D-LINK DIR 615 VS TP-LINK TL- WR841N Which of these two routers is the best in terms of overall performance and value for money?
If you want to get the best router for your needs, there is a combination of several factors to consider. Coupled with the fact that there are countless products in the market, choosing the right router can be quite the chore. This D-LINK DIR 615 VS TP-LINK-WR841N article has been designed to help you with that decision. It has analyzed these top routers according to their features and general design to figure out which one is the best buy for you.
For full-on tech geeks and amateurs alike, choosing the right router is something that can be quite hard because of all the available products in the market. However, after keenly analyzing majority of the routers in the market, it is easy to narrow down to D-LINK DIR 615 and TP-LINK- WR841N as some of the best contenders.
This guide on D-LINK DIR 615 VS TP-LINK-WR841N does a comprehensive analysis of which of the two is a better buy. While the both of them have impressive features like MAC address filtering and built-in network firewalls, they have their own subtle differences. They are quality options among all the several products in the market.
Read on to get a clear understanding of the differences between D-LINK DIR 615 and TP-LINK-WR841N.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between D-LINK DIR 615 AND TP-LINK?”
PRODUCT |
D-LINK DIR 615 |
TP-LINK-WR841N |
SPECS |
URL filter, MAC address filtering, built-in network firewall, QOS, Universal plug n’ play, SPI intrusion protection
127mm thin |
Universal plug n’ play, Network time protocol enabled, IPV6 enabled
Weighs 1lb |
WI-FI |
Supports Wi-Fi 4 |
Supports Wi-Fi 5 |
DATA TRANSFER SPEEDS |
300mbs per second |
1750mbs per second |
LAN/USB PORTS |
Only has 4 Ethernet ports |
USB 3.0 |
RATING |
D-LINK DIR-615 VS TP-LINK-WR841N – How do they compare to one another?
Security
When buying a router whether for your home or workplace, one of the main factors to consider is the type of security you get from it.
For D-Link Dir 615, it is jammed with all the security features that you might need. It has a built-in network firewall and a network services filter. It also has an automatic IP, URL filter, MAC address filtering and SPI intrusion protection. Simply put, these work together to offer unmatched protection. For example, the intrusion detection system blocks any unauthorized and suspect activities to protect you from cyber threats. In case of any cyber threats or such like malware, a firewall comes in to protect your data and connected devices.
TP-Link also ranks high on the security sector. It has a URL and MAC address filter, a built-in network firewall and SPI intrusion protection. However, it is considerably less impressive because it does not have a network services filter. It also does not have an automatic IP compared to D-Link DIR 615 which comes with both those features.
To add, latest TP-Link routers come fitted with Home Care which is powered by Trend Micro. This offers additional security by blocking any cyber threats. It also goes ahead to fix any network vulnerabilities that might cause harm to your devices later.
Wi-Fi Specifications
D-Link supports Wi-Fi 4. Its wireless compatibility is 802.11 BGN. It also supports all the latest wireless security updates to make sure you are protected from any authorized access at all times. On the flipside, TP-Link-WR841N supports Wi-Fi 5. It is also compatible with Wi-Fi devices 802.11 BGN as well as other network devices.
Regarding data transfer speeds once connected to the internet, TP-Link-WR841N and D-Link DIR 615 both do 300mbs per second. This is a particularly impressive feature for gamers and those who go for high-definition streaming. Fast Wi-Fi data transfer speeds are important because no one wants lagging internet connection when speed matters the most. Additionally, you can easily stream and transfer quality audio and videos with both of these routers. Web browsing is also significantly easier.
Dual Band Technology
These routers are designed with the latest advancements in router technology. For example, D-Link DIR 615 has dual band technology. This is a plus feature because dual band means the routers can transmit 2.4GHz and 5GHz signals easily. That in turn means better overall performance and an easier process during setting up.
On the other hand, TP-WR841N has single band technology (2.4GHz) that still delivers great performance.
Ports
Both of these products are fitted with LAN ports and USB ports as well. For D-Link, it has five Ethernet ports but it does not have USB ports. On the other hand, TP-Link has a 3-port USB that is highly advantageous as you can comfortably connect a wide range of devices.
D-LINK DIR 615 VS TP-LINK-WR841N- A comparison review
D-LINK DIR 615 Overview and Key features
- The D-Link Quick Router Setup Wizard quickly configures your new Wireless N Router to get you up and...
- This Wireless N Router uses draft 802.11n technology with multiple external antennas to maximize the...
D-Link 615 is a quality router designed using the latest advancements like the Intelligent Antenna Technology. With this router, you can be assured of fast internet connection to transmit vast streams of data no matter where you are in the room. It has a wide range to cover your house/office space on wireless connection from consoles to personal computers.
Some of its notable features include multiple Ethernet ports, built-in network firewall and several filters. First, in terms of security, D-Link 615 is unmatched. It is jammed with all the impressive features to assure you of total safety even when you are not around your router. For instance, the SPI intrusion protection and network services filter come a long way to protect your connection. The MAC address filtering and network address translation also adds to this.
