D-Link’s DIR-857 is the most advanced
wireless router in the company’s portfolio. Almost every feature you could hope
for is crammed into its slim plastic chassis.
It supports simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz
802.11n wireless networks, and a 3x3 Mimo antenna configuration allows for
theoretical 450Mbps connection speeds. An SD slot and a USB 3.0 port are
included for shared storage. Advanced DNS filtering and comprehensive IPv6
support are also offered, along with more typical features such as gigabit
ethernet, port forwarding, quality of service (QoS) traffic Prioritisation and
support for dynamic DNS.
'Click n Connect' setup software eases
configuration. A step-by-step guide offers clear diagrams showing which cables
to connect, followed by advice on securing access to the router with a
password.
No Mac software is provided, but an HTML
guide appears the first time you connect to the DIR-857. The simplicity stops
there, though.
The DIR-857's admin interface is functional
and full of useful settings, but its sickly orange/grey design and dated
appearance are off putting.
Text-heavy menus and multiple options
dominate the interface. Explanations are provided on the right for some
settings, but they assume a certain level of prior networking knowledge. The
D-Link DIR-857 is certainly not a router we'd recommend to novice users.
We measured some good speeds when
wirelessly transferring files from a NAS connected to the D-Link. Over its 5GHz
network, a 5GB file transferred at 27.1MB per second (MBps), pointing to a good
wireless speed of 217Mbps that approaches real-world USB 2.0 performance. This
was at a distance of 1m; the effective range of 5GHz is limited to just a few
metres.
Using the router’s 2.4GHz wireless radio,
we measured 125Mbps at the same distance - a speed that still outperforms much
of the competition (see page 140).
The DIR-857 managed 37Mbps in a 10m
long-range test and, given the solid wall through which it had to pass, this is
acceptable and better than many competing routers have performed in the same
test.
Under the Parental Control heading are four
options to filter DNS addresses, and these aren’t just for preventing
youngsters from viewing adult content. You can set the router to block an
OpenDNS blacklist of phishing sites, protecting everyone on the network. You
can also block access to specific sites you don't want the kids to visit.
IPv6 support extends to a separate firewall
and routing page from the main IPv4-based settings, along with its own setup
wizard. You can also create guest networks.
Topping the DIR - 857’s feature list are
its media-sharing options, where the single USB 3.0 port is a handy addition.
Using an external hard disk or an SD card, the DIR-857 can be turned into a
basic NAS. Options can be set for group permissions and there's an excellent
DLNA SharePort mobile app for accessing files.
Verdict
Although the D-Link DIR-857 is an excellent
wireless device, we question whether it's worth spending so much on an 802.11n
router when the potentially faster 802.11ac standard is just around the corner.
But if you're after excellent performance today, you won't be disappointed with
D-Link’s DIR-857.
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Information
Price: $248 inc VAT (8GB)
Contact: dlink.co.uk
Read more: tinyurl.com/82kwLjo
Specification
Dual-band wireless router; 4x gigabit LAN
Ethernet ports; 1 x gigabit WAN port; 802.11a/b/g/n; 2.4GHz and 5GHz
concurrent wireless; 3 x 3 Mimo antenna configuration; IPv6 support; Share Port
iOS/Android mobile app; WPA/WPA2 security; WPS button; 1x USB 3.0 port; SD
slot; VPN pass through; NAT/SPI firewall; UPnP support; 212 x 160 x 34 mm;
342 g
PC Advisor Gold
Build: 6/10
Features: 10/10
Performance: 8/10
Value: 6/10
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