TP-LINK Archer C9 AC1900 Dual-Band Router Review – Competitive Pricing and Performance!

If there’s one thing everyone always seems to need, it is a new wireless router. Whether you’re using the mediocre solutions provided by your cable company, or an aging bargain model that you picked up at Target, chances are you could use a new one.  In fact, we’ll venture to say that your old wireless router is literally the cause of your life’s problems. – Okay, maybe not. But still, it definitely isn’t helping.

We here at Technology X want to help you solve your problems, and to do so we’re bringing you a review of the all new TP-LINK Archer C9, which is an AC1900 dual-band wireless router.

PACKAGING, SPECIFICATIONS, AND PRICE

At the front of the box we find a scaled down picture of the router itself, the model name along with some basic specifications and features. This includes the router’s maximum speeds of 1900Mbps, that’s 1300Mbps on the 5GHz band and 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. We can also see that this router has support for USB 3.0 for network storage, printers or even FTP servers.  It is also backed by a 2-year warranty, and includes unlimited 24/7 technical support.

It is priced at a very reasonable $149.99, making it the cheapest solution in its class, that we’re aware of.

At the back of the box we’ll get a look at the rear of the router with its available ports as well some detailed specifications. The router features full Gigabit ethernet ports including 4x Gigabit LAN for connecting computers, game consoles and other devices which are in close proximity to the router, as well as 1x Gigabit WAN for connecting the router to your modem.

This router also features a rather powerful 1GHz dual-core ARM CPU, which should allow for processing multiple streams of data without bogging down. Other features include Parental Controls; which allows parents to set restricted access policies for children. Guest Network; which creates a separate, secure wireless network for guest access, and something called Beamforming Technology; which is said to increase signal strength by focusing the signal toward connected devices.

Inside the box, we’ll find the router itself wrapped in a soft plastic material and secured within an egg-container like packing material. Underneath and to the right of the router we’ll find the accessories, which include the router’s three detachable external high-gain antennas, power plug, a Cat5e ethernet networking cable, and the Quick Installation Guide.

We do wish they’d have included a Gigabit-ready Cat6 cable instead of the traditional Cat5e, as this router does have Gigabit WAN. Considering how much Cat6 cables have dropped in price, it is hard to imagine why more router manufacturers don’t include them in the box.