TP-Link Archer A7 Router Review
Our Verdict
For a deal-basement router, TP-Link's Archer A7 does a surprisingly practiced job of moving the bits around the business firm.
For
- Bargain router
- Reasonable performance
- 2-year warranty
Against
- Lacks deep customizability options
- Limited range
Tom's Guide Verdict
For a bargain-basement router, TP-Link's Archer A7 does a surprisingly practiced job of moving the bits around the house.
Pros
- +
Bargain router
- +
Reasonable performance
- +
2-year warranty
Cons
- -
Lacks deep customizability options
- -
Express range
TP-Link Archer A7 Key Specs
Wi-Fi spec: AC1750
Number of antennas/removable: 3/No
Ports: i WAN/4LAN gigabit per second, USB 2.0
Processor/memory/storage: Qualcomm Atheros 750MHz/128MB/16MB
Wi-Fi scrap: Qualcomm Atheros QCA9563
Elevation 802.11ac performance: 647.iv Mbps (at v feet)
Range: 80 feet
Size: 9.half dozen x half-dozen.4 x 1.3 inches
Looking for 1 of the best deals in Wi-Fi routers? The TP-Link Archer A7 may non have an impressive range or the customization options of competitors, but it has parental controls, Quality of Service (QoS) software and a two-year warranty. This router's performance should be more than adequate for most families, and the Archer A7's price is a winner. If you want a bargain, the Archer A7 is one of the all-time Wi-Fi routers available.
Editor's Notation: We periodically update our reviews to make sure that pricing and data is upward to date. Our rating and recommendation for the TP-Link Archer C2300 review is unchanged from when it originally published in September of 2019.
TP-Link Archer A7 router review: Blueprint
Small-scale and discrete, the TP-Link Archer A7 can be hidden only about anywhere. Not as absurd looking equally Asus' Blue Cave, the 9.6 x half dozen.4 10 ane.iii-inch Archer A7 is, however, 80% smaller and is less than one-quarter the size of Netgear's Nighthawk XR500 Pro Gaming Router.
- Encrypt every byte of your traffic with a router VPN
The black Archer A7 is pocket-size plenty to be stashed on a table, bookshelf or hung on a wall with its pair of mounting cutouts underneath. Unlike its more powerful cousin, the TP-Link Archer C2300, the Archer A7 runs cool, never exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
Inside, the Archer A7 dual-band router is powered by a Qualcomm Atheros QCA9563 Wi-Fi chip with a 750-MHz processor with 128MB of RAM. There'south 16MB of flash storage for property the device'southward settings and firmware. The dual-ring router has a maximum throughput of 450 Mbps for its 2.4-GHz band and 1.iii Gbps for its 5-GHz band, for a full bandwidth of one.75 Gbps.
Overall, it is conventional through and through but lacks Mu-MIMO's ability to connect with multiple users simultaneously. It does take Quality of Service (QoS) and parental controls.
The Archer A7's top speed of 647.4 Mbps blows away the 382.4 Mbps that Netgear's R6220 router was capable of at the same distance.
Upwards front end, the Archer A7 has x demure green LED icons that evidence power and activity on the 2.four- and 5-GHz channels also as the status of the net connexion and its Ethernet ports. There are likewise icons for the USB port and whether you're using the system'south Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) for quick connections. Instead of a switch to turn off the lights, the Archer A7 can do this via its firmware settings with a Dark Manner, where the lights can be scheduled to automatically turn on and off.
The Archer A7's back has the expected Ethernet input (for the broadband connection) and 4 downstream Ethernet ports (for wired connections, accessories and access points); all are rated at a gigabit per second peak speed. The USB two.0 connector can be used to share a hard drive or printer; the Archer A7 supports dozens of pop printers from such companies as Brother, Catechism, Epson and HP.
The router has buttons for turning it on and off, using the WPS system and a recessed reset primal. Its three movable antennas make the Archer A7 seem like it comes from a simpler Wi-Fi era compared with today's monster routers with six or viii antennas. On the downside, the Archer A7'south antennas can't be removed or replaced.
