| D-Link DI-524 Wireless 54 Mbps High Speed Router (802.11g) |
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Model: DI-524
Brand: D-Link
Manufacturer: D-Link
Average Rating: 
(submit your review here)
Total Reviews: 263
Form factor: External
Hardware platform: PC
Data link protocol: Ethernet, Fast Ethernet, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g
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| Features: |
Share your Internet connection with built-in 4-Port switch
Compatible with 802.11g and 802.11b networks
Advanced Firewall and Security Controls
Built-in 4-Port SwitchOperating range of up to 328 feet indoors, up to 1,312 feet outdoors
Quick and easy set-up |
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| Description: |
| D-Link AirPlus G 802.11g Wireless Router - The DI-524 from D-Link can handle all of your networking needs. Utilizing the built-in 4-port 10/100 Ethernet switch, you can wire your computers together in the standard fashion, or you can go wireless with 802.11g technology. Transferring data through the air at up to 54Mbps! The router and built-in firewall portion of the DI-524 allows for easy & safe broadband Internet sharing. Advanced Firewall Features - NAT with VPN Pass-through (Network Address Translation) MAC Filtering IP Filtering URL Filtering Domain Blocking Scheduling Dimensions - 5.6 (l) x 4.3 (w) x 1.2 (h) Weight - 7.8 oz. |
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| User Reviews (263 total): |
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Piece of junk!, April 3, 2007
By Anon234 (OK)
Initial hookup was easy, but after about 10 minutes I could no longer access the internet. I got the latest firmware upgrade, drivers, etc., went through all the suggested self-help, but all with the same results. After waiting on hold multiple times, being disconnected, and being stepped through the standard helpdesk script multiple times (at a painfully slow speed), I gave up and did what I should have done in the first place - I bought a Linksys router. I've had it for a week now with no problems whatsoever.
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Good price but poor performance..., March 6, 2007
By Shinn-chyang Chen
I did own this router for almost 1 year. I did owned those routers for at least 6 months, Linksys BEFW11S4 v2(4 stars), Netgear MR814 v2 (4 stars), Linksys WRT54GX2 v1 (2 stars), Linksys WRT54G v6 (5 stars).
This router is great if you expect only basic features, it's easy to install and connect. One feature I like with D-Link is the ability to reboot the router remotely which I did not see with other routers I owned before. The router is very small and you can put as a vertical stand. The signal is not bad if you leave in an apartment, I haven't tested in a long range.
However, this router will not give you the best in term of performance. My ISP is comcast and I do get a 6 Mbps download when I am connected directly through the modem. Through the router, I do get only 4 Mbps. For some reasons it doesn't allow you to get over. I have tried to flash the firmware to version 3.23 but it still didn't work. When I switched to Linksys WRT54GX2 v1 (do not buy this one) or Linksys WRT54G v6, I do get a bandwidth close to 6 Mbps.
If you are willing to spend extra box for a router with a better performance, buy something else. Also this device does not have QoS feature.
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unreliable, March 6, 2007
By brij (baltimore)
when i bought it first...it worked fine for 3 months and after than it has gone bonkers.
it requires very frequent resets and doesn't respond without manual intervention.
I am planning to junk it.
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One Year and Not a Problem Yet!!, February 25, 2007
By twroble
Easy to install...practically fool proof...."plug and play"
great reception...from all over the back yard let alone any room in the house...
I was ignorant on wireless routers and prepared to pay big bucks...because I wanted wireless and had the money to spend...
it would have been a waste...I'm glad I read the reviews...this has done everything I've ever needed...and I got a steal for under $40....finding this unit was my lucky day....
Not a problem yet....
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will walker, February 16, 2007
By W. walker (Lexington , KY)
I HAD THIS ROUTER 13 months have had 2 bad ones time to replace agian plus customer services stinks can not understand the cms accents.
Looking to buy elsewhere!
