10/8/2015 **FINAL EDIT: Having been in our new house since March with the router active as our gateway for nearly that entire time, I'm very confident in the ability of this router to perform (and continue performing) well in the long haul. Other than the issues mentioned in the last edit with my WHS2011 setup (which I resolved by disabling uPnP and setting manual port forwards), everything has been rock solid. The only real disconnects I've had were caused by issues with the RE210 extender dropping its communications with this router; any connection established by an end device to the router itself has performed admirably. I very recently swapped the RE210 extender with a Netgear EX6200 (through Amazon's Warehouse Deals) running in Access Point mode and I'm not noticing the same drops as I had with the RE210 in Extender mode.
Firmware updates are still forthcoming with this model, which is heartening as TP-Link's new flagship device is out in the market now. The most recent (non-beta) update to 150811 (mostly) improved on the GUI, though I feel like they should swap the "No" and "Yes" buttons in the confirmation prompts for saving changes and/or logging out of the GUI. All in all, throughput from this device remains great, connections to the WiFi networks and requests for DHCP leases via WiFi are typically processed within two seconds, and stability has been rock solid. All things considered, I have no regrets purchasing this model and would not hesitate to continue purchasing TP-Link products in the future.
6/3/2015 **EDIT: I've had the opportunity to use this in a 2,000+ square foot house for the past few months, and things have been (mostly) great so far. Without wanting to drill more holes through the house to get the cable modem in another, more central location, the modem and router ended up in our basement on the north side of our house. This puts the router directly underneath both the family and living room, which is where most of my internet-connected devices reside. Between Smart TVs, Windows systems (a home server, multiple desktops/laptops, and a Surface 2 tablet), smartphones, and gaming systems, I can have up to 20 devices connected at any given time. Throughput on both the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz bands is great on the first floor of the house, though it starts to drop on the south side of the house, particularly on the second floor. I have a TP-LINK RE210 extender set up in my kitchen below the bedroom, so I've been able to extend the AC range without issue.
The only problem I've noticed so far is the interaction of the router with Windows Home Server 2011. I have my Remote Web Access configured and it tends to last a few weeks before the router seems to lock up. WAN and LAN connectivity does not drop for any of the devices; the only symptom I notice is that my Remote Web Access page no longer loads and I cannot repair the site through the Dashboard. Rebooting the router resolves the problem, though I hit a separate issue today where the GUI locked up and I can't remotely cycle the power.
2/10/2015 **EDIT: While we're still not in our own house to use this as the primary router, I did get my hands on an Intel 7260 Wireless-AC card to use in my laptop. Running on just the 2.4 Ghz band right now shows a stable connection (with an excellent/full bars connection one either side of the house) in the 200-270 Mbps range. From a chair in the living room almost all the way across the house, the 5 Ghz band does fluctuate between 130-351 Mbps with a good/three bar to great/four bar connection; I cannot fault the router for this, as 5 Ghz is known for its range limitation and signal degradation when traveling through walls and other solid obstacles.
System stability has been great, and I've only restarted this device once when troubleshooting an unrelated connection issue with my old Intel 7260 Wireless-N card. Things have run much nicer with this laptop after swapping out for the Wireless-AC card.
12/22/2014 **EDIT: Things are still running very well with this device; haven't had a blip in performance or any unexpected hangups. I've been randomly checking link speed while at various distances away from this router. I've seen 440+Mbps on the 5Ghz band in my current bedroom (same side of the house on the opposite end, through a larger loft and a few walls). Definitely have nothing to complain about at this point. I should also add that this router sits behind a 600Mbps Powerline device with gigabit ports. Basically, this isn't even this router's final form.
12/18/2014 **FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Having seen the Archer C7 and the TL-WDR4300 prior to this, I had a good idea of how large this would look in person. Opening the package, however, still produced a bit of a surprise at this model's girth. It's definitely "prettier" looking than the C7 with the white shell and the stand, but don't expect this to sit normally on a narrow shelf after plugging everything in. My current positioning actually saved some room from my last AP in this location, and I do like the stand setup. The power switch (rather than the push button on the C7 and TL-WDR4300) is a nice little addition; I've always hated the push button power setups, as I feel they tend to confound non-technical users when they're trying to plug things in and unwittingly power off the device.
Performance wise, the GUI seemed very snappy compared to my parent's Archer C7 and my own ASUS RT-N56U before it. I don't believe that regular users should experience issues configuring the access points and getting the device connected to the internet, even just using the "Basic" configuration tab that loaded as the main page through the GUI. The user experience through the menus is aesthetically pleasing, e.g. smooth fonts/symbols and colors that are easy on the eye, though the Advanced menu was a bit cluttered and (personally) could use some menu nesting.
