D-Link AX3000: 30-second review
The D-Link G530 5G NR AX3000 WiFi 6 Router is primarily designed as a cellular 5G WiFi router for camping, van life, and using off-grid where there’s no standard broadband connection, although it does offer a WAN port.
Unlike many other 5G cellular routers, it also offers LAN alongside the WiFi connection, essentially making the use of this router almost identical to any of the best WiFi routers we’ve tested or you would find in the home or office.
Set-up and use once you get over a few initial stumbling blocks with some networks is relatively easy.
Where this router really stands out is the fact that it’s designed for use with a data SIM and then offers WAN to connect to the broadband or LAN so you can utilise the 5G or WAN connection depending on where you. As with any 5G device, you need a SIM and contract, and in this review, I’ve opted for the Vodafone 5G data SIM, which proved to cause a few issues, which I’ll go into in the performance section. Once those issues were fixed and following the set-up instructions, everything connected and worked fine, but it did take time.
The out of the box WAN connection is a standard fixed-wire internet connection; and simply plugs in, and then you can connect and configure with the Falcon App. The Falcon App enables you to monitor the connection and make settings and option changes, including swapping your primary connection choice and setting up the Failover feature which needs to be done manually, again I’ll come on to this in the performance section.
In this review, I’ve used the router in the field plugged into the Jackery 1000 to supply AC power and utilised the Vodafone SIM to create a wireless network that was completely off grid. I also set the SIM as a backup to the wired connection in the studio, which, while that network is perfectly good, it’s on a different network from the rest of the house’s setup and is easy to isolate or switch off completely in the case of this test; it can also be slightly temperamental.
In the studio and workshop connected to the wired connection, the wireless proved to be strong and stable, equalling the existing system with speeds of up to 150 Mbps. Switching over to the 5G SIM, the speeds dropped to 80 Mbps but were still impressive and able to provide access to four 3D printers, two laser engravers, two Macs, and a PC with consistent speeds throughout—only limited by the speed of the connection and not by the device itself.
While the speeds are good, it’s the fact that the router is able to automatically switch between the broadband and wired connections if one failes that makes it an ideal solution in the home or office, where having a continual web connection is important. Off-grid in the workshop or van, when connected to AC power, it acted as a very decent 5G router in isolation, enabling multiple devices to connect with ease, network signal permitting, of course.
This means that in some locations, I was able to set up the router quickly and gain access to the internet across multiple devices with ease, including plugging in a wired NAS to upload and store files. Likewise, in the studio, it just helps to ensure that there is no downtime and provides an ideal solution for the security cameras, which are already plugged into a backup power solution rather than directly into the mains.
The Falcon App then adds another level of adjustment over the settings, ultimately providing you with complete flexibility over the way that you connect to the internet or network, as well as the bandwidth that you allow each device or user who connects.
D-Link G530: Price & availability
- How much does it cost? Starting from $389
- When is it out? Available now
- Where can you get it? You can get it directly from D-Link here
The D-Link G530 5G NR AX3000 WiFi 6 Router is widely available and can be purchased directly from the D-Link website or through online retailers such as Amazon.
D-Link G530: Specifications
Antenna: 4 internal LTE/5G NR internal antennas, 4 internal Wi-Fi antennas
IEEE Standard: IEEE 802.11ax/ac/n/g/b/a, IEEE 802.3u/ab
Interfaces: Gigabit Ethernet LAN port, Gigabit Ethernet WAN port
Wireless Speed: 2.4 GHz up to 574 Mbps, 5 GHz up to 2402 Mbps
Dimensions: 137 × 146 × 205 mm
Weight: 621 g
D-Link G530: Design
The tower design of the D-Link G530 makes it easy enough to position on a shelf, surface at home, office, workshop or van without it taking up too much room. Like most routers, it requires AC power, and an adapter is supplied with the unit, along with a network cable.
