D-Link EXO AC3000 Smart Mesh Tri-Band Router (DIR-3060)

If you're not ready to take the plunge into Wi-Fi 6 yet, there are still plenty of reliable wireless mesh systems that offer solid 802.11ac performance. One such unit, the D-Link EXO AC3000 Smart Mesh Tri-Band Router (model DIR-3060, $199.99), is a midrange device that's packed with features including mesh technology, three Wi-Fi radios, robust parental controls, and built-in McAfee protection against viruses and other malware. It's simple to install and manage, and it posted solid scores in our throughput performance tests. All this earns the EXO an Editors' Choice for midrange wireless mesh routers.

Design and Features

The EXO AC3000 uses a black desktop enclosure that measures 2 by 8.5 by 7.7 inches and is equipped with six adjustable, non-removable antennas. The top of the router sports gray grillwork and LED indicators for power, internet connectivity, USB connectivity, and 2.4GHz and 5GHz band activity. The bottom has two holes for mounting the router on a wall.

Around back are four gigabit LAN ports, a gigabit WAN (Internet) port, a USB 3.0 Type-A port, a USB 2.0 port, and power and reset buttons. The front of the router holds a WPS button. Under the hood are a dual-core processor, 256MB of SDRAM, 128MB of flash memory, and 802.11ac circuitry that supports Wave 2 technology including beamforming, MU-MIMO transmissions, and automatic band steering. This is a tri-band AC3000 router that can hit maximum data rates of up to 400Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, 866Mbps on one 5GHz band, and 1,733Mbps on the second 5GHz band.

The EXO uses mesh technology to allow you to create a mesh network using compatible D-Link routers and range extenders. As with most mesh networks, you get seamless roaming with one SSID, automatic optimization based on network traffic, and simple app-based setup. It comes with a generous five-year subscription to McAfee's Secure Home Platform, which protects your network and clients from malicious content, phishing schemes, and viruses.

It also comes with McAfee's strong parental controls that allow you to set age-appropriate restrictions on website access, create access schedules, create profiles for each family member and apply these controls to all of their associated devices, and pause internet access for any user with the touch of a button. You'll have to download a separate D-Fend mobile app to manage the McAfee utilities, but once you do, you can access it via the D-Link Wi-Fi Mobile app used to configure and manage the router. As a bonus, this router (like the model DIR-2680) supports Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant voice commands for such functions as turning guest networking on and off and blocking devices from joining your network.

The Wi-Fi Mobile app is the same one used by other D-Link routers, including the DIR-2680 and the Covr-2202 mesh system. It opens to a Device screen that displays the number of connected clients, internet connectivity status, an internet speed test button, and the results of the latest speed test. Tap the gear icon in the top right corner to launch a dashboard with buttons that take you to settings that include Wi-Fi, Internet, Guest Wi-Fi, Clients, Schedule, Management, Cloud Service, and D-Fend.

You use the Wi-Fi button to edit your SSIDs and passwords and create access schedules for each band. (You can also use the Schedules button for this.) Tap the Internet button to configure connection types (static, DHCP, PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP) and VLAN settings. The Guest Wi-Fi button lets you enable or disable guest networking, while the Clients button displays a list of connected clients and their MAC and IP addresses.

The Management button lets you change passwords and time zone settings, check the software version, and reset the router. You'll have to use the web console to configure QoS settings, view system settings, and access advanced options such as port forwarding, IPv4 and IPv6 settings, and Dynamic DNS settings.

Installation and Performance

Installing the EXO AC3000 is a snap. If it's your first D-Link Wi-Fi device, you'll have to download the mobile app and create an account, then tap Install New Device and follow the instructions to scan the QR code found on the quick install card. You'll be instructed to power down your modem, connect the router to it with the included Ethernet cable, and then power up both. It'll take about two minutes for the router to connect, at which point you'll be prompted to name your network and give it Wi-Fi and administrative passwords. To complete the installation, register the device and enable the D-Fend security features.

The router delivered fast throughput scores in my testing. Its score of 162Mbps on our 2.4GHz close proximity (same room) test was nearly identical to the D-Link DIR-2680 and more than 60Mbps faster than the TP-Link Archer A20 and the Asus RT-AC86U. At a distance of 30 feet, the EXO's throughput was 91Mbps, beating all three of the above-mentioned routers.

Throughput from the 5GHz band was also very good. The DIR-3060's score of 556Mbps on the close proximity test was barely faster than the D-Link DIR-2680 and the Asus router, but beat the TP-Link by 91Mbps. In my 30-foot 5GHz test, the EXO's 368Mbps once again edged the DIR-2680 and RT-AC86U and was almost twice as fast as the Archer A20.

To gauge file transfer performance, we measure read and write speeds using a portable USB 3.0 drive and a 1.5GB folder containing a mix of photo, video, music, and document files...

The EXO AC3000 was only medium-fast here; its 38MBps write score was a bit faster than the D-Link DIR-2680's and the Asus RT-AC86U's, but no match for the 80Mbps reached by the TP-Link Archer A20. Similarly, its read score of 37MBps couldn't touch the TP-Link's 90MBps.

A Tempting, Expandable Piece of Kit

Fast performance, ease of use, and a robust feature set are all good reasons to consider the D-Link EXO AC3000 as your next router. It's a breeze to install and can be managed via a thoughtfully designed mobile app, and its expand-as-needed mesh technology lets you easily grow your network without having to deal with multiple SSIDs.

It also comes with McAfee's Secure Home Platform, which helps protect your network from malware and provides solid parental controls. On the whole, its file-transfer performance could be better, but the DIR-3060 is still an easy Editors' Choice pick among midrange routers.