Wireless throughput and range so far have been great. I have this running as an AP up a corner of the house, and I've had at least good coverage on the 5Ghz band when through multiple rooms across the house; the 2.4Ghz band has been very strong throughout, and this is a 2,700ish sq ft house. I've hit at least 300Mbps after switching my 5Ghz band to 80Hz channel width. The only thing I need to check on is whether I need NAT Boost off when using this as an AP. I seem to have some load latency I don't experience when using my parent's SSID's, but it may be my imagination. This AP fully utilizes the bandwidth available through our ISP, no complains there. I have no AC devices at this time, though I may try and grab an updated internal radio for my ASUS laptop and see how speeds report back with that configuration.
There is a newer model of this item:
Movember
Support men's health awareness with your Movember purchase Shop now
Consider a similar item
Similar items that may deliver to you quickly
Page 1 of 1 Start overPage 1 of 1
Compare with similar items
This Item  TP-Link AC1900 Smart Wireless Router - Beamforming Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Internet Routers for Home, High Speed, Long Range, Ideal for Gaming (Archer C9) | Recommendations  |  |  |  |  | |
| Price | $85.95 | -6% $235.05 List: $249.99 | -33% $134.99 List: $199.99 | -25% $130.63 Typical: $174.00 | $49.98 | -16% $45.99 List: $54.99 |
| Delivery | Get it Dec 3 - 5 | Get it as soon as Monday, Dec 2 | Get it as soon as Monday, Dec 2 | — | Get it as soon as Monday, Dec 2 | Get it as soon as Monday, Dec 2 |
| Customer Ratings | ||||||
| Sold By | CellularStream | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Tangeez | JMBO Sales | Juyi Store |
| connectivity tech | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Wi-Fi,USB,WAN,LAN | Ethernet | Ethernet, Wi-Fi | Ethernet |
| number of ports | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 |
| data transfer rate | 1900 megabits per second | 6579 megabits per second | 5400 megabits per second | 3.2 gigabits per second | 867 megabits per second | 1800 megabits per second |
| wireless standard | 802 11 AC | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 B | 802 11 AX | 802 11 A | 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 B | 802 11 A |
| frequency band class | dual band | tri band | tri band | dual band | dual band | dual band |
| lan port bandwidth | 10/100/1000 megabits per second | 10/100/1000 Mbps | 1000 Mbps | 2.5 Gbps | 5 ghz | 5 ghz |
| max upstream rate | 1300 megabits per second | — | 5400 megabits per second | 2500 megabits per second | 1200 megabits per second | 1800 megabits per second |
| security protocol | WEP, WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA-PSK2 | WPA3, WPA2, WPA2-Enterprise | WPA3 | WPA3 | WPA3 | WPA3, WPA2-PSK, WPA2-Enterprise, WPS |
| frequency | 5 GHz | — | 6 GHz | 1.5 GHz | 5 GHz | 880 MHz |
| operating system | Microsoft Windows 10, 8.1, 8 and below, MAC OS, NetWare, UNIX or Linux | Linux-based | Proprietary router operating system | RouterOS | — | — |
| antenna type | — | retractable | fixed | fixed | fixed | fixed |
From the manufacturer
Product Specifications:
- Dual-Band 2.4GHz (up to 600Mbps) + 5GHz (up to 1300Mbps)
- 1GHz Dual Core Processor
- 3x Detachable External Antennas
- 4x Gigabit Ethernet ports + 1x Gigabit WAN port
- 1x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0
Wi-Fi Without Limits
Press play and forget about buffering with the Archer C9. The Wireless AC router creates high-speed dual-band Wi-Fi speeds up to 1900 Mbps and increases total throughput up to 430% faster. Now, you can stream in 4K and game online without interruption on your Xbox, PlayStation, PC or Mac.
Enjoy reliable Wi-Fi across your home thanks to the Archer C9’s three high-performance dual-band antennas and Beamforming technology, which strengthens Wi-Fi connections.
