TP-LINK Archer C7?

[de8212]

Ordered one of these last week and should get it in the next few days. It's a little late to ask now but does anyone have one and how has it held up ?

I think I've read there are several revisions so that might be a deciding factor but should i use the newest tp-link fw or is it best to go third party (providing it exists?)?

I currently have a dual router setup (one main router and one centrally located in the middle of the house acting as a AP). The one that handles the wireless is a netgear WNDR4500. It seems to drop out a bit here and there so I was hoping this C7 would possibly replace both. If not, i can still use the Netgear.
My house is just one story and only about 2100 sq. ft. But I do occasionally like to use the internet out on the back deck and in the garage, etc.
But the C7 will be installed in a network closet in the front corner room of the house.
Any chances it will be able to provide all my needs as far as range/one router?

 

[tsupersonic]

I got one during this year's Black Friday sales - it was the cheapest AC router I could find that had some decent reviews. It's held up fairly well for the month or so that I've had it. There are 3 hardware revisions - and I have v2 (FW: 3.14.1 Build 140929 Rel.33293n).

The management interface is fairly subpar - probably the worst feature of the router. I have the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz networks both setup (as well as a guest 2.4 GHz network). Theoretically the 5 GHz frequency doesn't have great range (compared to the 2.4 GHz frequency), not a fault of the router, just how it is. The one nice thing is no neighbors near me have a 5 GHz networks - I seem to be the only one. The 2.4 GHz is congested here. Either way, speeds are fantastic amongst the networked devices. The router doesn't drop out connections either. For $50 shipped, it's fantastic.

I live in a small apartment - one floor, ~850 sq. ft, so I can't answer your range question. I've had an 802.11N router in the past that covered 1900 sq. ft./3 floors - that router was in the basement, and it got to the garage, and deck area just fine.

 

[smitbret]

I've been using one for almost 2 years and it hasn't caused any issues so far. It was a significant upgrade (especially as far as range on the 2.4GHz band) over the D-Link DIR-825 it replaced.

I have the v1. It was replaced by a v2 because that particular model was struggling to hold connections with Apple products. They had several firmware updates that failed to completely resolve the problem so they eventually just released a v2 that didn't have the problem. Then in July of 2014 they finally released a fw that fixed the issue for v1. Not sure what v3 brings to the table.

I agree, the interface leaves a lot to be desired from an aesthetic standpoint, but everything is in there. It just looks like an interface that is better suited to an IT specialist than your average home user.

My biggest complaint is that almost any change requires a complete reboot of the router especially compared to the WD MyNet n900 and the Asus RT-AC68U that I have also used lately. In case you are wondering the WD MyNet was a piece of garbage compared to the C7 and the Asus hasn't offered any real world advantage over the C7 in the 3 weeks I have been using it.

 

[de8212]

thanks to both of you. So, have either of you added any third party firmware?

Should get the C7 tomorrow but not sure when I'll get a chance to install it. Just wondering if I should settle with the newest tplink firmware or try one of the others??

 

[smitbret]

thanks to both of you. So, have either of you added any third party firmware?

Should get the C7 tomorrow but not sure when I'll get a chance to install it. Just wondering if I should settle with the newest tplink firmware or try one of the others??

It uses the Atheros chipset instead of Broadcom. I don't know of any alt firmware that are available for it.

 

[azazel1024]

It uses the Atheros chipset instead of Broadcom. I don't know of any alt firmware that are available for it.

OpenWRT is available for the C7. OpenWRT is available for most QCA chipset routers.

 

[smitbret]

OpenWRT is available for the C7. OpenWRT is available for most QCA chipset routers.

That's right. I think it disables the 5GHz, though.... or is it just the AC on the 5GHz.

I know it's not fully compatible or at least it wasn't a few months ago when I was looking into it.

***Actually, I take it back. It looks like it is fully supported except for the v1 that loses the 5GHz.