D-Link’s next modem router goes for reach with Viper edition

The 802.11n wireless standard has been out so long that most of the gadgets we depend on from day to day operate on it, but there’s a new sheriff in town, and he’s mighty fast on the draw, so to speak.

Unless you haven’t heard, that is the 802.11ac technology, a faster wireless network standard that has been appearing in smartphones and tablets for a year or two now, and is finally making its way into Apple’s iPad and iPhones.

And it’s about time, too, and the right time, even, as companies like D-Link firm up their work and efforts in the 802.11ac space.

For its latest product, D-Link is taking its DSL-2890AL modem router and using the six internal antennas inside the original, but updating the tech with an advanced quality of service technology to distribute connection across more devices.

The technology works off of an AC1300 and N600 combination, making it an AC1900 device, and while it’s not quite as bandwidth friendly as the Netgear Nighthawk, packs in a modem to make it one device for households not keen on relying on two.

“With more and more Wireless AC end-point devices launching onto the market, including Apple’s new iPhone 6 and 6 Plus, consumers require the best and most advanced networking equipment to take advantage of the new applications that these devices are bringing to our everyday lives,” said Graeme Reardon, Managing Director of D-Link in Australia and New Zealand.

“Thanks to the Viper’s blazing fast Wi-Fi speeds and expanded coverage areas, now you can stream multiple High Definition content streams simultaneously to different end point devices around your home, whether these are smart phones, tablets, laptops, desktops or Smart TV’s and Wi-Fi Audio gear.” says Graeme Reardon, Managing Director, D-Link ANZ.

“Online gamers, music lovers and video buffs can expect a dramatically enhanced Wi-Fi signal strength that ensures superior coverage and speed to share and stream content to all corners of their home.”

A modem is built in, connecting to ADSL2 and ADSL2+ connections, and if you’re lucky enough to have support for the National Broadband Network out where you live, there’s a Gigabit port to connect to it which can also be used for regular Gigabit network devices if needed, as well as three others totalling four Gigabit ports.

And there’s even USB 3.0 included, as well as two firewalls, WPA2 encryption support (like most network devices), and even apps to monitor your network devices, but we’re particularly interested by the use of the word “danger” in the information about the Viper modem router.

Yes, we’ve been told it’s a “dangerously superior” device with representatives for the company telling us it is this way because the SmartBeam technology has improved handling of wireless traffic in heavy and congested areas, while the memory has been increased and the processor inside has received an update, too.

Despite these changes, the firmware is pretty much going to be as D-Link wants it, so if you look at the DSL-2900AL Viper as a hackable competitor to the Linksys WRT1900AC, think again, as while they support similar technologies, the firmware is firmly D-Link only, with its people telling us that D-Link will not support it and that it will “void the warranty immediately.”

But if that doesn’t bother you and you’re cool with a D-Link firmware, you’ll find the DSL-2900AL Viper in stores shortly for $379.95.