Reviews D-Link DIR-615 belong to a series of affordable, functional and reliable routers. Its configuration, specialization, the procedure for setting up and checking performance will be further considered in detail. In addition to this, its strengths and weaknesses will be given. The information provided hereinafter is of most interest to those users who select a router for their needs. This material will allow them to make a choice when organizing a computer network.
Appointment
Reviews D-Link DIR-615 is positioned as an entry-level network device. He has a fairly "modest" technical parameters and affordable cost. The main area of use of this router is small computing networks, which include no more than 8 computing devices. Most often they are connected to a wireless Wi-Fi signal. But there is also the possibility of connecting using twisted pair. In this case, the number of switched devices cannot be more than four.
It is most optimal to use such a router for organizing a home computer network. But also it can be quite successfully used in a small office. These are the two main cases in which the router model considered in this review finds application.
Equipment
An ideal delivery list, like for an entry-level router, is with the D-Link DIR-615 router. The reviews focus on the fact that the manufacturer included all the basic elements for the initial launch of the computer network. First of all, it includes a router with two fixed antennas installed on it. In addition to this, the manufacturer included a power supply, one meter of twisted pair cable for initial setup of the network device and a CD in the package. On digital media you can find everything you need to configure the router software and documentation in electronic format. Supplement the entire list with a user manual in the form of a single book and a warranty card. This configuration is typical for budget routers today. It has everything you need for the initial setup of such a device and its further operation.
Main settings
Fairly good, as for a budget network device, the technical specifications of the D-Link DIR-615. Reviews characterize them as "typical." To connect to the equipment of the provider, this router is equipped with one WAN port. This is a standard yellow RJ-45 connector. There are also four more similar ports, but already black. Their purpose is the wired part of the computer network.
As previously noted, the router is equipped with two antennas. The gain of each of them is 5 dB. That is, in total this allows you to get already 10 dB. Therefore, this router model has significantly increased the range of the WI-Fi wireless network, which under the most favorable circumstances can be 10 meters.
The only significant drawback of this network device is the lack of a USB port. Therefore, it is impossible to connect a modem with support for 4G technology to it and, due to this, it is impossible to create a backup option for obtaining information from the Internet.
The output voltage of the complete power supply is 12 V. Moreover, its maximum current is limited to 0.5 A. Therefore, the maximum power consumption of this device can reach as little as 6 watts. All this indicates a high level of energy efficiency of this modification of the router.
Before setting
A certain amount of information needs to be clarified before you start switching and configuring D-Link DIR-615, N300 routers. Reviews highlight the type of connection to the equipment of the provider. Therefore, in the concluded agreement on providing access to the Internet, we specify the type of connection. It can be, for example, L2TP or PPPoE. You also need to find out the type of addressing that the provider uses. It can be static or dynamic. If fixed addressing is used, it is necessary to find out the value that must be written to the router in order to establish a connection with the provider's equipment. In addition to this, you need to find out the login and password. Not every provider uses this authentication method, but in some cases they are used. These data can also be found in the contract with the provider.
All data that may be needed during the configuration of the router is recommended to be written on a separate sheet and put next to the computer.
Choosing an installation location. Recommendations
The first important step is the choice of the location of the D-Link DIR-615 T4. At the same time, the reviews emphasize that due to the correct installation, the level of the wireless signal transmitted by the device can be significantly improved.
The first important condition is that the router should be as close to the center of the room as possible. Also, large metal plates are not allowed next to it, which form interference and degrade the quality of the wireless signal. This will increase the radius of operation, for example, D-Link DIR-615 T4A. Reviews of the owners of this device focus on this point.
The input wire from the provider should easily reach the installation site of the network node. Next to it should also be a socket for powering the router.
The last condition, which is put forward only if there is a wired segment of a computer network, is the ability to supply twisted pair from devices connected in this way.
Connection
The D-Link DIR-615 router is fairly easy to switch. Reviews indicate that in the simplest case, it is enough to bring only two wires to it for this. One of them comes from the power supply. That is, the cord from it is connected by a connector to the corresponding circular socket in the router. And the power supply itself with a built-in plug is installed in a power outlet. The second wire is a twisted pair from the equipment of the company - provider. It must be crimped, and its connector is installed in the port of the router marked WAN. The above two connections are required. That is, without them, such a network node will not be able to function in nominal mode.
