New wireless router - D-Link DGL-4300 owners chime in, please!

[StarTraveller]

I currently have a an aging 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway. It only features Wireless-B and the routing throughput[1] is limited to 8 Mbit (despite its 10/100 Mbit WAN port) so I am looking for a replacement.

[1] By "routing throughput" I mean the actual achievable bandwidth between a computer behind the router (LAN side) connecting to a computer on the WAN side (typically on the Internet, but not necessarily so).

Requirements for the new router:

• Wireless-G (MIMO support would be nice, but not required)
• WPA support (preferably WPA2)
• 4 100 Mbit LAN ports (preferably Gbit ports)
• 1 100 Mbit WAN port (with actual 100 Mbit throughput - this is a must!)

I have searched the web for reviews that include measurements of routing throughput, but apparently most reviewers neglect this part of the router's performance. It is important to me, though, because I connect to a 100 Mbit residential WAN meaning that I can actually network at 100 Mbit with my neighbours - unless of course the router happens to present a bottleneck (like my current 3Com).

So far I have only been able to find a review of one router that meets my requirements and that has been Tom's Networking's review of the Netgear WPNT834 RangeMax 240. In their tests it achieves 94 Mbit in the routing throughput measurement - probably as close to 100 Mbit as you can get in real life.

I have also come across the D-Link DGL-4300 Wireless Gaming Router, which features 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the LAN side and a somewhat powerful traffic shaping processor. Based on its architecture, I suspect that it also supports true 100 Mbit routing speeds, but I need confirmation. One thing that bothers me is that the router has been out for over a year so have the feeling that a successor is about due...

If someone out there has a D-Link DGL-4300, I would be eternally grateful if you could post some real measurements of routing throughput. A simple setup is to plug a computer into the WAN port. Make a big file transfer to and from a computer behind the router and gauge the transfer speeds - if speeds are 9-10 MB/s or more then you are getting 100 Mbit speeds.

Also, if someone has recommendations/warnings regarding the two routers mentioned or a completely different suggestion then I look forward to hearing them. Just keep in the mind that it is critical that the router supports true 100 Mbit routing throughput. The popular Linksys WRT54G, for instance, only supports 20 Mbit routing throughput even though it too has a 10/100 Mbit WAN port...

[JaGWiRE_abx]

Originally Posted by StarTraveller

I currently have a an aging 3Com OfficeConnect Wireless Cable/DSL Gateway. It only features Wireless-B and the routing throughput[1] is limited to 8 Mbit (despite its 10/100 Mbit WAN port) so I am looking for a replacement.

[1] By "routing throughput" I mean the actual achievable bandwidth between a computer behind the router (LAN side) connecting to a computer on the WAN side (typically on the Internet, but not necessarily so).

Requirements for the new router:

• Wireless-G (MIMO support would be nice, but not required)
• WPA support (preferably WPA2)
• 4 100 Mbit LAN ports (preferably Gbit ports)
• 1 100 Mbit WAN port (with actual 100 Mbit throughput - this is a must!)

I have searched the web for reviews that include measurements of routing throughput, but apparently most reviewers neglect this part of the router's performance. It is important to me, though, because I connect to a 100 Mbit residential WAN meaning that I can actually network at 100 Mbit with my neighbours - unless of course the router happens to present a bottleneck (like my current 3Com).

So far I have only been able to find a review of one router that meets my requirements and that has been Tom's Networking's review of the Netgear WPNT834 RangeMax 240. In their tests it achieves 94 Mbit in the routing throughput measurement - probably as close to 100 Mbit as you can get in real life.

I have also come across the D-Link DGL-4300 Wireless Gaming Router, which features 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports on the LAN side and a somewhat powerful traffic shaping processor. Based on its architecture, I suspect that it also supports true 100 Mbit routing speeds, but I need confirmation. One thing that bothers me is that the router has been out for over a year so have the feeling that a successor is about due...

If someone out there has a D-Link DGL-4300, I would be eternally grateful if you could post some real measurements of routing throughput. A simple setup is to plug a computer into the WAN port. Make a big file transfer to and from a computer behind the router and gauge the transfer speeds - if speeds are 9-10 MB/s or more then you are getting 100 Mbit speeds.

Also, if someone has recommendations/warnings regarding the two routers mentioned or a completely different suggestion then I look forward to hearing them. Just keep in the mind that it is critical that the router supports true 100 Mbit routing throughput. The popular Linksys WRT54G, for instance, only supports 20 Mbit routing throughput even though it too has a 10/100 Mbit WAN port...

I'll consider doing it now, but this dgl-4300 I have is amazing. Not to brag, but it is the only router (i've had 2 linksys before) that doesn't seem to get flooded by bittorent connections. I doubt I'll everget a chance to test the wan port though because everybody in my household needs the internet at one time or another.

[StarTraveller]

It is good to hear from someone who actually uses the router. I hope you get a chance to test the throughput, though - it does not really have to take more than 10-15 minutes to do the test and revert the setup.

I originally purchased the 3Com because it had a 10/100 Mbit WAN port. What a disappointment it was when I found out that I could only squeeze 850 KB/s through.

[PGIV]

Throughput is a tough spec to get out of the various router/firewall manufacturers. I recently upgraded to the Optonline Boost service (up to 30 Mbps download speeds/2 Mbps upload speeds). When I connected my cable modem directly to my PC, I was getting 28.551/2.0838 Mbps. As soon as I added my Linksys BEFSX41, my download speed dropped to 13-14 Mbps.

