A Good and Inexpensive Gaming/VoIP Solution

Summary:

This is a very good entry-level router with some outstanding features, including a fairly robust (QoS) Quality of Service features. Setup was easy. Wireless features include WAP, Dlink’s 2x 802.11g service (108Mbps), stateful packet inspection (SPI) and VPN passthrough. It also includes a 4-port gigabit switch with a neat LED display.

Some difficulties with a mixed MAC/Linux/XP computer setup. An older MacOs 9 G4 was unable to access with internet with the SPI feature on (though the OSX Mac was fine as well as Linux and XP). Likewise, the Gamefuel feature only somewhat reduced bottlenecks in IP traffic control while large files were been transferred. Seems to work well with some programs but not others.

If you are in need a wireless router with a gigabit network switch, this is a good deal. The wireless features work well though Expect some possible interference with a 2.4 cordless if the speed boost feature on. Also, microwave wreaks havoc with 108Mbps feature.

Specifications:
Package Contents
• DGL-4300 Wireless 108G Gaming Router™ Detachable Antenna; CAT5 Ethernet Cable; Power Adapter (5V, 2.5A); Mounting Kit; Vertical Stand; CD-ROM with Manual; Quick Installation Guide

Hardware Interface
• 4 x 10/100/1000 Auto-Sensing Gigabit Ethernet LAN

Ports
• 1 x 10/100 Auto-Sensing Fast Ethernet WAN Port
• D-Link 108G Wireless Technology

Software Features
• GameFuel™ Priority – Technology
• Up to 256 Firewall Port Configurations
• Access Control Policies (Parental Controls)
• Internal and External System Logging
• Static/Dynamic Routing
• Oversized NAT table
• Email Alerts
• Wireless Distribution System (WDS)

Security
• WPA-Enterprise; WPA-Personal; 64/128-bit WEP; MAC Filtering

External Antenna Type
• 1 - 5dBi detachable antenna

Standards
• IEEE 802.11g; IEEE 802.11b; IEEE 802.3; IEEE 802.3u

Wireless Signal Rates* with Automatic Fallback
• D-Link 108G: 1Mbps - 108Mbps
LEDs
• Power; WAN; WLAN (Wireless Connection); LAN

Dimensions
• L = 7.5 inches (190.5mm) W = 4.6 inches (116.84mm) H = 1.375 inches (35mm)

Power Input
• External Power Supply DC 5V, 2.5A

Warranty
• 1 Year

General Discussion:

I have a good cable connection (3k/384) for my wife’s home office away from office requirements. She frequently downloads large files while I am working/cruising the internet. I also like to play online games, including Battlefield 2 and Counterstrike. Consequently, I am always on the lookout for a high speed SPI processor and QoS while not costing me an arm/leg (Unfortunately I have quite a collection of routers sitting on the network heap looking for this Holy Grail of price/performance). Having joined the VoIP world, I also need a router that could prioritize transmission of certain packets (VoIP or gaming) over other requests. In particular, my wife’s office server communicates with her home office at different times during the day/night, grinding to a halt all other activity at home. Naturally, this interrupts my online gaming and/or VoIP activities.

I am also looking for a fast wireless connection to connect my laptops as I roam around the home, as well as act as a link for the wireless internet nanny cams. It seemed the DGL 4300 met all my requirements when I purchased it back in December, 2004.

I’ve been operating it for the last 9 months and I haven't had any major complaints save a real pain with the SPI and Mac OS9. I happened to have resolved it with the help of my wife's office tech support directly communicating with Dlink's tech support after Dlink suggested it was the Mac’s fault. Since I used an older business class Dlink router before the DGL, the office tech felt it was the fault of the SPI on the DGL. Sure enough, after much haranguing, Dlink agreed that with SPI activated, OS9 G4 Macs would not be able to contact the internet. Solution? Dlink wanted SPI turned off... Needless to say, I felt that was a BAD solution given SPI was supposed to provide a measure of protection from the big bad internet. Fast forward a few months later (having DMZ’d the G4 and buying a new G5 for my wife), it remains unresolved except a firmware patch allows the G4 to talk, abet with dropped packets, to the internet. So I am much poorer but I have a router that works largely as advertised.

The Gamefuel configuration screen requires some patience and review of the manual datafile. I also suggest viewing the Dlink FAQ as it is a good primer. With Gamefuel on, it seemed that the router was more efficiently routing the large packet transfers (data files) and small packets (internet browsing and VoIP). However, it isn’t perfect and I do experience stuttering even with minor downloading on other computers.

The wireless connection and security features work well. I’ve had a problem with WPA/WEP keys as my laptops’ native wireless utilities do not necessarily use the same digit length for WPA/WEP keys. Fortunately, DGL’s key accepts both ASCII and Hex so I’m able to cut/paste or handwrite the proper key sequence.

I also like the DGL’s logs and statistics. I am truly thankful to have a router that accurately reports collisions/errors/rejections timely while dealing with my internet cable tech support. It can also email you reports.

The router also provides for “special application rules”. This means that certain protocol rules can be established when programs access certain ports. Unfortunately, it is network wide and cannot limited to a local IP/MAC address (I guess a $500+ router might, but not one for $100). There is a dynamic routing feature that is IP specific, and I’ve used it. However, I would have preferred that the special application rules be the basis for dynamic routing.

Parental Controls: Very primitive. It involves manually adding web addresses. I use local parental software control (i.e. Norton Internet Security) rather than the router. If you have children and do not run kid filters at the local level (or can’t), this isn’t your router.

Gamefuel tests:

(Courtesy of Extremetech.com)

No traffic / Heavy P2P use / No traffic / Heavy P2P use /
GF OFF GameFuel OFF GF ON GameFuel ON
CStrike: Source: 62ms 1217ms 67ms 432ms
World of Warcraft: 94ms 835ms 89ms 556ms
UT 2004: 49ms 935ms 45ms 297ms
Battlefield Vietnam: 93ms 1529ms 102ms 466ms

See http://www.extremetech.com/article2/0,1697,1746075,00.asp

My experience is similar except that VoIP tended to drop in quality with any downloading at all. YMMV.