Tplink Archer Ac1200 Smart Wifi Router – Dualband Gigabit C1200 Review

The TP-Link Archer A6 ($49.99) is a dual-band router designed for users on a upkeep. Despite its affordable cost, it offers a few features plant on more than expensive routers, such equally support for MU-MIMO information streaming and 4 gigabit LAN ports. That said, while its 5GHz performance is solid, it leaves a bit to exist desired on the ii.4GHz band. It as well lacks the USB connectivity and built-in malware protection that you go with the more expensive Asus RT-AC66U B1, our elevation pick for budget routers.

Pattern and Features

The Archer A6 uses a textured glossy blackness enclosure that measures 1.4 by 9.one past 5.seven inches (HWD) and has iv non-removable antennas. Along the meridian forepart border are LED status indicators for power, both radio bands, Ethernet, Internet, and WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup).

The rear panel holds Reset, Power, and WPS buttons, also as four gigabit LAN ports, a WAN port, and a power jack. Missing are the USB ports that you lot get with the Asus RT-AC66U B1.

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The Archer A6 is a 2x2 AC1200 router powered by a 750MHz SoC processor. Information technology can accomplish maximum data rates of up to 300Mbps on the two.4GHz band and up to 867Mbps on the 5GHz band. This router uses 802.11ac Wave 2 engineering science and supports MU-MIMO (simultaneous data streaming) and beamforming (straight-to-client signal transmissions), just not automatic band steering. You can utilise the TP-Link Tether mobile app to access bones wireless and security settings, enable or disable parental controls, run basic diagnostics, and configure invitee networking, but y'all'll have to employ the spider web portal to access avant-garde settings.

The web portal opens to a network map that displays the number of wired and wireless clients and your internet status. Upwardly acme are Quick Setup, Basic, and Avant-garde tabs, and on the left is a settings menu. The Basic carte du jour includes Internet, Wireless, Parental Controls, Guest Network, and TP-Link Deject settings. Parental Controls let yous create profiles for family members where y'all tin can cake access to certain sites using keywords, set internet time limits, and view all visited sites. The TP-Link Deject lets you manage your network and customer devices from anywhere via the internet, and invitee networking lets you create a split up network with divide SSIDs and passwords for guests.

Advanced settings also include Net, Wireless, Parental Controls, and Guest Network settings, as well as Quality of Service (QoS), Security, NAT Forwarding, IPv6, and VPN Server settings. QoS settings allow you lot to gear up upload and download bandwidth limits, simply lack the awarding-specific presets that yous become with the Trend Micro-powered Asus RT-AC66U B1. The Archer A6 offers System Tools that permit yous update firmware, back up and restore organization settings, schedule automated reboots, view system logs, and view network traffic statistics. It also lets y'all switch between Router mode, where the device serves as your main router, and Access Point mode, where information technology will deed every bit an extender to an existing network.

Mixed Performance

I had the A6 upwardly and running in minutes. I connected the router to my modem and to my desktop PC, powered it up, and typed 192.168.0.1 in my browser's address bar, which took me to the Quick Setup screen. I created an administrator password, prepare my time zone, and used Car Notice to select my internet connexion type (DHCP). I used the default SSID names and passwords, clicked Next to save my settings, and the installation was consummate.

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The Archer A6 turned in mixed results on our throughput performance tests. Its score of 68Mbps on the 2.4GHz shut-proximity (same room) test was slower than the D-Link DIR-867, the TP-Link Archer A7, and the Asus RT-AC66U B1. Similarly, its score of 39Mbps on the 30-human foot test trailed the pack.

Functioning on the 5GHz band was much better. The Archer A6 garnered 530Mbps on the close-proximity test, which was faster than the TP-Link Archer A7, but a bit slower than the D-Link DIR-867 and the Asus RT-AC66U B1. On the 30-foot test, the Archer A6 managed 204Mbps, beating both the Archer A7 and the D-Link DIR-867, but not the Asus RT-AC66U B1.

Best for Frugal Buyers in Pocket-sized Homes

If you're in demand of an affordable Wi-Fi router for your dorm room, flat, or small home, the TP-Link Archer A6 is worth a look. You won't get blazing ii.4GHz throughput speeds, merely its solid 5GHz operation in our testing means it should take no problem handling your video-streaming and online gaming requirements. The web console offers plenty of management options, including parental controls and QoS settings, but malware protection is missing. If you can role with some other $lx, the Asus RT-AC66U B1 offers better accommodating functioning, USB connectivity, embedded anti-malware tools, and robust QoS settings. Information technology remains our Editors' Choice for upkeep routers.

TP-Link AC1200 Wireless MU-MIMO Gigabit Router (Archer A6)

Cons

The Bottom Line

The TP-Link Archer A6 is a budget-priced dual-ring router that offers some features usually found on more expensive models, but its performance falls behind the competition.

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Source: https://www.pcmag.com/reviews/tp-link-ac1200-wireless-mu-mimo-gigabit-router-archer-a6

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