D-Link DGL 5500 Review | 77 Data compared

D-Link DGL 5500 Review | 77 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£160
  • Avg. price in US: ~$200
  • Wi-Fi version: Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
  • Wi-Fi speed: 1300 Mbps
  • LAN port speeds: 1 Gbps
  • Mesh Wi-Fi: no

D-Link DGL 5500 review. Compare 77 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Routers category and whether it is worth buying.

6.2

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the router's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best routers on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

6.2

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Good
6.2

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the router's technical performance, covering key areas such as Wi-Fi performance, wired connectivity, security, software features, coverage, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare routers based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

26.0%

5.5

Wireless

20.0%

5.8

Ports

18.0%

6.4

Networking

14.0%

8.0

Security

12.0%

6.2

Hardware

10.0%

6.2

Management

Good
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the router.

When it matters: When you want to know how a router performs in daily use and how reliable it is for speed, coverage, and stability according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 6.8
    Gaming

    Score components:

    33.0%

    ?

    Wi-Fi speed

    28.0%

    ?

    CPU clock speed

    22.0%

    ?

    RAM capacity

    17.0%

    1.0

    Maximum connected devices

  • 6.8
    Travel

    Score components:

    40.0%

    ?

    Weight

    30.0%

    ?

    Wi-Fi speed

    20.0%

    4.0

    Cellular modem type

    10.0%

    4.0

    SIM slot

  • d-link-dgl-5500
  • d-link-dgl-5500
  • d-link-dgl-5500
  • d-link-dgl-5500
d-link-dgl-5500
d-link-dgl-5500
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d-link-dgl-5500

Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £160

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The D-Link DGL-5500 is a dual-band AC1300 gaming router that features Qualcomm’s StreamBoost technology to intelligently prioritize bandwidth for lag-free gaming and HD streaming. It supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi with speeds up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz band and 450Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, complemented by four Gigabit LAN ports and one Gigabit WAN port for high-speed wired connections. Key pros include its effective traffic-shaping engine, easy-to-use setup wizard, and a unique cylindrical 'coffee grinder' design that saves desk space. However, it suffers from several cons, such as disappointing Wi-Fi range, a clunky web interface that requires StreamBoost to be enabled for most statistics, the use of older USB 2.0 technology, and a lack of advanced features like Dynamic DNS (DynDNS) support.

Technical Specifications of router D-Link DGL 5500

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the router's technical performance, covering key areas such as Wi-Fi performance, wired connectivity, security, software features, coverage, and design.

When it matters: When you want to compare routers based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

26.0%

?

Wireless

20.0%

?

Ports

18.0%

?

Networking

14.0%

?

Security

12.0%

?

Hardware

10.0%

?

Management

6.2
D-Link DGL 5500 has a technical score of 6.22 points, which is lower than that of 80.2% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the router.

When it matters: When you want to know how a router performs in daily use and how reliable it is for speed, coverage, and stability according to user feedback.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the router.
When it matters: When you prefer to choose a router reviewed and selected by many other buyers.
1.0
D-Link DGL 5500 has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 72.1% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the router's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a router with a good balance between network performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

6.2

Overall score

40.0%

9.7

Price

7.3
D-Link DGL 5500 has a quality-to-price ratio of 7.3 points, which is lower than 84.3% of products in this category.
Brand name
What it is: The manufacturer or brand of the product.
When it matters: When you prefer a specific ecosystem, support network, or design philosophy.

Importance: LOW

D-Link
Wi-Fi version
What it is: Identifies the Wi-Fi generation the router supports, such as Wi-Fi 5, 6, 6E, or 7.
When it matters: When newer phones, laptops, and consoles need the latest Wi-Fi efficiency and speed features.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax)

Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac)
D-Link DGL 5500 uses Wi-Fi Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac), which is more advanced than 39.5% of routers and equal to 25.3% of routers.
Wi-Fi bands
What it is: Lists which wireless frequency bands the router can use, such as 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, or 6 GHz.
When it matters: When you need to balance range, speed, and congestion across different types of client devices.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz

2.4 GHz + 5 GHz
D-Link DGL 5500 supports 2.4 GHz + 5 GHz Wi-Fi bands, which are more versatile than 24.8% of routers and equal to 68.1% of routers.
Wi-Fi speed
What it is: The advertised maximum wireless throughput rating of the router under supported conditions.
When it matters: When several users stream, download, and game at once and you want more wireless headroom.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: >2700 Mbps

