您是否需要价格低于 40 美元的无线路由器？(wireless router)您是否希望它是双频的，并支持非常快速的 802.11ac 等现代标准？您是否希望它体积小、没有外部天线并且看起来不错？那么，D-Link DIR-820L 版本(D-Link DIR-820L revision)B1 可能是一个不错的选择。我们已经在我们通常的测试公寓中测试了这个(test apartment)无线路由器(wireless router)一周，这就是我们所了解到的：
拆箱D-Link DIR-820L 无线 AC1200 双频云路由器(D-Link DIR-820L Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Cloud Router)
D-Link DIR-820L双频无线路由器(band wireless router)的包装简单明了：在包装盒的正面，您有一张设备图片和一个包含其最重要功能的列表。
在侧面，您将找到这款无线路由器(wireless router)的详细规格（我们还将在下一节中进行回顾）以及对其每个主要功能的深入介绍。
在包装内您会发现以下元素：路由器本身、以太网网(Ethernet network)线、电源适配器(power adapter)、快速安装指南(install guide)、Wi-Fi配置卡(configuration card)（包含D-Link DIR(D-Link DIR-820L)广播的默认无线网络的详细信息(default wireless)-820L )、保修和其他宣传单。
了解了开箱体验之后，我们就来看看D-Link DIR-820L无线(DIR-820L wireless)路由器在硬件规格和设计方面的表现。
硬件规格和设计
不幸的是，很难找到关于D-Link DIR-820L 路由器的非常清晰的(D-Link DIR-820L router)硬件信息(hardware information)。它似乎使用了集成的Realtek RTL8197D 片上系统(Realtek RTL8197D System-on-a-Chip)( SoC )，其中包括一个运行频率为 500 (SoC)MHZ至 660 MHz的单核处理器，它具有 64 MB 的RAM 内存(RAM memory)和 8 MB 的固件闪存. 但是，我们不能 100% 确定，因为我们已经在网上测试了这款路由器的B1 硬件(B1 hardware)版本，您能找到的信息很少是关于A1 版本(A1 version)的，它比 B1 早一年。如您所见，D-Link DIR-820L采用一体成型设计，没有外接天线。它呈圆形(round shape)，正面只有两个LED(LEDs)：一个告诉您路由器是否已打开，另一个指示互联网连接(internet connection)是否正常。在背面，您可以找到一个USB 2.0端口、WPS 按钮(WPS button)、四个最高速度为 100Mbps（不是 1 Gbps ）的(Gbps)以太网(Ethernet)端口、用于将路由器连接到互联网的端口、电源按钮(Power button)和电源端口(Power port).
在路由器的底部，您有三个橡胶支脚，可帮助路由器(router stay)在放置它的表面上保持稳定，重置按钮(Reset button)和两个带有插槽的安装孔，允许您使用适合孔的螺钉。
在无线网络(wireless networking)标准方面，D-Link DIR-820L支持所有现代标准，包括IEEE 802.11ac和IEEE 802.11n。这款双频路由器(band router)的总带宽为 950 Mbps（制造商将其四舍五入为 1000 Mbps），拆分如下：2.4 GHz 频率最高 300 (GHz frequency)Mbps，5 GHz 频率(GHz frequency)最高 650 Mbps。
在尺寸方面，路由器具有以下尺寸：4.37 x 3.66 x 5.71 英寸或 11.09 x 9.2 x 14.5 厘米。路由器非常轻巧，重 1.32 磅或 602 克。对某些用户来说很重要的一项功能是 VPN：D-Link DIR-820L允许VPN 通过(VPN pass)，但不能用作VPN 服务器(VPN server)。但在本次审查的稍后部分会对此进行更多介绍。
如果您对这款无线路由器(wireless router)的官方规格感兴趣，请访问其官网：D-Link DIR-820L无线AC1200双频云路由器(D-Link DIR-820L Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Cloud Router)。
设置和使用D-Link DIR-820L 无线 AC1200 双频云路由器(D-Link DIR-820L Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Cloud Router)
该无线路由器(wireless router)的设置与其他路由器的设置类似，但是随着步骤的增加，执行的时间会更长。当您加载D-Link 设置(D-Link setup)向导时，您可以选择用户界面的语言：您可以在 23 种语言之间进行选择，非常棒。
然后，要求您将以太网电缆(Ethernet cable)的一端插入路由器背面标有INTERNET的端口，另一端插入您的(INTERNET)Internet 服务提供商(Internet Service Provider)( ISP )提供的调制解调器的以太网端口。(Ethernet port)然后会检测您的 Internet 连接类型，并且可能会要求您输入必要的连接详细信息。接下来(Next)，您将配置无线路由器(wireless router)广播的无线网络的名称和密码(name and password)。我们建议您对它们进行个性化设置并进入下一步。
