The 3x3 high-performance router "Archer C9" that can also be used as a NAS with storage connection is a good cost performance!
What criteria do you use when choosing a wireless router? Ease of setup? Maker? price? Or performance? I think it depends on each person, but there are many people who want to choose products with high performance, low prices, and excellent cost performance. TP-LINK's "Archer C9" is one such product with excellent cost performance.
| ↑TP-LINK's "Archer C9". The actual selling price is around 16,000 yen. White body with a glossy finish. |
There may be people who hear TP-LINK and don't get it. TP-LINK is a Chinese manufacturer established in 1996 and established a subsidiary in Japan in 2015. It has continued to provide network products mainly for SOHO and small and medium-sized enterprises, and is currently used by tens of millions of users in more than 120 countries. It can be said that it is a manufacturer with high technical capabilities, such as announcing a router compatible with the IEEE802.11ad standard that uses the 60GHz band.
Archer C9 supports IEEE802.11ac and boasts a maximum performance of 1300Mbps in the 5GHz band and a maximum of 600Mbps in the 2.4GHz band with a 3x3 antenna. Equipped with a 1GHz dual-core processor, high-speed processing is possible even with multiple connections. Since it also supports beamforming, compatible products can capture the optimal radio waves more efficiently.
| ↑The antenna is detachable. |
The exterior has a stylish form based on white and is equipped with a fixed stand. Vertical type. You can connect 3 antennas and freely adjust the angle. The back has one WAN port and four LAN ports, all of which support Gigabit Ethernet. In addition to the WPS button, it also features 2.0 and 3.0 USB ports, one each. If you connect a printer, you can share it with everyone, and if you connect a storage, it becomes a NAS that can be accessed not only within the LAN but also from the outside.
| . You can also check the status of the USB. |
| ↑ Each port is arranged in a row on the back. There is a button for WPS and reset next to USB2.0. |
| ↑There is a USB3.0 port on the right side. The button above it is the WiFi on/off button. |
The setting method is an orthodox one that uses a browser. The setting screen has an easy-to-read design, and the setting is completed by following the instructions. A simple Japanese manual is included, and a free smartphone app "Tether" that allows you to configure the router is also available, allowing you to recognize and access the router itself.
| ↑Access the router with a browser. Login with default. |
| ↑After being prompted to change the ID and password, various settings can be made. If you leave the simple settings, you can also make your own detailed settings. |
| ↑Very easy-to-read setting screen with many icons. The reason why the x mark is attached is because it is used as an access point. |
| ↑Smartphone app "Tether". When you log in, you can check the connection status and make various settings. |
The router mode and Switch for access point mode. Therefore, once connected to the PC with a LAN cable, you must turn off the DHCP function from the settings and set it to a fixed IP if necessary. As with my house, if you have a Hikari Denwa contract such as FLET'S Hikari Next and use a router provided by NTT, another router must be connected as an access point. Since it is not switched with a single switch and is not described in the manual (it is listed in the FAQ on the manufacturer's site), some knowledge is required for these settings.
| ↑Turn off DHCP and UPnP, use static IP After setting and restarting, it can be used as an access point. |
After connecting as an access point, I tried using it immediately, but performance Impeccable. When connecting with iPhone 6s and measuring with Speedtest.net, both up and down recorded around 350 Mbps. Even if you measure from a distance of 7m or more from the router, it will record over 300Mbps, so it is sufficient as a signal strength.
| ↑Using Speedtest app on iPhone 6s measurement. The figures differ depending on the time zone and server, but it is close to the speed limit of the iPhone 6s. |
| ↑ By the way, the speed at the time of the same time server when connecting to wired LAN is over 700 Mbps. |
| ↑Measured at a distance of over 7m with the radio field strength checker app. The radio waves are clearly stronger than the wireless LAN router provided by NTT East Japan. |
Attach a USB 3.0 compatible USB memory to the USB 3.0 terminal I tried it. USB memory is a high-speed type that can read and write at 200 Mbps or more. It is easy to connect from a PC with a cable and access it as a network drive, and the media server name can be changed. When I measured it with CrystalDiskMark 5.1.2, it was about 48MB in sequential read. It is a level that can be played without problems even if you put a video file and play it as it is.
| ↑Elecom's USB memory "MF-RDSU3 ] (64GB) into the USB 3.0 terminal. |
| ↑No special settings required, accessible from within the LAN. FTP access from outside. |
| ↑Measured using folder specification with CrystalDiskMark 5.1.2. It's about 1/4 of the original ability, but it's a level where you can see the video directly. |
There is a network for guests, and you can turn it on/off from your smartphone Can. It can be done without security settings, so it's convenient when you want to temporarily open it. In addition, since it supports multi-SSID, it is possible to use devices with different security at the same time.
| ↑Settings for guests. The default is off and no security. |
In addition, content restrictions can be imposed by blacklists and whitelists, You can also set to secure a specific communication bandwidth by QoS (Quality of Service). In addition, I am glad that it has convenient functions that are not easily installed in home use, such as firewall function and DoS protection function.
| You can specify a band or specify sites that are inaccessible. |
| ↑QoS setting screen. It is possible to specify communication that gives priority to bandwidth. |
In this way, the communication speed is sufficiently fast, and the USB port and business functions Also, the actual selling price is around 16,000 yen, which is quite reasonable. With a size of 221 (W) x 86 (D) x 168.5 (H) mm, it does not get in the way even when installed in the living room. This product is recommended for those who use multiple smartphones and PCs and want to build their own network environment.
■Related site
"Archer C9" product page