Suppose you are using mobile data and you are in an area with good coverage near a cell tower. Then you probably have fast and reliable mobile internet. But what if you live or play on the edge of mobile coverage and want to improve your reception for mobile data and possibly voice communications?
This review looks at the D-Link Eagle Pro AI G415 4G smart Wi-Fi router, but with a twist. We’ll look at how you can customize this product as an alternative to other comparable 4G-enabled routers for up to 3 times the price.
Details: D-Link Eagle Pro AI G415 4G Smart Router
| Price (RRP) | €299.95 |
| Website | D-Link Australia |
| From | Leading Retailers |
| Guarantee | 12 months 24/7 |
| Instruction manual | User manual† video |
| Country of manufacture | Taiwan |
| About | D-Link is a global leader in the design and development of network and connectivity products for consumers, small businesses, medium to large enterprises and service providers. From relatively humble beginnings in Taiwan, since 1986 the company has grown into an award-winning global brand with more than 2,000 employees in 60 countries. |
The G415 is part of the D-Link family of Eagle Pro AI Wi-Fi routers and can be combined with other Eagle Pro routers and range extenders to form a Mesh Wi-Fi network.
A Mesh Router allows you to extend your Wi-Fi signal using repeater stations (also known as access points). A mesh router also keeps the same network name, which means that as you walk around your house, much like a cell phone network, your devices will switch seamlessly between one repeater station and another. At GadgetGuy, we’ve found that mesh networks are the best option for sharing Wi-Fi in a larger home, with fewer black spots and faster Wi-Fi speeds in all your rooms.
Multifunction Router
The G415 can be used in one of 3 modes: the first is as a WiFi router with 4G backup. Then it can function as a 4G hotspot router. Finally, it is a previously mentioned Mesh extender, which extends the Wi-Fi network of another Eagle pro router.
Let’s get into the first mode. As a WiFi router, this product connects to your NBN modem and provides a cost-effective home network with the latest Wi-Fi 6 technology. The latest Wi-Fi 6 standard delivers faster data throughput, greater coverage, support for more devices, and better security. An additional advantage is that you can place a SIM card in the router. If your NBN connection goes down, you can still access the internet on the 4G mobile network. This is great for small businesses, work-from-home professionals, and households with teens. Please note that the SIM card must be paid for or bundled with your NBN subscription.
Subsequently, the G415 as a stand-alone 4G (and 3G) router does not depend on an NBN connection. Instead, it uses a completely independent 4G cellular connection, so you can take the router anywhere you have power and cell phone coverage. You can then create an internet hotspot for your devices at a vacation home, RV or short stay. The router has 4G LTE Cat4 capability, so it can handle speeds up to 150Mbps (which is 3x the standard 50Mbps NBN speed). It can also connect to 3G when no 4G signal is available.
Finally, while you only get the single unit in the package, the G415 can connect to other compatible D-Link Mesh Wi-Fi access and function as the main router in a Mesh network. This is a useful feature if you want to extend your network coverage to cover a larger area at a later date.
D-Link G415 . Features
Other features of the G415 include 3 Gigabit Ethernet ports that allow you to directly connect 4K TVs, game consoles, external storage or just a printer.
The artificial intelligence built into the router optimizes the Wi-Fi channels so you don’t compete with your neighbors’ traffic. The type of traffic on your network is also prioritized based on bandwidth needs, so video calls and streaming run without lag (depending on your home’s total available bandwidth).
You can set up a guest network to keep visitors separate from your devices and information. You can also limit the speed of the guests to keep the best performance for yourself. There’s a QR code for guests to scan, making connecting to your network super easy.
With the Eagle Pro AI app for your smartphone, you can customize your settings, receive notifications and usage reports, and access enhanced parental controls such as bedtime schedules and blocking certain sites.
Turning your G415 into a superstar with poor coverage
The G415 has four key features that provide opportunities for those looking to roam Australia while staying connected to mobile internet.
- The G415 runs on either 240 or 12 volts, meaning you can power it from a vehicle. (This requires an extra cigarette cable.)
