As more and more connected home products become available, having a reliable router such as the TP-Link N450 that is capable of handling continuous traffic from multiple devices is becoming increasingly important. For some, a router that costs upwards of $200 is the best option, but not everyone requires that level of network capability. Perhaps the budget does not allow for it, or perhaps we simply need to connect in order to proceed.
TP-Link N450 Wireless Wi-Fi Router (TL-WR940N) provides single-band Wi-Fi, reasonable throughput, and a variety of management options, including access control and remote management. The router is available in black or white. If you’re looking for a small, reasonably priced business or home router, you should seriously consider starting here. TP-Link AC1900 (Archer C9) is a budget-friendly version of our favorite TP-Link AC1900 router that is suitable for medium-sized offices and homes that require strong all-around performance.
Design
Most midrange routers, such as the NetGear N300 (WNR2020v2) and the TP-Link AC1750, are significantly larger in size than the TL-WR940N. (Archer C7). A black-glass enclosure with three external antennas is housed within the device, which measures 1.1 by 7.87 by 5.51 inches (HWD). The antennas are not user-replaceable, which means you won’t be able to swap them out if one breaks or if you want to upgrade to a more powerful antenna.
A total of eight LED status indicators can be found on the arched front: one for power, one for internet activity, one for WiFi signal activity, one for WPS activity, and one for wired port activity (one for each of the ports). A WAN (Internet) port is located on the back panel, as well as an On/Off button for the wireless adapter, a WPS/Reset button, and an On/Off button for the power switch. The device is equipped with a 2.4GHz radio, which can theoretically deliver throughput speeds of up to 450Mbps.
You can make changes to the N450’s settings using either the Web-based management console or the CD that comes with the device. The management console provides you with a comprehensive set of basic and advanced settings that are simple to navigate. The most basic wireless configurations allow you to enable or disable each band, name your SSIDs, and modify the passwords, among other things. Wireless security mode settings (WEP and WPA-Personal), Wi-Fi channel width, and transmission power settings are all available in advanced wireless settings.
Performance
The TL-WR940N is a very simple device to set up. The simplest method: connect it to a PC and an Internet source, and the router will launch its Web-based configuration interface, where you can configure your network, adjust the Wi-Fi settings, and set a router password for you. I was up and running in less than 5 minutes after configuring the system. Unless you require a high-powered gaming router, the majority of daily-use routers are simple to set up and work right out of the box.
In our 2.4GHz close-proximity (same room) test, we achieved 74Mbps, which is significantly faster than the average performance of most budget routers. In the same ballpark as the NetGear AC1200 (R6220), which achieved 73.2Mbps on the same test, it is also a budget option. Testing over a radius of 30 feet revealed a speed of 42.5Mbps, which was slightly faster than the Amped Wireless R10000G (37.9Mbps) but a little slower than the Netgear R6220 (47.2Mbps). This level of performance makes it an excellent choice for high-definition video streaming, online gaming, and VoIP, despite the fact that it does not include a dedicated phone port.
Specifications
| WIRELESS | |
|---|---|
| Standards | Wi-Fi 4 IEEE 802.11n/b/g 2.4 GHz |
| WiFi Speeds | N450 2.4 GHz: 450 Mbps (802.11n) |
| WiFi Range | 2 Bedroom Houses3× Fixed Antennas Multiple antennas form a signal-boosting array to cover more directions and large areas |
| WiFi Capacity | Legacy |
| Working Modes | Router Mode Access Point Mode Range Extender Mode |
| HARDWARE | |
|---|---|
| Processor | Single-Core CPU |
| Ethernet Ports | 1× 10/100 Mbps WAN Port 4× 10/100 Mbps LAN Ports |
| Buttons | WPS/Wi-Fi Button Power On/Off Button Reset Button |
| Power | 9 V ⎓ 0.6 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× 2.4 GHz Guest Network |
| SOFTWARE | |
|---|---|
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
| Parental Controls | URL Filtering Time Controls |
| WAN Types | Dynamic IP Static IP PPPoE PPTP L2TP |
| Quality of Service | QoS by Device |
| NAT Forwarding | VIrtual Server Port Forwarding Port Triggering DMZ UPnP |
| IPTV | IGMP Proxy IGMP Snooping |
| DHCP | Address Reservation DHCP Client List Server |
| DDNS | NO-IP Comex DynDNS |
| Management | Tether App Webpage |
| PHYSICAL | |
|---|---|
| Dimensions (W×D×H) | 9.1 × 5.7 × 1.4 in (230 × 144 × 35mm) |
| Package Contents | Wi-Fi Router TL-WR940N 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 |
| 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 |
Verdict
It is true that the TP-Link N450 Wireless Wi-Fi Router (TL-WR940N) is not particularly expensive, but that does not detract from its excellent performance and comprehensive feature set. Its 2.4GHz throughput outperforms that of similarly priced models, such as the NETGEAR N300 router, by a significant margin.
If you’re looking for a cheap wireless router that can be used for a small business, your home, or your office, this is an excellent option. The TP-Link N450 is our Editors’ Choice for budget routers because of its low price and high connectivity throughput across a wide range of protocols.
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