TP-LINK Archer C7 AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Gigabit Router Reviewed

[roadrunner]

Check out the link and you can find a good comparison between the Archer C7 and C8

 

[loyukfai]

Is this router good for console gaming like the Xbox 360 or should I get the TPlink c8

http://thewirecutter.com/reviews/best-wi-fi-router/

 

[sm00thpapa]

I have had nothing but issues gaming with any TP-Link router. These are the only routers I can't get Open NAT with even when port forwarding. I only use TP-Link routers as AP's cascaded off my main router which does the routing and handles the NAT issues.

 

[enr00ted]

There is or will be a V3 of the C7 (dual band antennas for both 5 ghz and 2.4 ghz, no more internal). I think I read it on the web. Also It is listed at the GPL code center http://www.tp-link.com/lk/support/gpl/ . Why are there so many revisions of this model and only one revision of everything else ? Design flaws ?

 

[thiggins]

There is or will be a V3 of the C7 (dual band antennas for both 5 ghz and 2.4 ghz, no more internal). I think I read it on the web. Also It is listed at the GPL code center http://www.tp-link.com/lk/support/gpl/ . Why are there so many revisions of this model and only one revision of everything else ? Design flaws ?

Marketing choice. The Archer C7 is known as a $100 AC1750 router. Why mess with that while improving the design?

 

[azazel1024]

A very succesful design win for TP-Link. The revisions I assume are a combination of hardware bug stomping combined with probably ways to save some pennies in the manufacture parts cost (example, dual band external antennas, with the right stuff to support it, is probably cheaper than using 6 antennas, 3 internal and 3 external).

 

[mrQQ]

Can someone explain the very strange performance vs atten graph for C7 on 5Ghz downlink, where it beats almost every other router including C8, C9?

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tool...hthawk/1920-asus-rtac3200/2066-linksys-ea8500

 

[thiggins]

Can someone explain the very strange performance vs atten graph for C7 on 5Ghz downlink, where it beats almost every other router including C8, C9?

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tool...hthawk/1920-asus-rtac3200/2066-linksys-ea8500

The C7 was tested with a different test process that had lower insertion loss in 5 GHz. You can validly compare only products tested with the same version process (bar color). Like this:
http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/tool...erc7v2/1920-asus-rtac3200/2066-linksys-ea8500

 

[mrQQ]

hm, but still that C7 jump at low atten seems like a glitch, no?

 

[JonP]

TP-LINK says the V3 has a bit more power (probably on the lower 5 GHz channels) and their testing shows some improved performance. So we may give it a go. Keep in mind our standard test channel is 153, so we might not see a difference.

Been a bit since that comment. I've recently bought a C7, the local MicroCenter had a lot of v2's and some v3 stock... So, the US version of the v3 is existing and out there, and it's starting to replace the v2.

I was introducing myself to the OpenWRT/LEDE (and the very interesting make-wifi-fast current developments on that, coming from the CeroWRT/bufferbloat guys) firmware world, and ended up buying one of each. What I wish I knew, before I run out of time to return one, is if the new dual antenna (and different 5Ghz radio) setup is better or worse for radio performance over distance?

Probably going to have do do some extensive swapping and testing, (people in the home don't like this) to find out. Since it's still "America's favorite $100 router"... (well, more like $70-80 now) might be worth you guys' time to do a comparison.

Thanks...

Jon

 

[kmetek]

is it ok to buy used V1 version? what do i need to know about it? just update to latest fw?

or ask tplink company for a replacement?