In some cases, using a twisted pair cable, various computing devices are connected. For example, a personal computer does not have a Wi-Fi transmitter, but there is a built-in network card. In this case, it is simply impossible to do without a twisted pair crimped on both sides. A similar situation may be with the TV. It may have a network connector, but it cannot connect to a wireless network for the reason that the Wi-Fi transmitter must be purchased separately. In this case, the required number of sections of twisted pair is laid. At the same time, it must be crimped on both sides. Next, you need to connect the twisted pair cable with one end to each device of the computer network on which it is planned to use wired switching, and the second to the router. The router uses LAN ports. There are only four of them and you can use any of them.
Software configuration of a network device
The next step is to reconfigure the internal software of the WiFi router D-Link DIR-615. At the same time, the reviews emphasize that this is the most important step in configuring the router. We turn on the router and the computer from which it is planned to make changes to the software part of the network device. After that, you must wait until the download is complete. Further, it is recommended to reset the router to its original state. To do this, hold down the Reset button and wait for the moment when it reboots.
Then we establish the connection. If you use a wired method of transmitting information, then nothing needs to be done. In the case of using the Wi-Fi information transmitter on a personal computer, we start the procedure for searching for wireless networks. At the end of it we find in the list the one called DIR-615. We are connected to it. After that, you will be asked to enter a password. It is indicated on the bottom cover of the device. More precisely - on the paper sticker located there. We refine this information and type in the query window. After confirming the entered data, a connection with the network equipment will be established.
The next step is to launch the browser. You must enter 192.168.0.1 in its dial string. This is the default router address. Next, a query window will be displayed on which there are two input fields. One of them is for typing in the login, and the second is for the password. By default, both in the first and in the second case, you must type the code word admin.
After that, the network device configuration interface will open. It is necessary to go to the Click 'n' Connect tab. On it we indicate the type of connection (L2TP, PPPoE or L2TP). We also select the type of addressing from the provider: static or dynamic. In the first case, we also indicate the value that is in the contract. In addition to this, if you need to enter a password and login to connect to the global web, then this data is entered on this tab. Save the specified values.
Next, go to the “Network” section and select the Wi-Fi tab. On it we select the type of channel used at our discretion. We also change the name of the network from DIR-615 to a more convenient one. It is also recommended that you change the default password. But the type of addressing for the internal part of the network should be dynamic. Such a solution greatly simplifies the switching of new devices to the router. Separately, it is also necessary to note the type of encryption. It is recommended to use WPA2 as the most reliable today. It is extremely difficult to crack an attacker. Therefore, in the drop-down list, select it. We save the adjusted parameters. In addition, it is recommended that the network name and password for connecting to it be recorded in notepad. Exit the setup menu and force reboot the router.
Checking the health of the router
Now you need to check the functionality of the D-Link DIR-615 router. Reviews characterize this stage as the simplest. Its essence boils down to the fact that you need to launch any browser that is available on the connected computer to the router. Next, just open the page of any search engine by entering its address in the appropriate line. If the site has opened, then the network device is configured. Otherwise, you must re-enter the setup menu and check all previously set parameters for correctness. It is in them that the error may be hiding, because of which a connection to the global web is not established for such a modification of the router, for example, as D-Link DIR-615 S. In this case, reviews recommend checking in detail each entered value.
Update
Then you need to update the software of the D-Link DIR-615 router. Reviews indicate a low level of reliability of the factory firmware. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you update the software in this case. To do this, go to the manufacturer’s website and in the "Support" section we find the most recent software modification. Download it to your computer. Then we go to the setup menu of the network device using the combination of username and password that were previously set. Open the "System" section and select the "Update" tab. Using the “Download” button, open the update search window and go to the PC downloads folder. We find updates in it and install them. In this case, the router may repeatedly reboot and connection to the global web may disappear. At the end, everything will be restored and the network device will function normally.
Cost
Very positively, in terms of cost, the owners characterize this network device in the reviews. D-Link DIR-615 K2, for example, can be purchased for 1,545 rubles. But this is one of the most expensive routers of this series. There are more affordable modifications. For example, such a router with the T4 prefix can already be bought for 850 rubles. That is, the pricing policy of this eminent manufacturer is quite democratic and its devices are quite affordable.
Reviews Disadvantages and advantages
For the most part, D-Link DIR-615 A N1A reviews or any other router of this series are very positively characterized. The only significant drawback of this line of routers is the instability of the factory firmware. Therefore, it is mandatory after the configuration to update the software shell of the router. This will eliminate this drawback. But the pluses in this case include reliability, affordable cost, a simple setup procedure and sufficient technical specifications.
Conclusion
As part of this review, the procedure for configuring the D-Link DIR-615 line of routers was considered. Reviews such routers belong to the segment of budget devices. Therefore, they are most optimally used for the implementation of small computer networks. This is the main area of use for such routers.