D-Link DSL-3580L review

While most routers are happy for you to just plug them in and get connected, a large orange label slapped over the DSL-3580L’s ports insists that you use the setup CD first. While this will be useful for those who’re unfamiliar with router configuration, the setup disc’s long-winded approach is likely to irritate more experienced users, not to mention those on optical drive-free laptops.

You can skip this step if you’re happy to rummage around the router’s comprehensive web interface settings, but remember to set Wi-Fi passwords for the both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless connections, which are not secured by default.

The router has a built-in ADSL modem, but also supports Ethernet WAN connections, such as those from a cable or VDSL modem provided by your ISP, and even 4G connections via a USB dongle. The USB3 port can also be used to share a printer with your network or connect an external hard disk which you can use as the target for the router’s built-in storage server: a simple single-disk NAS.

A straightforward interface for those who know what they’re doing

While many router makers have gone out of their way to simplify their web interfaces as much as possible, or at least provide a friendly front page, D-Link isn’t among them. Instead, you have easy access to a wealth of detailed configuration options for everything from your ADSL connection settings to QoS to prioritise different kinds of traffic across your net connection and business-oriented features such as support for SNMP remote management tools.

Like most 802.11ac routers, the DSL-3580L is chunkier than your average 802.11n model. It stands upright, has a glossy black finish and a bank of lights to indicate the status of various ports and features. At the back of the router are the ADSL, Gigabit Ethernet WAN and USB3 ports, along with four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. There’s a power switch for the router and separate buttons to enable and disable the 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless networks. A WPS button is located toward the right of the device.