Design
What can we say about the DSL-G604T's design that we haven't said about every other router we've reviewed this year? Well, as it happens, it does have some redeeming visual features that mark it out from the pack. But first, the dull stuff. One side, you'll find little blinky lights -- lots of them, indicating network activity, DSL status and power. On the reverse side, ports -- five of them, one for your ADSL connection, and four very standard, very boring 10/100 Ethernet ports, as well as a standard antenna screw, which just so happens to fit the semi-flexible antenna you'll find in the DSL-G604T's box. What a wacky coincidental world we live in.
So what makes the DSL-G604T stand out if it's such an ordinary feature-set modem? It's the fact that it's been pretty obviously designed for vertical positioning. To that end, rather than a Playstation 2-esque socket style stand, the DSL-G604T instead comes with two holding clips that attach to the cut-in grooves that run along the top and bottom sides of the router.
Features
The DSL-G604T is an ADSL2/2+ modem, router and firewall, with support for 802.11g networking, and therefore 802.11b backwards compatibility as well. On the wireless security front, it has support for WEP (64, 128 and 256bit), WPA, WPA-PSK, but no WPA2 support. On the wired connectivity front, it comes with four 10/100 wired Ethernet ports, which is absolutely, resolutely stock standard for just about every router you're currently likely to buy.
Performance
Installation of the DSL-G604T is performed purely via the unit's web interface, with a small bit of help from the slender Quick Installation Guide. A provided CD gives you the obligatory PDF manual and another copy of the same Quick Install Guide, just in case you lose the paper version. The Web interface includes a fairly user-friendly installation Wizard, although we did hit some quirks using it under Firefox 1.5, as some of the pop-up dialogue boxes failed to appear; Internet Explorer didn't share this issue.
We also hit one quirk with the install wizard that concerned us a touch more. While configuring the router via the wizard wirelessly, it gave us no option to enable wireless security in the first instance, although the diagram in the Quick Installation Guide suggested it should be there. If you can handle Web router interfaces it's a fairly trivial matter to correct, and it's definitely worthwhile remembering to enable wireless security, even if it's only to stop opportunists leeching off your broadband connection.
We initially hit some stability problems with the DSL-G604T, including some self-initiated reboots that tended to wipe the unit's memory -- annoyingly on one occasion it lost its security settings but remembered our ISP ones, opening itself up to the wider world. A quick trip to D-Link's local Web Site revealed an available firmware upgrade -- we moved from the v2.00B03.AU firmware to the v2.00B06.AU firmware -- but even this didn't resolve all of our connection issues. We're well used to consumer-level routers being less robust than their enterprise counterparts, but the DSL-G604T sat on the poor side of the fence when it came to overall stability. Hopefully future firmware upgrades will improve this.
We're seeing plenty of ADSL2/2+ modem routers aimed at the home/small office market here at CNET.com.au, and essentially speaking, the DSL-G604T is just another one. That's not a bad thing per se, and once we'd ironed out our firmware issues we were largely happy with the DSL-G604T's performance; at the very least another ADSL2/2+ product on the market should keep up the pressure to lower prices on all products.
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Timetogetabillion7401bgpm
12/08/2008, 01:25 PM
rating
1/10
Do not get one
Pros: Makes the decision to get a Billion so much easier.
Cheap
Stands up
Cons: Wireless drops out.
Wireless channel 1 range is s***
Randomly freezes
ADSL randomly drops out
Router configured DNS does not work in static IP assignment (No DHCP Mode)
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travis
11/07/2008, 06:46 PM
rating
1/10
Absolute heap of crap. I can't download anything as the wireless drops out every half an hour and requires a power cycle to reconnect. It seems to have a wireless range of about 10m. Stay away from this thing, all it does is cause problems. I can't wait to buy a new router.
Pros: Easy to set up
Cons: Drops out constantly
Wireless range is poor
Encryption is hard to set up
Doesn't like Firefox
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heredownunder
02/07/2008, 07:46 PM
rating
3/10
Drops out a lot. Takes a long time to reconnect. Tricky implementing WiFi security. Wifi connect Mac drops out a lot. Have to keep re-entering the WEP password to reconnect, which is a time waster.
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adeveloper
19/06/2008, 12:00 PM
rating
2/10
Massive stability issues. Wont save the port forwarding settings, and i have had to replace this under warranty twice.
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wireless
30/05/2008, 05:39 PM
rating
3/10
Simple router with no stability. Cheap but when performance is noting so why we buy this looser. I use this junk for my home usage. I use it no more than 2 to 3 hours but these 3 hours are disturb my all day fresh mood.
Pros: Nothing.
Cons: Indicators can be hard to read.
Automatic setup doesn't work for ADSL.
Automatic install may fail
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Mick101
29/05/2008, 10:14 PM
rating
2/10
Nothing but internet drop-outs and wireless drop-outs. Forever rebooting this thing. Firmware update made no difference at all. It's the biggest pile of crap. After a year of the bloody thing, I'm finally going to get a netgear or something. It is the second DLINK moden I've had. Both crap. !!
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AdiP
26/05/2008, 11:30 PM
rating
2/10
Bought a DSL-G604T last week. Big mistake, will never get another D-Link product anymore. It's being shipped with the latest firmware (V3.02B01T01.AU-A.20071030). Nevertheless it freezes a lot, the wireless interface (along with its LED) keeps dissapearing after a day or so, I need to unplug/plug it back in order to be able to get connected to the network again. Completely unreliable, don't buy this crap if you really want to stay away from trouble.
When you buy something, put it at work and expect your wife to use it, you'd definitely stay away from d-link adsl crap.
Pros: Pros? Are you kidding? This piece of junk keeps wasted my time continuously, in the weekend I'll take it back to the computer shop and exchange it for something else. It's awful
Cons: - Regular freezes, hence unreliable
- Wasted time
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saaaaasssss
25/05/2008, 10:53 AM
rating
7/10
its alright...
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A 360 Gamer
17/05/2008, 10:00 AM
rating
5/10
I bought this modem about 18months ago and i use it for online gaming. I have a mied opinion of it. I am no techy but know a little on the subject.
I too have eperianced the 'dropouts' but not to the same extent as some other people. I may of happened to me once or twice a week.
The installation was a bit of a nightmare but portforwarding was simple enough even for a noob like me. I did also have problems trying to use firefo with the settings but its no big deal to just use explorer.
It makes a horrible high pitched noise while on and can become very hot from use.
Mine now has eventually died and fails to recognise that its attatched to anything. Overall I'd have to say it does the job when you get it on a good day, but having learnt a bit about modems in the last 18months i dare say there are way better alternates than this.
Oh and as a final note i wouldn't waste your time trying to get help from D-link support.
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seedyrom
02/05/2008, 09:32 PM
rating
1/10
Constantly dropping out.
Needing to reboot it every day or two (and I don't use it much). Most mornings it will have dropped ADSL connection. Can sometimes connect wirelessly and reboot the modem through the interface, others require physically disconnecting from power. Yes it has the latest firmware applied
Pros: Cheap
Cons: Disgraceful performance
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