Features
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
1 GHz Dual-Core CPU for Powerful ProcessingAt the heart of the Archer C9 is a 1 GHz dual-core processor that balances the demands of your devices to keep their connections fast and uninterrupted. Game online, stream movies, download files and share media while the powerful dual-core processor seamlessly manages each Wi-Fi band, every connection and all of the router’s hardware and software. |
Beamforming for Stronger ConnectionsBeamforming technology helps the Archer C9’s high-powered dual band antennas locate Wi-Fi devices and focus its wireless signal towards them instead of simply sending the router’s signal in all directions at once. With Beamforming, Wi-Fi connections made by the Archer C9 are stronger and more reliable, even as you carry mobile devices like smartphones and tablets from room to room. |
AC1900 Wi-Fi for 4K StreamingWireless AC creates Wi-Fi powerful enough to handle the demand of 4K streaming. Dual 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands allow more devices to connect to your home network at once. Experience smoother 4K streaming and online gaming with high-performance AC1900 Wi-Fi that delivers up to 1900 Mbps of dual band Wi-Fi speed. |
Benefits
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|
Easily Share Content within Your NetworkA USB 3.0 port lets you connect external drives to the router and runs 10x faster than USB 2.0 so you can quickly share files, photos, video and music wirelessly with devices connected to your home network. |
Intuitive Mobile InterfaceSet up and manage your Wi-Fi through the TP-Link Tether app, available for both Android and iOS. Tether’s simple layout lets you quickly access Wi-Fi settings such as guest privileges, scheduling and device management right from your smartphone. |
Trusted BrandOur world class R&D team, streamlined vertical manufacturing and strict quality control have enabled us to consistently create exceptional high quality products for the last 22 years. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Archer A7 | Archer C9 | Archer C2300 | Archer C3150 V2 | Archer C5400 | |
|
|
|||||
| Customer Reviews |
71,807
|
6,693
|
1,386
|
630
|
1,915
|
| Price | $69.99 | $85.95 | $68.58 | — | $248.00 |
| Wireless Spec | AC1750 | AC1900 | AC2300 | AC3150 | AC5400 |
| Wi-Fi Speed | Up to 1750Mbps | Up to 1900Mbps | Up to 2225Mbps | Up to 3167Mbps | Up to 5334Mbps |
| Wireless Range | Better | Better | Better | Best | Best |
| CPU Processor | Single-Core | 1GHz Dual-Core | 1.8GHz Dual-Core | 1.4GHz Dual-Core | 1.4GHz Dual-Core |
| Ethernet Ports | 4x Gigabit | 4x Gigabit | 4x Gigabit | 4x Gigabit | 4x Gigabit |
| USB Ports | 1x USB 2.0 | 1x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0 | 1x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0 | 1x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0 | 1x USB 3.0 + 1x USB 2.0 |
| Antennas | 3x External | 3x External | 3x External | 4x External | 8x External |
| Beamforming | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Online Gaming and 4K HD Video Streaming | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |
| Guest Network, Parental Controls, and IPv6 Support | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
Excellent router. Amazing flexibility, adjustable power levels and support for 2.4 and 5ghz along with guest networking.
Quite simply the best router I have ever purchased. I liked mine so much, I bought a spare to have on-hand when the first one gives up the ghost.There is so much to this router that I don't know how else to review it other than to go over what functions I like and use. For one, the router does have a basic and advanced mode. I tend to get into the more advanced functionality for my home network and this router offers all the right bells and whistles. The guest-user feature, allowing guests at your home or business to use the router while not having access to local LAN resources is *really* nice. And the dual 2.4 and 5 ghz support is just great. I also loved the address reservation so that certain devices hold onto an IP address permanently, it is a feature often seen in the workplace for computers that require a reserved address and is so nice to see on a device that operates in the consumer space.One other feature I liked was the ability to reduce the transmit power level for this router. I never had this on past routers and having the ability to put less stress on the transmitter was a nice add-on feature. I currently have mine set to middle and it works great for my needs. Your mileage may vary in your situation, so test these settings for power carefully before finalizing your router to a particular setting.The other big win for this TP-Link router is the add-on USB drive capability. I use it extensively and it is an extremely nice feature for interchange of data on your local network. Another feature that really is well done is the scheduling capability. It is very well executed and is specific to both the 2.4 and 5 ghz network settings for regular use and also specific settings for the guest network. I have tested it out and it does work well in both cases, but the menus are different for the permanent user and is a rules-based menu that can be tweaked for all manner of schedules while the guest network schedule menus are a little more static. All in all, a great execution and I can't complain about any of these features.There is so much more to this router that I can't really cover it all in the review, but I can say that I've had my first one for over a year now and it has performed extremely well. The form factor is great and the look of the device definitely has that "sci-fi" look about it. It boots up pretty fast and the status lights on the front are extremely easy to understand. I think the vertical orientation of the router is also a good idea as it likely enhances the cooling of the router with more surface area for air to reach to keep it cool (my guess only - correct me if I am wrong).The overall menu for controlling and setting the router up is extremely easy to understand and it works well with most browsers. I like the easy access "reboot" link for when I'm making changes to the router. Very fast reboot.Bottom line: This is a truly excellent router. I used another brand of router before and was buying a new one every year like clockwork. I've been running this one for over a year now and not a hiccup or issue. It plays well with my other network devices, is easy to configure and has an excellent form factor and is reliable. As long as TP-Link keeps hitting home runs with routers like this, I'll keep buying them.
Top reviews from other countries
Steve Mandamadiotis
Very satisfied with a great router
Reviewed in Canada on March 9, 2017