Can a modern user imagine his life without the Internet? Of course not. Almost every person has it on smartphones, tablets, laptops or computers. And if the former, as a rule, are equipped with a mobile Internet module, then the latter must be connected via a wired method.
Using the services of several providers is not always convenient, so you need to choose an alternative method. It is provided by the installation of special equipment - a Wi-Fi router. Currently, picking up the device will not be difficult. The stores offer a wide range for home use. The main thing that is required from the buyer is to decide on some characteristics, appearance and, of course, budget. As for cheap devices, they are almost identical. Users who want to get a stable signal with a good wireless network speed prefer devices more expensive. For example, in the price range from 5,000 to 10,000 rubles, an excellent TP-LINK Archer C7 model is presented . Reviews about it, as well as functionality, are the main topic of this article. For those who are dealing with such devices for the first time, configuration methods will be described in detail below.
Before starting the review, I want to highlight that this manufacturer considers this model to be the best, which is able to support the standard of 802.11ac wireless networks. Also, the following properties speak about the advantages of the router:
- High bandwidth.
- Support for two operating frequencies.
- Three antennas, each of which produces a gain of 5 dBi.
- Powerful hardware platform.
- The presence of two USB connectors.
So, if the reader is interested in a short list of advantages, let's proceed to a detailed description of the TP-LINK Archer C7 Wi-Fi router.
Equipment
Like all manufacturer's devices, this one is packed in a company box. It is presented in bright colors. The main one is a light green tint. It’s worth saying right away that the external packaging design is quite attractive. The front panel has a large image of the router. Thanks to him, the buyer can immediately appreciate the original design of the device. On the left side of it is presented the name of the model - AC1750. And also there is information that the router is wireless. The manufacturer placed his logo in the upper left corner.
Due to the fact that the device has three removable antennas, the size of the box is not very large. It fit all the necessary elements for work. The first thing you need to say about the presence of a disk with software and instructions. They will come in handy during the first setup of the TP-LINK Archer C7 router . As mentioned above, antennas are folded separately from the router. Next to them is a power supply. In the reviews, users noticed that the wire in it is quite thin. Based on this, it is not recommended to bend it often. Also included was a patch cable. It is used to connect the router to stationary devices, for example, the system unit of a computer.
Design features
For the appearance of the TP-LINK Archer C7, it receives only positive reviews. The case has an unusual rectangular shape. The top panel is slightly curved. This gives the device originality. It is also worth noting that on the front panel the manufacturer used an unusual flat cover, as in most similar devices, and decorated it with separate three planks. On the central is the company logo. We can safely say that after attaching the antennas to the main box, the router becomes like a spaceship.
If the top panel has a glossy surface, then the bottom is made of matte material. For stability, the device is equipped with four plastic legs. The manufacturer did not forget to implement the fasteners. They are used if the user wants to mount the router on the wall. There are also ventilation holes, so electronic parts will not overheat.
Most reviews of the TP-LINK Archer C7 talk about the soiled body. It's about the front panel. The fact is that the plastic used has a glossy surface. Over time, it accumulates not only dust, but also fingerprints. Naturally, owners will have to constantly monitor the appearance of the device.
Controls and Connectors
Front indicators are located on the front. They are LED in type, therefore they do not heat up the device. There are a total of 10. Here there is a designation for power, Wi-Fi networks, depending on the range, four LAN ports, data exchange, Internet signal. They glow in a pleasant green color. However, in reviews of the TP-LINK Archer C7 (AC1750), users say that in the dark they are striking.
The controls and connectors are located on the back of the device. The first thing you should pay attention to is the golden antenna mounts. If you look at the panel from left to right, the port for connecting the battery is located first. Next to it is the Power key. Following her, the manufacturer placed a small wireless switch. There are also two USB ports, and between them an indicator of their work. The next is the Internet (WAN) connector. It is decorated in blue. Used to connect the cable provider. Behind the central mount of the antenna, four LAN ports are designed for creating a wired network. And the last button on this panel is Reset. It is used to quickly reboot the router and reset the settings.
Technical specifications TP-LINK Archer C7
In the comments, users respond not only flattering about the technical characteristics of this device. More details about the shortcomings will be described below. Now let's look at the hardware "stuffing" of the device. Its performance in the 2.4 GHz band is provided by the processor of the well-known Qualcomm brand. The chip model is QCA9558. It is thanks to him that the device can operate via the 802.11n protocol. This platform provides data transfer at speeds up to 450 megabits per second. This indicator is the maximum. Antennas for this range are located inside the device. They are soldered on the main board.
