Customer Reviews

D-Link DAP-1350 Wireless-N Pocket Router

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I've been looking for something like this for a long time, something to carry in my laptop bag when I travel and something to carry in my IT toolkit.

This device has 3 operational modes with different uses. I wouldn't recommend this device unless you need to switch between these modes with the same device, but that feature has good uses.

There is a Client mode. This will allow you to join the device to a wireless network, and bridge it to the ethernet port. This means you can connect a wired device to a wireless network. The downside to this mode is that one must first manually configure an IP address in the subnet of the Dlink default IP (192.168.1.50) so one can get to the configuration, then reset their IP back to dynamic or an IP in the wireless network you're connecting to.

This is useful for when someone moves a wired only computer or printer where there isn't a wire yet, and you need to just get it working for a while until the cabling happens or a more permanant device is ordered. You can also use it to connect your Xbox over at a friend's house. They may have wireless, you may have wired like in my case. Just configure it for their network and plug it into your xbox and bring it over. There's other potential uses for this mode too.


There is a Router mode. This will let you share an internet connection on the wired port with wireless devices. This puts them behind a NAT router as well, with all the usual settings. This is the easiest to setup and understand, just like your typical router but missing wired ports. You can get in on the default dlink wireless network, go to the default IP (192.168.1.50) and then change any settings, setup security, setup a static WAN address etc.

This is useful for when you want to share a dsl modem with a group of laptops, or join a laptop to a wired network but have it behind the NAT firewall, isolating it from incoming access from that network. I really won't use this option much, but as an IT guy, it's helpful to have in my laptop bag a spare router that could be setup for wireless clients in a pinch.

There is a Access Point mode. This will let you bridge a wired network into a wireless network. This bypasses any firewall/router and will share the wired network's DHCP and all that. This works out of the box with no configuration, but I'd recommend connecting to the wired port with a static ip to connect to the 192.168.1.50 and changing the name/setting up security. You don't want to have rogue access points allowing people unsecured access to your wired network usually, even temporarily.

This is the most useful mode for me. You can use this at locations that don't have a wireless. Just plug it in, and then you can connect your laptop and roam around without having to cable your laptop in. You can connect multiple devices as well. This is good for taking a hotel with a poor or no wireless connection but a wired one, and still using your iPhone/Android wifi for example. Most of my clients don't use wireless on the corporate lan, so I can use this to jack in and use my tablet without dragging the cord around.


It comes with a nice zipper case for cables, AC adapter and the device, though it is slightly larger than it needs to be.

It has a USB cord to power the device off the laptop instead of the AC adapter, but it seems like the range is reduced in this mode.

The range isn't as good as a larger wireless N device with larger antenna (internal or external)

There is no antenna jack for an external antenna.

There is a USB port to share with the Shareport utility or use a 3G modem with it, only in router mode.

Each mode switch has it's own config, passwords, defaults and so on. I suggest using a labelmaker to record the important settings on the device for each switch mode if they are changed.

It supports WPS and has a WPS button even, but I didn't test that since I dislike automagic wizards.



The only way I can imagine this being improved is the external antenna jack, a second LAN port for LAN router mode and maybe a battery (ala mifi devices) to run for a few hours without having to find a power cord.

Bought a couple of these a few months ago for use on work computers that were Ethernet capable only...problem is that most hotels are wireless only. In bridge/adapter mode, these convert the wireless signal to Ethernet and problem was solved. Also use it to connect my satellite TV receiver to my wireless network for ordering movies vice running cables across the room...3 position switch makes it easy to switch modes and share an internet connection with others.

I used this Link when I travel to be able to connect my Ipad in hotels without WiFi. The setup was easy, I just plugged it in. Tried it in several hotels around China, it worked EVERYTIME!

In this day and age, most hotels and motels offer free Wi-Fi in the room and in the lobby. But there are still some that just have an Ethernet cable sticking out of the wall and do not have Wi-Fi signal in the guest rooms.

This pocket router can convert a wired connection to wireless (This adding Wi-Fi/wireless to an existing wired network is called the Access Point Mode), so that I can use all my wireless gadgets in my room. I can add encryption (use WPA or WPA2 for better security) to the Wi-Fi signal, so it is actually better than the open Wi-Fi signal offered by hotels. The Access Point Mode is the configuration in which most people will use.

The Wireless Client Mode does the reverse. It converts a wireless signal to a wired connection. Older computers and many game consoles do not have wireless capability. In an area where you only have wireless signal but no Ethernet (wired) network, you can use this pocket router to grab the wireless signal, convert it, then send it through the router's Ethernet port to your device. An example would be using an old Sony PS3 to play online games in a hotel room that has only Wi-Fi but no Ethernet cable.

The Router Mode is less useful for an end user, because in most situations, there is already a router in an existing network, and therefore there is no need to add another one.

I have only used this DLink in the Access Point Mode and it is fast and safe.

The router is great! Easy to use and no setup necessary. I have traveled all over the world with this product and it has worked perfectly every time.

Setting up personal networks baffle me; By now I expect something to be basically plug it in and away you go. If I buy it and it isn't it goes back to the store. Forget the toll free number. Forget the call a friend. Forget the service guy. For 60 some bucks it works or it doesn't.