1,300 Mbps
D-Link DGL 5500 delivers 1,300 Mbps Wi-Fi speed, which is lower than 50.6% of routers and equal to 1% of routers.
Channel widths supported
What it is: Lists the Wi-Fi channel widths the router can use, such as 20, 40, 80, or 160 MHz.
When it matters: When you want the option to trade peak speed against stability in crowded wireless environments.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz

20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz
D-Link DGL 5500 supports 20 MHz + 40 MHz + 80 MHz channel width options, which is more than 40.9% of routers and the same as 31.6% of routers.
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Wi-Fi security protocols
What it is: Lists the wireless security standards the router supports, such as WPA2 or WPA3.
When it matters: When you want stronger wireless protection without locking out older devices that still need compatibility.

Importance: MEDIUM

WPA2
D-Link DGL 5500 supports WPA2 Wi-Fi security protocols, which are less advanced than 93.4% of routers and equal to 4.2% of routers.
DoS protection
What it is: Provides defenses intended to reduce the impact of denial-of-service traffic against the router or network.
When it matters: When exposed services or remote access make resilience against traffic floods more important.

Importance: LOW

yes
D-Link DGL 5500 includes DoS protection. 12.8% of routers include DoS protection.
SPI intrusion protection
What it is: Uses stateful packet inspection to track sessions and block suspicious unsolicited traffic more accurately.
When it matters: When the router needs a stronger first line of filtering on an internet-facing connection.

Importance: LOW

yes
D-Link DGL 5500 includes SPI-based intrusion protection. 6.1% of routers include SPI-based intrusion protection.
MAC address filtering
What it is: Lets the router allow or block devices based on their MAC addresses.
When it matters: When you want an extra device-level access rule beyond passwords and network names.

Importance: LOW

yes
D-Link DGL 5500 supports MAC address filtering. 2.2% of routers include MAC address filtering.
URL filter
What it is: Allows the router to block or allow access based on website addresses or domain rules.
When it matters: When you need to restrict specific sites for children, guests, or work-policy reasons.

Importance: LOW

yes
D-Link DGL 5500 supports URL filtering. 3.4% of routers include URL filtering.
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IPv6 support
What it is: Support for the newer IPv6 internet addressing standard alongside the older IPv4 system.
When it matters: When your internet provider or network already uses IPv6, or you want the router to stay compatible as IPv6 use becomes more common.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
D-Link DGL 5500 does not support IPv6. 88.7% of routers are IPv6-ready.
Dynamic routing
What it is: Supports routing protocols or dynamic route updates instead of relying only on static route entries.
When it matters: When the router sits in a more complex network with changing paths between multiple subnets.

Importance: LOW

no
D-Link DGL 5500 does not support dynamic routing. 52.5% of routers support dynamic routing.
Inter-VLAN routing
What it is: Allows the router to pass traffic between separate VLANs under controlled rules.
When it matters: When you need segmented networks to communicate selectively instead of staying fully isolated.

Importance: LOW

no
D-Link DGL 5500 does not support inter-VLAN routing. 23.5% of routers support inter-VLAN routing.
VLAN tagging
What it is: Lets the router mark traffic with VLAN tags for segmented or ISP-specific network setups.
When it matters: When you separate guest, office, IoT, or ISP-required traffic into different network segments.

Importance: MEDIUM

no
D-Link DGL 5500 does not support VLAN tagging. 62% of routers include VLAN tagging.
QoS
What it is: Provides quality-of-service controls that prioritize some traffic over less important traffic.
When it matters: When calls, gaming, and downloads compete and you want latency-sensitive traffic protected.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
D-Link DGL 5500 includes QoS controls. 3.2% of routers include QoS controls.
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N. of LAN ports
What it is: Measures how many LAN ports the router includes. A higher count expands direct connectivity for matching devices.
When it matters: When you run a home office with NAS, TV boxes, and desktops, having more LAN ports avoids extra switches and keeps latency lower on wired links.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 4 ports

4
D-Link DGL 5500 has 4 LAN ports, which is more than 23.7% of routers and the same as 69.2% of routers.
LAN port speeds
What it is: Lists the Ethernet speeds available on the router’s LAN ports, such as Gigabit or multi-gig.
When it matters: When wired transfers to NAS, desktops, or access points need more than basic Ethernet speeds.

