trs

18 de junio de 2023

Solid performer

[updated]I updated from a TP-Link Archer C7. I have an Arris SB8200 modem. Here are a few notes.The AX55 signal strength seems a little better, especially in the 5 GHz band. It also adds 802.11ax and WPA3 security as well as "Smart Connect" which allows you to combine 2.4G and 5G bands under a single SSID and have the router decide which to use with each client. You could just give the separate bands the same SSID with any router. In that case each client would decide which band to use. The router login no longer uses a username, only a password.I have now tried "Smart Connect" with 2 TP-Link routers in 2 different houses and I am not impressed. On both I eventually had to separate the 2 bands. It was especially dysfunctional on mobile devices (phones, laptops, etc.). It doesn't seem to switch bands very easily as you move around. Even stationarydevices seem to bounce inexplicably between the two bands, which can have very different signal strengths.The wi-fi encryption settings can be a problem depending on your equipment. The options are:NoneWPA2-PSK[AES]WPA2-PSK[AES]+WPA-PSK[TKIP]WPA3-PersonalWPA3-Personal+WPA2-PSK[AES]WPA2-EnterpriseWPA/WPA2-EnterpriseI wouldn't touch either WPA or TKIP. Previously I used only WPA2-PSK[AES]. I would have liked to have used WPA3-Personal+WPA2-PSK[AES] here, but I have an older 2.4G printer with WPA/WPA2[AES or TKIP]. It would not connect unless the router was set to WPA2-PSK[AES] or WPA2-PSK[AES]+WPA-PSK[TKIP]. In the end, I set the 2.4G band to WPA2 (only) and the 5G band to WPA2+WPA3.Configuration and Installation-----------------------------------Installing the router was pretty straightforward. I turned off wi-fi on my laptop, wired it (DHCP) to one of the router's client ports, browsed to 192.168.0.1, and logged in (password is on the bottom of the router). Alternatively, you could leave your wi-fi enabled and connect to the router's default SSID, also on the bottom. Doing it over wi-fi is just a bit more risky.I configured it entirely through the web interface using the Advanced menus. I changed the password and IPv4 address and left it with a temporary SSID while walking through all the other settings. After that was done, I shut down my old router, changed the temporary SSID and passcode on the new router to the permanent ones, shut down the new router, and connected it to my modem.I have not as yet found anything I can do with the Tether app that I can't do, and more easily, with the web interface.The router would not connect to the internet when I powered it on until I remembered that the modem has to be rebooted to pick up the router's MAC address. It won't connect to a new router until then. I powered off both, powered up the modem, waited until it was fully up, and then powered up the router. It connected immediately and has been running fine since then.Once connected, I reviewed the internet (IPv4 and IPv6) status and settings. For Comcast, at least in this area, the IPv6 WAN connection type is Dynamic IP(SLAAC/DHCPv6) with DHCPv6 and prefix delegation selected. The LAN type is SLAAC+Stateless DHCP. I prefer to use Google's public DNS servers (8.8.8.8, 8.8.4.4, 2001:4860:4860::8888, and 2001:4860:4860::8844), I've set those to override the Comcast-provided defaults.Performance---------------I have 400 Mbps Comcast service with an Arris SB8200 modem. The modem indicates DOCSIS 3.1 service on the downstream side, but not on the upstream side. My laptop wireless NIC is an Intel AC7265 dual-band b/g/n/ac adapter.On a wired connection to the router, I get download speeds of 475+ Mbps. 480 would be the most I would expect given Comcast's typical practice of over-provisioning by 20%.On 5G wi-fi with 40 MHz channels, I get 475 Mbps next to the router and about 20' away in the same room. I get 355 Mbps in the next room, which is 73% faster than with the Archer C7.On 2.4G wi-fi with 20 MHz channels, I get 100 Mbs in the next room and 45 Mbs 2 floors up on the opposite side of the house. That's 25% and 80% faster than with my Archer C7.Those who have unexpectedly slow wi-fi performance and who have "Smart Connect" enabled may be connected via the 2.4 GHz band without realizing it. Another reason not to use that feature.I live in a crowded wi-fi neighborhood with people who think it's a good idea to use 40 or 80 MHzchannels in the 2.4 GHz band. Don't do that. It makes all your neighbors' performance worse anddoesn't really help yours.Ver más

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Joseph W Protokowicz Jr

27 de junio de 2026

Easy setup!

Works great! Super easy setup! Bought my last TP-Link like 8 years ago. This is SO much faster! Great product, great price! My connection to all my devices now works seamlessly!

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K. Oestreich

27 de junio de 2023

Nice modern router/wifi/switch for speed, IOT security, and versatility.