Checking over the unit, there’s the info label on the base with all the passwords, and other information, that you need through the set-up process, along with the URL to set it up from a computer or device and the internet passwords that you’ll need when you connect. The base also features the factory reset button if you do need to return everything to factory defaults. You will also need the instruction manual.
The design of the router is quite simple; on the back, you have easy access to all the connectors and ports, including that AC socket. At the top are the WAN and LAN ports that offer 1 Gbps connection speeds. It’s not the fastest, but it is more than enough for most homes and small offices. The WAN goes directly into your broadband connection, while the LAN connects to your network, directly into a PC, NAS, or anything else you want and when using the LAN. It’s a shame that there’s only one LAN port, so if you do have more than one network device that you want wiring in, then you’ll also need to consider a network hub, although these are generally relatively inexpensive.
Below these ports is the 5G SIM slot, which accepts any standard SIM card with a data plan. Below this are the WPS and power buttons.
The overall design and build are simple, and the matte white finish is nice and stylish, with some good attention to detail that gives it a mid-range look and feel.
D-Link G530: Features
When I look at most routers, they’re designed either as a direct wired or 5G solution and rarely, if ever, both. So instantly, the D-Link G530 seems like a great idea, especially as I find myself working on-site regularly with multiple other team members. Our recent go-to choice is the small and portable BlackHawk, but this larger device has a few more options, including the ability to plug in a NAS or video streaming gear, which is handy. While it looks like a home or office router, it has actually been designed to be primarily used off-grid with the 5G cellular connection actually being the primary focus.
What instantly appeals is the dual connectivity options with the 1 Gigabit WAN port and 1 Gigabit LAN port, which is much like most other routers. This connects to your devices through a WiFi 6 speed wireless connection, which provides fast and reliable connections.
The WiFi 6 speed, only delivers the data from the next-generation ultra-fast 5G NR with support for 5G NSA/SA and 4G LTE, which enables 5G speeds of up to 3.4 Gbps. While I was able to test the 5G connection, my local connectivity didn’t reach anywhere close to the theoretical speeds. However, with the cellular connection and the help of a portable power station, this router is a perfect option to enable mobile or off-grid WiFi connection that you can take with you, as long as you have an AC power supply, as ever actual network coverage permits.
One of the features that I really like is the D-Link FALCON App. While initially tricky to set up and connect to the G530, once resolved through a chat with support, I was able to resolve the issue. The problem it emerged was with the Vodafone APN which had to be set-up manually. Alongside the app is the direct connection to the web portal, which also enables you to monitor and control the connections, including setting parental controls, bandwidth, and auto-switching between the wired and 5G connections for that key Failover feature.
The Failover feature needs to be activated manually but enables you to select the WAN as the main router mode, then the cellular router as the Failover mode. Then if the wired connection breaks or fails, the router automatically switches to the cellular connection until the WAN connection comes back online.
D-Link G530: Performance
- Use in off grid locations
- Designed for cellular connection
The initial setup of the router proved to be far from straightforward. As instructed by the Falcon App, the network SIM (Vodafone) was installed, the router switched on, and the setup process ran through; once complete, the orange light on the front continued to flash, highlighting no connection. The set-up process requires you to scan the QR code on the base, enter in device passwords, and then allow the system to save and finish the configuration, after a support call to aid the set-up it had all took considerably longer than I had expected.
The call to support highlighted an issue with the Vodafone SIM that required the APN to be updated manually. In turn, this required me to plug in through a physical network connection to access the on-device admin section.
The APN or Access Point Name, for Vodafone, and this may be the case for some other networks, needed to be entered manually. Essentially, to do this, you need to connect the router directly to your laptop and then enter the IP 192.168.125.1 which will then enable you can access the web portal. Once in there, you can navigate to the Internet Cellular APN section and update the settings with those required for the Vodafone network.
Once this issue was pinpointed, the next steps were relatively simple, and the orange flashing light on the front clicked to white, showing that all was finally connected and working.
Once that initial hurdle was out of the way, I connected the broadband cable and ran through the setup for the wired connection. Again, a few issues took more time and a good read of the instructions to work out.