Importance: HIGH

Good value: 1 Gbps

1 Gbps
D-Link DGL 5500 offers 1 Gbps on its LAN ports, which is faster than 27.1% of routers and on par with 59.9% of routers.
N. of WAN ports
What it is: Shows how many separate WAN uplink ports the router provides for internet connections.
When it matters: When you use dual internet lines, backup WAN, or load balancing between multiple external links.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: 1 WAN port

1
D-Link DGL 5500 has 1 WAN ports, which is more than 1% of routers and the same as 90.1% of routers.
N. of USB ports
What it is: Shows how many USB ports the router includes for storage, printers, or modem accessories.
When it matters: When you plan to share storage, attach a printer, or use USB-based network extras.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 1 USB port

1
D-Link DGL 5500 has 1 USB ports, which is more than 39.5% of routers and the same as 39.5% of routers.
Power over Ethernet (PoE)
What it is: Power over Ethernet support, meaning the router can receive power, deliver it, or be part of a PoE-based installation.
When it matters: When you want cleaner installation with fewer separate power cables, especially in ceilings, walls, racks, or remote locations.

Importance: LOW

no
D-Link DGL 5500 does not support Power over Ethernet (PoE). 0.5% of routers can be powered over Ethernet.
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Management interface
What it is: Shows how the router is configured and monitored, such as web UI, app, or command-line tools.
When it matters: When setup depth and day-to-day admin convenience are part of the buying decision.

Importance: MEDIUM

Web UI
D-Link DGL 5500 uses Web UI for management, which is less advanced than 72.2% of routers and equal to 27.3% of routers.
Firmware upgrade method
What it is: Describes how router firmware updates are installed, such as automatic OTA, web UI, or manual upload.
When it matters: When you want security fixes and new features applied with less maintenance friction.

Importance: MEDIUM

Web UI, Automatic
D-Link DGL 5500 supports Web UI, Automatic firmware update methods, which are more convenient than 35.4% of routers and equal to 37.8% of routers.
Traffic monitoring
What it is: Lets the router track bandwidth usage by device, app category, or time period.
When it matters: When you need to find which devices or activities are causing slowdowns or high data use.

Importance: LOW

yes
D-Link DGL 5500 includes traffic monitoring. 18.1% of routers include traffic monitoring.
Guest Wi-Fi network
What it is: Lets the router create a separate wireless network for visitors or less-trusted devices.
When it matters: When guests need internet access without reaching private devices on the main network.

Importance: LOW

no
D-Link DGL 5500 does not offer a guest Wi‑Fi network. 91.7% of routers offer a guest Wi‑Fi network.
Captive portal
What it is: Supports a login or acceptance page that users must pass before getting internet access.
When it matters: When guest networks, rentals, cafes, or managed access points need a sign-in page.

Importance: LOW

no
D-Link DGL 5500 does not offer captive portal features. 23.5% of routers offer captive portal features.
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CPU clock speed
What it is: Shows the operating frequency of the router processor, often listed per core.
When it matters: When routing, encryption, QoS, and many active clients can put heavier load on the CPU.

Importance: MEDIUM

0.72 GHz
D-Link DGL 5500 runs at 0.72 GHz, which is slower than 62.8% of routers and on par with 0.3% of routers.
RAM capacity
What it is: The amount of working memory available for sessions, routing tables, and running router services.
When it matters: When many devices, VPN tunnels, or advanced features need the router to stay responsive under load.

Importance: MEDIUM

Good value: >=512 MB

128 MB
D-Link DGL 5500 has 128 MB of RAM, which is less than 51.6% of routers and the same as 17.1% of routers.
Internal storage
What it is: The built-in storage available for logs, apps, shared files, or other local router functions.
When it matters: When the router runs extra services and needs space for logs, packages, or shared content.

Importance: LOW

Good value: >=8 GB

0.007812 GB
D-Link DGL 5500 has 0.007812 GB of internal storage, which is less than 72.7% of routers and the same as 20.6% of routers.
Hardware acceleration
What it is: Uses dedicated hardware paths to offload routing, NAT, encryption, or switching tasks from the main CPU.
When it matters: When heavy routing or security features would otherwise reduce throughput on the processor alone.

Importance: MEDIUM

yes
D-Link DGL 5500 offers hardware acceleration. 31.4% of routers offer hardware acceleration.
N. of external antennas
What it is: Shows how many antennas are mounted externally on the router.
When it matters: When you want stronger adjustable coverage or plan to aim antennas for difficult room layouts.

