The TP-Link Archer C8 AC1750 router is the follow-up to 2013’s C7 which was a high-end router but with a fairly budget price (in true TP-Link style!).
TP-Link have taken the C7 and given it a little makeover, not just under the hood, but also with the looks too. Now white in color, the Archer C8 has a dual core processor and have finally installed a USB 3.0 port, oh, and an eSATA interface…yes!
The Archer C7 has been a big success for TP-Link. Can the C8 follow on and build from the foundations left by the C7? Time to find out…
TP-LINK Archer C8 AC1750 Features
A rundown of the biggest features on offer…
8 Features of the TP-LINK Archer C8 AC1750
1.75Gbps AC
The Archer C8 is an 802.11ac Dual Band router with speeds totaling up to 1.75Gbps when combining Wireless N & AC. Wireless AC (5GHz) data rates are 1.3Gbps, with 450Mbps available on the (2.4GHz) Wireless N. With these speeds, bandwidth intensive data transfers are a breeze. As consumers demand HD streaming around the home, ultra-fast wireless is more in demand than ever. The C8 is here to fulfill that demand.
800MHz Dual Band CPU
You need a good piece of hardware to cope with gigabit wireless, gigabit cabled Ethernet speeds, as well as USB sharing. This is especially true when these are all being multitasked at the same time. TP-Link have installed an 800MHz dual core processor to ensure that the C8 has the power it needs to multitask intense sessions at the same time without any issues.
Two USB Ports
You’ve downloaded your favorite TV show or the latest movie, and you want to watch it with as little inconvenience as possible. By plugging in a USB 3.0 drive to the storage port, you can access your shared files across the home. This removes the burden of manually plugging in drives and copying files across your home in order to watch something. Centralizing your files onto a USB drive and plugging it into the Archer C8 means you can share easily without any hassles.
There is also a second USB 2.0 port. It can also be used for sharing files, or as a backup to a main drive. Perhaps best of all, you can plug a USB printer can plug into the port, meaning that you now have a centralized printer to go with your centralized files.
3x Adjustable & Detachable Antennas
The Archer C8 ships with three adjustable antennas. If you live on a single story property, make sure you have the antennas vertically upright.
If you live in a multiple story house, the advantages of adjustable antennas are realized when you angle the antennas in different directions to help intensify coverage to different floor levels.
The antennas can also be removed and replaced with antennas of your choosing. Higher gain antennas can boost coverage significantly, but this is only really recommended for single level properties.
Archer Beamforming
Directing Wi-Fi signal in the direction of the wireless clients improves connection reliability and helps to increase coverage and throughput speeds at longer distances. The Archer C8 uses Beamforming technology to accomplish these improvements.
Gigabit Wired Ethernet LAN & WAN
If you use cabled network devices, there are 4x 1Gbps LAN ports at your disposal. There’s also 1x 1Gbps WAN port for using as a connection to your modem.
Wireless Guests
If you have visitors for company, you can safely let them use your Internet connection without worrying about your home network being compromised. The Guest Wireless is a separate wireless network that your visitors would connect to that keeps them isolated from your own main wireless network.
Parental Control
Make sure the kids aren’t using the Internet after bedtime by setting a schedule to block certain users from using the network at any times of your choosing.
You can also set white-list access to websites of your choosing. Set this for all users, or for clients of your choosing by using the client’s MAC address.
TP-Link Archer C8 Ports
TP-LINK Archer C8 Technical Specs
- 802.11a/b/g/n/ac
- 800MHz Dual Core CPU
- 2.4GHz / 5GHz
- WPA2 / WPS
- 1x Gbps WAN / 4x Gbps LAN Ports
- 1x USB 3.0 / 1x eSATA|USB 2.0 port
- WPS & Wi-Fi Button
- Guest Network
- 3x Detachable Antennas
Do you agree/disagree? Why not comment below and let us know what you think…