Tp link ac1750 archer a7 vs c7 – Which is the best router that suits your needs?
Selecting a wireless router that will deliver reliable and fast WiFi with excellent coverage is not easy, especially if you’re new at this. To make things even harder, the manufacturers use lots of acronyms and marketing terms to describe their routers, but this Tp link ac1750 archer a7 vs c7 comparison will make things simpler for you.
Having teenagers in the house can be very demanding especially if your kids are always on their smart gadgets either gaming or on YouTube. I need a reliable internet connection to make them happy and I can also use it to stream my favorite movies. Having the best WiFi router means that I have a good combination of coverage, speed, and features that make it easy to connect online with ease from anywhere in my home. A few years ago, I could use a common home router to connect to my PC, phone, and maybe a tablet, but now with every device becoming ‘smart’, there are more connections than I can count on my hands. After going online to look for the best routers I found the Tp link ac1750 archer a7 and c7 routers that are both excellent options for my home needs.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between the Tp link ac1750 archer a7 and c7?
AC1750 Model |
Tp link Archer A7 |
Tp link Archer C7 |
Antennas |
3 fixed external |
3 external and 3 internal removable |
Speed ( peak throughput) |
647.4 Mbps |
360.6 Mbps |
Amazon Alexa integration |
Yes |
no |
MU MI-MO |
No |
Yes |
Tp link ac1750 archer a7 vs c7 – How do they compare?
Design
The new model AC1750 Archer A7 router is a dual-band that uses the Qualcomm PC that has a speed range of 450 Mbps on the 2.4 GHz band and 1300Mbps on the 5 GHz band just like the Archer C7. However, to make A7 more affordable these features have been removed from the C7. The new model now has 3 fixed antennas instead of the detachable ones that are in the C7, 1 USB port instead of 3 that has no LED statuswhile the A7 hosts LED indicators at the front for the ON/OFF buttons and both radio bands, and a WiFi off switch that is shared with WPS. While everything else in the A7 is the same on the inside, the only difference in the new model is that it supports Alexa integration.
When it comes to its design, it’s still the same with the glossy black enclosure and the 3 fixed antennas at the back while the c7 has the same glossy black finish with 3 huge antennas. At the back, both the A7 and C7 have a Gigabit WAN port, 4 Gigabit RAM ports, and buttons for WPS plus the ON and OFF switch. The differences in the A7 have one USB 2.0 port while the C7 has 2 USB ports and the C7 lacks in software interface that has a simple green header and only 2 columns of menus compared with other routers that have a more graphical interface.
Installation and setup
Once you’ve plugged in and powered up everything in the Archer A7, you just need to configure it from the web browser and any other connected device, but for the A7, you have to use the Tp link tether app or access management console through the http://tplinkwifi.neton your browser. Then go to the quick setup tab on the left to choose the auto-detect tab where you can follow the easy prompts and be set in a few minutes. On the A7, you can choose to run the 2.4GHz and 5GHz dual bands concurrently just like in the Archer C7 or just one single band, but you can’t run them both. You should keep in mind that the C7 has a secret name and password that have been printed a bottom part of the router for security setup, but you can change these parameters.
Performance
The C7 has a very impressive performance as it can handle 3 lanes of data traffic, most of the tasks of an average home user on a home network, and use beamforming techniques to ensure the data transmitted and the one received is the same. It has an impressive wireless coverage which has a throughput that is 10% slower in the 2.4GHz band if you’re about 30 feet away and an 8% drop in the 5GHz band. This is quite impressive because other high-performance routers experience 15% or more drop in the same range.
On the other hand, the A7 delivers a speed of 87Mbps on the 2.4GHz band when at close proximity which is a bit slower than the C7. On the 5GHz band in close proximity of a 30 feet test, the C7 is faster with 250Mbps than the A7 with 100Mbps. Although C7 is very rigid in design, it’s sufficient in both performance and function. It has 3 external antennas that serve the 5GHz band while 3 other internal antennas serve the 2.4GHz band which gives the dual-band great flexibility.
Features
Both the Archer A7 and the C7 routers give you the ability to work with other firmware like OpenWRT, do WPA and WPA2 encryption, parental controls, and guest networks. They’re both easy to set up and have an app you can use for management after. The Archer C7 can’t work with Amazon Assistant, but A7 is an Amazon exclusive product that gives you the ability to control some of its features with the help of Alexa like connecting to a new device, performing a speed test, setting up a guest network, or performing certain quality of service tasks.
The Tp link ac1750 archer a7 vs c7 – A comparison overview
Tp link AC1750 Archer A7
- OneMesh Compatible Router- Form a seamless WiFi when work with TP-Link OneMesh WiFi Extenders
- Router for wireless internet, works with Alexa, compatible with all Wi-Fi devices, 802.11ac and older
The Archer A7 is a dual-band wireless router that is very budget-friendly, but it has limited features with not the best icons and mixed performance. It has 4 gigabit LAN ports with lots of different settings that will help you in managing your network. This router delivers the fastest speeds for a budget router, supports Alexa integration, and is very easy to install with plenty of settings. This WiFi router has features that you will find even in the more expensive ones and it performs the same way delivering very good 802.11ac performance that has dual support from both 2.4GHz and 5GHz bandwidths.
