Is r7000 worth extra cost over archer c7/9

[shev]

Just looking for something with fast downlink, small apartment so range is insignificant, max 5 devices on average. Also, can the archer c7/9 do ddwrt/tomato or do I need to stick to the asus / netgear ac1900s for that?

 

[System Error Message]

the r7000 is worth the extra cost and also the ac56U (dual core version), AC68U.

Theres a plan from tp-link to lock their boot loaders so pretty soon you wont be able to install dd-wrt or tomato.

 

[smitbret]

I have used a C7, AC-68U or R7000 as my primary router for the last 3 years or so and I can tell you that unless there is a specific feature that you need from the R7000 or AC-68U then the C7 is just as good as either of those. Any difference range and throughput isn't something that I could notice without running LAN Speed Tests and even then none was consistently better than the other.

As long as the C7 isn't a v1, you can flash any of these to DD-WRT.