Pros: Most features.

Cons: The DLNA feature is useless!
It can act as a DLNA server, but the feature is completely useless.

The DLink site does indicate that the DLNA feature is coming on a future firmware upgrade. Other reviewers had noted that it was already on the device, though I'm sure none tried to use it. So, I called DLink prior to purchasing the device and got confirmation that the DLNA server feature was in fact active. Well, it's not, at least not in any usable way.

After purchasing this device, I set it up and connected a flash drive with a sampling of audio and video media. I was able to play my FLAC files in the car, and my kids were able to stream movies, all via the 510L'S DLNA server.

But, when I went back to the device, I realized that each time you either remove and reconnect the media or turn the device off and back on, it removes the index it had previously built, and begins indexing the media from scratch.
The only control over the DLNA server provided in the admin interface is to name it and turn it on and off. I installed the recent firmware release hoping to see some added control over the indexing, but nothing.

This makes the DLNA server useless for a mobile device. Think about it, if the power goes out in my house in the middle of the night or while I'm at work, and my home router has to reboot, and re-index, then more than likely by the time I wake up or get home, the re-indexing will have taken place and I'm good to go. Generally, no problem.

But if I turn the device on when I start my car, and want to listen to music on the way to work, how am I going to be able to do that if the existing index is tossed out, and it begins from scratch re-indexing. Right now it's indexing pretty slowing, but no matter how fast they get the indexing to work, it's not going to get through my entire collection in a few minutes. As it is currently indexing, it might take, let's say, 3 hours. But even if they reduce it to 30 minutes, I'm still at work before all of my content is available to me.

It's a mobile device, but the feature requires that it be left on at all times in order to be usable.

It's not as if it would require any serious logic to provide some re-indexing control in the interface. The index is written to the media, not built in memory, so it's still there when the device is turned back on, and it's there when the media is plugged back in.

DLink just took this off of some other device and put no thought into it. Tried to get DLink interested, but couldn’t get anything more than “thanks for the info” from tech support.
I'm really disappointed in this company. They put out a product with a feature without putting any thought at all into it. It's a shame, really, because I really like this device. It does most things well. The interface is functional and relatively well designed. But this DLNA limitation brings it from a 5 to a 1 for me.

Pros: Exchanged my DIR-510L for a new one. Used it on one trip so far. Unlike my first device, this one works reliably as a wireless router so far.

Cons: Though my new device maintains the wireless connectivity, the device transitioned twice to the solid red LED indicator status identifying the device as defective. When in this state, the management interface is not available and a reboot is to required to activate the URL again. This is not a big deal for me so far but having the device declare itself defective twice in three days is not what I expected. However so far, so good however if the red LED indicator returns, I plan to call the tech support line.

Other Thoughts: On my prior review, the manufacturer asked me to reset the device and update the device to the latest firmware. I had taken both of those steps already. I updated the new device to the latest firmware during my first power on and configuration session.

Pros: Nice device when it is working.

Cons: Highly unreliable as a hot spot sharing a wifi or wired internet connection to one or two devices. Often requires multiple attempts to boot up. Often shuts down when first device attempts to connect. Rarely works correctly for more than 20 minutes without either shutting down the link and requiring a reboot (solid amber light) or shutting down access to the device and showing defective device mode (solid red light). I'm a big D-Link fan but this device does not perform like the many other D-Link devices I own.

Other Thoughts: I suspect I have a defective device but if not, then this device is useful only as a recharger for mobile devices and there are much cheaper recharger options available. I have tested it on my home wifi and on hotel wifi and ethernet to provide wifi connectivity for my laptop and phone and my experience in both cases is the same.

Manufacturer Response:

We want to thank you for the feedback as we truly value the input and we are sorry to hear that you are encountering issues with the product. D-Link advises that you factory reset the product and then download and install the latest firmware from www.support.dlink.com. If that does not resolve your problem feel free to contact our technical support team for assistance by calling 1-877-453-5465. Thank you for choosing D-Link.

Pros: Fairly simplistic setup. It may not be super easy for non-techies, but if you know your way around a router, this should be no problem for you. Speeds were not an issue, and it does do what Dlink says it does and it does it well.

Cons: The interface is VERY simplistic. There are not many options and sometimes its hard to diagnose if there are problems. I am not going to blame the router just yet until i have more time with it but I was having issues with dropped connections on my last trip. I don't know if it was the router or the hotel, but the router gives me nothing to troubleshoot other than an 'X' or an exclamation.

Other Thoughts: Would like to see some more effort put into the firmware, it support VPN connections, and other features. However, for a travel router, battery and media server with AC connectivity. Its hard to pass up.

Manufacturer Response:

We appreciate the feedback and are happy to hear that you are satisfied with your purchase. We will pass on the information you have provided to our Product Management team for consideration. If you happen to run into any issues feel free to contact us by calling 1-877-453-5465 or by visiting www.support.dlink.com. We thank you for being a D-Link customer.