TP-Link Archer A7 AC1750 review: A cheap router that delivers reliable internet

TP-Link's Archer C7 AC1750 router was for a long time a top upkeep choice if you needed a router with the range and functioning suitable for an average habitation, but information technology was recently updated to the new Archer A7, a model with Amazon Alexa integration and ane less USB-A port on the back. Other than those differences, the C7 and A7 are essentially the same router, both offer 2.4 GHz and five GHz radios for a combined theoretical speed of i,750 Mbps. I used the newer Archer A7 for a couple of weeks to determine whether or not information technology's a worthwhile upgrade, and whether or not it's suited to your needs.

Upkeep router

TP-Link Archer A7

$60

Bottom line: The Archer A7 is withal a nifty budget router that tin can handle the networking needs of the boilerplate household.

Pros

• Price is right
• Uncomplicated, fast setup
• Reliable connections
• Four LAN ports
• Two-year warranty, 24/7 support

Cons

• Split up SSIDs for 2.4 GHz and five GHz bands
• Notable performance drop at range

TP-Link Archer A7 hardware and specs

Category	XX
Performance	AC1750 (450 Mbps + ane,300 Mbps)
Frequency	2.4 GHz, 5 GHz
Processor	Qualcomm QCA9563 750 MHz
Memory	16 MB Flash 128 MB RAM
Wireless standards	802.11a/b/chiliad/n/air-conditioning
Antennas	Three external stock-still Three internal
Theoretical range	2,500 square feet
Ports	Ane USB-A 2.0
Ethernet	Four LAN One WAN

TP-Link Archer A7 design and features

The Archer A7 has a standard blackness body that matches that of the older C7, with 3 adjustable antennas and a row of LED status lights on the front. The overall blueprint seems a fleck dated after using mesh Wi-Fi systems with modest routers complete with touchscreens, and I don't think anyone would blame yous for hiding this router behind some other furniture. It does have mounting brackets if yous'd similar to hang information technology to save space. In whatsoever case, it's relatively compact at 9.vi inches x half-dozen.4 inches, especially compared to some of the high-performance routers on the market. The 3 external antennas tin can be adjusted to bespeak in simply about any direction for a bit of extra potential range, simply they cannot be removed completely.

The dorsum side of the router is home to a WPS button, a power push button, and a reset toggle, besides every bit 4 LAN ports for connecting wired devices, a WAN port for connecting dorsum to your modem, and a USB-A 2.0 port. It'd be prissy to have a USB-A 3.0 port here — especially since there's one less USB port compared to the C7 — though the 750 MHz processor (CPU) within would probable have a hard time keeping up. You tin can share a printer with the USB-A 2.0 port and you tin can indeed plug in a USB drive full of media, though if the latter is your goal, yous could practise meliorate with a router with superior operation or an actual NAS setup.

TP-Link Archer A7 setup and management

TP-Link makes the router's setup about every bit painless as possible, allowing you to cull between an app (available or Android or iOS) and a web browser for the initial steps. I used the app, and the entire procedure betwixt unboxing and working internet took about v minutes. I was prompted on my telephone to choose a name and password, what type of connection I wanted, and whether or non I wanted a fixed MAC address, with recommended defaults already chosen. Even if you're a networking beginner, you shouldn't take whatever issues.

Both the app and browser interface are piece of cake to navigate, and you tin can find many settings in both. Inside the app you lot tin quickly change passwords and toggle radios on and off, you lot can diagnose problems with the network with a single click, a guest network on either radio can exist enabled and managed, and you can arrange the intensity of the LEDs on the forepart of the router.

You can also change your connection type at any time to L2TP or PPTP if you're interested in setting up a VPN for a bit of added privacy, and parental controls allow you to add devices and websites to a blacklist. The web interface is understandably a lot more in-depth, offering USB, printer, and sharing settings, Quality of Service (QoS) control, actress security features, NAT forwarding options, and more robust VPN options.

If y'all desire total control over your router the web interface is clearly better suited, though anyone who wants to keep it simple can stick with the app and still get access to a lot of basic settings. In my experience, I didn't really have to bother with either in one case I'd run through the initial setup.

