D-Link EXO AX AX5400 Mesh Wi-Fi 6 DIR-X5460

Lovely router - but does not easily MESH for us with an extender – I installed this router to the NBN modem and love that it is wall mountable for our split level house. That is where my excitement ends with this product. On a side note, all PC reviews rave about this product and how easy it is to use. On initial setup it is fine. Positives -Quick to assemble the first time and quick with internet access to multiple devices -Allows MESH with extenders, but we've not had luck with this yet (negatives below)

Negatives

-It's range is not as expected compared with my old Telstra wall mountable modem. It doesn't reach our top rooms in a split level house. -I tried a system reset and it did not reset easily. The reset had to be done after the DAP-X1860 MESH extender recommended for this router sunk the router's Wi-Fi so we lost the router Wi-Fi completely and access to internet. A bit devastating.

D-link tech support in Singapore were unfortunately unhelpful, as this was apparently something odd. It was not a quick fix.

To fix this router, Telstra Platinum Tech support spent at least 4-5 hours with me (at my cost) with 3 different technicians to remove all traces of the extender and upgrade new firmware to this router and do what felt like 15 or more resets to get the internet working once again (had to reinstall manually with ethernet cables several times).

Hard going for the skilled Telstra technicians and myself to work out the D-link faults and lights. They had to help via PC screen sharing.

One one occasion the techs and I had all lights white on the device but no router Wi-Fi showing on the PC, on another reset we had the power light flashing red constantly indicating a firmware issue (requiring power on and off to finally fix the reset), we did 45 sec resets, 12 sec resets, had the Wi-Fi button flashing orange several times (no Wi-Fi) but ethernet OK, etc.

Trying to add the DAP-X1860 extender kept turning the DIR-X5460 router Wi-Fi off, or the router disappeared completely from all settings including ethernet, so had to again reset the router. A pain. Both are designed to work together.

Hence, we do not know if there is an issue with this router, with the extender, or both. A very expensive exercise to buy two high end D-Link Wi-Fi 6 MESH compatible Mu-Mimo products, have technicians paid to try to reset the router, and still not have items connect... and still not know which one of the two devices do or do not work.

Disappointing as I had high hopes for adding several extenders with this router.

not impressed – I was disappointed with the performance of the router. It was purchased specifically for its reviewed excellent range. Its great if its in line of sight but put it through a couple of walls and it drops out regularly and is no better then ISP provided cheap router it replaced. I don't have any complaints towards the seller except they do not accept returns, they did their bit well but D-Link have made a sexy looking router that does not perform, disappointing.

The pros and their are many are Great Looks, good features, nice build, remote app and more. The cons... Just one, Range and reliable signal. Unfortunately the most important thing for me is a reliable signal not too close to the router. I don't care what it looks like or what whizzbang features it has if I can't get a decent signal into my laptop from my comfy work desk.

My old router was a Telstra Max 2 and I still use it as a modem supplying an internet signal to the D-Link. At times wen I'm getting a very poor signal from the D-Link I turn on the old routers Wi-Fi and it can be as good or better occasionally then the much more expensive D-Link.

I will probably flog the D-Link router soon and get something else but it will definitely not be a D-Link. Also I will only buy from a supplier that will allow me to exchange the router in the case it does not perform well.

I'm reminded that the most popular Fishing Lures made to catch fisherman rather than fish!