D-Link AC3200 Review: Ultra Wi-Fi Router Tested by HTG
D-Link AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router: A Detailed Examination
The market for premium routers is becoming increasingly competitive, with numerous high-performance and costly options available. Within this crowded landscape, the D-Link AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router distinguishes itself through both its distinctive design and robust capabilities.
Initial Impressions: Design and Aesthetics
This model immediately grabs attention, not only due to its impressive performance specifications but also its substantial size and striking aesthetic. The D-Link AC3200 boasts a vibrant flame red finish, setting it apart from more conventional router designs.
Performance Overview
A closer inspection reveals a feature-rich device engineered to deliver exceptional Wi-Fi performance. We will delve into the specifics of this model, evaluating its capabilities and features in detail.
The router is designed to handle demanding network activities, such as streaming, gaming, and large file transfers. Its advanced features aim to optimize network efficiency and provide a stable connection for multiple devices.
Key Features and Specifications
- The D-Link AC3200 utilizes advanced Wi-Fi technology to maximize speed and range.
- Its striking design incorporates multiple antennas for enhanced signal coverage.
- The router is equipped with powerful processing capabilities to handle numerous connected devices simultaneously.
Further analysis will explore how these features translate into real-world performance and usability. The goal is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the D-Link AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router’s strengths and potential applications.
Introducing the D-Link AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router
The D-Link AC3200 Ultra Wi-Fi Router, also known as the DIR-890L, is priced at $299. It represents D-Link’s top-of-the-line router offering, distinguished by its substantial size and considerable processing capability. This router is remarkably large, exceeding the dimensions of most models we have tested and reviewed, with approximate measurements of 16x10x5 inches.
Six fixed antennas extend from the device, giving it a unique, insect-like appearance. The router’s design is striking, featuring a glossy red finish and a prominently angled casing. Opinions varied regarding its aesthetic, with some likening it to a spaceship, while others described it as resembling a drone, an alien entity, or a spider.
Internal Components and Tri-Band Technology
Within its distinctive exterior, the router incorporates a Broadcom dual-core 1GHz processor. It utilizes a tri-band configuration, distributing network traffic across three separate radio frequencies. These include one 2.4GHz band for compatibility with older 802.11n/g/b devices and two 5GHz bands designed for newer 802.11ac/n/a clients.
The router boasts a combined potential bandwidth of 3,200Mbps, hence the AC3200 designation. However, it’s crucial to understand that this figure represents the theoretical maximum. No single device, or even an entire frequency band, will ever achieve this level of throughput.
This number is calculated by summing the potential bandwidth across all three bands when the router is operating at peak capacity with numerous connected clients. The maximum theoretical speed achievable on a single 5GHz band remains at 1,300Mbps.
Benefits of Multiple Bands
Despite the inability to utilize the full 3,200Mbps with a single device, the AC3200 naming isn’t merely a marketing tactic. The primary advantage of routers with multiple bands is to ensure sufficient bandwidth availability for modern households with numerous Wi-Fi enabled devices.
This ensures that laptops, tablets, gaming consoles, streaming devices, and other connected gadgets all receive adequate network resources. The goal is to prevent performance bottlenecks and maintain a smooth online experience for all users.
In summary, the D-Link DIR-890L is a premium-priced router designed to deliver extensive and robust Wi-Fi coverage for homes with many devices and demanding users. It is not intended for simple setups, such as a single tablet used by an infrequent internet user.
Initial Configuration
While the initial setup represents a small fraction of the overall time spent with a router, it’s a crucial stage and often foreshadows the user’s future experience. Our previous evaluation of the D-Link DIR-880L highlighted the inclusion of mounting hardware and a remarkably intuitive setup wizard and graphical user interface (GUI).
It’s worth reiterating that D-Link is the sole router manufacturer we’ve encountered that provides mounting hardware with its products. Although the cost of such hardware is minimal, and may seem insignificant for a higher-end router, this detail demonstrates a commendable level of consideration.