TP-Link Archer A7 router review: Performance
Using many of the latest speed-boosting techniques, like advanced beamforming and IPTV streaming, the Archer A7 balances cost and performance. Using Ixia's ixChariot software at our Utah examination facility to simulate a decorated network, the router was a step backside the best, but information technology should be more than plenty in a minor house or apartment.
The Archer A7'due south elevation speed of 647.4 Mbps was accomplished 5 feet from the client, which blows away the 382.4 Mbps that the Netgear R6220 router was capable of at the same distance. The Archer A7's throughput is between the TP-Link Archer C2300's phenomenal 963.six Mbps and the Asus Blue Cavern's mediocre 439.i Mbps at the same distance.
This throughput fell off to 623.v Mbps, 471.2 Mbps and 347.7 Mbps at 15 anxiety, l feet and 100 feet, respectively, putting it well behind the Archer C2300's 682.3 Mbps, 913.eight Mbps and 613.2 Mbps at the same corresponding distances. However, it beat the Bluish Cave router at 15 and l feet with 425.6 Mbps and 376.7 Mbps available at those respective distances. At 100 feet, the Blue Cavern sprinted ahead with 398.8 Mbps.
At the lab'south terminal distance of 150 feet, the Archer A7 delivered 347.5 Mbps versus 342.5 Mbps for the Archer C2300, but the Blue Cave was the long-distance champ at 437.2 Mbps.
1 of the fastest and easiest routers to set, TP-Link has two means to install the Archer A7: through a Spider web browser or using the visitor's Tether app.
In our existent-globe testing, the Archer A7 lagged the Archer C2300 at pushing the signal from room to room. For case, information technology trailed the Archer C2300 and Blue Cave at pushing a strong signal through a metal- or soundboard-covered wall. When the point needed to go up a floor and over 35 feet, the Archer A7 delivered 480.0 Mbps. By contrast, the Archer C2300 managed to deliver 629.8 Mbps for a 23% reward, while the Blue Cave was out of the running at 132.3 Mbps.
The Archer A7 roughshod short of filling my older three,500-square-foot home with Wi-Fi, leaving it with several dead zones. Using my iPad Pro, it had a range of 80 feet, well brusk of the Netgear R6220's 125-pes range. Still, it should be plenty for a small to mid-size home.
It used iv.two watts of power when operating. If you pay the national average of 13 cents per kilowatt hour of electricity, the Archer A7 should exist i of the almost economical routers to utilize, for an estimated annual cost of $four.fourscore.
I used the Archer A7 every 24-hour interval for more than than a week to get and send electronic mail, watch video, play a few games and mostly keep the house connected. It passed my breezy saturation test by successfully playing videos on a Surface Pro 3 and iPad Pro while a MacBook Air played an internet radio station and a Samsung TabPro S moved data onto and off a network storage organisation. While the bits were flying back and forth, the audio and video came through skip free.
TP-Link Archer A7 router review: Setup
One of the fastest and easiest routers to ready, TP-Link has 2 ways to install the Archer A7: through a Web browser or using the visitor's Tether app (bachelor for iOS or Android). First off, I connected my HP EliteBook Folio G1 to the router using the name and passcode printed on the router'southward included carte. After typing "tplinkwifi.net" (or 192.168.0.ane) into the browser's accost line, the router continued and started the setup sorcerer.
The router forced me to enter a new administrative password, set up the time zone and enter the type of broadband connection I have. Don't worry if you don't know the broadband connectedness details — the router will automatically fill them in.
Finally, the router asked for a new network proper noun and passcode and showed a summary page of settings. It wanted me to set a TP-Link account, simply, different others – such as Netgear – registration is non required.
Using the Tether app is but as easy and starts with scanning the QR code in the instruction booklet to become the needed software; it's too bachelor in the browser interface. I connected my Samsung Galaxy S8 phone to the Archer A7's preset network, entered the router's password and was able to change the network name and passcode.