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Good Wireless Router - One Year With No Problems, February 11, 2007
By hazelqj (Canton, GA USA)
I purchased my DI-524 a year ago. Setup was very easy and I have had zero problems since I installed it. I have several different laptops I use with it and have had no issues. I would have no problem recommending this product to someone.
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Excellent, January 30, 2007
By kmk251145 (NY)
I have been running this router for over a year in my house with absolutely no problems what-so-ever. It is simple to setup using the wizard. Easy to password protect so no one can leech your bandwidth. Mine has functioned perfectly with no problems.
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Not for mac users! ...well, it's a hassle for anyone, really., January 27, 2007
By V. Mellott (Pennsylvania, USA)
This router has always acted strange with both of my macs. It seems like anywhere from every 7 to 20 minutes, it just stops loading internet signals... but stays "connected" to the computer. Which means I am constantly hitting "turn airport off" waiting 5 seconds, and then hitting "turn airport on" and it works again. SO, since this happens on both of my macs, obviously I would not recommend it to any mac user.
For the most part, there are no PC related problems in my household. The only other problem with this router is something that developed a few months after purchase. It used to not matter which was turned on first: the modem or the router... but now our router is a spaz. It seems to get confused if it gets turned on first. So the only way ANY of the computers (wired/wireless, pc/mac/xbox) can connect to the internet is if the modem is turned on first, and you wait for it to connect entirely to the internet... and then you can plug in the router. This used to be really frustrating because our modem would disconnect often... so we would have to turn that off, then on, wait for it to connect, and then turn the router on.
Overall, this router takes the convenience out of wifi through the hassles that it presents. Don't buy it. I would definitely recommend that Apple wireless router... but that's a bit expensive, so just LOOK AROUND. In any case, just don't buy this one. It's a piece of junk.
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Beware! Poor quality, January 26, 2007
By Alex1 (New Jersey)
I have 25 yeasr expetience with PCs and networking. I am not a pro, but a fully qualified home user, having setup and used many systems. This router was not hard to install, but it requires frequent resets. The range gradually decreased, until after 3 months it does not work at all. Buy any other wireless router. I will not buy any D-Link product again.
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...and the potato chips too!, January 19, 2007
By Infidel Defiler (Frederick, MD United States)
I've had mine for over years and I've never had a single problem - no hangs, resets or anything like that - running 24/7 all day every day. It was very easy to setup and has worked without issue for every visitor laptop that's been at my house.
Actually, I've had one issue. I wanted to make a change to the DHCP settings one day, but because it had been over a year since I had to visit the web based admin stuff (to set it up initially) I forgot the password. Luckily I found it or I would have had to reset the unit.
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Very good router, January 16, 2007
By Harold (usa)
It is good if you know about router very easy configuration if you
want to do it over the internet and use it as your broadband
connection. it brings a software that it will guide you through
the process.It can also be configured manual if you want to use for
your LAN network.
Hence, I rated 4 start ****.
Buy it if you know about router configuration automatic or manual.
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Works like a top. Set it and forget it., January 15, 2007
By majikwah (Denver, CO United States)
I have had this router for about 6 months. I upgraded from the 514 in order to get "G" coverage.
If you take your time, follow the instructions, add a step to tweak the router using the online tools to suit your set up you will find this router works great. I literally set it up and forget it. About once a month I will proactively reset it and renew the DNS. And that is the sum total of maintenance.
Great router and a very good price.
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I was an idiot to buy it...be prepared for reboots/freeze, January 14, 2007
By Dinesh (CA USA)
I totally agree with frustated people who bought this after reading other's good reviews. This product has many revisions. Atleast do not buy Revision 'D'. You can have a look below the product for revision number. It SUPPORTS :) multiple freezing and it does it without any known reason. Everything would be functioning fine and then suddenly my internet would stop working...I would then go, pull out power and turn it on again...and it would start working again.