So enter the D-Link DAP-1350. D-Link never says 'easy' on the box but I needed a solution for the office so I bought it. The unit is small yes BUT when combined with the external power supply it is a pouch of proportion - not epic proportion but proportion.

I use a wired network at the office. However I wanted something to tap into that network and provide a secure wireless access point for my smartphone and tablet. The DAP-1350 has three modes - router, access point and something else I will not use in my lifetime - so I haven't bothered with it. I found the three modes confusing so I watched a YouTube presentation on the device which clarified things immensely. I toggled the DAP-1350 to the Access Point position and lit it up. My laptop saw it instantly and Windows 7 asked if I wanted to establish a secure network. I clicked absolutely - it asked me for a name, then I was asked to enter a WPS PIN number for security and I was up and running securely. Amazing. It also shot a code (not the PIN) at me to connect wireless devices to the network.

When I travel I will flick the switch to Router and use it for wireless connectivity when there is only in-room wired Ethernet.

I looked at routers where you can plug a 3G fob into them and you are wireless via a cell phone connection but this type of connection is expensive and I have found unreliable especially in South America.

All in all the DAP-1350 is perfect for my uses and is a fine addition to my travel bag.

This wireless N router is pretty easy to set up with three versatile operation modes which could be switched easily for different applications. The unit is very light weight and compact which is great for traveling uses. It comes with a folded setup guide with very clear instructions for its initial set up (ie creating its IP address for configurating the device). Once the initial setup is completed, you can then choose to setup one of the three modes of operations (Router, AP, and Wireless client mode) by sliding the mode selection switch to the proper position. The setup CD which comes with the package also contains very detailed technical setup and debug information for the more advanced users.

This portable device is particularly useful for traveling as we can create our own wireless network by connecting to an existing Ethernet connection (in an office, home, or hotel). I was able to set up these modes (router or AP)with an existing Ethernet connection and get the wireless network going within 5 minutes. The AP mode uses the default WPA (Wi-Fi Protected Access) protocol with a 128 bit encryption for secure access.

The wireless client mode is pretty neat for connecting an existing wireless network to either a Wii game console, a desktop PC, a DVR player, or a Slingbox. The only drawback is that it only comes with one physical Ethernet port so we can only hook it up to one device at a time.

Highly recommended if you are a frequent traveler who needs expanded access to your portable wireless devices.

I've had one of these since the first pocket version was released and sold for over $200. I've used it for years and it's been something I've been really happy to have. Not only is it useful in hotel rooms where I've got devices that need wireless, it's been helpful at various consulting gigs and client sites. It's also been handy for use at home when other equipment failed.

D-Link makes this router in a nice carrying case; it is easy to throw in an equipment bag or suitcase.

This new N version offers a nice upgrade. It can be used as always as a wireless router (which can give you several wireless connections off one connection in a hotel room). It can be used as a wireless access point, and the new very handy upgrade is the ability to bridge from a wireless to a wired network. This means you can connect something like a game machine with no wireless to a wireless network. Or, in a hotel with wireless only, you can connect the wireless back to a hub. Or, if you have a 3G or 4G card you can use it to bridge your home network if your ISP goes down.

This is one of my favorite and most used gadgets.

I purchased this router because I had a previous "G" class D-Link travel router and it worked fairly well. I wanted the range available with "N" class routers. This one did not disappoint. It works great and services several devices at the same time. I've tested it at home, replacing my home router. I have 3 PCs, 2 iPhones, and an iPad. This router handles all of them at the same time and has range nearly as good as most full size home routers.

This D-Link pocket router has three modes (functions): 1. router, 2. access point, 3. wi-fi client. There is a small hardware switch you must use manually to set the mode; some other routers, like one from Asus I bought last year, uses the web interface to set the mode.

In the router mode, the DAP-1350 takes network signal from a modem and allows you to connect via Ethernet. In access point mode, it takes network signal from a modem and broadcasts it in wi-fi g or n mode. (802.11g is the standard nowadays, as almost all devices can understand it, whereas 802.11n is getting more popular.) In wi-fi client mode, the DAP-1350 acts as a wi-fi receiver and you can, for example, run a cable from the DAP-1350 to a device that does not have built-in wi-fi but now can get the network signal from the DAP-1350 which takes in the wi-fi signal. (My Asus has one more function: bridge mode, which works in some LAN configurations.)

Anyway, I found the DAP-1350 exceedingly difficult to configure. Not only do you have to remember to set the mode manually, but getting it to remember my wi-fi settings was very painful to do. I have a DSL modem at home, and the modem already has an access point function built-in which cannot be turned off. The modem's AP often acts up, refusing to allow my devices to connect! So I thought I could use the DAP-1350 as an additioal AP, but no matter what I tried, I ~never~ got it to work! The instructions are poorly written, probably poorly written in its native language to begin with, and then even more poorly translated into English!

So I gave up and decided to use it as a wi-fi receiver so I could use it on my Ethernet-only Panasonic BLURAY player. Setting up the client mode was another challenge, and at first it simply did not work. AFter numerous resets (on the Dlink, not my BLURAY player!) and I swear just by luck (!), I got it to work, but the download speed was miserably slow. Sometimes it would lose connection, too!

I cannot recommend this pocket router. The popular pocket routers from Asus are more reliable, if not entirely error-free either. At least they seem to work better than this DAP-1350.