D-Link RangeBooster N Dual Band Router (DIR-628)

Fast, cheap and dual-band device



D-LINK'S NEW RANGEBOOSTER N Dual Band Router (DIR-628) is available from online retailers for less than $100, making it the least expensive dual-band model we've ever tested. Despite its low price, it's also the fastest Draft N router we've ever tested, and it has all the high-end features one would expect from a unit that costs twice as much.
The DIR-628's setup wizard is flawless and very easy to follow; we had no trouble replacing our old router. Once you've finished setup, you can administer your network via a Web browser. While we perfer a program like the one Linksys uses, the D-Link tools are easy to handle, and they provide wizards for almost everything (unless you want to manually configure your settings). And though you can't run 2.4Ghz and GHz networks simultaneously, you can run a "mixed" mode that works with 802.11b/g/n adapters.


For a budget-oriented router, the DIR-628's extraordinary speed is amazing. At 50 feet in 5GHz mode, we transfered a 100MB file in 17 seconds, and a 500MB file in 1 minute and 22 seconds, which is record-breaking. It was equally fast in 2.4GHz mode, and its range of 175 feet is top of the charts, too.
The D-Link does have a few flaws: It doesn't offer print-server capabilities, Gigabit Thernet ports, or the ability to add USB storage to the network. Despite those drawbacks, however, the DIR-628 still exceeded our expectations by a country mile.-J.N.
source: Computer Shopper October 2008.
www.dlink.com