D-Link's DHP-1565 hybrid router hits the spot
D-Link announces at CES 2012 the first hybrid router that incorporates Gigabit, Wireless-N, and Powerline AV 500 in one.
LAS VEGAS--D-Link finally gets it right with its new hybrid router.
The company demoed today at CES 2012 the all-new Amplifi Wireless N PowerLine Gigabit Router (DHP-1565). This is part of the company's Cloud Services, which also includes a sub-$50 cloud router (DIR-605L) and the flagship DIR-857 that were also announced at the show.
In my opinion, the DHP-1565 is a much-needed upgrade to its first hybrid router, the
Nothing is wrong with the DHP-1320. In fact, it's a great router. The only problem is that it lacks both of what I consider "must-have" features for routers and a power-line device: Gigabit Ethernet and support for the latest 500Mbps Powerline AV standard.
And that's exactly what the DHP-1565 has in its arsenal, and then some.
In a nutshell, it's an all-in-one router that combines Wireless-N (802.11n), Gigabit Ethernet, and the high-speed Powerline AV standard in one box. The unique feature of the DHP-1565 is the fact that its power cord also works as the first power-line adapter. This means you only need to add another power-line adapter to a different power socket in your house, or the office, to have yourself a complete power-line network.
According to D-Link, when used with other Powerline AV 500 adapters, the DHP1565 offers sustained throughput speeds up to a 500Mbps data rate via the house's electrical wiring. That's some five times faster than the speed of a traditional Ethernet connection. The good thing about power line is the fact that it has a much lower latency than Wi-Fi and can work at the far corner of the house where Wi-Fi signals can't reach.
At the show, D-Link also demonstrated the router's capability to combine both power-line and Wi-Fi signals when coupled with a Wi-Fi bridge that also supports the Powerline AV 500 standard. In this case, the router was able to balance the two to offer the best data rates.
Other features of the all-new Amplifi Wireless N PowerLine Gigabit Router include:
- 300Mbps Wireless-N standard
- USB 2.0 port with SharePort Plus for sharing USB printers or storage devices across a network
- Intelligent Antenna Technology eliminates dead spots
- Common Connect Button for easy power-line and wireless setup
- Built-in QoS Engine for enhanced Internet experience
- Whole-home coverage without using extra network cables
Obviously, the DHP-1565 isn't perfect since it lacks the support for true dual-band and the latest 450Mbps speed of Wireless-N. However, to D-Link's credit, the router is one of a few, if not the only router on the market, which offers the value of a hybrid solution.
It's safe to say that, when coupled with other Powerline AV adapters, such as the