TP-Link Archer A7 performance

For the $60 cost, the Archer A7 delivers performance that's all-time suited for the size and occupancy of a regular household. The 2.4 GHz radio can support theoretical speeds up to 450 Mbps, while the 5 GHz radio hits 1,300 Mbps for combined AC1750 functioning, though in existent-world use y'all'll no uncertainty never run into these numbers. While testing the router I didn't notice any unexpected drops or poor signals (within an acceptable range).

The Archer A7 has a upkeep price tag but tin hands keep up with the needs of a regular household.

The ii radios exist on separate SSIDs, and then in that location's no band steering available. If you're continued to the v GHz band and move out of acceptable range, your device will not automatically exist switched over to the two.4 GHz band, which offers improve range. I take a lot of devices vying for a flake of bandwidth, and even with one other person using her ain devices across the 2 radios, there weren't any noticeable blips in performance. A large family unit that wants to stream Hard disk video and game all at the same time will probably detect a bottleneck, just for iii or four people with standard internet needs, the Archer A7 should remain a suitable option.

I ran some tests using Ookla's Speedtest to see how the Archer A7 stacks up against my Internet access provider-provided Hitron router. Note that my internet plan is rated at 300 Mbps down and 25 Mbps up.

TP-Link Archer A7 (two.iv GHz)

Location	Ping	Downward speed	Upward speed
Living room (ten feet)	25 ms	86.05 Mbps	16.37 Mbps
Office (30 feet)	xx ms	21.fifty Mbps	16.18 Mbps
Basement (40 feet)	eleven ms	thirteen.08 Mbps	xv.71 Mbps

TP-Link Archer A7 (5 GHz)

Location	Ping	Downward speed	Upwards speed
Living room (10 anxiety)	12 ms	173.01 Mbps	fifteen.21 Mbps
Office (thirty feet)	12 ms	34.22 Mbps	16.10 Mbps
Basement (40 feet)	12 ms	35.85 Mbps	16.xl Mbps

The easiest spot to fix any router in my home is in the front corner, which doesn't really translate well to range. Both radios saw a significant speed dip at medium to long range but provided excellent speed upward close.

Physically moving the router to a more than centralized location would undoubtedly keep speeds more consistent throughout. The A7's 5 GHz radio still was able to more than than double the speed of the Hitron router when I was the furthest abroad in the basement.

Hitron (2.4 GHz)

Location	Ping	Downwards speed	Up speed
Living room (ten anxiety)	24 ms	80.49 Mbps	16.22 Mbps
Office (thirty anxiety)	25 ms	25.29 Mbps	sixteen.00 Mbps
Basement (40 feet)	11 ms	fifteen.36 Mbps	11.20 Mbps

Hitron (5 GHz)

Location	Ping	Downward speed	Up speed
Living room (10 anxiety)	10 ms	153.63 Mbps	16.33 Mbps
Office (30 feet)	9 ms	64.31 Mbps	16.27 Mbps
Basement (xl feet)	12 ms	xiii.30 Mbps	11.34 Mbps

The Hitron router offered meliorate speeds at medium range, though information technology didn't manage to keep up with the Archer A7 at long range.

Should you purchase the TP-Link Archer A7?

After using the Archer A7 for a couple of weeks, information technology's prophylactic to say that the budget legacy carved out by the older C7 is carried on here. Connections to all devices were solid and I don't call up noticing a single dropped point, I didn't have to mess with whatever settings (other than to poke around) afterward the initial setup, and though in that location was a noticeable dropoff in performance at range, the A7 still managed to deliver respectable speeds on the 5 GHz band when I was every bit far abroad as possible in my i,000 square-foot home.

If y'all don't have whatever lofty goals in listen for your home network — the USB-A 2.0 port on the dorsum isn't the all-time for media sharing and overall performance isn't cut out for a ton of users with heavy bandwidth demands — and just need a reliable router, the Archer A7 is about the best you tin buy at this price.

Upkeep router

TP-Link Archer A7

An splendid budget router.

With a great toll-to-performance ratio, simple setup and management, and plenty of connectivity options on its backside, the Archer A7 is a router many will turn to for affordable domicile networking needs.

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Source: https://www.windowscentral.com/tp-link-archer-a7-ac1750-review

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