D-Link HD Media Router 1000

D-Link's HD Media Router 1000 (DIR-657) is designed for users who don't need modem functionality for Internet access (Etisalat eLife for example) and are interested in being able to share their web access, HD content and play games anywhere in their homes.

Retailing for US $136 the DIR-657 is expensive when you consider that Linksys' X2000  offers a built-in ADSL2+ modem and features 802.11n WiFi support and yet retails for just $122.

Like the Linksys the D-Link HD Media Router is easy to setup. Connecting a CAT 5 cable from the router's WAN port to our Etisalat eLife breakout box, the router was immediately able to share the Internet connection and using DHCP, we were up and running within five minutes.

In terms of range the router proved disappointing in that it wasn't able to cover our two-bedroom apartment. There were areas where the connection quality was poor which meant that we couldn't browse the Internet or see our other notebook.

In areas where the router managed to connect, it performed better than Linksys' X2000, as it completed our 1.2GB file transfer in under 40 seconds. We were also able to stream a 720p clip from one machine to another without framerate issues though the router wasn't fast enough to do the same for Full HD content.