| Belkin N750 | TP-LINK Archer C2 | |
|---|---|---|
 |
 |
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| WiFi Performance | N750 WiFi (300 + 450 Mbps) | AC750 WiFi (300 + 450 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 |
| Security | 128-bit WEP 256-bit WPA 64-bit WEP WPA2 |
64/128-bit WEP WPA / WPA2 WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK |
| Antennas | Internal integrated | Two dual band detachable antennas (RP-SMA) |
| Firewall Features | NAT and SPI | DoS, SPI Firewall IP Address Filtering/MAC Address Filtering/Domain Filtering IP and MAC Address Binding |
| MSRP | $79.99 | $69.99 |
The TP-Link Archer C2 is a dual-band wireless router that offers support for both 802.11ac and 802.11n Wi-Fi standards. In terms of speed, the router is capable of delivering up to three times the N speed router. In addition to fast speed, the router also offers robust security and a more powerful frequency. If your current router is unable to solve congestion issues due to multiple users or you’re simply looking to fasten things up on your multimedia network, then investing in 802.11ac is a step in the right direction.
Design
It is a saucer-shaped router with two detachable antennas on the rear of the device. The router is attractively designed and is meant to be used on a flat surface. An array of indicator lights is included on the front top of the router to display different statuses, such as power and Internet connectivity.
Features
The two detachable antennas work to provide stable omni-directional signals and superior coverage. While the coverage is optimal within the 10-meter range, you may experience weaker signal at longer distances. On the other hand, an obstruction, such as wall can also affect the quality of signal.
It has four gigabit Ethernet ports and one gigabit LAN port for connecting to wired devices and an Internet source respectively. The gigabit ports are capable of delivering up to 10 times the speed of regular ports.
It comes with a single USB port that allows you to connect the router to an external storage device or a printer. As opposed to other competing routers with two USB ports, it only features a single USB port, which may be problematic if you plan on connecting the router to a printer and an external storage device at the same time.
The dual-band router offers up to 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 433Mbps on the 5GHz band, ensuring a delay-free workrate. While the 2.4GHz band tackles small tasks, such as Internet browsing and email, the more intense tasks are supported by the 5GHz band.
It also features guest network access through secure Wi-Fi access. This lets you share your network without having to reveal your personal data.
It comes with useful parental control features that allow you to restrict access to certain users. This feature can be used by parents or an office administrator to restrict Internet access to certain users, such as kids or staff members.
TP-Link is IPv6 compatible. It prioritizes the router resources to ensure uninterrupted access even when watching movies or playing online games.
Setup
Setting up the router is a simple task. The installation CD comes in the router box. It offers a step by step installation process that makes it easy for non-technical users to configure the device. The entire setup can be completed in no more than 5 minutes of your time.
You can also access the Web interface of the router for advanced settings. The default IP address for the router is 192.168.1.1. It will prompt you for username and password. The default value for both fields is ‘admin’.
Verdict
It is a reliable router that comes at an affordable price tag. It delivers decent performance and has a stable signal. The dual band router is capable of supporting both the ac and n clients, which is an added plus. The features make the Archer C2 a good choice for your home or small office network.
