Digital Trends

D-Link DI-624 XtremeG

May 28th, 2004 | by Jeff Fila

Features and Design

This review centers on the D-Link DI-624 AirPlus Xtreme G wireless router revision C. The model has gone through a few revisions in both aesthetics and performance. Revision C has only one antenna, while earlier versions had two antennas. The model has shrunk in size over the last few months and both revision B and C now add the 108Mbps capability which was first attainable with a firmware upgrade. Our review unit came installed with firmware version 2.28 from November 2003. Since then, there have been a few other firmware releases — including version 2.37 and 2.42 which we tested with. As far as we can tell, only hardware revision C is available in retail now.

The DI-624 is a small gray and silver rectangle-shaped router that features four auto-sensing 10/100 wired Ethernet ports and a 2 ½-inch gray antenna in the right rear of the unit. The omni-directional antenna is removable, allowing for the addition of a more powerful or directional antenna.

As with most SoHo routers, the D-Link DI-624 is managed by a Web-based interface. Point any Web browser on your network to 192.168.0.1 (the default IP address), log in with the admin password and you have access to all of the router's features. And there are a lot of features — more than the average user will ever need to use.

Those features include:

• WPA and WEP security
• Multiple session VPN passthrough
• URL and content filtering (via block or allow)
• Schedule-based filtering
• Detailed logging capability
• Ability to save system settings to disk
• Remote management via the Internet
• Advanced firewall rules
• Xbox Live compatibility
• And more — visit our Specifications page for the full list of specs.

Status lights are located on the front of the device, with green LEDs showing activity for the four wired ports, the wireless LAN and the WAN. The front panel also has a green power and status light.

While some routers offer stands to place the device vertically, D-Link does not include one with the packaging. The device can be stood up vertically on its side, but this doesn't provide as much stability as a stand built specifically for this would. Included in the retail package is the router itself, a 5V DC power adapter, a CAT5 Ethernet cable, a printed installation guide, and a CD-ROM with a full manual and warranty information.

D-Link backs the router up with advertised 7/24 phone and Web support and a 3-year limited warranty. Found online and in retail stores for around $99, D-Link and retailers have been pushing the DI-624 lately with a host of instant and mail-in rebates.