TP-Link AC1900 WIRELESS LONG RANGE WI-FI GIGABIT ROUTER (ARCHER C9)
TP-Link has finally released Archer C9, its first AC1900 class router. The introduction of AC1900 by TP-Link is quite late to the market but is designed for wide ranging wireless connectivity, high bandwidth speeds and seamless management of networks via a savvy mobile application.
Though it comes with a price slightly higher as compared to its counterparts but it is definitely worth it as it makes online gaming and streaming videos an enjoyable experience without any delay or lag.
Design and features:
Unlike the angular and rather aggressive styling that Netgear and D-Link have opted for their high end routers, TP-Link Archer C9 comes with modest design. The stylish TP-Link Archer C9 complements just about any office or home décor. Its front is a curvy, smooth and glossy expanse of white amalgamated with an elegant silver-painted stand popping out up from behind and there are three matte white aerials sticking out its top.
These detachable dual band antennas provide reliability, stability and maximum coverage throughout your home and office. If you are a fan of Apple hardware, then you would definitely like it.
To be elegant doesn’t necessarily mean to be practical. The stand means that you can’t lay the router flat or you can mount it on the wall. And it is also not footed enough as it sits on it hind legs tilting upwards at a 75 degree angle and can easily tip over, which means once installed, you have to leave the router well alone.
Otherwise, as the three aerials are removable yet robust, these are easy to position. There are blue light indicators on the front that indicate Wi-Fi connection, power, internet connection and these are easy to see and tell apart because of vertical orientation of the router, the LED’s point outward instead of straight up to the ceiling.
Round the back, there is an array of connection boxes that are clearly labeled. The selection of connections include WPS and reset button, USB 2.0 port, the Ethernet socket that goes to your modem, the power socket, the switch and four Gigabit Ethernet ports for the rest of your network.
On the side of the router, there is a USB 3.0 pot which is 10 times faster than USB 2.0 port and is ideal for sharing files on your network from a USB drive. The USB 2.0 port works for sharing printers. You can instantly plug in scanners, printers and storage devices without any disruptions.
The Archer C9 is adorned with dual band networks if 2.5GHz and 5GHz and provides data transfer speeds of up to 1.9 Gbps combined when using the two channels. You don’t have to worry about any problems regarding watching movies, playing games, streaming high-definition videos or doing any other activity that demands high internet speeds.
You can use 2.4GHz network for checking emails, basic Web browsing and other less intense tasks whereas the 5GHz network can be used for heavier data transfer needs. Because of this, the TP-Link Archer C9 becomes the ideal option for homeowners looking for high bandwidth speeds.
The C9 features beamforming technology which makes Wi-Fi range quite wide. It also enables Archer C9 to locate any connected device instantly and direct wireless signals to that device hence significantly amplifying signal strength while increasing its range. Its wide range, reliability and stability make C9 a highly coveted router on the market.
Software:
Unlike Linksys or Netgear, TP-Link doesn’t give any special name for its router configuration dashboard. The key features of its configuration dashboard are tweak ability, simplicity and well laid out interface. The software is uncomplicated and unassuming.
The Wireless settings, parental controls and network mapping features of Archer C9 are easy to manage, easy to find and are perfect for any level technology user. The advanced settings are also plentiful allowing you to dive into more nerdy features such as setting up a media server, QOS management and configuring access ports for wireless printers.
The TP-Link Tether app offers deep customization options and a clean, easy to understand interface. Via its easy to use mobile application, you can effectively access, alter and manage both network and data from remote locations.
The TP-Link Archer C9 runs on an in-built 1 GHz dual-core processor which significantly boosts performance of the router and enables quick management of Ethernet and USB ports and Wi-Fi.
Setup:
The TP-Link Archer C9 requires a simple setup which you can complete in a few steps. The TP-Link Tether application allows you to easily setup, set controls and restrictions and manage. The Tether app is available at Google’s Play Store and Apple Store and it provides an intuitive interface and user-friendly management of router. You can create a guest network, change parental controls, and restrict certain devices from using a network, check network statuses, share media files and do lots more just tapping your mobile screen.
For its efficient performance, superior features and fast speed, the TP-Link Archer C9 is a good grab. The C9 simultaneous dual-band router uses AC wireless standard which is up to 3 times faster as compared to N standard delivering decent performance and impressive data transfer rates in home as well as office setting.
The Archer C9 is especially suited for users that require heavy data and delivers robust and steady performance at all times. For managing the router, you don’t need high end technical skills. Enjoy user-friendly features from manufacturer.
TP-Link Archer C9 comes with up to three years of standard warranty.
Pros:
Easy to setup and use
Good feature set for the price
Good Wi-Fi speed and range
Cons:
Only one 3.0 port
Can’t compete with fastest routers over short distances
Can’t be laid flat or wall-mounted
If you are looking for a top-spec, future proof router and you don’t want to spend megabucks then the TP-Link Archer C9 would be a great choice for you. It is not the fastest router but is reliable, sensibly priced and is easy to use.