D-Link has named its new AC5300 modem/router after the world’s fastest striking snake – the Cobra. The aptly named Cobra also has a boring model name too – DSL-5300
It follows on from the very successful AC3200 Taipan (another snake theme) and there was a Viper and a Python in the mix prior to that.
The snake series are not for ophidiophobics with Chrometophobia (fear of snakes with a propensity to keep the wallet shut). The Cobra is $749.95 so those living at Point Piper need only apply.
So, what do you get for the mega price tag?
- VDSL/ADSL Modem – For universal DSL connectivity in Australia and New Zealand
- NBN/UFB Ready – Ready for all NBN (Australia) and UFB (New Zealand) connections
- Wave 2, MU-MIMO, (Multiuser) Wi-Fi – Sends and receives data to and from devices simultaneously to increase speed and efficiency
- 8 High-Gain Antennas and smart beamforming – Improves coverage by directing bandwidth to your devices as you move around
- Simultaneous Tri-Band – that is one 2.4Ghz (1,000 Mbps) and 2 x 5Ghz (2 x 2167Mbps) which can be aggregated at AC 5300Mbps
- SmartConnect – chooses the best band or bands based on available speed and load
- 8Ghz QuadCore Processor – handles 4K streaming with ease
- 4 x Gigabit Ethernet ports – each 1000Mbps for hard-wired connections
- DNLA enabled (can stream media)
- USB 3.30 and USB 2.0 ports
- Plus, all the usual D-Link software smarts like VPN support, parental controls, Encryption, push-button WPS, and zero configuration for many LAN devices
Trust me – there are none better.
D-Link ANZ MD Graeme Reardon said, “Flowing on from the heritage of our multi-award-winning TAIPAN Modem Router, the COBRA adds even more bite with the latest generation MU-MIMO Wave 2 wireless support and speeds up to 5.3Gbps combined across its three Wi-Fi bands. It has also been designed with the NBN in mind so it’s 100% built for that purpose if required. There’s no compromise of any kind with COBRA.”
Full details at https://www.dlink.com.au/home-solutions/DSL-5300-cobra-ac5300-wave2-wi-fi-modem-router
Who will use it?
If money is not the issue, then anyone who can afford it. With most houses having more than a dozen devices attached and the emergence of 4K TV streaming this is perfect. And as client devices start to approach Gigabit speeds why throttle them with a few hundred Mbps?
In my case, I use the D-Link AC5300 DIR-895L for $699.95 as I don’t need the modem and I have NBN delivered by HFC cable. And if you have a smaller house or apartment you can get AC speed routers and modem routers from $200.
Note: The use of this modem/router will not increase the speed delivered by your ISP but it will use it more efficiently around the home and make on network data transfers much faster.
Hi, I bought a D-Link Cobra dir5300, but this model can not use my HFC type nbn, is that not compatible HFC type nbn? D-lik web say ready for all nbn in Australia. Am I bought a wrong model? Or I need dir985l model?
All NBN HFC cable installations need a separate NBN termination box. Its called an ARRIS box (from memory). That terminates the HFC and provides an Ethernet cable port/connection to your modem’s WAN port. TheNBN termination box comes from your CSP.
So many wrong facts and specs! Choose a different career, because you’re failing at this one!
Hi Bullet. The review was done in November 2017 by respected reviewer Thomas Bartlett (who has since moved on). He normally gets things pretty right. I will fact check as I still use a Cobra to connect to NBN so leave it with me. BUT it would be uber helpful to identify the wrong specs and help all readers.