Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

Finally got a call back from the DLink network engineer. He was very sharp, and interested in my experience with the new router. Unfortunately, he didn't have any solutions to offer regarding the problems noted in this review. They are working very hard to get new firmware out addressing these issues, but he didn't have a timeline to offer. The fact is, until this upgrade is made, the router can't use Smartconnect, USB in meaningful fashion, or QoS under any circumstances. While the device has functioned in this very basic stripped down software mode for several days now, it still can't provide over 10% of the internet download speed that Comcast provides to ANY of my multiple android devices over WiFi. Both wired and wireless windows computers get at or near full internet connect speeds! Go figure, because right now, DLink doesn't have a solution. I think that this might be a device worth having in a few months, but for right now mine is going back to Amazon! ________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ JUST TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, I CLICKED THE LINK FROM DLINK SUPPORT, TOOK THE TIME TO FILL IN THEIR FORM, CLICKED SUBMIT, AND THEIR SOFTWARE REFUSED TO STORE AND FORWARD THE DATA! Here's the message: --Sorry but we are unable to process your request. Our technicians have been notified about the problem. Please visit D-Link Support.-- Of course, I've already done that numerous times... WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO DLINK? ___________________________________________________________________________________________________________ So, Amazon's great customer service functioned once again. They got me a new router to replace the nightmare below, and they did it quickly. After it arrived, here is the rest of the story on the brand new replacement: NEW REPLACEMENT ROUTER: Glacially SLOW android connect speeds, even with router dumbed down to just basic router functions (no Smartconnect, no QoS priorities selected (not able to turn it off!!), no USB sharing, and firewall functions both on and off with no effect). Note that when I tried to put the wired computer into the QoS HIGHEST box, the new router entered a reboot loop and required a full factory reset and manual reload of configuration. When I attempted to load the config file I had saved prior to making the change that caused this (as I had for each change), the router loaded the config file but corrupted the admin password (I verified this behavior twice before I'd believe it!). This required yet another factory reset and a manual reload!! UPDATE FOR PARAGRAPH ABOVE: DLink engineer indicated that if the QoS boxes are NOT populated, QoS is off; even though there is no positive switch in the firmware to verify that. Also, if you reload the config file that you've saved, THE FIRMWARE DUMPS YOUR PASSWORD BY DEFAULT! When you see the password box, just hit enter to start the firmware! This is not documented at all!!! LAN speeds and signal strength profile match the failed router, but internet speeds remain suppressed. It required 4 full system resets to get even the wired speeds up to the provider's purchased speeds. That means reset the wired computer, the router and the cable modem. Finally, the speeds came up from 1/6 of purchased to full speed on a WIRED COMPUTER! Now, at least, the windows machines, both wired and wireless, are running at or near internet provider speed. Note that those speeds were continuously available by merely hooking up my old N Netgear router. Note that I have contacted DLink multiple times via multiple methods (voice, chat, email). The support 1st level tech had kicked the problem up to network engineering. They were to have called me within 2 days. 5 DAYS LATER AND THEY HAVE NOT CALLED!! Today, when I called again, the case notes indicated that the 2nd level tech was to have called in THREE TO FOUR DAYS. The tech I spoke to just lied, and even WITH a 4 day promise, the call has never been made! I just do not see the stellar, knowledgeable tech support that some reviews have indicated! If it changes before I have to send yet another router back, I'll update this story... ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ First and foremost, the speed of internet over the WiFi network is a major concern. The LAN speeds are very impressive, but the internet is throttled way back on Android devices. (Note that there is no way to turn off QoS via firmware, then see the data below) Second, regarding using a network USB drive: -The router went into a reboot loop that could not be broken. Ended up doing a factory reset and reloading the current firmware (vs 1.03.B07) so as to get it out of the looping mode. When it entered this condition, I was working on getting my USB thumb drive working in SharePort and configured. DLNA went in without a hitch and worked as advertised. When I tried setting file sharing, that broke the system, and it just lost its way. The file sharing implementation is not very elegant and is needlessly complicated, if you just want your files available on the LAN only. -After getting the router reset and restored, the USB 3.0 drive is visible to the wired computer as a network drive (DIR-890L with sub-folder pny_usb_8113 ) to which I can write and read files. It functioned well and with good speed (see LAN speed for the wired Desktop). To the wireless computers, it is only visible as DIR-890L_DMS, a dedicated media server--not as a drive. DLNA continued to run smoothly. Additional: After disabling shareport and reselecting Password access, wireless computers were able to see the USB drive. -Also, how does one disconnect the USB drive from the router without just pulling it out and corrupting the file structure. I am unable to find any documentation regarding this simple function. Today at 1300 (24 hrs of operation), the router either reset or turned all WiFi off for about 30 seconds. By the time I got to the machine, it was showing back online with both 5 and 2.4G SSID's running. By 1545, I now see that using USB access through Shareport is causing the router to cycle the WiFi on/off, then finally reboot. Stopping Shareport access from any android device using the Dlink app restored stability. What could be causing this and how do I fix it? Update: Router auto-rebooted at 1830 for no apparent reason. There was no USB drive activity, though DLNA & SAMBA were available. Shareport was totally disabled. Update: At 2024, WiFi began cycling on and off (2.4g & 5g). Reset and removed USB thumbdrive. Problem continued. Disabled DLNA & SAMBA. Reboot multiple times. Router now stuck in a cycle WiFi on and off, then auto-reboot cycle...AGAIN! At 2042-Factory reset only option!?! At 2057, after factory reset and restore of 1.03 firmware, router stable again. Apparently, any use of the USB hard disc function leads to a very dark alley! Next day (40 hrs of operation): Router is now rebooting every 5 minutes, and the WiFi is NOT stable between reboots. It has to go back to Amazon! Finally, I set up my desktop to receive the system log. Where is it placed on that machine? I am unable to find it so that I might attach it to this file. I didn't try to set up email, as I don't know where in DLink to send it. There is nothing in the documentation. I have 15 devices connected to the router at various times, and occasionally simultaneously. 3 of those are Roku's and both internet and LAN media are delivered via those. Additionally, WiFi signal strength seems much improved with the new DLink. Signal strength measurements showed an average gain of 9.3 DB on 2.4G, and 6.8 DB on the 5G when measured against my Netgear WNDR 3400 & a Netgear R6250. That is certainly an improvement! MY LAN and INTERNET DATA: Desktop wired: Internet Speed 60.0/10.6 Dn/Up QoS priority set to Highest (This is max rated speed service delivered from Comcast) LAN Speed 180.5/377.2 Write/Read (To USB 3.0 PNY Thumbdrive) Laptop (5G @ 25'): Internet Speed through WiFi 28.8/11.8 Dn/Up QoS priority set to High With QoS Highest 27.45/11.97 (effectively no change) (my old N router delivers 60.8/11.8 rated Comcast max!!) LAN Speed 5G 93.3/168.4 (at 3' from the router 125.6/205.5) Write/Read Second Desktop (2.4G 60' & 2 sheetrock walls): Internet Speed through WiFi 21.72/11.37 Dn/Up QoS priority set to Medium (my old N router delivers 25.896/11.75!!) LAN Speed 2.5G 30.0/29.8 Write/Read Android device results 1st Samsung S4: Internet Speed through WiFi 6.45/12.53 Dn/Up QoS priority set to High (my old N router delivers 47.20/12.61 Nearly rated Comcast max!!) LAN Speed 5G 201.89/198.34 Dn/Up; 2.4G 59.70/45.44 Dn/Up 2nd Samsung S4: Internet Speed through WiFi 3.63/12.61 Dn/Up QoS priority set to Medium (my old N router delivers 37.03/11.55!!) LAN Speed 5G 208.94/201.15 Dn/Up; 2.4G 59.33/68.99 Dn/Up ASUS 700 Tablet: Internet Speed through WiFi 4.46/12.28 Dn/Up QoS priority set to Medium (my old N router delivers 33.75/11.67!!) LAN Speed 2.4G 29.78/37.69 Dn/Up ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________ I am going to try another device, if it fails, I'll update this review. So far, this has been a time sink and a very unpleasant experience!!!