The D-Link DIR-LX1870 ($129.99) is a Wi-Fi 6 router that uses mesh technology to help eliminate Wi-Fi dead zones in your home. It covers 3,000 feet on its own, and can be expanded with additional units to cover larger areas. The router is easy to install and offers basic parental controls, but its 5GHz throughput and signal strength performance were just okay in testing, and it lacks malware protection. For $20 more, the standalone TP-Link Archer AX50 provides better performance all around and comes with malware protection and strong parental controls, while for $50 more, the older TP-Link Deco M9 Plus mesh system deliver superior performance with 4,500 feet of coverage.
The Start of a Mesh System
The LX-1870 has a matte white mini-tower enclosure that measures 7.6 by 3.9 by 3.9 inches (HWD). It sports a gray plastic grille on top and a tiny LED indicator on the front that flashes orange during setup, glows solid red when the router has lost connectivity, and glows sold white when everything is working properly. Around back are four gigabit LAN ports, a gigabit WAN port, a WPS button, and a power button. There’s a reset button on the base.
The router is powered by a quad-core CPU, 256MB of RAM, and 128MB of flash memory. It’s a dual-band AX1800 device that can hit maximum (theoretical) data rates of 574Mbps on the 2.4GHz radio band and 1,200Mbps on the 5GHz band. It uses four internal antennas to provide coverage for homes of up to 3,000 square feet and supports Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) technology including OFDMA packet transmissions, direct-to-client beamforming, smart band selection, and WPA3 encryption. It also uses D-Link’s EasyMesh technology that allows you to add extra access points to form a scalable mesh network. It doesn’t support 160MHz channel bandwidth or link aggregation, and it lacks USB connectivity.
The LX-1870 lacks the anti-malware tools and rich parental controls that you get with the TP-Link Archer AX50, but it does come with basic parental controls that allow you to create profiles for each member of your family. You can block certain websites and create access schedules, but it lacks the age-based web filters that automatically block access to adult content.
The router can be managed using a web-based console or a mobile app (available for Android and iOS), but only the web console offers advanced settings such as IPv6, Virtual Server, Firewall, and Port Forwarding settings. You also need the console to view system logs and network traffic statistics, and to access the QoS engine where you can use drag and drop to give bandwidth priority to specific clients. You can enable and disable guest networking and turn off internet access for specific clients using Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands, but that’s pretty much all you can do as far as voice commands go.
The mobile app opens to a screen that displays the network name, how many nodes and clients are connected, and the latest SpeedTest internet upload and download speeds. There’s a Test Internet Speed button at the bottom of the screen. Tap the Clients panel to see who is connected and tap any client to view MAC and IP Addresses and to enable parental controls for that client.
Tap the gear icon in the upper right corner to open a dashboard screen with buttons labeled Wizard, Wi-Fi, Internet, Guest Wi-Fi, Clients, Operation, Management, and Cloud Service. The Wizard button is used to set up a new network and the Wi-Fi button opens a screen with Wi-Fi settings such as SSID, password, and encryption type. You can use the Internet button to configure connection type and Primary DNS settings, and the Guest Wi-Fi button enables and disables guest networking. The Parental Control button allows you to create profiles for each family member and block access to specific websites, and the Clients button lets you view client information and enable parental controls. The Operation button lets you switch from Router mode to Extender mode, and the Management button allows you to change passwords, update the firmware, and reboot the router. Lastly, the Cloud service button takes you to a screen where you can register the router with Alexa and Google voice services.
Average Performance
You can install the DIR-LX1870 from your phone using the D-Link Wi-Fi mobile app or from a PC using the web-based console. Either way is relatively fast and easy.
I downloaded the mobile app and tapped Install New Device on the Welcome screen. I scanned the QR code on the base when prompted and selected Set Up As Router. Following the on-screen instructions, I powered down my modem, connected the router to my modem using the included LAN cable, then powered up both the modem and the router. The LED began flashing orange, and after 60 seconds or so the router was ready for pairing. I tapped Next and waited a few seconds for the router to connect, then named the new network and gave it a password. I saved my settings, waited a few seconds for the router to reboot, and the installation was complete.
The LX-1870’s throughput performance was mixed. It turned in an impressive speed of 97Mbps on the 2.4GHz close-proximity (same room) test, coming in just behind our leader, the TP-Link Archer AX50 (109Mbps) and beating the Linksys MR 7350 and the D-Link DIR-X1560 by 22Mbps and 20Mbps, respectively. At a distance of 30 feet, the LX-1870 garnered 40Mbps, once again coming in just behind the TP-Link Archer AX50 (42Mbps) while besting the Linksys MR 7350 (27Mbps) and the D-Link DIR-X1560 (38Mbps).
Performance on the 5GHz band wasn’t quite as favorable. The LX-1870’s speed of 569Mbps on the close-proximity was the slowest of the pack; the TP-Link Archer scored 689Mbps, the Linksys MR7350 turned in 662Mbps, and the D-Link DIR-X1560 came out on top with 712Mbps. The LX-1870’s speed of 200Mbps on the 30-foot test was just a hair slower than the Linksys MR 7350 (201Mbps) and the D-Link DIR-X1560 (207Mbps). The TP-Link Archer AX50 led with a speed of 231Mbps.
We use an Ekahau Sidekick Wi-Fi diagnostic device and Ekahau’s Survey mobile app to test router signal strength and to generate heat maps that show the router’s 2.4GHz and 5GHz signal strength throughout our test home. (Note: Ekahau is owned by J2 Global, the parent company of Ziff Davis, the publisher of PCMag.com.)
The circle on the heat map represents the location of the router, and the colors represent signal strength. Dark green indicates the strongest signal, yellow is weaker, and gray indicates no measurable signal reception. As illustrated in both maps, signal strength deteriorated as I moved farther away from the router, and was particularly weak in parts of the den and garage. Moreover, there were parts of the den and kitchen where there was no measurable signal.
Relatively Affordable, But Not the Strongest Value
If you’re looking for a Wi-Fi 6 router that you can press into service as a mesh system when you’re ready to expand your wireless network, the D-Link DIR-LX1870 is a decent option for the price. It’s easy to install, offers basic parental controls, and delivered solid 2.4GHz throughput scores in testing. That said, its 5GHz performance was middling, and it had trouble maintaining a strong signal throughout our test home. You’ll pay a few bucks more for our Editors’ Choice winner for midrange Wi-Fi 6 routers, the TP-Link Archer X50, but you’ll get better overall performance as well as link aggregation, robust parental controls, and malware protection. And if you need a mesh system, TP-Link’s Deco M9 delivers stronger performance for not much more money.
