D-Link DIR-518L router review
D-Link introduced the DIR-518L router in 2013. It is powered by Realtek RTL8881AQ chipset, 64 MB of RAM, and 8 MB of flash memory.
Want to know if the DIR-518L is a game-changer? Stick around until the end of our article!
Table of Contents
- D-Link DIR-518L specifications
- Body, dimensions, weight
- System, chipset, RAM, flash, power supply
- Network, protocols, WAN and LAN ports
- Wireless, antennas, speed, security
- Connectivity
- Administration, user interface, login information
- Links
- Verdict, Pros and Cons
- Photos
- Comparisons
Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the D-Link DIR-518L, please let us know.
The DIR-518L is a powerful router. It is full of features and made for advanced networking. D-Link has received awards and recognition for its excellent networking products.
D-Link DIR-518L specifications
| Brand | D-Link |
|---|---|
| Name | DIR-518L |
| Type | DIR-518L |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2013 |
Body
| Dimensions | 61.0 x 71.0 x 40.0 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 130 g |
If you live in a small apartment, the size of the router is crucial to deciding whether it will fit. If you plan to mount your router on a wall or ceiling, the weight can affect the mounting process.
System
| Chipset | Realtek RTL8881AQ |
|---|---|
| RAM | 64 MB |
| Flash | 8 MB |
| OS | D-Link |
| Power supply | 0.5 A |
The Realtek RTL8881AQ CPU affects the router's performance, working with RAM and firmware. The 64 MB of RAM helps the router manage many tasks concurrently
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | no |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | yes, with USB dongle |
| VPN support | no |
The DIR-518L router is compatible with IPv6. IPv6 offers many enhancements and improvements over IPv4. Wired connections may bottleneck due to the limits of Fast Ethernet ports. A 3G/4G USB dongle provides portable internet access. It connects to cellular networks, letting you stay online even without Wi-Fi.
Wireless
| Antennas | internal |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Class | N600 |
| Speed | 600 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 15 dBm |
| Security | WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
Many IoT devices, smart home devices, and older Wi-Fi devices mainly use the 2.4 GHz band. To optimize your Wi-Fi experience, it's often recommended to use a combination of both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. The Wi-Fi router offers fast data speeds. They're good for streaming HD video, online gaming, and large file transfers. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a safe wireless network with the push of a button or a simple PIN entry.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). A USB print server lets you connect a printer to your network. Then, computers can print to it without a direct connection. The DIR-518L router lets you schedule backups. You can back up to the connected USB storage device.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.0.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | [blank] |
| Default password | [blank] |
Changing the password often is a good security practice. It protects your network and devices from unauthorized access. Changing the default password improves your router's security. It reduces the risk of unauthorized individuals controlling your network.
Links
| Official site | https://www.dlink.com/ |
|---|
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this D-Link one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- lightweight
- sufficient memory
- IPv6 capable
- 3/4G USB modem capable
- works on 5 GHz band
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- insufficient flash
- lack of Gigabit LAN
- Non-gigabit WAN port
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
D-Link DIR-518L photos
D-Link DIR-518L comparisons
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Updated: May 25, 2024