This gives you an average router that has reduced buffering that is better suited for 4K streaming. Apart from its performance, this router has some very good features like 4 gigabit LAN ports and 2 USB ports with a user-friendly menu system. With the help of the Guest network access, your guests can access secure home WiFi or use the IP-based bandwidth control which makes it easier for you to manage the bandwidth for different devices that have been connected to your router. It also has a WPA wireless security encryption through the one-touch WPA button.
When it comes to speed and range this router can reach up to speeds of around 5mbps to even over 100mbps which is incredibly fast. The range will mostly depend on the obstacles around like walls and where you’ll place the router, but overall its range is good even in story buildings and over long distances. One of the best features is that it’s very easy and quick to set up and it doesn’t have a complex menu so you can easily make the changes that you want. It’s also supported on OpenWRT but doesn’t support simultaneous MU-MIMO data streaming or direct-to-client beaming.
Pros
- A budget-friendly wireless router
- Very quick and easy to install and setup
- Has 4 gigabit LAN ports
- Good close-range performance
- It supports the Amazon Alexa integration
Cons
- Doesn’t support MU-MIMO
- Limited range
- Middling file-transfer speeds
Tp link AC1750 Archer C7
- This Certified Refurbished product is tested and certified to look and work like new. The refurbishing...
- Supports 802.11ac standard - the next generation of Wi-Fi
This is also a wireless gigabit router that features the enhanced 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard that delivers improved wireless data transfer speed of up to 1300mbps. The enhanced 802.11ac Wi-Fi standard allows for seamless connectivity to many different wifi-enabled devices you may have. The Archer C7 also supports the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bandwidths which makes it easier for the less congested 5GHz band to handle more data-intensive tasks. Apart from improving its wireless range, you also get to benefit from its 4 gigabit LAN ports positioned at the back of the router. You can be assured that your connection will be secure because this router supports WPA/WPA2-PSK, WEP, and WPA/WPA2 encryption standards.
Apart from the encryption standards, you also benefit from this router as it supports different access control methods like the access schedule, parental control, host list, local management control, and rule management which gives you total administrative rights over your network. It has a wifi speed that is 3 times faster and has a wireless data transfer rate of up to 1.75Gbps with wireless speed of 130mbps IN the 5GHz band and 450mbps for the 2.4GHz band. If you’re looking for a wireless router that has online gaming, seamless HD streaming, and can handle intensive bandwidth task, the C7 is a superior choice. The 3 antennas at the back of this router are removable and adjustable, you will also find 1 gigabit WAN port, 4 gigabit LAN ports, and 2 USB 2.0 ports. This router also has WPS/reset button, an on/off button, an on/off wifi switch, LED power indicators, and 2 USB activity LEDs.
Although the C7 has a rigid design, it’s very sufficient in performance and function. It delivers very impressive performance in most of its tasks and also a very impressive wireless coverage in its 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands over a 30 feet range. Apart from the 3 external antennas, it also has 3 internal antennas where the external ones serve the 5Hz band and the internal ones serve the 2.4 GHz band. You can set the bandwidths to run concurrently or one of them, but not both.
Pros
- Very affordable
- It allows you access to different access control methods
- The 5GHz bandwidth can handle more data-intensive tasks
- Its wireless coverage on both bandwidths is very impressive
Cons
- Doesn’t support Alexa integration
- Middling file-transfer speeds
Conclusion
Whether you decide to build your connectivity around Alexa or you just want to use the USB 2.0 ports at the back. Both routers are budget-friendly and provide reliable internet with impressive speeds and coverage range.
Verdict: So which is better? The Archer A7 or C7?
Both these 2 wireless routers are very affordable and good value for your money, but the Archer A7 is a better option. It will deliver reliable internet to your home or office, it covers long distances, and you can use it for a variety of uses. It’s also a bit cheaper than the C7. Archer A7 is similar to C7, but it can control some of the router’s main features with the help of Amazon Alexa. It’s one of the easiest and fastest routers you can set up either through the web browser or the company’s tether app that you can find on your android or iOS devices. The Archer A7 can protect a network from denial of service attacks and block sites on a blacklist, it can also use open-source OpenWRT software to operate the router. A very convenient feature is the cloud service that allows you to control the router from anywhere which gives you better flexibility.
FAQ
Is ac1750 fast enough?
The ac1750 router is powerful enough to give you quality Wi-Fi if you plan on using a few devices at the same time. However, if you want fast Wi-Fi performance, get the ac1900 that will give you a wireless coverage of 1800 sq feet.
What is the WPS button?
WPS, WiFi protected setup, is a feature that comes with many routers. It’s designed to make it easier for your computer or other devices to connect to a secure wireless network.
How often should you replace your router?
It’s recommended that you upgrade your router every 3-4 years. This is typically how often people upgrade their devices like smartphones are about every 2 years and computers are every 3-4 years.
