D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router Review:Draft 2.0 arrives

[Kel]

When smallnetbuilder last updated and tested the DIR 655 it was with firmware version 1.03/1.04 - D-link just released version 1.20. Anyone have any perspective on the differences - is the mixed STA performance better now? Is security mode throughput impacted less? Just curious. I do not own this product but am thinking about buying it.

Thanks

[thiggins]

Haven't tested the new firmware. In general, I would not expect either mixed n/g or WEP/WPA-TKIP performance to improve, however. I just haven't seen the chip manufacturers working on these issues.

[Kel]

Tim - not knowing much about this issue - is this more of a hardware issue than firmware?

[thiggins]

Originally Posted by Kel

Tim - not knowing much about this issue - is this more of a hardware issue than firmware?

Some of each, probably. Depends on how much of the MAC is in hardware and how much in soft/firmware.

[epsilonx]

[Article link]
I read the review regarding the Dlink DIR-655 router and was wondering what exactly does "Throughput tends to vary greatly over time" under CONS refer to? Does this mean the wired LAN-WAN and WAN-LAN throughput will deviate from the tested ~232Mbps throughput greatly? Or does this refer to its wireless throughput performance? My biggest concern is its wired speed performance. Wireless I am not too worried about, but I want to make sure that when I get Verizon FIOS 20/20 tier, this router can tear through the fiber at maximum speeds for all of my 4 wired comps simultaneously (one mass torrent box, 3 gaming comps).

[thiggins]

Sorry. That Con refers to the wireless throughput. I'll edit the article to reflect that.
Routing performance is nice and steady. See the IxChariot plot here.

[jakman]

Tim,

New member as of today after searching for reviews via google.

Wondering if you had a preference or experience with either USB or desktop adapters with the DIR-655. I've read a review on the DWA-552 that suggests Vista support/performance weak. I am using XP Pro however with no immediate plans to upgrade.

Also, if you have a USB adapter preference I would appreciate that as well.

Thanks,

Jakman

[jakman]

p.s.

My biggest concern is distance/range performance since the pc is in the basement and router will be one floor up.

[thiggins]

Welcome jakman!

Wireless performance in the review was done with the D-Link DWA-652 Cardbus card.
I have never used PCI-based adapters.

The DWA-160 didn't perform well when I used it with the DIR-855. I ended up using the NETGEAR WNDA3100. (Both are dual-band).

I think that Cardbus adapters will perform a bit better than USB because they use 3 antennas (I think in a 2T3R configuration). USB adapters are 2T2R devices.

[jakman]

Tim,

Your thoughts on the D-Link ANT24-0230 Xtreme N 2.4GHz Antenna if router is upstairs and pc with DIR-655 is against basement wall?

Jakman