- The device comes with 2 reasonable 4G antennas
- The device has a 4-step LED 4G signal indicator
- The antenna connections on the back of the device are SMA male plugs and can accept other antennas with higher gain
As a result, the G415’s ability to transmit and receive 3G or 4G is superior to a cell phone or other 4G hotspot/router without external antennas.
To further increase the range, you can purchase high-gain antennas (discussed below) that can significantly improve your reception quality and internet speed.
If you’re wondering if you have reception, the LED signal indicator will clearly show you if you have it and at what strength. This is especially useful if you are using a high gain directional antenna that needs to be pointed at the nearest cell tower. (Turn the antenna until the signal strength is maximized.)
And with a purchase of $12.95 Cigarette Lighter Adapter Cableyou can power the G415 from your car, 4WD or caravan.
Long-distance connectivity up to a third of the price
GadgetGuy recently published a Caravanner’s Guide to Connecting to the Internet Anywhere† We’ve specified several internet connectivity options, including satellite, Cel-fi, and a specialized 4G router solution, all of which will set you back between $1,000 and $2,000. However, if you use the D-Link G415 4G smart router† we bundled a similar high-gain package for just $637, which is up to a third of the price. This includes:
This solution allows the antenna to be raised up to 4.5m above the ground and, with an 11dBi gain directional antenna, maximize your chance of receiving a signal. (This allows you to have coverage up to 35 km from a cell tower.)
For those who want to know more, you can further improve reception by using an omnidirectional antenna.
Omnidirectional means the antenna does not need to be pointed to get coverage and ideal for mounting on a vehicle that moves. Here are a few examples:
Look out for a future GadgetGuy article reviewing RFI antennas, including the new 5G antennas, which support 5G, 4G and 3G signals on all Australian cellular frequencies.
Real-world tests with RFI antenna
For testing we use a Circles.Life SIM card that has access to 100% of the Optus network. (Circles.Life offers a 100GB plan for $45 per month.)
| Signal strength | Internet speed down | Internet speed up | |
| G415 antennas (included) | -73dBm | 19.4Mbps | 3.8Mbps |
| No antennas | -95dBm | 1.7Mbps | 0.2Mbps |
| RFI Directional Antenna | -67dBm | 33.8Mbps | 4.5Mbps |
| RFI omni-directional antenna | -63dBm | 56.9 MBs | 4.9Mbps |
| Smartphone only (not G415) | -102dBm | 104Mbps | 5.79Mbps |
There are so many factors that affect this test, so our only real yardstick is to compare the relative numbers. To stream Netflix or make a video call, you want a download speed of at least 15 Mbps.
The cell phone test was a surprise because it had the worst signal strength but the fastest internet speed. We attribute this to a more expensive processor, which was confirmed by D-Link when we asked about it. We expect the cell phone to lose coverage long before the external antenna solutions are in poor range areas.
Testing of various antenna solutions on the G415 went as expected. (Note: You will need two antennas or one with two antenna cable inputs. Only two antennas will give you the faster internet speeds.) The higher the -11dBm directional gain antenna, the better the signal strength and the faster the internet speed. Better signal strength is measured as the higher number, so -61dBm is better than -73dBm. We also expect the directional antenna to perform best when further away from a cell tower. We have not measured signal strengths at different distances in this review.
If your smartphone no longer has range and supports calling via WiFi. You can use the G415 Wi-Fi, assuming it has a 3/4G connection, to still make and receive cellular calls from your smartphone.
GadgetGuy’s take
This router is a great solution for caravaners and travelers right out of the box. Likewise, suppose you have poor cell phone coverage and inferior internet. In that case, this can be an economical solution to solve your connectivity by improving your 4G reception.
Alternatively, those with good NBN internet may want extra peace of mind as the G415 can switch to 4G data as a backup if the NBN connection goes down.
At this price, it has the latest technology, including Wi-Fi 6 and Mesh support, keeping you future-proof for now. The device is easy to set up and using it as a 4G router is as simple as inserting a SIM card and turning it on.
We really like the ability to use this router in a travel environment or alternatively improve poor coverage by adding external antennas.
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