Importance: LOW

Good value: 3 antennas

0
D-Link DGL 5500 has 0 external antennas, which is fewer than 59.6% of routers and the same as 40.4% of routers.
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D-Link DGL 5500 vs the average router

  • Suitable for gaming
    D-Link DGL 5500 is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 36.9% of routers are designed for gaming.
    What it is: Highlights whether the router is aimed at gaming-focused use, such as lower-latency traffic handling or gaming-oriented controls.
    When it matters: When gaming traffic, lower latency, or easier prioritization of consoles and gaming PCs matters in your network setup.

    Importance: LOW

    D-Link DGL 5500 is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 36.9% of routers are designed for gaming.
  • 5 more internal antennas
    D-Link DGL 5500 has more internal antennas than the average router (5 vs 0). The average router has 0 internal antennas.
    What it is: Measures how many internal antennas the router includes. A higher count expands direct connectivity for matching devices.
    When it matters: When antenna design is internal, the internal antenna count helps indicate how well the router can handle multiple streams.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: 2 antennas

    D-Link DGL 5500 has more internal antennas than the average router (5 vs 0). The average router has 0 internal antennas.5 vs 0
  • 83.1 mm narrower width
    D-Link DGL 5500 is narrower than the average router (118.9 mm vs 202 mm). The average router is 202 mm wide.
    What it is: The side-to-side size of the router body, usually measured in millimetres.
    When it matters: When shelf space is tight and you need the router to fit cleanly beside other equipment.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: <165 mm

    D-Link DGL 5500 is narrower than the average router (118.9 mm vs 202 mm). The average router is 202 mm wide.118.9 mm vs 202 mm
  • Suitable for gaming
    D-Link DGL 5500 is designed for gaming, while the average router is not. 36.9% of routers are designed for gaming.
  • 5 more internal antennas
    D-Link DGL 5500 has more internal antennas than the average router (5 vs 0). The average router has 0 internal antennas.
  • 83.1 mm narrower width
    D-Link DGL 5500 is narrower than the average router (118.9 mm vs 202 mm). The average router is 202 mm wide.
  • 1 fewer spatial streams
    D-Link DGL 5500 has fewer spatial streams than the average router (2 vs 3). The average router has 3 spatial streams.
  • No band steering
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support band steering, while the average router does. 51.8% of routers support band steering.
  • No beamforming
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support beamforming, while the average router does. 56.7% of routers support beamforming.
  • 49 fewer connected devices
    D-Link DGL 5500 supports fewer connected devices than the average router (15 vs 64). The average router supports 64 connected devices.
  • No VPN server support
    D-Link DGL 5500 cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 66.3% of routers can act as a VPN server.
  • Weaker Wi-Fi security
    D-Link DGL 5500 supports the Wi-Fi security protocols WPA2, while the average router supports WPA2, WPA, WEP, WPS.
  • No PPTP server
    D-Link DGL 5500 cannot act as a PPTP server, while the average router can. 62.4% of routers can act as a PPTP server.
  • No VLAN tagging
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 61.9% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No IPv6 support
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support IPv6, while the average router does. 88.5% of routers support IPv6.
  • No dynamic routing
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 52.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • Limited firmware updates
    D-Link DGL 5500 supports the firmware update methods Web UI, Automatic, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
  • Weaker management tools
    D-Link DGL 5500 uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.
  • No guest Wi-Fi network
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not offer a guest Wi-Fi network, while the average router does. 91.4% of routers offer a guest Wi-Fi network.
  • Less capable NAS services
    D-Link DGL 5500 includes SMB, FTP, media server, web access NAS services, while the average router includes SMB, FTP, time machine, NFS, web access.
    Requires attached USB storage.
  • 93.8% less internal storage
    D-Link DGL 5500 has less internal storage than the average router (0 GB vs 0.125 GB). The average router offers 0.125 GB of internal storage.
  • 50% less RAM
    D-Link DGL 5500 has less RAM than the average router (128 MB vs 256 MB). The average router has 256 MB of RAM.
  • 2 fewer external antennas
    D-Link DGL 5500 has fewer external antennas than the average router (0 vs 2). The average router has 2 external antennas.
  • Lower CPU clock speed
    D-Link DGL 5500 has a lower CPU clock speed than the average router (0.72 GHz vs 2x0.5 GHz). The average router has a CPU clock speed of 2x0.5 GHz.
  • 54 mm thicker design
    D-Link DGL 5500 is thicker than the average router (99 mm vs 45 mm). The average router is 45 mm thick.
  • 143.5 mm higher height
    D-Link DGL 5500 is taller than the average router (191 mm vs 47.5 mm). The average router is 47.5 mm tall.
  • No VLAN tagging
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 61.9% of routers support VLAN tagging.
    What it is: Lets the router mark traffic with VLAN tags for segmented or ISP-specific network setups.
    When it matters: When you separate guest, office, IoT, or ISP-required traffic into different network segments.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support VLAN tagging, while the average router does. 61.9% of routers support VLAN tagging.
  • No IPv6 support
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support IPv6, while the average router does. 88.5% of routers support IPv6.
    What it is: Support for the newer IPv6 internet addressing standard alongside the older IPv4 system.
    When it matters: When your internet provider or network already uses IPv6, or you want the router to stay compatible as IPv6 use becomes more common.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support IPv6, while the average router does. 88.5% of routers support IPv6.
  • No VPN server support
    D-Link DGL 5500 cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 66.3% of routers can act as a VPN server.
    What it is: The ability to host the router’s own VPN server so you can connect back into your network securely from outside.
    When it matters: When you want secure remote access to your home or office network while you are away.