If you’re going to be setting up this router primarily as either a cellular network router or a broadband router, then during the setup you need to opt for one or the other. While both will work, if you have cellular set as the primary and the network cable connected, even if the SIM loses connection, it won’t then fall back on the wired connection as standard. Likewise, if the wired connection is primary and the SIM secondary and the wired connection goes down, it won’t switch. This is the Failover feature, and it needs to be activated in the admin settings.
In order to make the swap and switch on the key Failover feature, you need to go into the settings, first select the Operational Mode and switch it to Router Mode from Mobile Router Mode, then save those settings and wait for the restart. You then reconnect, go back into the settings, navigate to the Failover Settings, and switch that to Enabled. Wait for those settings to apply, and you’re done.
Then, when you click back on the home screen, you can see the primary internet and cellular network information. Depending on the network SIM you use, the set-up is either extremely straightforward—just pop in the SIM and off you go—or you will need to spend some time with the support chat online to get the correct settings for your mobile provider, as was the case with Vodafone.
So, while the initial set-up can be a little convoluted, the support and live support on the D-Link site are exceptional, and in time, the team at D-Link will hopefully make this process a little smoother.
When it comes to the performance of the D-Link G530, through using wired broadband as the primary connection, the WiFi signal and speed are exceptionally strong, with fast and reliable transfer speeds. Switching over to the Vodafone network, the transfer rates—while obviously far slower—are in line with other mobile routers utilising the same Vodafone SIM and contract.
With standard performance out of the way, the real test here is to check the Failover feature, having the broadband plugged in and the cellular network as the Failover option. As the cable was removed from the wired connection, it took less than a minute for the cellular network to take over. This switch time is impressive, meaning that in real terms, you may see a few seconds of internet downtime before the Failover kicks in, but that’s all.
The other side of the router feature set is the admin area and App that enable you to administer the settings and options. Here, you are able to cap data amounts for those connected and enable different amounts of access to different connected devices or users, including setting up parental controls. These options are easy to navigate and understand.
D-Link G530: Final verdict
The D-Link G530 is a great idea, and once set up, it works extremely well as a cellular router that can be used off-grid, but what really appeals is the fact that you can also use this as a fail-safe for your wired internet connection, making it ideal for security systems. The major sticking point for me was that initial set-up. I’ve looked at plenty of routers over the years, including several cellular examples—but this one stands out for the inclusion of that Failover feature at this price. Here, with the D-Link, the setup process was just a little hit-and-miss, and while the instructions guide you through the process, there are enough holes in the literature to mean that you need to call support for help. The main reason for me was that manual APN details were needed for my Vodafone SIM.
Once you get over that first hurdle, the rest of the process is relatively straightforward, but again, the instructions have been written with a little too much assumed knowledge. While the details are there, you need to go back and forth between connections and settings in order to get the router correctly set up for how you want to use it.
However, once everything was smoothed out—and to be honest, the process as described in the performance section isn’t too difficult once you know what you’re doing—you can progress, and the router puts in a great all-round performance.
As a fail-safe option for the internet that can connect through either wired broadband or a cellular network, with one or the other being used as a Failover, the idea behind the product and its function once set up is good.
If you need internet in a workshop or building that doesn’t have a wired connection, then this is an ideal solution. Or, if you have wired broadband but it’s a little temperamental as mine is, then having that cellular Failover is a great feature.
Should you buy the D-Link G530?
|
Value |
More expensive than standard routers, but with two handy connection options. |
4 / 5 |
|
Design |
The design is simple and stylish, perfect for sitting on a shelf or workshop windowsill. |
4 / 5 |
|
Features |
Packed with features that will definitely appeal to a niche market of adventurers and professionals working away from civilisation. |
4.5 / 5 |
|
Performance |
The initial set-up can cause issues, but once done, the performance and reliability of the connection are superb. |
4 / 5 |
|
Overall |
If you need uninterrupted internet, then this is a great solution once you get through the set-up process. |
4 / 5 |
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
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