The TP-Link Archer A20 ($199.99) is a tri-band router that offers good throughput, extensive parental controls, and three years of free Trend Micro network security. It’s simple to set up and maintain using a web console or a mobile app, and it has exceptional file-transfer performance, making it a great choice for downloading and moving huge files. With our Editors’ Choice, the D-Link DIR-2680, you’ll receive faster overall throughput performance and an extra two years of network protection.
Features
The Archer A20 isn’t particularly innovative in terms of design. In fact, it resembles the Archer C3200 router, which we examined in 2015. Six non-removable external antennas fold out from the top of the router in the black textured container, which measures 1.5 by 7.9 by 7.9 inches (HWD). Power, Ethernet, internet, all three radio bands, two USB ports, and WPS activity are all indicated by little LED lights on the front edge.
Wi-Fi (on/off), WPS, and LED (on/off) buttons are also located along the front edge. Four Gigabit LAN ports, two of which enable link aggregation, a WAN port, a USB 3.0 port, a USB 2.0 port, a reset button, a power button, and a power jack are all found on the back panel.
The Broadcom 1.8GHz quad-core processor and 512MB of RAM power the Archer A20. It’s an AC4000 router with maximum 2.4GHz signal rates of 750Mbps and 1,625Mbps on each of the two 5GHz radio bands. It enables MU-MIMO simultaneous data streaming, direct-to-client signal beamforming, and SmartConnect thanks to Wave 2 802.11ac technology (automatic band steering).
The Archer A20 can be installed and operated from a PC using a web console, or from a mobile device using the TP-Link Tether app for iOS or Android, just as the TP-Link Archer C5400X gaming router. The online console opens to a network map that shows the number of wired and wireless clients connected, as well as the router’s IP address and Speedtest results.
Setup and Management
Getting the Archer A20 up and running is a breeze. While you may do it from your PC using the online interface, the TP-Link Tether app for iOS and Android is definitely the most user-friendly way to do it. After you’ve connected everything to your router and switched it on, all you have to do now is download and launch the Tether app to get things going. The software will walk you through a few steps that will allow you to name your network, set a password, and select which WiFi bands you want to use.
The Tether app functions as a simplified version of the web interface to manage your various settings once it’s been set up. The app doesn’t have the same level of flexibility as the web interface, but it does let you check for firmware updates, reset the router, see a list of connected devices and which bands they’re utilizing, and even do speed tests. You can also use the app to enable guest networks and link the router to voice control and automation services like Amazon’s Alexa and IFTTT (If This Then That).
Performance
The Archer A20 has a theoretical total throughput of 4,000 Mbps, divided into 750 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1,650 Mbps on each of the two 5GHz bands. Those speeds, on the other hand, are significantly above what you’re likely to get with your actual internet connection in a regular residential setting. Despite this, the Archer A20 manages to maintain a strong connection to my devices over long distances thanks to a mix of useful features. There was one vexing exception, which is more a symptom of my apartment’s layout than a router flaw, but I’ll get to it later.
The Archer A20’s main selling point is that it’s a tri-band router, meaning it broadcasts its wifi signal over one 2.4GHz and two 5GHz bands. The 2.4GHz frequency typically has a larger range but slower speeds, whereas the 5GHz band has a higher throughput but a shorter range.