It has dim green LED's, which is a GREAT feature. I am tired of bright blue LED's that blind me at night.You can buy extenders for it if you have a dark spot that you have difficulties getting signal to, but I didn't need these.It is a WIFI 6 Mesh router, so passoff between a router and an extender is seamless.Support for VPN's is nice at the router level, so all your communications over the Internet are secure at a network level. Of course, you have to be connecting to hosts (web sites, etc) that are secure as well. At least this keeps the network secure.Tons of features. If you are like me, your old TP Router still works, but you needed more features.I have had great luck with TP-Link (Kasa) routers, IOT electrical outlets, IOT electric wall switches.I would have reviewed their technical support, but I never needed it.The only problem on initial install was the Ring Pro Chime wouldn't connect, but even though I didn't call tech support about it (I have other things in my life...), they came out with a firmware upgrade to resolve the issue within a week. They fixed the problem before I ever got to technical support.It pays to read the release notes on the firmware versions, to see what the upgrade fixes or adds.I am very happy with my choice. My old TP-Link router works as well, and I left the configuration on it, so if I ever had a problem, I could go back to my previous router, plug it in, and not have to bother with reconfiguring it. The old router sits in a box, waiting vigilantly if it is needed again.Also, if my broadband provider tells me my router is the problem in future tech support calls, I can just switch the router with the old one, and either verify their claim, or disprove it. Astound broadband told me the problem was with my router. It wasn't, they had a network outage that their tech support team had no knowledge of. Astound evidently doesn't have Openview (to show them if their network is functioning), a working Change Control System, or anything else I consider critical for a network provider. If they had Change Control, Astound's tech support centre would have been notified. That's why PROFESSIONAL network providers use a network status monitoring product., and have a Change Control process before field technicians are allowed to do routine maintenance. Before they fixed the broadband network, I ordered this TP-Link router and liked it so much, I kept it. Dim, but visible green LED's. Sounds silly, but I do a lot of work at night. It really is nice to not be blinded by BRIGHT BLUE LED's like I see on other computing/networking products.If you have the money, having a second configured router for the home is a really good idea. Do you really want to spend the time to go out and buy a router, and having your streaming and internet services down while you wait/get the router, configure it, and get back to working. If you work at home, having a second configured router ready to go is always a good idea.At this point, the router is 3 years old from the time I bought this model, and I still believe it is a good, reliable router. The only gotcha I found is that if you use the vpn directly on the router, meaning the router itself is connecting to the vpn, rather than your workstations, I had a 50% performance drop on my network from having no vpn, so I run vpn clients on my hosts and workstations, and leave the router to just route the traffic. I don't run my ISP over Gig internet, but at subgig and > 100 Mb, which is my ISP connection, it essentially works at line speed.

Adian Angirov

⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ Great Router, Mint Condition Used – But Packet Loss Issue Still There

I bought this TP-Link Dual-Band AX3000 Wi‑Fi 6 router in used condition, and I was honestly surprised how good it was. The router arrived in mint condition, very clean, and it came with everything in the box like new. Build quality feels solid and setup was easy using the TP-Link app.The Wi‑Fi speed and coverage are very good, and overall performance feels smooth. For the price, I think this router is worth the money, especially if you find it used in this condition. It definitely feels like a quality product from a reliable brand.That said, it did not fully solve my packet loss issue. I was hoping this router would fix it, but the problem is still there. At this point, I’m not sure if the issue is the router or something on my internet provider’s side, so I can’t blame the device completely. Everything else works fine, but the packet loss situation is still under testing.✅ Pros:Mint condition even though it was usedEverything included in the boxEasy setup and good build qualityStrong Wi‑Fi performanceGood value for the price❌ Cons:Did not fix my packet loss issue (may be ISP-related)Overall, this is a solid Wi‑Fi 6 router, and I think it’s a good choice if your internet connection itself is stable. My issue might be outside of the router, so I’m still checking with my provider.Ver más

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Dacian

3 de junio de 2026

Nice!!

This router far exceeded my expectations. I upgraded from the standard Cox gateway I was using while paying for gigabit internet, but I was only getting around 130–170 Mbps on Wi-Fi.After switching to the TP-Link AX3000 and putting my ISP gateway into bridge mode, the difference was immediate. My speeds jumped significantly, and now my PC averages between 500–800 Mbps on a wireless connection depending on usage and distance from the router.Setup was straightforward, and the performance improvement has been consistent over the past year. Connection stability is much better, and everything from streaming to gaming feels noticeably smoother.If you're paying for high-speed internet but not seeing the performance you should, this router is absolutely worth it.Ver más

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24 de mayo de 2026

Switched from Netgear and I’m happy as can be

Been a Netgear guy for years, finally made the jump to this TP-Link one and honestly should’ve done it sooner. Setup was painless, the signal is stronger and more consistent across the house, and I haven’t had to do the unplug-and-pray reboot dance once since installing it. That alone is worth the money.Wi-Fi 6 is doing real work here: multiple devices streaming, video calls, gaming, all going at once and nothing chokes. The security stuff is a nice touch, and the EasyMesh compatibility means I can add more nodes later without having to throw everything out.Pros:• Easy setup through the Tether app, didn’t need to dig out a manual• Strong, stable signal — coverage noticeably better than my old Netgear• Wi-Fi 6 (AX3000) handles a packed network without slowing down• EasyMesh compatible if you want to expand coverage later• VPN client and server support built in, which is genuinely useful• USB 3.0 port for sharing a drive or printer on the network• HomeShield gives you a decent security and parental controls layerCons:• The free tier of HomeShield is fine, but some features are locked behind a paid subscription• Some advanced settings are buried in the app — power users may want to use the web interface• Only one USB port, so pick your priority (drive or printer)Tips:• Use the web interface (not just the app) for the deeper settings — QoS, port forwarding, etc.• Update the firmware right after setup, there’s usually a newer version than what ships on it• If you’ve got a lot of devices, turn on OFDMA and MU-MIMO in the wireless settings (should be on by default but worth checking)• Place it somewhere central and elevated even a great router suffers if it’s stuck behind the TV in a cornerFive stars. If you’re coming off an older Netgear or any pre-Wi-Fi 6 router, the jump is real.Ver más

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