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Incompatible with satellite, January 11, 2007
By Richard Eltzroth (Cotopaxi, Colorado United States)
Despite the proposed work-arounds recommended by D-Link, this router does not work with Direcway/Hughes satellite internet service! I spent a whole day trying to add a wireless notebook computer connection to my existing wired desktop computer setup using the D-Link DI-524 router without success. The D-Link disk manual and online Help were basically worthless. A hub or switch and a wireless access point is apparently what is needed for satellite instead of a router.
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terrible support and build quality, January 8, 2007
By C R (Chicagoland, IL)
Support is unreachable (their phone system will answer 24/7, but it's unknown if anyone is actually ever there), and the router flat out doesn't work when reset. I mean, come on. If you reset a router, you should at least be able to get into it via normal LAN mode. The lights are on, but noones home. Look elsewhere.
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Ok, but very unreliable, January 1, 2007
By John T. Bauman
This is relatively easy to set up, but it has very poor reliability. With the original firmware, the router crashed and rebooted whenever it had a slight bit of sustained wireless load - not even 20 KBps. With upgraded firmware, some configuration web pages don't work in Firefox, and it spontaneously reboots for no reason at all (that's if you're lucky - sometimes it just stops working until you unplug it from the power and plug it back in).
D-Link's only suggestions have been to attempt to slightly reduce load by disabling UPnP (which never worked anyway, along with dyndns support), which, needless to say, didn't help. I can't recommend this router to anyone who wants their Internet connection to actually be reliable.
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Look elsewhere, December 27, 2006
By sjp777 (California)
The only thing this is good for is as a wired router which pretty much defeats its reason for being.
Wireless performance is horrendous. xbox360 and laptop are a room away with only a thin wall and an open doorway from the router and signal is never over 45%. The media center extender on the 360 constantly drops due to poor network connection.
First and last dlink product i ever buy. Junk.
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D(ie)-Link Router, December 27, 2006
By Priyam Dutta (Hyderabad, India)
After reading the reviews over here, all I can say is that I wish I had read the reviews before I purchased the router. I also, like many others, bought the router due to its lower price and have been repenting ever since. The router dies on me at least five time a day, sometimes at an hourly basis and sometimes even sooner. It automatically "freezes" and the only way to get it working again is to reset it, other times when I am "lucky", it just resets itself. It is a pain using this product and I am looking for a better alternative for this.
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Buy something else, December 16, 2006
By primp (Hancock, MI USA)
OK, its cheap...but it sucks. In writing this, I'm comparing it to a slightly more expensive router that happens to be blue and dark grey in color. I don't think I can mention brands on here.
-Wireless range is very poor.
-It forwards ports when it feels like it.
-It has a security issue that sometimes lets you log in from anywhere on the web (even when remote admin is disabled)
-It needs to be reset about once a week
-Transfers are very slow to/from wireless even with good signal
-It updates DynDNS too often, causing them to freeze your account
These are the issues as of 12/16/2006. The last firmware revision was almost a year ago (1/11/2006 v5.10). Way too many problems on this thing. It is a piece of trash.
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Not a bad router, but it will take some work..., December 12, 2006
By Just Passing Time (USA)
I have had no problems with this router from the point of performance. I only have to believe that many of the poor reviews come from the experience in setting it up. It certainly isn't made for the person who has no concept of how to setup a router and wireless network. It isn't exactly plug-and-play and the off-shore, script reading, non-thinking user support is terrible. While the install kit gave the illusion that it was working right away, it did nothing to explain potential problems with network conflicts or how to secure your connections and create a safe wireless environment. It assumes that you have some experience with the vocabulary and specifications of home networking. If you are willing to learn and spend some time, then it's a good buy and a reasonable router. If you are the kind that prefers to just open the box and plug it in like a mouse and expect it to work, then expect problems getting it to work at worst and an unsecured wireless network at best.
If my neighborhood's airwaves are any indication, unsecured wireless networks set up with a plug-and-play mentality must be a hacker's and bandwidth thief's dream.
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