| D-Link AC1750 | TP-LINK Archer C7 | |
|---|---|---|
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| WiFi Performance | AC1750 WiFi (450 + 1300 Mbps) | AC1750 WiFi (450 + 1300 Mbps) |
| WiFi Band | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz |
| Ethernet Ports | 4 Gigabit LAN port 1 Gigabit WAN port |
4 Gigabit LAN port 1 Gigabit WAN port |
| USB Ports | 1 USB 2.0 port | 2 USB 2.0 ports |
| Security | WPA, WPA2, WPS | 64/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK |
| Antennas | Internal | Three 5GHz 5dBi detachable antennas (RP-SMA) Three 2.4GHz internal antennas |
| Firewall Features | Network Address Translation (NAT) Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) |
DoS, SPI Firewall IP Address Filter MAC Address Filter Domain Filter IP and MAC Address Binding |
| MSRP | $149.99 | $99.99 |
The D-Link AC1750 uses the 802.11AC wireless networking standard which offer significant benefits to the users, the most obvious of which is an increase in the potential top connection speed. WiFi devices that use one of the older standards can work properly with the 1750, because the router is fully backwards compatible. That means that whether it is a smartphone, tablet, laptop, or desktop, the device should be able to connect to the router without any problems.
In terms of the signal strength, the fact that the 1750 uses the AC standard means it has a much better signal than older routers. Of course, this is affected by the distance between the connecting device and the router, and anything that blocks line of sight will degrade the signal quality. There is a shortage of devices for consumers that can actually use the AC standard for wireless connections, so having backwards compatibility with older standards is an important feature.
The 1750 comes with my D-Link Cloud Management, which enables the user to access and modify their router’s settings from any device – even if they are away from home. Most users will not need to take advantage of this, but it is useful to have in case it ever becomes necessary. Furthermore, the management software makes it easy to set up the router using a smartphone or mobile device just by downloading the app. The initial setup for the router only takes a few minutes, and it has an easy interface, so it does not require much computer literacy to set it up.
The dual band technology is good for letting higher-priority or more demanding applications use the 5GHz band, while lower-priority traffic can use the more common 2.4GHz band. Because 2.4GHz is more commonly used in networking, living near other people who have wireless networks leads to more crowding in the 2.4GHz channel. That can lead to occasional disconnections due to interference. The 5GHz channel gets around that by using a less crowded band in the wireless spectrum.
In conclusion, for a household that has a mid-level or above package from their internet provider, the 1750 is a good choice. It is easy to set up and will be compatible with devices that use the AC wireless standard when they begin to hit the market.
