D-Link DIR-655 Extreme-N Gigabit Wireless Router
by D-Link Systems, Inc.
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Digital Cameras Photo Reviews of D-Link DIR-655 Extreme-N Gigabit Wireless Router
Customer Review: It's a great router
Summary: 5 Stars
I've been using this for over a year now, no problems whatsoever. The router is on the second floor, I have my gaming PC wired into it, and on the first floor is my PS3 (Netflix), my TV (Amazon VoD), and my Vudu box (awesome hi def movies, pandora, and more). Anyone who knows about Vudu knows that you need a good connection if you want to stream their top HD format, and that hasn't been a problem.
Looking at the negative reviews, I can't help but think that those people simply didn't set it up right, didn't follow directions, or something along those lines. My wireless signal is going through a wall/floor at a direct distance of around 25 feet, and the signal is strong. I can talk on my cell phone, use my laptop, do anything and nothing interferes with the signal. An earlier comment mentioned disconnects, but I seriously doubt a router would cause a disconnect by itself unless it was resetting for some reason. I also don't believe the router gets overly hot. Mine has been on for over a year, and it's still going strong, no lag in intensive games and no disconnects due to the router. Disconnects are mainly going to be caused by a cable connection issue, or by the laptop itself. Read the directions on how to set this thing up, they aren't hard, but if you don't do them correctly or just decide to wing it on your own, then any problems are likely your fault and not the machine's.
As a bit of history, I've been using routers since about 2000. I've gone through a few Linksys routers in that time, and this time I really needed wireless and wanted to make sure I had the fastest signal possible in wireless. This router fit the bill, and I have absolutely no regrets whatsoever in getting it. I was a little leery at first because I had always used Linksys, but this Dlink router is even better, and came with a really handy software utility called Network Magic. Everything about the router exceeded my expectations.
Again, follow the instructions on setting it up. Don't play with other settings unless you know what you're doing and/or have already established that the unit is working. This was my first wireless router and that's all I did at first, and I got everything set up and working wirelessly with the router within an hour (TV, PS3, Vudu, Laptop). And I'm serious, no problems at all with the system since day 1... it's been close to a year and a half, iirc. Anyone that has a problem with this router will probably have a problem with any router. Unfortunately, I can't comment on their customer service because I haven't needed any.
It's a great product. If you need a wireless router, this is the one to get unless they have a newer model out.
Customer Review: Watch the auto-negotiation
Summary: 2 Stars
I really, really wanted to like the DIR-655. It had most every feature I wanted (though dual-band N would have been nice - one needs the much more expensive 855 for that). Unfortunately, I just could not get it to work.
The problem is that it would not acquire an IP address by DHCP from my ISP, Verizon FiOS. Using the same MAC address didn't help, neither did making sure the IP was released from the old router before connecting the new one. I had an old Netgear router around and it got an IP immediately, as did my notebook when I connected it directly. I returned the DIR-655 and got a second unit - same exact problem.
D-Link support was polite and tried to help, but just worked through a script and was unsuccessful. A web search revealed that this model has a history of DHCP IP acquisition problems, though not everyone sees it. I read reports of a European firmware update that resolved the problem for some, but it didn't for me.
I've never encountered a router problem like this before, and have had probably six or seven over the years. Sadly, I returned the 655 for a refund and will keep looking.
I know that many are very happy with this product, even those using Verizon FiOS, but just be aware that you may be as unlucky as I was.
Edit: December 2008. I decided to try again, this time with the DIR-825 (simultaneous dual-band and some added features I liked.) Same problem - no DHCP. This time, D-Link support was more helpful and guided me to the actual problem, which was that the router failed to "auto-negotiate" the Ethernet link speed from my FiOS optical network block. No other router or PC I had tried had such a problem. The second-level support rep had me change the speed to 10Mbps (instead of the default 10/100/1000 auto) and it worked.
Well, sort of. What's the point of a 15Mbps service with a 10Mbps Ethernet link? Could I set it to 100Mbps? Yes. Did it work? No. But I then had a think. I grabbed an Ethernet switch I had elsewhere in the house and put that between the FiOS connection and the router. Success! The switch negotiated the speed just fine and presented the router with a GigE link. So off to local store I go and I find the same model Netgear GigE switch on sale for $30. Install that and I'm in business.
If I had realized this when I had the DIR-655 I might have stuck with it, but that does raise the price by 30%. If the DIR-655 does the auto-negotiation for you properly, then that's great. If not, you can install a switch or look for another brand. I conclude that the Ethernet transceiver D-Link uses is not as good as that of other brands.
Customer Review: Product= very good, support= dismal
Summary: 4 Stars
1. You CANNOT set up this router via a wireless device. ALL set-up must be done from a WIRED connection.
2. This unit ships with clear plastic static cling protective covers. REMOVE THEM or else the unit will overheat (they cover crucial vent holes.)
3. Use the included stand to put the unit into the vertical position if at all possible. Again, this improves cooling. Used with these two caveats. my unit is cool as a cucumber. No problemo.
4. D-link was too cheap to hire a translator/technical writer in order to translate the instructions in the manual or in the set up process to clear English. As a result, ALL of the instructions are in HIGHLY fractured language. I think they used one of those free online translation services. (You get what you pay for.)
The manual provided is NOT "in synch" with the actual settings so you will have to stumble through some things on your own.
The set-up process is not really onerous BUT it's not "plug and play' either. (Mac users will find this really annoying.)
4. DO NOT use the set up "Wizard" it just doesn't freakin' work correctly. Always use the MANUAL settings. For example, we use Roadrunner from TWC cable. So for us, we use DHCP to connect. CHANGE AS FEW SETTINGS AS POSSIBLE.
