The TP-Link Archer A8 router is the company’s most recent model, which was released lately. With Wireless AC1900, speeds of up to 1300Mbps in the 5GHz band and 600Mbps in the 2.4GHz band are possible, according to the manufacturer. Taking a look at this incredibly budget router today, I’ll examine how well a router at this price point performs in terms of reliability and performance.
The Archer A8 is being designed to replace the Archer A7 or C7, which are both reaching the end of their useful lives. As a result, it appears to be a carbon copy of the Archer A7 that it is intended to replace. It has a glossy plastic design and comes with three non-removable external antennas, which are not included.
In 2020, the TP-Link Archer A8 (A8) router will be released. It is powered by a MediaTek TP1900BN chipset running at 1.2 GHz, 64 MB of RAM, and 4 MB of flash memory. IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards are supported, and the highest speed that you can achieve with Archer A8 is 600 + 1300 Mbps. The AC1900 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards.
The Guest network function of the Archer A8 router is a convenient tool that allows you to create a separate network for visitors.
The Archer A8 router features one WAN port that supports 10/100/1000 Mbps and four LAN ports that support 10/100/1000 Mbps.
Hardware
One thing to keep in mind is that the Archer A8 includes MU-MIMO technology. When a greater number of devices are connected to the Wi-Fi network, the MU-MIMO technology will allow for improved performance. A simultaneous connection of Multi User, Multiple Input Multiple Output will allow the router to achieve higher speeds as a result of this feature.
As an added bonus, TP-Link has included support for Wireless AC beamforming technology, which should assist to improve the Wi-Fi coverage of this router when used in conjunction with Wireless AC devices. Wireless RF beam steering will be possible thanks to the router, which will increase signal reception for devices linked to the 5GHz network.
Performance
When testing the speed using a laptop equipped with an AC1200 wireless adapter, the performance is satisfactory. If we utilize an AC1900 wireless adapter, such as the TP-Link Archer T9UH, we anticipate that the speed will be improved. It’s important to remember that the WiFi speed is also dependent on the wireless adapter in your device.
In close proximity to the router, or against a nearby wall, we can easily achieve speeds of over 500Mbps without difficulty. This performance is superior to that of the majority of Wireless AC routers available on the market in the same price range.
When the range between the wireless router and the client is increased to two walls, the speed drops to 285Mbps. This is to be expected because the Wi-Fi speed is highly dependent on the intensity of the wireless signal. This demonstrates that the Archer A8 is only marginally slower than the Archer C80, which we previously evaluated.
Because of its outstanding Wi-Fi performance, the Archer A8 could be a viable candidate for use as a wireless access point when the built-in access point mode is activated on the device. TP-Link should include a repeater mode so that this router may be used as a high-performance wireless repeater, which can be handy in some cases, however, this isn’t the case.
When connected directly to the router via an Ethernet LAN cable and our Gigabit Internet connection, the Archer A8 can achieve a maximum speed of 914Mbps.
Specifications
| WIRELESS | |
|---|---|
| Standards | Wi-Fi 5 IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz IEEE 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
| WiFi Speeds | AC1900 5 GHz: 1300 Mbps (802.11ac) 2.4 GHz: 600 Mbps (802.11n) |
| WiFi Range | 3 Bedroom Houses3× Fixed High-Performance Antennas Multiple antennas form a signal-boosting array to cover more directions and large areas Beamforming Concentrates wireless signal strength towards clients to expand WiFi range |
| WiFi Capacity | MediumDual-Band Allocate devices to different bands for optimal performance 3×3 MU-MIMO Simultaneously communicates with multiple MU-MIMO clients Airtime Fairness Improves network efficiency by limiting excessive occupation |
| Working Modes | Router Mode Access Point Mode |
| HARDWARE | |
|---|---|
| Processor | 1.2 GHz Single-Core CPU |
| Ethernet Ports | 1× Gigabit WAN Port 4× Gigabit LAN Ports |
| Buttons | WPS/Wi-Fi Button Power On/Off Button Reset Button |
| Power | US Version: 12 V ⎓ 1.5 A EU Version: 12 V ⎓ 1 A |
| SECURITY | |
|---|---|
| WiFi Encryption | WEP WPA WPA2 WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x) |
| Network Security | SPI Firewall Access Control IP & MAC Binding Application Layer Gateway |
| Guest Network | 1× 5 GHz Guest Network 1× 2.4 GHz Guest Network |
| SOFTWARE | |
|---|---|
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
| OneMesh™ | OneMesh™ Supported Without replacing your existing devices or buying a whole new WiFi ecosystem, OneMesh™ helps you create a more flexible network that covers your entire home with TP-Link OneMesh™ products. |
| Parental Controls | URL Filtering Time Controls |
| WAN Types | Dynamic IP Static IP PPPoE PPTP L2TP |
| Quality of Service | QoS by Device |
| Cloud Service | OTA Firmware Upgrade TP-Link ID DDNS |
| NAT Forwarding | Port Forwarding Port Triggering DMZ UPnP |
| IPTV | IGMP Proxy IGMP Snooping Bridge Tag VLAN |
| DHCP | Address Reservation DHCP Client List Server |
| DDNS | TP-Link NO-IP DynDNS |
| Management | Tether App Webpage |
| PHYSICAL | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 9.6 × 6.4 × 1.3 in (243 × 160.6 × 32.5 mm) |
| Package Contents | Wi-Fi Router Archer A8 Power Adapter RJ45 Ethernet Cable Quick Installation Guide |
| OTHER | |
|---|---|
| System Requirements | Internet Explorer 11+, Firefox 12.0+, Chrome 20.0+, Safari 4.0+, or other JavaScript-enabled browser Cable or DSL Modem (if needed) Subscription with an internet service provider (for internet access) |
| Certifications | FCC, RoHS |
| Environment | Operating Temperature: 0℃~40℃ (32℉ ~104℉) Storage Temperature: -40℃~70℃ (-40℉ ~158℉) Operating Humidity: 10%~90% non-condensing Storage Humidity: 5%~90% non-condensing |
| TEST DATA | |
|---|---|
| WiFi Transmission Power | FCC: <30dBm(2.4 GHz & 5 GHz) |
| WiFi Reception Sensitivity | 5 GHz: 11a 6Mbps:-98dBm, 11a 54Mbps:-78dBm 11ac VHT20_MCS0:-98dBm, 11ac VHT20_MCS8:-72dBm 11ac VHT40_MCS0:-92dBm, 11ac VHT40_MCS9:-68dBm 11ac VHT80_MCS0:-89dBm, 11ac VHT80_MCS9:-64dBm 2.4 GHz: 11g 6Mbps:-97dBm, 11a 54Mbps:-77dBm 11n VHT20_MCS0:-97dBm, 11n VHT20_MCS8:-72dBm 11n VHT40_MCS0:-92dBm, 11n VHT40_MCS9:-67dBm |
Verdict
The Archer A8 performs admirably in our Wi-Fi speed test, providing fast Wi-Fi speeds as well as adequate Wi-Fi coverage. It is fairly simple to set up, and the performance will be enough even with a slower Internet connection. Those looking for a router that provides up to 500Mbps Internet speed and does not have more than 20 devices connected will find this router to be an excellent choice.
If you don’t mind paying a somewhat greater price for the Archer C80, I would recommend that you do so instead, as it is not significantly more expensive but offers superior performance.
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