Given that the device can operate in the 5 GHz band, it is equipped with an additional chip in the form of a Mini-PCIe board. Implementation of 802.11n and 802.11ac standards is possible thanks to the Qualcomm QCA9880 processor. Naturally, for the operation of the 5 GHz range, higher characteristics are needed, therefore, the performance of the QCA9880 is higher than that of the QCA9558. The processor is responsible not only for the stable WiFi signal on the TP-LINK Archer C7, but also for high speed. These properties are provided by three external antennas. The user can count on a maximum figure, which is 1300 megabits per second.
Atheros AR8327N module is responsible for the operation of wired LAN ports. The developers did not forget to provide built-in storage, which is used for firmware. Its volume is 8 MB. The device also has 128 MB of RAM.
Indisputable advantages
As mentioned above, the TP-LINK Archer C7 wireless router is presented in a rather original case. If you do not take into account the level of soiling of the upper panel, then users have no complaints about the design. Also, the technical characteristics of the device can be attributed to the advantages. The device supports popular connection protocols. Importantly, in the settings there are options due to which parents can set a restriction for children on the use of the Internet - “Parental Control”. It is also possible to create a guest network. This router offers protection against DoS attacks. In addition to these options, advanced users separately in their reviews of TP-LINK Archer C7 (AC1750) highlighted support for IPv6 and IPv4 protocols. They also refer to the advantages of having USB ports. They can connect hard drives, printers, flash drives and more.
Owners of modern gadgets running the popular Android and iOS operating systems can remotely control the router. For this there is a special application TP-Link Tether. It not only allows you to change settings, but also provides access to content.
Router TP-LINK Archer C7: disadvantage reviews
As it turned out, the soiled housing is not the only drawback of this device. Most users were outraged by encryption standards. Many manufacturers have long been using 256-bit encoding. Unfortunately, in this device the user is given a choice between a 64-bit and a 128-bit key. It is installed in the interface menu. The encryption standards used in this device are WEP, WPA, WPA2. Such characteristics are sufficient for the budget segment, but in the business class this is somewhat weak.
Checking LAN settings on PC
Before proceeding with the settings of the TP-LINK Archer C7 (AC1750) router, you need to check the LAN connection settings. This is done directly on the computer to which the device will subsequently be connected.
Let's take a separate look at the action algorithm for Windows 7 and version 10.
- Windows 7. First, the user will need to click on the "Start" button. It is located in the lower left corner of the screen. Next, find the item "Control Panel" and go to it. Here the user needs the tab "View network status and tasks." Going into it, find the column "Change adapter settings." After clicking on it and immediately go to "Local Area Connection". In order to open all the parameters, you must click on the right mouse button. Find the “Properties” item in the drop-down list and click on it. Next, you will need to check the IP address and DNS server settings. Next to each of these items should be set to "Receive automatically."
- Windows 10. In order to enter the LAN settings, you will need to perform simple steps. Click on the Windows icon ("Start"). Go to "Options". There, find the "Network and Internet" tab. Next, click on the Ethernet column. Find the item “Configuring adapter settings”. Go to Ethernet again and use the right mouse button to call the context menu. In the list presented, find the tab “Properties”. Next, check the value of the IP address and DNS server. As in the first case, “Receive automatically” should be indicated. If there are other parameters, then you need to change them and confirm the action by clicking on “OK”.
Connecting a router to a PC
In order for the TP-LINK Archer C7 ru router to work correctly, you need to connect it correctly. First of all, you need to study all the connectors and ports on the case. Above they have already been described. There are also explanations on the packaging. First, the user needs to connect the Internet to the router. There is a special port in blue for this. It is used for cable provider. Next, you can start connecting the computer. Four yellow ports are designed for this. The user will need to take the cable provided by the manufacturer in the kit and connect the system unit and, directly, the router itself. To do this, you can select any of the four ports. As you can see, there is nothing complicated about this, which is confirmed in the reviews about the TP-LINK Archer C7 router.
Now it remains only to connect the power supply cable. To do this, there is a connector on the back of the case. A plug is inserted into it, and the plug of the power supply is plugged into an outlet. The last user action is clicking on the Power button. Everything, the router is not only connected to the computer, but also in working condition. Now you can proceed directly to the settings.
Web interface: authorization
Studying reviews of TP-LINK Archer C7, it was noticed that many users are interested in the address of the router. This combination consists of certain numbers separated by a period, - 192.168.0.1. What is this code for? It is entered in the address bar of the browser in order to open the router interface. If the numbers are entered correctly, a small window will appear on the screen asking the user to enter the user name and factory password. If the device is new, then by default in both cases will be the word admin. After filling out these fields, you must confirm your action.
