D-Link vs TP-Link?

[Diatech]

Hello,

I am considering two new routers to replace an aging draft n single band netgear in my home. I have 1 desktop, 2 laptops, 2 phones, and a small windows home server 2011 on the network. (only thing hard wired is the desktop).

I am looking for performance and features, and was consider these two routers:

D-Link DIR 825
TP-Link TL-WR2843nd

What would you suggest? Thoughts and opinions welcome

Thanks,
Diatech

[Rob Pomeroy]

For performance and features, I'd almost always go with DrayTek.  (Cisco scares me!) 

[Diatech]

I would, but the $360 price tag puts me off a bit for the cheapest model I could find.. the other two models listed above were in the 100-150$ range

[rthompson80819]

You might check out this article on PC magazine.  It talks mainly about Ciscos new router but it also mentions a couple of other brands that have similar features.

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2397561,00.asp

[Transfusion]

http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=crmas&p=D-Link+DIR+825
Only 2-3 stars rating for the D-Link?

[Computer_Commando]

http://search.yahoo.com/search?ei=UTF-8&fr=crmas&p=D-Link+DIR+825
Only 2-3 stars rating for the D-Link?

I can understand why.  Had trouble with my new D-Link DR-632, 8-port router w/ WiFi & USB.  CS is nice & helpful, but not that knowledgeable.  Replacement router started doing the same as the old only an hour ago, but after fooling with the wireless settings, I may just have found the solution myself.  There's nothing really wrong with the router, just way too many settings for even the advanced user.

[Rob Pomeroy]

There's always Linksys (cheap Cisco).

You do get what you pay for in this sector, I'm afraid.  If you want high-end performance and features, you generally have to pay for it.

The other route to go down though and well worth considering if you're on a budget is to buy a cheaper router and put DD-WRT on it.  Check carefully beforehand to ensure that your chosen router is compatible.  This will certainly get you a pretty impressive feature set and may even improve the peformance of the router.

[Computer_Commando]

...The other route to go down though and well worth considering if you're on a budget is to buy a cheaper router and put DD-WRT on it.  Check carefully beforehand to ensure that your chosen router is compatible.  This will certainly get you a pretty impressive feature set and may even improve the peformance of the router.

They do have a version for the DIR-632.  Just reflashed my firmware today.  I had heard of it, but never needed it until now.  I suspect most give up & just throw it out.  Good business plan:  "sell junk, customer discards it, & then buys more junk".  I think most of the internal hardware is pretty much the same on many SOHO routers, i.e.  Atheros WiSOC based Hardware.  The developer did the firmware in less than a day.

[BC_Programmer]

I can understand why.  Had trouble with my new D-Link DR-632, 8-port router w/ WiFi & USB.  CS is nice & helpful, but not that knowledgeable.  Replacement router started doing the same as the old only an hour ago, but after fooling with the wireless settings, I may just have found the solution myself.  There's nothing really wrong with the router, just way too many settings for even the advanced user.

I on the other hand have a DIR-655 (Gigabit Lan, Wireless-N, USB) that hasn't had a single issue running for nearly 2 and a half years straight. Then again I don't screw around with the settings I don't understand and then blame the vendor....

On a side-note, the DIR-655 cannot have DD-WRT installed so it could very well use different innards than similar models.

[Diatech]

I might be stuck with the DIR 825.. I don't know about anyone else, but the TP link has been removed from the manufacturers page.. I cant find this thing for sale anywhere! (or even an explanation as to why!)

[Computer_Commando]

I on the other hand have a DIR-655 (Gigabit Lan, Wireless-N, USB) that hasn't had a single issue running for nearly 2 and a half years straight. Then again I don't screw around with the settings I don't understand and then blame the vendor....

On a side-note, the DIR-655 cannot have DD-WRT installed so it could very well use different innards than similar models.

The WiFi dropouts are a know problem with the DIR-632; D-Link fails to acknowledge it or provide a fix.  I bought it because of the wireless, not much good if you have to be next to the router in case it drops out, and you have to reboot it.
http://www.dd-wrt.com/wiki/index.php/D-Link_DIR-632
Runs standard version of DD-WRT.
The biggest knock about this router is it's frequent WIFI drops and lockups when using the stock firmware. Installing DD-WRT corrects this isssue.

I've been using it for a couple days.  The USB doesn't use the D-Link Shareport Utility to function.  It's enabled as a network drive in the firmware setup.