Specifications
| Standards | Wi-Fi 5 IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5 GHz IEEE 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
|---|---|
| WiFi Speeds | AC4000 5 GHz: 1625 Mbps (802.11ac) 5 GHz: 1625 Mbps (802.11ac) 2.4 GHz: 750 Mbps (802.11n) |
| WiFi Range | 4 Bedroom Houses6× 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 | HighTri-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 | 1.8 GHz Dual-Core CPU |
| Ethernet Ports | 1× Gigabit WAN Port 4× Gigabit LAN Ports Link Aggregation (802.3ad) available with 2× LAN ports |
| USB Support | 1× USB 3.0 Port 1× USB 2.0 Port Supported Partition Formats: NTFS, exFAT, HFS+, FAT32 Supported Functions: Apple Time Machine FTP Server Media Server |
| Buttons | Wi-Fi On/Off Button Power On/Off Button LED On/Off Button WPS Button Reset Button |
| Power | 12 V ⎓ 5 A |
| SECURITY | |
|---|---|
| WiFi Encryption | WEP WPA WPA2 WPA/WPA2-Enterprise (802.1x) |
| Network Security | SPI Firewall Access Control IP & MAC Binding Application Layer Gateway HomeCare™ AntivirusMalicious Site Checker Port Intrusion Prevention Infected Device Isolation Notification and Log |
| Guest Network | 1× 5 GHz Guest Network 1× 2.4 GHz Guest Network |
| VPN Server | OpenVPN PPTP |
| SOFTWARE | |
|---|---|
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
| Service Kits | HomeCare™ |
| Parental Controls | HomeCare™ Parental ControlsCustom Profiles Content Filtering App Block URL Filtering Time Limit Time Schedule (Bedtime) Log Insight Monthly Report |
| WAN Types | Dynamic IP Static IP PPPoE PPTP L2TP |
| Quality of Service | QoS by Device HomeCare™ QoSQoS by Application |
| Cloud Service | Auto Firmware Upgrade 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) | 7.9 × 7.9 × 1.5 in (200.7 × 200.7 × 38.1 mm) |
| Package Contents | Wi-Fi Router Archer A20 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, CE, 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 | CE: <20dBm(2.4GHz) <23dBm(5.15GHz~5.35GHz) <30dBm(5.47GHz~5.725GHz) FCC: <30dBm(2.4GHz & 5.15GHz~5.25GHz & 5.725GHz~5.825GHz) <24dBm(5.25GHz-5.35GHz & 5.47GHz-5.725 GHz) |
| WiFi Reception Sensitivity | 5 GHz_1: 11a 6Mbps：-96dBm, 11a 54Mbps:-78dBm 11ac VHT20_MCS0:-95dBm, 11ac VHT20_MCS11:-65dBm 11ac VHT40_MCS0:-93dBm, 11ac VHT40_MCS11:-62dBm 11ac VHT80_MCS0:-90dBm, 11ac VHT80_MCS11:-59dBm 11ac VHT160_MCS0:-87dBm, 11ac VHT160_MCS11:-54dBm 11ax HE20_MCS0:-94dBm, 11ax HE20_MCS11:-62Bm 11ax HE40_MCS0:-91dBm, 11ax HE40_MCS11:-59dBm 11ax HE80_MCS0:-88dBm, 11ax HE80_MCS11:-57dBm 11ax HE160_MCS0:-84dBm, 11ax HE160_MCS11:-54dBm 5 GHz_2: 11a 6Mbps：-96dBm, 11a 54Mbps:-78dBm 11ac VHT20_MCS0:-95dBm, 11ac VHT20_MCS11:-65dBm 11ac VHT40_MCS0:-93dBm, 11ac VHT40_MCS11:-62dBm 11ac VHT80_MCS0:-90dBm, 11ac VHT80_MCS11:-59dBm 11ac VHT160_MCS0:-87dBm, 11ac VHT160_MCS11:-54dBm 11ax HE20_MCS0:-94dBm, 11ax HE20_MCS11:-62Bm 11ax HE40_MCS0:-91dBm, 11ax HE40_MCS11:-59dBm 11ax HE80_MCS0:-88dBm, 11ax HE80_MCS11:-57dBm 11ax HE160_MCS0:-84dBm, 11ax HE160_MCS11:-54dBm 2.4 GHz： 11g 6Mbps：-97dBm, 11a 54Mbps:-79dBm 11n HT20_MCS0:-97dBm, 11n HT20_MCS7:-78dBm 11n HT40_MCS0:-95dBm, 11n HT40_MCS7:-75dBm 11ac VHT20_MCS0:-96dBm, 11ac VHT20_MCS11:-67dBm 11ac VHT40_MCS0:-94dBm, 11ac VHT40_MCS11:-64dBm 11ax HE20_MCS0:-96dBm, 11ax HE20_MCS11:-64dBm 11ax HE40_MCS0:-93dBm, 11ax HE40_MCS11:-61dBm |
Verdict
Aside from the obstacles posed by my bedroom’s location, there were no visible snags during my test time. If you have a similar issue with your home layout and some additional cash, a mesh network solution like Google WiFi, Netgear Orbi, or TP-own Link’s Deco series may be worth considering.
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