I wrote to D-Link, explaining the situation, and they sent me the a chart, which does list throughput.
DFL-200 46 Mbps
DFL-700 43 Mbps
DFL-800 70 Mbps
DFL-1100 89 Mbps
DFL-1600 300 Mbps

Based on the chart, I purchased the DFL-200, and I'm very pleased. There is no measurable difference in my throughput with or without the DFL-200 in the picture.

The DFL-200 isn't wireless, but you could always add a wireless access point. I'll try and attach the full D-Link chart.

[SRTDodge05]

http://shopper.cnet.com/D_Link_DGL_4...-31229856.html

[StarTraveller]

Originally Posted by TSgtJoe2005

http://shopper.cnet.com/D_Link_DGL_4...-31229856.html

Thanks for the linkage. I read that one already, though. They do list a throughput measurement, but the way I read it I think it's for the wireless part, either WLAN to WLAN or WLAN to WAN, and not LAN to WAN (which should be the most unlimited measurement).

[StarTraveller]

Originally Posted by PGIV

Throughput is a tough spec to get out of the various router/firewall manufacturers. I recently upgraded to the Optonline Boost service (up to 30 Mbps download speeds/2 Mbps upload speeds). When I connected my cable modem directly to my PC, I was getting 28.551/2.0838 Mbps. As soon as I added my Linksys BEFSX41, my download speed dropped to 13-14 Mbps.

I wrote to D-Link, explaining the situation, and they sent me the a chart, which does list throughput.
DFL-200 46 Mbps
DFL-700 43 Mbps
DFL-800 70 Mbps
DFL-1100 89 Mbps
DFL-1600 300 Mbps

Based on the chart, I purchased the DFL-200, and I'm very pleased. There is no measurable difference in my throughput with or without the DFL-200 in the picture.

The DFL-200 isn't wireless, but you could always add a wireless access point. I'll try and attach the full D-Link chart.

Very interesting. I think I might try your approach and email D-Link in a similar fashion. They should have those numbers for their wireless units as well.

Did you just email general tech support to get the comparison?

[PGIV]

Try this guy, David. He's VERY helpful. DQuesada@dlink.com

[StarTraveller]

Thanks a bunch! I'll drop him a note.

[StarTraveller]

Originally Posted by StarTraveller

Thanks a bunch! I'll drop him a note.

The email bounced so I have sent the inquiry to general presales instead...

[Tommy44]

I have a D-Link DGL-4300. I couldn't be more happy with it. I might be able to try your test, but I'm not sure how exactly to do it. Can you give more details?

In my opinion the GameFuel feature of this router is very well done and works wonderfully. It was a night and day difference when compared to my Linksys router.

[Tommy44]

have you seen this article?
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2005/0...eview_dgl4300/

[StarTraveller]

Originally Posted by Tommy44

have you seen this article?
http://www.tomsnetworking.com/2005/0...eview_dgl4300/

No, I missed this somehow.

I am going to read that right now. Thanks!

[shaihulud]

I want to add my 2 cents to the thread.

The DGL-4300 is an excellent home router. It is not due to D-Link. It is due to the ipOS and the IP3023 processor used. The only issue that I ever see is the users that have this routers and their implementation of the QoS ability.

What many do not understand is the fact that QoS is a kludge. Meaning that it is a very poor solution to a problem. QoS is meant to alleviate low bandwidth situations, not to cure them. The only true cure for over saturated lines is more bandwidth and a capable gateway device to handle it. It is understood easily by me that we all just cannot increase the bandwidth to our provisioned lines. When you think like this, this is when you understand that traffic shaping and QoS fit the paradigm.

The incorrect thinking I see too often is implementing rules with the router thinking that they will get a lower latency in gaming due to the priority system. The only time this is true is when contention is on the network for outgoing packets. QoS will not make a game less latent, matter of fact it can increase it with many architectures due to processing queues. This is where the processor and the OS used in this router prevail. It is very capable at processing packets and maintaining a high throughput with SPI and even when QoS is enable.

There are other routers based on the same architecture [OS and processor]. Some have a couple perks. Such as the ZyXel router has 16000 maximum IP connections. To note, the ipOS can be compiled for either 4k entries or up to16k. The DGL-4300 seems to be one of the best over all due to its main perk of having a gigabit layer2 and the support for 6k entries.

You can look around in DSLReports.com/Broadbandreports.com and see the many posts for products using the processor and OS. You will also note the high throughput of the router. This router has one of the best OS's I have seen for home routers. The support features are excellent. If you are capable or at least knowledgeable about networking you cannot find a better lower cost solution. The main trick to this router is knowledge. If you are not ignorant or at least take the time to learn how to use the router properly it can be a very good solution.

Ubicom has made a new processor 5000 class. I have not seen any products with this processor as of yet, and I am actually awaiting the time. However, I would not feel that you would lose support due to the latter architecture being considered old. It is true that this is happening all too often now, but support is based more on Ubicom rather than D-Link. Which can be an advantage. I think it can be safe to purchase this router and be happy with it for around 3 years, or maybe longer.

[PGIV]

Originally Posted by StarTraveller

The email bounced so I have sent the inquiry to general presales instead...

Strange, I've written to him many times at that address. My initial inquiry was to Pre-Sales and it was David who replied to my initial inquiry. You should also know that my initial inquiry was about the throughput of the DLG-4100 (same router you are interested in but without the wireless) and that I needed to pass 28-30 Mbps from the WAN to the LAN with the firewall enabled. This was his reply:

The Gaming Router will not accommodate 28-30Mbps. I understand you do not need VPN router, however our DFL-200 which supports throughput up to 46Mbps handles that fast of traffic. You do not need to use the VPN for this product, it just happens that this product price point will support that fast of speed.

DFL-200
http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=354

David
DQuesada@dlink.com

David Quesada
D-Link Pre-Sales