[Mike Dzurko]

Prelim:  Yesterday I started ripping all my CDs to FLAC in prep for getting either a Squeezebox Duet or Sonos.  I've needed to upgrade my old D-Link 514 B router for a long time. It BARELY has enough range in my house, and I know I'll want more speed for streaming music. I can pick up a D-Link DIR 655 locally for good price, the reviews are pretty good. I like that it has a USB port that I can plug our printer in to make it a network printer.  Another router I can pick up for about the same price is the Linksys WRT310N. But, it doesn't have the USB port and supposedly runs hot which has me concerned for the long term. Any and all ideas are appreciated!

[PhillipC]

I just picked up the D-Link 655 router to replace my Linksys router.  I had my old router on the second floor and was having wireless dropout issues with my mac mini in the basement.  Replaced it with the D-Link and haven't had any issues since

[mcullinan]

I tried them all as I was looking for an N router to replace my Netgear G Mimo. None of them had the range of this router. I think my walls are made of lead.
Mike

[TheChairGuy]

I get max 2 years on any router I've bought (usually it's just the wireless that goes, not the wired part) in the past 8 years

A couple Linksys', one from Buffalo, another from Belkin....now I've got one from d-link (about 6 months now).

Planned obsolescence I think all of them have build-in...I'm not rough on any of them and they fail nonetheless.

The G and Mimo models should all give you better range than the B you have there, Mike, tho.

John

[richidoo]

I installed a 655 at a client's house who had really poor wifi reception in the house, it was like mccullinans lead walls. It installed easily and was able to give a steady 3 out of 5 bars, a big improvement over the linksys POS they used before. Very nice router, I want one for myself.
Rich

[randytsuch]

Our company's network guru told me the other day that he has three routers in his house.
It obviously improves coverage, and he said it is also faster.

I forgot how he said to set it up.  I am planning to pick up a cheap router, to try adding a 2nd router into my house, to see how it goes.  I may add a third too, if I can figure out how to get ethernet up into my attic.

Randy

[datman]

I just replaced my DIR655 with a DIR825 and have noticed an improvement in both speed and coverage.  The 655 is good, the 825 is MUCH better as it also runs 802.11A.

[timind]

Over the weekend I replaced my linksys router with a Netgear WNR2000 because the linksys was dropping out daily and needed be reset. It was a snap to install and go secure. Why did I pick this one? It was on sale.

[mgalusha]

I replaced my Belkin a couple of months ago with a DIR-655 and it's been trouble free though running a Duet in wireless I do get drop outs.... but my music room is basically a concrete bunker so I don't think any wireless is going to be much good. Which is of course why there are two runs of CAT 5 to that room. My laptop does work fine in there tho, so I suspect the wireless in the Duet is not optimal.

[Mike Dzurko]

Thanks for all the input! Just need to come up with a couple hours free time to make it happen. Thanks again!

[Bob Wilcox]

I replaced my Belkin a couple of months ago with a DIR-655 and it's been trouble free though running a Duet in wireless I do get drop outs.... but my music room is basically a concrete bunker so I don't think any wireless is going to be much good. Which is of course why there are two runs of CAT 5 to that room. My laptop does work fine in there tho, so I suspect the wireless in the Duet is not optimal.

Since you already have CAT-5 wiring, you could consider using a wired router and configuring the wireless router as a wireless access point instead. That might  allow you to locate the access point in a better location for signal strength to the Duet. In this configuration, the wireless router just looks like another NIC to the wired router.

Bob

[mgalusha]

Since you already have CAT-5 wiring, you could consider using a wired router and configuring the wireless router as a wireless access point instead. That might  allow you to locate the access point in a better location for signal strength to the Duet. In this configuration, the wireless router just looks like another NIC to the wired router.

Bob,

The D-link won't run as an access point (at least as far I can tell) though the Belkin would and was configured that way. It's already in the most optimal spot in my home to provide the best coverage except for the music room. My basement is in two parts and there are two concrete walls between the main space and the music room. The house has CAT 5 to every room, so the wireless is only used for my laptop and an SB3 (that wired connection is used for the DirecTV box).

From a few folks I have spoken to the Duet Receiver is somewhat finicky about wireless reception. It doesn't really affect me as I don't own one, I was helping a friend get his sorted out. I probably should have left out the reference to the Duet, doesn't really relate to the router as it sucked even worse with the Belkin. I'm actually fortunate in that for me networking is easy, my old job title was senior network engineer though I don't do much of that these days.

mike

[jqp]

Prelim:  Yesterday I started ripping all my CDs to FLAC in prep for getting either a Squeezebox Duet or Sonos.  I've needed to upgrade my old D-Link 514 B router for a long time. It BARELY has enough range in my house, and I know I'll want more speed for streaming music. I can pick up a D-Link DIR 655 locally for good price, the reviews are pretty good. I like that it has a USB port that I can plug our printer in to make it a network printer.  Another router I can pick up for about the same price is the Linksys WRT310N. But, it doesn't have the USB port and supposedly runs hot which has me concerned for the long term. Any and all ideas are appreciated!

mmmmm D-Link DIR 655!!

[Bob Wilcox]

[Bob,

The D-link won't run as an access point (at least as far I can tell) though the Belkin would and was configured that way.
mike

Mike

The instructions for configuring the Dlink as an access point are in the PDF manual. If another wired connection was needed in a room where the access point is, it could be connected to the Dlink. This is how I set mine up. I hijacked my kid's centrally located CAT-5 connection for the Dlink AP and wire connected his PC NIC to the Dlink. The Netgear wired router is in the basement doing the actual routing. Putting the DLink in the basement gave me only 1 or 2 bars at the opposite end of the second floor.

Bob

[Mike Dzurko]

Thanks to the input here, I picked up the 655 this weekend. I could swear I remember reading somewhere to NOT use the setup CD but rather use the web based interface . .  . can't find where I read that now. Any input on this or tips on an easy install? Hope to do it within the next couple days. Thanks!

[orientalexpress]

Thanks guys ,i also pick one up from costco,i find the cd that came with it wouldn't work with my computer.i went to dlink website download the manuel and install is a breeze.the giga switch that it came with work great with thecus NAS.love it so far.thanks again for recomend this d655



lapsan

[jqp]

Be sure to update the firmware first thing (or almost first thing)

[jqp]

And if you are in Europe at least, I think there is something like an 11 year warranty!

[Mike Dzurko]

Thought I'd report back that it was a super quick install. Up and runniing in no time with improved coverage and speed throughout the house. Installed a Duet the next day and we've been pretty much trouble free in the three or so weeks since . . . .  Thanks all and Merry Christmas!