This is because these features work by checking if the client’s address matches against the authorized and agreed list of addresses. Secondly, D-Link is IPV6 enabled and it comes equipped with QOS (Quality of Service prioritization technology). All these are easy to set-up and secure to enable multi-tasking through many applications. To add, D-Link is compact sized and only measures 0.58lb with the dimensions of 10/69 x 2.63 x 8.5 inches.
Another bonus feature is that this router offers parental control options. This is a great plus for parents who are keen on supervising the content their children get to see. Regarding setup, D-Link 615 is one of the easiest routers to install. Within minutes you can have it up and running because of the D-Link Quick Setup Wizard. Following simple instructions, you can also easily have all your devices connected to the router.
D-Link 615 has a few drawbacks. First disadvantage with this router is that sometimes it takes quite a long time to load because of stability. It can also start bringing up an ‘unable to load’ message often while you are scrolling through pages. Secondly, the 300mbs per second data transfer is rather slow compared to similar priced routers.
What we like
- Easy installation with detailed step by step instructions
- Sleek and compact design that can fit in anywhere
- Parental control options to supervise your child’s activities
- Compatible with universal plug n’ play devices
- Easy maintenance
What we don’t like
- Quality is a bit wanting in some models
- Unstable and too slow for some
With this router, you get the following features:
- Data transfer of 300mb per second
- Network services filter and network address translation
- D-Link Quick Setup Wizard
- Top-notch security because of MAC address filtering and SPI protection among others
TP-LINK-WR841N Overview and Key features
- 300Mbps wireless speed ideal for interruption sensitive applications like HD video streaming
- Two antennas greatly increase the wireless robustness and stability
TP-Link is a premium quality buy for a router because of a number of reasons. First, it has all the necessary security features to assure you of your online safety. For example, it has a built-in network firewall and offers protection from SPI intrusion. It also has MAC address filtering to aid in that.
Secondly, TP-Link is also great value for money because of the fast data transfer speeds. Compared to D-Link 615, this router can hit the same fast speeds. Actually, the statistics stand at a transfer rate of 300mbs per second transfer. If you are a gamer or you want uninterrupted streaming of high-definition movies, you should definitely go for TP-Link as it can even show 4K settings without buffering or unnecessary lag.
Additionally, TP-Link comes with other added components like an extra antenna making the total 3 compared to D-Link’s 2 external antennas. This basically means that you get additional reliability and diversity because the different antennas draw in different signal versions.
Regarding the technology it is designed with, TP-Link supports Wi-Fi 5. It also uses single-band technology that gives it efficient transmission. Unlike dual band which simply means that the router uses 2.4GHz and 5GHz for proper and efficient running of its tasks, 2.4GHz alone is enough.
To add, some models by TP-Link come with an additional system for better protection. This is the TP-Link Home Care which is powered by TrendMicro. This system offers guaranteed protection from cyber threats such as Trojans and viruses.
In fact, according to TP-Link, Home Care blocks more than 100,000 threats that arise every day. It does this by blocking suspicious websites/URLs from accessing your device. Home Care also goes ahead to fix any potential network loopholes that might compromise your safety in the long run.
Like all other products, TP-Link has a few imperfections. First, it does not come with a network services filter. This can be quite a bummer because these filters work to block any unwanted connection. TP-Link also does not have an automatic IP. This is a drawback because D-Link 615 and other routers in the same price range come installed with it. You therefore have to do the assigning of IP addresses yourself on all your internet-connected devices.
What we like
- Really fast data transfer speeds
- Additional USB ports, 3 external antennas
- Added safety from Home Care system developed by TrendMicro
- Easy to set-up and secure
What we don’t like
- Does not come loaded with a network services filter or an automatic IP
With this router, you get the following features:
- Universal plug in n’ play
- Protocol enabled according to network time
- 3 external antennas
- Dual band technology (2.4GHz and 5GHz)
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Verdict: So which is better? D-LINK DIR 615 or TP-LINK
In the tech world, you can easily get overwhelmed with all the impressive features that come with routers. It can then be difficult to settle on one but D-Link and TP-Link-WR841N clearly stand out from the rest. From the two, D-Link stands out because of the added features it comes with.
It has an automatic IP, a network services filter and it also has DNS relay. If you are more focused on higher speeds, more antenass and dual-band technology, then the TP-Link is a better buy. They both stand out depending on your expectations and needs.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly is a router?
Simply put, a router is a networking tool that works by connecting devices to the available network. It does this by receiving and fowarding packets of data between them. This process of transmission is made possible because a router usually assigns (automatically or manually) IP addresses to the connected devices.
How does a firewall work?
For a router to offer you top-notch security, it ought to have a built-in firewall system. This is because the main role of a firewall is to determine what should be allowed through the system. It basically controls the entry and exit of network traffic.
A network firewall simply works like a bridge between trusted and untrusted internal networks for added protection.
What are the benefits of going for a router with MAC address and QoS?
A MAC address is a hexadecimal code that is given to all your hardware devices for unique identification. Once you have this, the MAC address works to block devices that are not compatible with your router.
Quality of Service (QoS) on the other hand, works by prioritizing traffic flow dpending on the type of data that is being processed. For example, QOS can be used to control the impact of bulk data transfer and prioritize on other traffic types like audio.
