Home > Consumer Reviews > D-Link DSS-5+ 5-Port 10/100 Switch, Desktop

I have been replacing my ethernet hubs with switches (because the throughput on a switch is much better than on a hub). After extensive review, I decided to get one D-Link 5-port switch and one Netgear 5-port switch, both auto-sensing for 10/100 rate. The truth is, they both work great! They both perform well, and were equally easy to hookup (no software to deal with). I will add one thing, and that is that the D-Link box was a much nicer design than the Netgear. First of all, it is much smaller (the picture of the D-Link here is deceiving). Secondly, the Netgear has the LED lights and the ethernet ports on the same side. For my setup, I prefer the ports on the back and the lights on the front. I think the Netgear switch was fashioned more for a rack. Style aside, a big thumbs up for both of these switches!

I've been using this switch non-stop for over two years now and have never had any kind of problem. It's a great little switch that's definitely worth the money. All the ports are in the back, the casing has a brushed aluminum look, and it's fanless, so it's definitely possible to leave it sitting on the desk. Since the "switching fabric" supports 1GB/sec, that means each of the five ports can carry their full 200MB/sec (100MB/sec each way) capacity without problem. The darn thing doesn't even get warm. Definitely a good buy (I rate it at 5 stars out of 5).

One note: If I were to buy another switch today, I'd probably go for the 10/100/1000 version of the same switch (the D-Link DGS-1005D). Darn near every computer sold these days has a Gigabit Ethernet connection built into it. So, having that switch would most likely let people take advantage of the added speed on their local networks (assuming they had Cat 5e or Cat 6 cabling -- however, it wouldn't make any difference across the internet since only a rare few cable modem even connect at 100Mb/sec and I don't know of any that connect at 1 GB/sec). But, since that switch costs about twice as much as this one, there's a bit of a trade-off.

It's great for any home user just coming into the world of networking. Most people mistakenly buy a hub at a slightly lesser price, but switches are far better for even the less technically hard-core users. You pay roughly 1/3 more for a switch but it gives you up to TWICE the speed of a hub because of the difference in the way they utilize a thing called full duplexing (sending and receiving information simultaneously). A hub will only do full duplex with two computers talking on the network, which is rarely the case, and with more than two computers it will go at half duplex. A switch does full duplex all the time regardless of how many computers are communicating at one time.

Same post as DSS-8+ it is the same just more ports.

A Freind of mine said that D-Link no longer puts a fan in this product and the DSS-8+.(8-port Dual Speed Switch) All the reviews say that this series of hardware from D-Link outperforms others and has a lower price so I had to have one, but was hesitant because of the horrible fan stories.

That has all changed! Now the Fan has been taken out and a heatsink has been added to keep things cool. I would recommend that if you purchase one of these from a store open it up and look for the fan. The slot on the case for the air flow is still there but the fan itself isn't. And if you order it online make sure there is a good return policy, just in case.

I am sure I don't need to say that this product is one of the fastest, if not the fastest personal switches out there. It is no hassle for a set-up considering that you only need to plug in the power and plug in the Ethernet cables and your set.

I like companies that hear the consumers complaints and fix them. D-Link gets Two Thumbs up from me.

I have had this equipment for a year now. In the past 11 months I have used it at my home network with an ISDN connection, but last month we upgraded to ADSL and the result is even better.
My home is in Guatemala City and on this small country we have plenty of communication technology that makes this kind of services posible.
Again, is the best equipment your money can buy, zero problems. I really recomend it.