5. Use WPA2, Personal encryption. Use the LOOONNNG 63 character password provided on both the router and any computers that will be connected over a wireless connection. You only have to enter it once. Save a print out of it somewhere you won't lose it. BUT don't worry, once you connect a computer to this router via a WIRED connection, you can EASILY reset the password.
Having gotten this thing set up, it works like a charm. I've had it for a month and the performance is excellent. I had to buy it in order to connect a PC laptop which is on the other side of the house, through several walls. He gets excellent signal strength.
The wired Gigabit Ethernet connectivity is OUTSTANDING, just remember to use Cat SIX cable to maintain Gigabit speed. My Mac Pro is our only device that is Gigabit capable, but that will change over time.
Finally, if this has to be in a bedroom or other living area, put black electrical tape over the STUPID blinking lights which are OBSCENELY bright (and actually, not good for anything, except when something isn't working. Even then, their diagnostic value is minimal.)
If you are a true nerd, you simply cannot purchase a SOHO router any faster than this one.
(Note: we don't use VOIP and don't do online file sharing so we haven't used the settings that prioritize traffic.)
Customer Review: Works with Mac Book Pro - don't use Network Magic
Summary: 4 Stars
Works with a Mac Book Pro! I wanted an n-series router for speed and because I kept loosing connection on my Linksys. I have 5 PC's, a Mac Book Pro and I am a big apple fan. However, I chose the D-Link DIR-655. I got the speed and I have good, solid connections.
I love the blue lights; they go well with my Vonage box. I used a Dymo labeler to label the lights; D-Link didn't.
Don't install Network Magic!!! This is why I rated it a 4 instead of a 5. It is pretty, but you don't need it; the browser interface works fine. Network Magic magically send my PC (PC is on LAN, Mac Book Pro is wireless) into a loop so tight I couldn't do anything. Task Manager couldn't kill it. Finally went to Sysinternals, installed ProcExp and even it couldn't kill it, but I was able to set the dispatch priority to 4 (idle). This slowed the 100% CPU loop down enough I could get to system restore. I restored WinXP SP2 to an earlier time and got rid of Network Magic. See an earlier review about "One BIG negative about this software (Network Magic) is that it takes over all print sharing and folder sharing from Windows XP."
Gigabit LAN router (don't forget Cat-6 for Gigabit, not Cat-5 that comes with router). Apple Airport does not have Gigbit LAN.
Stealth ports. Unsolicited messages from the internet are not acknowledged. Hackers pinging random IP addresses won't get a response from you and won't know you are there. Apple Airport is not stealth, but sends replies so the hackers know you are there.
USB port is apparently only for config backup to a thumb drive. (although you can save these on your PC hard drive and do not have to use a thumb drive) No disk or printer support. Apple Airport supports disk and printers on a USB port.
I also find the router log VERY interesting. Found an intruder on my system until I realized it was my Vonage box which I had forgotten about. It works so well I don't think about it. Found many, many probes from China, Korea, etc. that D-Link denied.
Don't upgrade firmware unless you have too. Version 1.04 did not work well with the Mac Book Pro (MBP). I went back to 1.02. Version 1.02 works fine with MBP Firefox, MBP Safari, MBP Parallels IE7 and MBP Parallels Firefox. Firmware upgrade from 1.02 to 1.04 to get draft 2.0 support was straight forward and easy from the manufacturer's site. However, don't mess this up or you can "brick" the router. Going back to 1.02 from 1.04 was easy too, especially with the D-Link System Save and Restore Settings to and from my PC hard drive. I'll give Apple a little more time to get up to 802.11n draft 2.0.
Customer Review: Unreliable in so many ways - but good when it works
Summary: 1 Stars
EDIT: As of around 3/3/10 the SecurePoint system keeps switching on and blocking all access. D-Link people have been abusive to irritated users on their forums. I have not been impressed to find that this system has, apparently, been vetting all our surfing even when it was supposedly disabled. Spyware gone crazy.
D-Link blocked further discussion of this issue on their support forums and have not fixed the issue, so far as I am aware. See their final word on page 8 of the following thread, I am particularly unimpressed by their authoritarian attitude. They won't get another penny from me.
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First, before you do anything else, you have to get the software update. Old versions gave horrible performance, wired and wireless. Later versions improved out of all proportion. I work for a commercial wireless equipment provider and I can't believe that they could have shipped the original version. But I would say that, wouldn't I? But we don't compete, I don't do domestic wireless.
I am on v1.32 now and it doesn't crash. Previous versions, when WinAmp did a CDDB lookup the 655 would reboot. No more ripping CDs for me.
The user interface is not bad, a bit confused but very well featured. I can block our 16 year old from doing all those things that would turn her mother gray, if she knew, with a fair degree of ease. The do have a few bugs, you need to define a schedule then a use for it before you reboot and put it in to operation. If you don't reboot it flushes the unused schedules and you need to start over. I don't see anything bad on the inside of the firewall, so I guess that is working. I set it up to forward port 80 to a local server and that worked fine too. So far so good.
Then came the reliability issues. Well first was the crashing on CDDB access, which meant we lost Internet connection every time I played a CD, but a software update fixed that. No easy way to report bugs either.
Anyway, reliability. After a while we noticed that the wireless would randomly drop after a few minutes. I cured this by adding a commercial wireless device to one of the wired ports. This restored reliable wireless Internet for a month or so, but then the wired side started dropping out. Now we have continuous dropouts. We know it's the 655 because when it drops the net you also can't get to the management interface, the web based management interface, that it serves on the local net. When it comes back up the Internet also returns.
I got it in December, I guess I'll try to return it to offset the cost of trying something else, or maybe they can repair it, who knows?