一个非常受欢迎的安全预防措施(security precaution)是D-Link要求您为路由器设置管理密码(administration password)。请(Please)使用强密码，而不是像“admin”这样容易猜到的密码。此外，最好启用图形身份验证，这基本上是登录屏幕上(login screen)显示的验证码。它将保护您的路由器免受试图破解它的机器人/脚本的侵害。
在设置向导(setup wizard)的接下来几个步骤中，您选择您的时区，确认您的 Wi-Fi 设置，然后您注册或使用您的Mydlink 帐户(Mydlink account)登录。此帐户允许您通过mydlink.com 网站(mydlink.com website)和移动应用程序远程监控和管理您的网络。
完成初始配置后，使用您之前设置的密码登录管理用户界面，然后继续配置您的路由器。
如果您想更好地控制网络的工作方式，您应该摆弄所有可用的设置。起初，设置方面似乎太多了。不幸的是，情况并非总是如此。
对于某些事情，例如设置端口转发(port forwarding)，您拥有所需的一切，而对于其他事情，例如详细配置无线网络的广播方式，则没有足够的设置。例如，您不能设置用于每个网络的通道，也不能设置其标准或加密类型(standard or encryption type)。
我们发现管理用户界面相当陈旧且繁琐。如果您不是技术人员，这会让人感到不知所措，并且某些设置很难理解。如果您真的想配置此路由器必须提供的所有内容，则必须查阅它必须提供的技术文档。在我们设法配置D-Link DIR-820L 无线(D-Link DIR-820L wireless)路由器的工作方式后，我们开始将我们的计算机和设备连接到它：计算机、平板电脑、智能手机、无线打印机和控制台。我们没有连接问题，也没有稳定性问题，除了在一个信号非常微弱的房间里。在本评论的下一部分中对此进行了更多详细说明。
如果您想了解D-Link DIR-820L 无线(D-Link DIR-820L wireless)路由器的性能、与其他路由器的比较以及我们的判断，请使用下面的按钮转到本评论的下一页。
Reviewing the D-Link DIR-820L dual band router - Wi-Fi on the cheap!
Do you neеd a wireless router that costs less than 40 bucks? Do you want it to be dual-band, with support for modern standards like the very fast 802.11ac? Do you want it to be small, without externаl antennaѕ and to look good? Then, D-Link DIR-820L revision B1 might be a good choice. We have tested this wireless router for a week, in our usual test apartment аnd this is what we have learned about it:
Unboxing the D-Link DIR-820L Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Cloud Router
The packaging for the D-Link DIR-820L dual band wireless router is simple and straightforward: on the front of the box you have a picture of the device and a list with its most important features.
On the sides you will find the detailed specifications of this wireless router (which we will also review in the next section) and an in-depth presentation of each of its main features.
Inside the package you will find the following elements: the router itself, an Ethernet network cable, the power adapter, the quick install guide, the Wi-Fi configuration card (with details about the default wireless networks that are broadcast by D-Link DIR-820L), the warranty and other leaflets.
Now that you know about the unboxing experience, let's take a look at what the D-Link DIR-820L wireless router has to offer in terms of hardware specifications and design.