Setting Highlights
So how to configure TP-LINK Archer C7? This moment is quite important. It is from him that the correct operation of the device will depend. In the comments, advanced users recommend starting the setup with wireless security. To do this, a password is set on Wi-Fi. Thanks to him, only those people who know the code can connect to the network. Next, go to the choice of connection type. What does this mean? There are currently many providers in Russia. All of them use different connection protocols. If the user does not have these data, then you can call the provider's hotline and clarify all points. Most often, the type of connection is indicated in the contract.
Wireless setup
For those who have previously used a single-band router, setting up the TP-LINK Archer C7 may seem complicated. The fact is that this model has two working frequencies, so you need to configure them separately. It is important to understand that by connecting to 5 GHz, the user gets a higher speed, but the radius of action is reduced. But there is one “but.” The problem is that not all devices work with this range. But the frequency of 2.4 GHz is supported by all devices. However, it has significant disadvantages. We are talking about a lower speed and the appearance of frequent interference. Based on this, each user must individually decide at which frequency it is best to work. In this case, it is allowed to select two ranges at once in the menu. To do this, you need to go to the item "Selecting the operating frequency" and put it in front of each check mark. These actions must be confirmed by clicking on "Save".
The next step will be to create, directly, the wireless network itself. To do this, you must first go into the "Wireless - 2.4 GHz" mode. After that, go to the basic settings. A new menu window will open on the screen. In it, the user will see the column "Wireless Network Name". You can invent anything you want using letters and numbers. It is important to understand that this name will be available to other users. Filling this column, we proceed to the choice of the region. If the user lives in Russia, then it is necessary to set it. The fact is that this may affect the operation of the device. Having completed these two manipulations, it is necessary to save the changes made.
After the wireless network is created, you need to restrict access to it. This is done in the item "Wireless Security". In order to set a password, you must select the type of encryption. Most users prefer WPA / WPA2-Personal. After selecting this item, the line with the password will become active, it creates a complex combination of letters, numbers and other characters. It is also recommended to check the settings in the authentication type tab - WPA2-PSK is selected. And in the encryption column should be AES.
Now you can proceed to the 5 GHz band settings. This is done like the above. As in the first case, you must go to the tab "Wireless mode - 5 GHz". Then go to the main settings. Create a network by inventing a name for it. The TP-LINK Archer C7 (AC1750) reviews say that it’s better to choose one for each frequency so that the user can quickly understand which network he is connecting to. The next step will be to select a region. It is recommended that users do not forget to save the entered information on each page. To do this, at the bottom there is a "Save" button. In order for the settings to take effect, you must reboot. You can make it directly in the menu by clicking on Click Here.
PPTP setup
Let's now look at how to configure the TP-LINK Archer C7 router depending on the type of connection. To begin with, we’ll deal with the PPTP standard. These parameters are entered in the “Network” item. Going to it, you need to select the WAN tab. Next, in the window that opens, the user will see a graph with the type of connection. You must select "PPTP / PPTP Russia" (provided that the owner lives in this country). After that, the following fields are activated. The first is the name / login. It is assigned to the subscriber upon conclusion of an agreement with a service provider. These documents also contain password information. It is introduced in the next column. For this type of connection, it is important to specify the IP address of the server. This is done in a special line.
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PPPOE setup
In the TP-LINK Archer C7 Wi-Fi router, the configuration of this type of connection is by and large no different from the above. It, as in the first two cases, is carried out in the "Network" tab. The only difference will be the type of protocol. From the drop-down list, select "PPPOE / PPPOE Russia". If the user name and password are requested, enter them.
Next, pay attention to the tab "Dynamic IP address". Opposite it, you need to check. It is also suggested here to choose how to connect. The user can check the box opposite the graph according to the schedule, on demand or automatically.
To summarize
Summing up, it must be said that the reviews on the TP-LINK Archer C7 router are mostly positive. Users note support for the standard 802.11ac. The comments also often discuss the level of functionality and performance. Those who use this router at home have more than enough device capabilities. It is also worth noting that the manufacturer used separate network modules to work at different frequencies. This provides high throughput.
However, in some reviews you can find complaints. They are addressed to the range. Those operating at 5 GHz often complain that the signal is significantly attenuated even through one wall. Some users have experienced device freezes. It is because of these minuses that they believe that the manufacturer significantly overestimated the cost of this model.