Furthermore, the setup wizard and overall user interface continue to be the most accessible and straightforward we’ve tested. The router market has generally seen improvements in user-friendliness, with interfaces becoming more intuitive across various brands. Companies like ASUS and Netgear have significantly enhanced their GUI designs.
However, the D-Link router interface remains exceptionally intuitive and easy to navigate. While its simplicity might not appeal to advanced users accustomed to the comprehensive options found in aftermarket firmware like DD-WRT, it offers a user experience that doesn’t require extensive networking knowledge.
The process involves plugging in the router, connecting to it, and completing the wizard. Beyond this, configuration is limited to tasks like setting up a guest network. The main panel screenshot clearly displays your internet connection status, connected clients, and any attached USB storage devices.
Clicking on any element within the icon-based GUI provides either further details or troubleshooting assistance for error messages. This intuitive design enhances the user experience.
A further benefit of the D-Link GUI is the division of nearly every menu into “simple” and “advanced” sections. This approach presents users with the most common tasks and a streamlined interface – such as changing a Wi-Fi password – initially. More granular settings are accessible via an “advanced” link. This structure is ideal for the majority of users, offering essential functionality upfront while providing access to more complex options when needed.
Exploring Advanced Capabilities
The most significant advantage offered by the DIR-890L lies in the substantial performance boost gained by upgrading to a premium model. Beyond this enhanced power, several additional functions and features deserve consideration.
Smart Connect Technology
We highly recommend the Smart Connect function, available exclusively on the DIR-880L and DIR-890L. Its concept is straightforward: assign a single SSID and password across all three bands – one 2.4GHz and two 5GHz – and the router will intelligently manage connections, dynamically shifting devices between bands to optimize performance.
Claims of this nature are frequently encountered, and we previously experimented with similar functionality using DD-WRT, with limited success. While easy to articulate, achieving a truly seamless, all-in-one SSID experience has historically proven challenging. We often encountered network instability with certain devices unable to maintain a consistent connection.
However, the DIR-890L delivered a remarkably smooth experience with its "Smart Connect" feature. The entire network operated under a single SSID, all devices connected reliably, and bandwidth allocation dynamically adjusted without noticeable disruption. Its effectiveness is such that its operation remains largely imperceptible in the background.
Guest Network Access
Enabling the guest network, referred to as "Guest Zone" on the router, is a simple process. It is disabled by default but can be activated under Settings -> Wireless -> Guest Zone.
The guest network configuration mirrors the primary network settings. Utilizing Smart Connect consolidates all guest networks into a single connection.
Multiple guest networks, such as separate access for children and visitors, require disabling Smart Connect. While functional, we believe this trade-off is undesirable; a valuable feature shouldn't need to be sacrificed to access basic functionality. The guest network feature operates as intended and is easy to configure.
Quality of Service (QoS)
The Quality of Service (QoS) functionality on the DIR-890L presented a mixed experience. Positively, its interface is exceptionally user-friendly, featuring an intuitive drag-and-drop system.
Assigning priority to network devices is as simple as dragging and dropping them into designated zones. However, limitations exist. A device must be currently connected to the network to be prioritized.
More significantly, prioritization is solely device-based, lacking the ability to prioritize specific traffic types. For instance, prioritizing Skype or streaming video is impossible; only the device itself can be prioritized, necessitating prioritization of all devices used for a particular application.
The drag-and-drop system offers limited priority slots – one "Highest," two "High," and eight "Medium." While conceptually sound, this implementation may frustrate advanced users.
Storage Attachment and File Sharing
The file sharing system functions adequately. This isn't a criticism of D-Link or the product itself, but rather a realistic expectation for router-based file sharing. We successfully connected a USB 3.0 hard drive and accessed it as a standard network drive, as well as through D-Link's MyDLink software.
Performance didn't match dedicated network storage solutions, but that's an unreasonable expectation. We consistently achieved transfer speeds of 60-65Mbps, sufficient for everyday use and media streaming.
