D-Link announced its cloud service and a range of cloud-based products at this year’s Consumer Electronic Show (CES). The DIR-605L Cloud Router is one of the products unveiled by the company in Las Vegas. We received the unit last month and here’s our somewhat belated review.
In the box
DIR-605L
Power Adapter
1 LAN Cable
User Manual
Build & features
The router looks rather plain with a black plastic body that is dominated by two large, non-detachable antennas at the back. The top features seven indicator lights at the front – Power, Internet, Wireless and numbered lights for each LAN port. The backside sports the power port, WAN/ Internet port and 4 LAN ports. A WPS button is present on the side.
The DIR-605L is pretty much a no-frills router, with 300 Mbps 802.11n wireless networking perhaps the only feature hitherto seen in higher-priced routers. There’s no dual-band wireless (only 2.4 Ghz), no Gigabit Ethernet or USB ports.
Setup & options
The router does not come with a CD. You simply join the default wireless network or connect via LAN cable and follow the web-based setup to configure your network. The setup is simple enough without being anything special.
The router supports port forwarding & triggering, dynamic-DNS, UPnP and other features you expect from a modern router. An interesting addition is Parental Control Rules that let you define a black/white list of sites that users can access and have a schedule associated with each list. This lets you, for example, have a pre-defined list of sites your kids can access while you are at work during the day, and an unrestricted Internet when you are around. The feature works as advertised.
Performance
This is where the router really begins to shine. The wireless range is excellent, thanks, no doubt, to the dual antennas. We installed the DIR-605L in a large six-bedroom house that was originally being served by two dated routers working in conjunction. The DIR-605L served strong signal in every corner of the house.
The wireless performance was excellent and we didn’t experience any signal drops or any need to reset the router during our 3-4 days test period. The data transfer speeds were satisfactory and in line with the specifications.
Cloud integration
The DIR-605L is mydlink enabled, which is D-Link talk for a device that supports its cloud service mentioned earlier. Once you’ve signed up for the service, you can link and control all your mydlink enabled devices from the web or mobile. D-Link has also released iOS and Android apps that let you do the same.
Linking the DIR-605L to the cloud was pretty straightforward but of limited utility. While it’s nice to be able to monitor your router from anywhere in the world without fiddling with half-a-dozen settings, the mydlink service doesn’t let you do much with the device. You can monitor the throughput and, sure, you can reboot your device when needed, but, chances are, when your router really needs a reboot, it won’t have a live Internet connection for you to remotely login either!
Verdict
What the DIR-605L lacks in features, it makes up in performance. If you are looking for a wireless router for a duplex apartment or large office, this one deserves a second look.
Price
Rs. 2,900
Pros
Steady performance
Good range
Cons
Lacks features that other similar-priced routers offer
Rating
Performance 4
Features 2.5
Design 3
Value for Money 3.5
Overall 3.5
