Finally Thoughts
The DIR-655 Xtreme N router is a necessary evolution. No one likes to drill holes in their house to fish CAT 5 cable and running a wireless router is a perfect solution. However, as network loads increase, the bandwidth provided by this router should provide lots of headroom for future expansion. But the 300 Mbps of wireless bandwidth love is just half the story.
Networks are also becoming increasingly depended on for use with VOIP, gaming, and streaming video and audio; things that are extremely latency sensitive. The UBICOM StreamEngine processor inside the DIR-655 is no joke. Whenever you can actually feel a difference in the way your network runs, that’s a big deal. Even with the heavy loads I threw at the router both wired and wireless, I was still able to maintain acceptable performance of time sensitive requests.
Although I’m all praise so far, I have to take exception to the claims of 6X more range and 14X faster speeds. It’s neither under practical use. Yeah, I know it is claimed as “Up To” but to have to “hunt around” to verify these claims in testing is a little sketchy. The range of the router is definitely impressive, and because of the extra bandwidth, you can work with a fairly decent connection in places you couldn’t before. The other gripe I had was the fact that the USB port could not be used for printers, something that seems necessary in today’s multi-computer households. Actually, to be more accurate, the USB port is all show, and no go. You can’t even plug a USB drive into it and share it on the network. However, I’m sure the fans of Windows Connect Now will be happy. Are there any?
It’s been a few months now since I was given the D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit router to torture. Since I’ve had commodity network routers fail on me personally in fairly short time periods, I was not about to recommend a router at this price point without a good amount of thrashing for at least a couple months. After beating on it and pushing horrible traffic loads through it, 24/7, for a few months now, I can safely say that this is one product that will not fail on you and provide excellent performance without worry.
Despite the slightly deceptive marketing, the D-Link DIR-655 Xtreme N Gigabit Router is a proven workhorse that will serve you well as the hub of your Wired and Wireless Network. It provides tangible benefits over its commodity counterparts, and although it isn’t cheap, it isn’t a place you want to cheap out as you start adding your VOIP phones, wireless media players, and gaming systems. The DIR-655 Xtreme N Router is absolutely necessary for powering your Digital Lifestyle and I really couldn’t imagine my network without it. Editor’s Choice!
Pros
- Fast 300 Mbps performance with Xtreme N adapters
- Full backwards compatibility with other wireless standards
- StreamEngine Technology really works to maintain network performance for time sensitive requests
- Proven reliability for 24/7 operation
Cons
- Costs more than your standard commodity router (but it’s worth it!)
- Marketing claims of 6X and 14X are slightly deceptive
- The USB port is completely useless
Overall Rating: 9.0 / 10.0
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