Quick VPN Access
The Quick VPN function enables secure remote access to your home network while traveling. Setup is straightforward, requiring only activation and password creation. Most mobile devices, including those running iOS and Android, and desktop operating systems like Windows and OSX, support the router's L2TP/Ipsec protocol.
This function focuses on accessing your home network securely, not establishing outbound connections to remote secure networks. This is an advanced feature requiring careful router selection or the use of DD-WRT. Further information on this process can be found here.
Performance Evaluation of the DIR-880L
The performance exhibited by the DIR-880L was highly satisfactory. Although advanced users may desire more detailed configuration options within the router’s interface, its overall power is undeniable. Despite being positioned on the ground level of our testing environment, the router consistently delivered robust signal strength throughout the basement, upper floors, attic spaces, and even extended to the yard and adjacent street.
Regarding the 2.4GHz frequency band, the DIR-890L demonstrated performance closely aligned with its predecessor, the DIR-880L. Average data transfer rates on this band measured 108 Mbps, a figure virtually identical to the previous model’s specifications. This similarity is logical, considering the consistent testing location and the inherent limitations of the 2.4GHz band’s maximum speed.
Throughput on the 5GHz band proved exceptionally swift when operating in 802.11ac mode. We consistently achieved speeds ranging from 500-550 Mbps at close range. Even at greater distances, such as in the attic or backyard, speeds remained around 300 Mbps.
Switching to 802.11n mode, while still remarkably fast, yielded speeds of approximately 200 Mbps across the first floor of the test home.
In practice, with high-end routers, speeds often surpass practical limitations, becoming less relevant due to other bottlenecks. The DIR-890L’s capabilities far exceed the capacity of typical home internet connections or local file transfer rates.
Even within a network boasting gigabit internet access and numerous simultaneous users engaged in bandwidth-intensive activities like gaming, streaming, and downloading, the router’s capacity remained largely untapped.
A Comprehensive Review of the DIR-890L Router
At HTG, our router evaluations extend beyond simple benchmarking. We integrate devices into our network as primary routers for several weeks, often exceeding a month, to assess real-world performance. Having thoroughly tested the DIR-890L, we now share our detailed observations.
Positive Attributes
- The router boasts a strikingly modern and appealing design. While aesthetics aren't paramount, its visual appeal is noteworthy.
- The LED indicators offer clear and informative status updates without being overly bright or intrusive.
- The graphical user interface (GUI) is exceptionally intuitive and provides a seamless user experience.
- D-Link officially supports DD-WRT, a highly regarded third-party firmware option.
- Performance is remarkably swift; pushing the router to its limits proves exceptionally challenging.
- Operational stability is excellent; the device functioned continuously throughout the testing period, requiring only a single reboot for firmware updates.
Areas for Improvement
- The absence of an eSATA port is a limitation, albeit a minor one, considering this is a high-end router.
- The antennas are not detachable, restricting potential upgrades despite no immediate need for them during testing.
- The GUI's simplicity, while user-friendly, may prove restrictive for advanced users seeking granular control.
- The Quality of Service (QoS) implementation requires refinement, although its necessity is diminished by the router's overall power.
Final Assessment
The DIR-890L's premium price point is undeniable, and it isn't suited for every user. It’s not ideal for budget-conscious consumers or simple, single-device setups. One could even contend that its full potential isn't realized without a DD-WRT upgrade. However, we can confidently state the following.
Initial setup was straightforward. The router delivers exceptional performance, consistently maintaining network speed even under demanding conditions, including extensive file transfers, multiple streaming devices, and rigorous stress tests. Its signal range is extensive, providing complete coverage throughout the test environment, including the yard and neighboring properties. Crucially, and in contrast to recent experiences, the router proved remarkably stable. Beyond the initial firmware update, no reboots were necessary throughout the entire evaluation period – a testament to its reliability.
In conclusion, the DIR-890L is a superb router for modern households with numerous connected devices. While configuration options are somewhat limited, its power and stability are undeniable. If your budget allows and you require a high-performance router with ample bandwidth and range, this is a worthwhile investment.