Thoughts on TP-Link Archer C7

[jimbob200521]

I know it's a little bit older of a router but the price seems about right for my budget, right now it's $90 over on Amazon. I see mostly good reviews of the unit, at least the V2 and on. Anyone here have one? Thoughts? Opinions? I need to get away from my sporadic D-Link DIR-655 as it'll drop the wireless connection randomly throughout the week, sometimes once every couple days, sometimes a couple times a day always requiring a hard reboot. I just want something decent priced that will be solid not requiring regular reboots to be functional.

 

[smitbret]

I know it's a little bit older of a router but the price seems about right for my budget, right now it's $90 over on Amazon. I see mostly good reviews of the unit, at least the V2 and on. Anyone here have one? Thoughts? Opinions? I need to get away from my sporadic D-Link DIR-655 as it'll drop the wireless connection randomly throughout the week, sometimes once every couple days, sometimes a couple times a day always requiring a hard reboot. I just want something decent priced that will be solid not requiring regular reboots to be functional.

It's probably the best value in AC routers out there. I have had one for almost 4 years (v1) replacing my D-Link 825. I was nothing but pleased. You can buy a more expensive router with more features but this is more than enough for 95% of households out there.

 

[razel]

Tested many different ones. It is old, but performance is good, feature set is previous Wave 1 AC. I wouldn't pay more than $50 for one. Why? Wave 2 AC routers are far more common in the low $100 prices when on sale.

I got the Asus RT-AC87U ebay refurb for $105. Target and Walmart has clearances on the Asus RT-AC68R for as low as $70. I was able to get one at $80. Additionally a few Target stores has clearance prices on the TP-Link Google Onhub at $140. They are aggressive with clearances too another store in my area has it for $100 and obviously sold out.

By the way, for those trying to solve dead areas the Onhub in 3 of the 4 homes I used it in is FANTASTIC. It's OVER simplified configuration options will frustrate your enthusiast but I got used it. It's future is bright, it is capable of MU-MIMO which is an AC Wave 2 feature, but Google is dragging it's feet even getting IPV6 on it.

 

[smitbret]

Tested many different ones. It is old, but performance is good, feature set is previous Wave 1 AC. I wouldn't pay more than $50 for one. Why? Wave 2 AC routers are far more common in the low $100 prices when on sale.

I got the Asus RT-AC87U ebay refurb for $105. Target and Walmart has clearances on the Asus RT-AC68R for as low as $70. I was able to get one at $80. Additionally a few Target stores has clearance prices on the TP-Link Google Onhub at $140. They are aggressive with clearances too another store in my area has it for $100 and obviously sold out.

By the way, for those trying to solve dead areas the Onhub in 3 of the 4 homes I used it in is FANTASTIC. It's OVER simplified configuration options will frustrate your enthusiast but I got used it. It's future is bright, it is capable of MU-MIMO which is an AC Wave 2 feature, but Google is dragging it's feet even getting IPV6 on it.

If you can find something like an AC68R or $70 then you should jump on it, although I have owned both and found no performance difference between the two.

I wouldn't take an AC-87U (new or refurb) over a C7.

 

[dave_the_nerd]

I would probably prefer something newer, but I have an ASUS RT-AC66U (which is pretty similar to the C7) and I'm not in a hurry to upgrade. I wouldn't kick a C7 out of bed for eating crackers, in other words.

If you're on a budget and the C7 is the best you can afford, well, that's not such a bad thing.