Using either method, it took about 5 minutes to go the router set up.
TP-Link Archer A7 router review: Configuration
Between the Tether app and the browser dashboard, the Archer A7 has a small amount of custom options. It lacks things like the power to use actress-wide 160-MHz channels, Mu-MIMO and changing the preamble setting as well equally a way to test the internet connection'due south speed. It'south hundred-to-one that the Archer A7's chief audience of domicile-networking users will miss these items, however.
The Tether app has three tabs at the bottom: Home (internet connection's status, connected clients and the master and guest networks), Clients (what devices are online) and Tools (an assortment of configuration categories). At any fourth dimension, I was able redo the setup process, change the Wi-Fi passcodes or log in to my TP-Link Cloud business relationship.
In addition to a map of clients, the Archer A7's Network Diagnostics characteristic tin check on the router'southward connections and settings. The System section allowed me non but to reboot the router remotely merely too to alter the administrative countersign and update the firmware.
Tether's Tools is a deep dive. The Tools provides access to settings for controlling the LED lights, Parental Controls, Wireless and other details.
Past contrast, the Web browser configuration interface is different, and users will need to learn two interfaces to access all of the configuration options. There are three tabs at the summit for Quick Setup, Bones and Advanced settings. The Bones department has everything from a Network Map, Cyberspace connectedness, Wireless and USB to Parental Controls, Guest Network and TP-Link Cloud.
The Advanced section is more involved, with things similar changing the router to an admission point, scanning for USB printers and setting information priorities with the router'south Quality of Service (QoS) software. Those who want to push button delivery of streaming video to the limit with multicast video distribution, for instance, volition appreciate the power to tweak the settings for things like setting up an IGMP proxy server and snooping, in the IPTV/VLAN window. Near will merely ignore this feature.
Like the Tether app, TP-Link'southward browser interface includes the power to log out or reboot the router remotely. Below is the version of the router's hardware and software – handy during a tech support call.
While it uses standard WPA-2 encryption, the Archer A7 lacks the Archer C2300's Trend Micro software to stop malware from crossing the network. On the other paw, the Archer A7 tin protect a network from Denial of Service attacks and block sites on a black list. Information technology can work with IPv6 and likewise has a Network Address Translation firewall.
While I used the TP-Link firmware, the Archer A7 can apply open up-source OpenWRT software to operate the router. Exist careful, though — some intrepid users of this nonstandard firmware have reported startup glitches.
With the ability to manage the router from anywhere, the TP-Link Deject service provides extra flexibility. After registering, I was able to change the countersign and whitelist or blacklist devices.
One of the fastest and easiest routers to set, TP-Link has ii means to install the Archer A7: through a Web browser or using the company's Tether app.
The Archer A7's 2-twelvemonth warranty puts information technology in a grade above Netgear's one-yr coverage and 90 days of tech back up. With 24-hr back up, TP-Link's site adds a skillful multifariousness of installation setup videos, firmware updates and a detailed manual. There are FAQs on how to solve mutual bug. The browser interface and app both have links to chat with the support coiffure.
Different most routers, TP-Link provides an interactive emulator of what the Web browser interface looks like. This way you can try things out without the danger of bricking the router.
TP-Link Archer A7 router review: Verdict
It may not exist the fastest, largest or almost powerful router available, simply the TP-Link Archer A7's affordable price tag is on a par with the venerable Netgear R6220 router, making it one of the all-time bargains of the router world. Although its range is disappointing, the Archer A7 should exist enough for a small to midsize dwelling house and includes parental controls and Quality of Service (QoS) software forth with the ability to thwart online attacks. The icing on the Archer A7 cake is its two-twelvemonth warranty.
For those looking to fill a larger abode with elevation-speed Wi-Fi, the best bet may exist to stick with the better-performing only more than expensive TP-Link Archer C2300. For those in an apartment or minor firm, yet, the Archer A7 is a winner.
Source: https://www.tomsguide.com/us/tp-link-archer-a7-router,review-6605.html
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