Hardware specifications and design
Unfortunately it is hard to find very clear hardware information about the D-Link DIR-820L router. It seems that it uses an integrated Realtek RTL8197D System-on-a-Chip (SoC) which includes a single-core processor running at 500 MHZ to 660 MHz, it has 64 MB of RAM memory and 8 MB of flash storage for the firmware. However, we're not 100% sure as we have tested the B1 hardware revision of this router while on the web, the little information that you can find is about the A1 version, which is a year older than B1. As you can see, D-Link DIR-820L has a unibody design, with no external antennas. It has a round shape with only two LEDs on the front: one which tells you whether the router is turned on and another which indicates whether the internet connection is working. On the back side you can find one USB 2.0 port, the WPS button, four Ethernet ports which work at a maximum speed of 100Mbps (not 1 Gbps), the port for connecting the router to the internet, the Power button and the Power port.
On the bottom of the router you have three rubber feet that help the router stay stable on the surface you place it on, the Reset button and two mounting holes with slots that allow you to use screws that will fit in the holes.
In terms of wireless networking standards, D-Link DIR-820L offers support for all the modern standards, including IEEE 802.11ac and IEEE 802.11n. The total bandwidth of this dual band router is 950 Mbps (the manufacturer rounds it to 1000 Mbps), split as follows: a maximum of 300 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz frequency and a maximum of 650 Mbps for the 5 GHz frequency.
When it comes to size, the router has the following dimensions: 4.37 x 3.66 x 5.71 inches or 11.09 x 9.2 x 14.5 centimeters. The router is very light, weighing 1.32 pounds or 602 grams. One feature that is important to some users is VPN: D-Link DIR-820L allows VPN pass through but it cannot work as a VPN server. But more on that later in this review.
If you are interested in the official specifications of this wireless router, visit its official webpage: D-Link DIR-820L Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Cloud Router.
Setting up and using the D-Link DIR-820L Wireless AC1200 Dual Band Cloud Router
The setup of this wireless router is similar to that of other routers, however it takes longer to perform as it goes through more steps. When you load the D-Link setup wizard, you can choose the language for the user interface: you can choose between 23 languages, which is great.
Then, you are asked to plug one end of the Ethernet cable into the port labeled INTERNET on the back of the router and the other end into the Ethernet port of the modem that is provided by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). The type of your internet connection is then detected and you may be asked to enter the necessary connection details. Next, you get to configure the name and password for the wireless networks that are broadcast by the wireless router. We recommend that you personalize them and go to the next step.
A very welcome security precaution is that D-Link asks you to set the administration password for your router. Please use a strong password and not something easily guessed like "admin". Also, it's a good idea to enable the graphical authentication which is basically a captcha that is shown on the login screen. It will protect your router from bots/scripts that try to hack it.
In the next couple of steps in the setup wizard, you select your timezone, confirm your Wi-Fi settings and then you register or sign in with your Mydlink account. This account allows you to remotely monitor and manage your network through the mydlink.com website and mobile app.
Once the initial configuration is done, log in to the administration user interface using the password that you set earlier and then continue configuring your router.
If you want more control over how your network works, you should fiddle with all the available settings. At first, it might seem that there's too much in terms of settings. Unfortunately that is not always the case.
For some things, like setting up port forwarding, you have everything you need, while for other things, like configuring in detail how your wireless networks are broadcast, there are not enough settings. For example, you can't set the channel that is used for each network, nor its standard or encryption type.
We've found the administration user interface quite dated and cumbersome. It feels overwhelming and some settings are difficult to understand if you are not a technical person. If you really want to configure everything this router has to offer, you must consult the technical documentation that it has to offer. After we managed to configure how the D-Link DIR-820L wireless router works, we started connecting our computers and devices to it: computers, tablets, smartphones, wireless printers and consoles. We have no connectivity issues and no stability issues, except in one room where the signal was very weak. More details on that in the next section of this review.
If you want to learn how well the D-Link DIR-820L wireless router performs, how it compares to other routers and our verdict, go to the next page of this review using the buttons below.
