D-Link Xtreme N DIR-655 Wireless Router is best, but not trouble free
I enjoy my DWA-552 and DIR-655 immensely.
Initially there where a few problems with the first few versions of the firmware but the third version keeps all the features (the fourth revision removed a few features!) and 'settles in' after a while (remains stable, without the router hanging
).
This is the most expensive consumer wireless equipment available and it is the fastest both directions, furthest range, fewest retries - the best, but not without a few problems.
The review has wonderful pictures but fails to mention the setup hassles, that certain settings will crash the router (so on some pages you need to save your settings as you apply each one in case the router crashes, taking all your setting with it and a minute to reboot) and that the software (firmware and setup disk programs) are a little lacking, the
hardware is the best (but limited by the software).
Linux support was quite poor but with all the cryin' it's bound to be better by now.
Some people have trouble with interference from other wireless and un-identified sources but that can be resolved (usually) by changing from the default channel (which you '
obviously'
must do) and waiting hours to let the unit see if it will settle in (since some interference is intermittent and very strong).
I would have enjoyed if the review have delved into the more technical aspects (like the Atheros chipset used and it's associated MIPS 24K processor core and that the chipset is so new (well nearly two years old, shame on us!) that there is not a lot of software for it (especially for Linux)), but that was not to be. Sure would be nice of one of those pics showed the chipset but I guess he didn't want to peel back the foil
.
It does perform worse in "mixed mode operation".
A hundred feet away from the router I get at least 85% of the throughput as when I'm a few feet away this may be due to the
three antennas and the router's "location tuning" that uses advanced diversity.