The D-Link DIR-X5460 is one of the latest WiFi 6 routers to hit the market
D-Link DIR-X5460
Since its launch in 1999, WiFi has consistently got better with upgrades to its protocol. The current protocol, simply called WiFi 6, offers faster speeds, better bandwidth and larger maximum throughput than its predecessor, WiFi 5. The D-Link DIR-X5460 is one of the latest WiFi 6 routers to hit the market. It has been priced relatively well and the router claims up to six simultaneous 4k streams, which is impressive.
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The box the router came in is huge, which was a little surprising since most routers have very small boxes. On opening the box, we found the router to be proportionally large, however, it was very light. The router was packed securely and had four of its six antennas permanently attached. The other two were colour-coded and had to be attached according to the colour, one was silver while the other was gold. The router came with a power adapter, a LAN wire and a few bits of documentation, including a very useful quick installation card.
The router has a lot of ventilation holes and I guess that this would be required considering the maximum bandwidth would put a huge load on the router’s processor. I like the overall look of the router, but the spider-like design is something we have seen before. I would have also liked all the antennas to be detachable, so it would be easy to replace if they ever got damaged.
The quick installation guide worked well with my cable Internet connection, all I had to do was enter the configuration details and it was connected. The phone app and the software on the router were both very easy to use, even for a novice. While the software for the router is great for beginners, advanced users will find it a little difficult to get the settings they are looking for. This may prevent users with strong networking knowledge to extract the best out of their router. This is doubly so because this router is not yet supported by DDWRT or any other custom firmware. I prefer routers that support custom firmware since I like to customise my settings.
Once configured, the router ran like a champ. I could get a strong signal in every corner of my house and even outside. This was very impressive. There are also 4 Gigabit LAN ports on the back along with a Gigabit WAN port, which were great for connecting my LAN network at home. Taxing the network with 4K game streaming and video streaming went smoothly, there was no lag on LAN and while streaming wirelessly. Considering the prevalence of 4K TVs this would be required for premium Netflix connections.
The USB ports at the back and the simple to use software made it easy to set up a file server, which I could configure to be accessed online using a dynamic IP made right in the router software. The voice control through Alexa and Google Home is a little limited; for example, it could be used to turn the Guest WiFi on or off. I think if they gave voice control more options, it could easily be a security risk, so it is probably best that the voice control has limited functionality.
Users can also add one or more routers to their home network to create a mesh network. Mesh networks improve the overall range and unlike extenders, the devices see the entire network as one, which makes moving from one room to another very seamless. No need to add another router name and password to your phone, tablet or laptop.
The D-Link DIR-X5460 might seem expensive, with its Rs 12,599 price tag, when compared to the lower-end routers that cost around Rs 1,000. In this case, you get what you paid for. The signal on the D-Link is excellent, the features are plenty and most WIFi 6 routers with similar specs cost a lot more than this. In addition, the USB ports on the back make this router very useful. The fact that this can be part of a mesh network makes a huge difference if you are planning to use this in a large space. If you are also someone that streams 4k or uses multiple devices on WiFi, this router is more than capable. Not to mention you have a three-year warranty.
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Pros
>> Simple to install and use
>> Well-priced
>> Superb features and range
Cons
>> The software is too simplistic
>> No DDWRT support
>> Large footprint
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