC3200

[sm00thpapa]

Nice design.

http://blog.dlink.com/a-week-with-d-links-ac3200-ultra-wi-fi-router/

 

[jegesq]

Really? You like that? Red? Looks like some weird upside down insect-robot. Or as Dikembe Motumbo says (wagging finger)..."Not in my house."

 

[James_Testani]

I picked this up the other day when I was browsing my local computer store. No red unfortunately, just black. Also glossy.. I decided not to take off the top plastic film for this reason.

http://i.imgur.com/z4OzjQ6.jpg
http://i.imgur.com/zwZeB1u.jpg

I was hoping to replace my Time Capsule AC with a router that has more fine grain control. Having said that, the Airport always manages to work great, it's rock solid; this was more of an impulse purchase.

Many months back, I also took a shot at the WRT1900, with high-hopes it would take care of a few dead zones in the house that the Time Capsule couldn't get a 5Ghz signal to, but my former N66u could. I'll chalk it up to poor firmware possibly, but wireless performance was quite poor compared to the TC, especially with heavy obstructions.

Overall performance of the D-Link, however, was quite good. It either matched the Time Capsule or exceeded it in a few locations. I used LAN Speed Test Server from my Desktop (Wired) & LAN Speed Test on my MacBook Pro Ret (3x3 AC) both running Windows 8.1 to do some basic throughput tests, running sequential Read/Writes of 5GB.

For reference, the router is located in the basement near the back of the home.

Line of site at 5 Ft away from router didn't really blow me away though. "Average/Max/Min" in Mbps (Megabits):

TC = Read: 453/547/268 Write: 462/477/438

DLINK = Read: 460/515/371 Write: 366/425/205

My front library, on the main floor, roughly 40ft diagonally upwards where I have quite a bit of trouble for 5Ghz coverage on the TC:

APxAC = Read: 132/135/127 Write: 108/112/100 (2.4Ghz N - 5Ghz Failed)

DLINK = Read: 338/348/310 Write: 137/148/107

And here is the farthest point in the home, second floor office, about 65ft diagonally upwards:

APxAC = Read: 188/204/148 Write: 68/68/67

DLINK = Read: 270/296/199 Write: 108/126/62

As far as disk speeds from USB, I didn't have a USB 3.0 Drive to test out unfortunately, so this may be meaningless, though the Time Capsule doesn't support 3.0 either for what it's worth, neither could I mount an NTFS drive to the TC as it doesn't support it. These tests are Desktop LAN to Drive. Drive freshly formatted and empty. I never bothered with wireless after I realized it didn't support my HFS drives:

Desktop Wired NTFS <USB 2.0> FAT32 Drive in (MBps) Megabytes Per Sec:
Time Capsule
Read: 20.6 Write: 16.8

D-Link:
Read: 43.5 Write: 13.5

I think I'm probably going to return it after realizing that it doesn't support HFS+ volumes over it's USB Ports (thus Time Machine is a no go unless I pick up a cheap NAS) which is rather crucial to me. I would have probably kept it otherwise as it offered usable AC wireless in areas where only 2.4Ghz would work on the TC.

Most of these "tests" were both for fun and personal use, so I wouldn't really use them judge the router seriously. I am curious what Tim's results will be, though! I expect it to be similar to the Netgear R8000, tbh.

 

[TonyH]

Hi,
Generally router located in the higher spot in the house(like upstairs in 2 story house) gives
better coverage. My router is always on the loft in 2 story house. Even in the basement, wireless
signals are very useable.

 

[James_Testani]

Agreed! I like to have a wired connection to my main desktop and at the moment, moving my office upstairs isn't an option.

 

[S_D]

Looks like the DIR-895 and 885 would be the ones to go for but I think they're coming out later...

 

[stevech]

Agreed! I like to have a wired connection to my main desktop and at the moment, moving my office upstairs isn't an option.

If centralized WiFi router still lacks coverage, you'll need to add an access point.