| Buffalo Airstation AC1750 | ASUS RT-AC66R | TP-LINK Archer C8 | |
|---|---|---|---|
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 |
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| WiFi Performance | AC1750 WiFi (450 + 1300 Mbps) | AC1750 WiFi (450 + 1300 Mbps) | AC1750 WiFi (450 + 1300 Mbps) |
| WiFi Band | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz |
| Ethernet Ports | 4 Gigabit LAN port 1 Gigabit WAN port |
4 Gigabit LAN port 1 Gigabit WAN port |
4 Gigabit LAN port 1 Gigabit WAN port |
| USB Ports | 2 USB 2.0 port | 1 USB 3.0 port 1 USB 2.0 port |
|
| CPU | 800 MHz dual core | Broadcom BCM4706 | Qualcomm QCA9005AP |
| RAM | 512 MB | 256 MB | 128 MB |
| Flash Memory | 128 MB | 128 MB | 8 MB |
| Antennas | Internal | 3 detachable antennas | 3 dual band detachable antennas |
| MSRP | $169.99 | $169.99 | $139.99 |
The Buffalo AirStation Extreme AC1750 is a gigabit dual band router that comes with DD-WRT. It features high speed Wi-Fi connectivity on the 5GHz band.
Rather than using Buffalo’s default firmware, the AirStation Extreme uses a popular open source platform from DD-WRT. In fact, it is the first 802.11ac router with DD-WRT firmware. While this may not be of particular use to home users, network enthusiasts and advanced users will find it more appealing to use an interface that they’re already familiar with.
The router performs extremely well on the 5GHz frequency band. It also delivers a stable Wi-Fi signal. While clearly not the router with the longest range, it still qualifies as an attractive deal for its price. If you’re fond of the DD-WRT firmware, then this router is meant for you. On the other hand, if you’re looking for a multitude of customization options for your home router, buying the Buffalo Extreme AC1750 still makes sense.
Design
In design, it resembles the WZR-D1800H, which was the first 802.11ac router introduced by the same manufacturer. It’s a box shaped router with two detachable stands that allow you to position the router both vertically and horizontally. Four LAN ports and a WAN port is housed on the back of the device. It also gets two USB ports, a USB 3.0 port and a USB 2.0 port. These ports come in handy for connecting the router to an external storage device or a printer.
An LED light glows in white or red color to highlight the word “Buffalo”. The LED glows in white color when everything is working in order. The red color is displayed when the user’s attention is required. Three smaller LEDs display the status of wired network, Wi-Fi network and Internet connectivity. It also features a button label AOSS that doesn’t perform any function by default. The button is designed for use with Buffalo’s stock firmware and allows a user to connect Buffalo Wi-Fi devices to the Wi-Fi network of the router. The button can be programmed to work with DD-WRT as well.
Hardware
It features powerful hardware capabilities that include dual-band support for three-stream 802.11ac on its 5GHz band and three-stream 802.11n on the 2.4GHz band. It yields up to 1300 Mbps and 450 Mbps on the 5GHz and 2.4GHz bands respectively, qualifying as an AC1750 router. While the router has support for both 802.11ac and 802.11n clients, you must be connected with a compatible client to the router to enjoy the fastest Wi-Fi speed.
Setup
The router is very easy to setup. Owing to its two default networks, you can start using the device right after taking it out of the box. All that’s required is to plug an Internet source to the WAN port of the router, and connect the router to a power source.
To customize the network features and settings, visit the Web interface of the router. The router comes with a tiny label that includes this information as well. In the URL bar of the browser, point to the default IP address of the router, which is 192.168,1,1. The default credentials for logging in are: admin / password.
Firmware
The Extreme AirStation AC1750 gets its default firmware from DD-WRT, which is a Linux-based open source firmware used for access points and wireless routers. The powerful firmware offers a range of operational modes that enable the router to be used as an access point, wireless extender or client bridge. It also extends several controls to the router, such as the ability to define advance access controls, modify wireless radio power and create a Wi-Fi hotspot.
