Have trouble deciding if you need a wireless mesh system to provide coverage across your home or whether an upgraded router would be the best option? With the D-Link DIR-1960, you get something in the middle: a normal router that can also be supplemented with wireless mesh access points to improve performance and expand its capabilities.
Even while the DIR-1960’s simple black shell is less eye-catching than D-gaming-focused Link’s routers, the four huge antennas on the top of the router stand out. It may either be put flat on a tabletop or fixed on a wall.
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The DIR-1960’s rear panel contains all of the features you’d expect from a router: a Gigabit Ethernet LAN connector for connecting the router to a compatible modem, as well as four Gigabit Ethernet ports for connecting wired devices to the network. Additionally, D-Link has included a USB3 connector for content sharing.
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The DIR-1960 is shipped with a secure wireless network already established. Then, after the router is plugged in and connected to your network, you can connect a wired or wireless device to the router, log into the router’s web interface, and follow the wizard through the setup process, which should take no more than a couple of minutes.
Specifications
| Product Description | EXO AC1900 Smart Mesh Wi-Fi Router |
|---|---|
| Multicast Support | Yes |
| Wireless Speed | 1900Mbps (2.4G + 5G) |
| SDRAM | 256MB |
| Flash | 128MB |
| Antenna Type | External Fixed Antenna (4×4+4×4) |
| Wi-Fi Mesh | Yes |
| MU-MIMO | Yes |
| D-Link Wi-Fi | Yes |
| McAfee protection | Yes |
| Voice Control Support (Amazon Alexa / Google Assistant) | Yes |
| WAN | 1(10/100/1000) |
| LAN | 4 (10/100/1000) |
| USB 2.0/3.0 | USB 3.0 |
| Static IP | Yes |
| Dynamic IP (DHCP) | Yes |
| PPPoE | Yes |
| L2TP | Yes |
| PPTP | Yes |
| Static IPv6 | Yes |
| PPPoE (IPv6 over PPPoE) | Yes |
| QuickVPN | Yes |
| WPS (Wi-Fi Protect Setup) | Yes (PBC only) |
| WPA-PSK (Personal) | N/A |
| WPA2-PSK (Personal) | Yes |
| Guest Zone | Yes |
| USB Sharing (FTP) | Yes |
| USB Sharing (SAMBA) | Yes |
Verdict
According to the manufacturer, the Netgear Orbi mesh system is a better solution for bigger houses or areas where gaining wireless access is a challenge. If you’re OK with a single router, the D-Link DIR-1960 is a good choice. It’s reasonably priced, it’s fast, and it has the potential of being expanded to form a mesh network.