TP-LINK Archer D9 Review

TP-Link is a considerably new name in the networking industry but the firm has been on the up, carving a name for itself in the market. The quality of its products has been consistent, with the Archer C7 802.11ac router outperforming most of its equivalents. The C-series routers are only capable of cable connections and DSL internet, and so the D-series routers from the same firm will cost considerably more considering they have an inbuilt DSL modem.

The TP-LINK Archer D9 is presented in a glossy white plastic external cover with an equally compelling silver plastic stand. On its rear are four gigabit Ethernet ports and a USB 3.0 port with an extra USB 2.0 port on the right side of the router. The master switches for the router and the Wi-Fi are also found on the rear side alongside the DSL port and a WPS button. The front side of the router is reserved for status icons which glow when the device is powered and these show a variety of feature status, from power and internet connectivity, 2.4GHz and 5GHz to line sync and USB activity.

The design also comprises of three detachable antennas which are the same height as the router. This router features a solitary icon light to show for LAN activity; a drawback considering that it has 4 gigabit Ethernet ports while the updating procedure for the routers firmware may confuse many novices. You will not be able to mount this router on the wall either as it designed for desk use.

The software has a familiar layout, although TP-Link has strived to make it more comprehensible using a large list of router functions on the left side. VLAN support and DynamicDNS support are included, with the latter limited to DynDNS.org and No-IP as service providers. The parental control feature is present; it is time-scheduled and consists of already assigned URL whitelist. The USB support is also an important feature as it allows storage access via FTP and SMB. Printer support is available and requires you to install the company’s USB printer controller app. The other expected features such as firewall, guest network support, port forwarding among other obvious features are included.

Its performance is top notch. While it is not the fastest 802.11ac router, it shows impressive speeds (even at range) which put more expensive rival routers to shame.

In a bid to save Tech newbies some headache, TP-Link has a mini CD included as part of the parcel. This has the printer software and also contains a manual and an ‘easy setup assistant’ which helps guide the user through ADSL and Wi-Fi settings.