    Importance: LOW

    D-Link DGL 5500 cannot act as a VPN server, while the average router can. 66.3% of routers can act as a VPN server.
  • Limited firmware updates
    D-Link DGL 5500 supports the firmware update methods Web UI, Automatic, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.
    What it is: Describes how router firmware updates are installed, such as automatic OTA, web UI, or manual upload.
    When it matters: When you want security fixes and new features applied with less maintenance friction.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    D-Link DGL 5500 supports the firmware update methods Web UI, Automatic, while the average router supports Web UI, App, Automatic.Web UI, Automatic vs Web UI, App, Automatic
  • No dynamic routing
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 52.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
    What it is: Supports routing protocols or dynamic route updates instead of relying only on static route entries.
    When it matters: When the router sits in a more complex network with changing paths between multiple subnets.

    Importance: LOW

    D-Link DGL 5500 does not support dynamic routing, while the average router does. 52.3% of routers support dynamic routing.
  • Weaker management tools
    D-Link DGL 5500 uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.
    What it is: Shows how the router is configured and monitored, such as web UI, app, or command-line tools.
    When it matters: When setup depth and day-to-day admin convenience are part of the buying decision.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    D-Link DGL 5500 uses the management interface Web UI, while the average router uses Web UI, App.Web UI vs Web UI, App
  • No guest Wi-Fi network
    D-Link DGL 5500 does not offer a guest Wi-Fi network, while the average router does. 91.4% of routers offer a guest Wi-Fi network.
    What it is: Lets the router create a separate wireless network for visitors or less-trusted devices.
    When it matters: When guests need internet access without reaching private devices on the main network.

    Importance: LOW

    D-Link DGL 5500 does not offer a guest Wi-Fi network, while the average router does. 91.4% of routers offer a guest Wi-Fi network.
  • 93.8% less internal storage
    D-Link DGL 5500 has less internal storage than the average router (0 GB vs 0.125 GB). The average router offers 0.125 GB of internal storage.
    What it is: The built-in storage available for logs, apps, shared files, or other local router functions.
    When it matters: When the router runs extra services and needs space for logs, packages, or shared content.

    Importance: LOW

    Good value: >=8 GB

    D-Link DGL 5500 has less internal storage than the average router (0 GB vs 0.125 GB). The average router offers 0.125 GB of internal storage.0.007812 GB vs 0.125 GB

Graphic comparison of D-Link DGL 5500 and other routers

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about D-Link DGL 5500?

  • StreamBoost technology effectively prioritizes bandwidth for gaming and real-time apps
  • Solid throughput on the 2.4GHz band compared to competitors
  • Sleek, compact cylindrical design that takes up minimal desk space
  • Gigabit LAN and WAN ports for high-speed wired connections
  • Includes a USB port for basic printer and storage sharing via SharePort

What customers dislike about D-Link DGL 5500?

  • Disappointing 5GHz wireless performance and range compared to other AC1300 routers
  • Confusing and lethargic web user interface that is not mobile-friendly
  • Lacks support for common features like Dynamic DNS (DynDNS) and bridging/repeating
  • High initial price point was often cited as not matching the performance delivered
  • USB 2.0 port results in slow data transfer speeds for network-attached storage
  • No support for D-Link's own 'mydlink' cloud services

Video reviews

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