TP link ac1750 vs. ac2300 – which offers the best network coverage
In the age of IoT and smartTVs you need the best router to help you manage all your household internet needs without worrying about buffering. This review of TP link ac1750 vs. ac2300 takes a look at two routers offering cutting edge technologies.
Having a home router is no longer considered a luxury – it is a necessity. With so many home devices now dependent on the internet for enhanced user experience you need a router that offers extensive range and with fast internet speeds. Routers also come with USB ports that you can use for connecting your printer and other devices.
The best routers are those that offer you dual bands. This will allow you to stream live your 4K videos and also engage in various multi-player games. In this review, we check out the TP link ac17500 and ac2300 and tell you which is the best for your home.
Table of Contents
What are the differences between TP link ac1750 vs. ac2300?
Model |
TP Link ac1750 |
TP link ac2300 (Winner) |
Size (inches) |
9.5 X 6 X 1.4 |
8.5 X 7.5 X 1.5 |
Range |
363.6Mbps at 5 feet with peak 802.11ac performance |
939.6Mbps at 5 feet through 802.11ac |
Processor |
Qualcomm’s QCA9558 Scorpio 720MHz chip |
Dual core Broadcom dual-core 1.8GHz |
Ports |
2 2.0 USB, 4Gbps |
2.0 USB, 3.0 USB, 4 LAN Gigabit per second, 1 WAN |
Availability |
TP link ac1750 vs. ac2300 – How do they compare?
Design
The TP Link ac1750 measures 9.5 X 6 X 1.4 inches and has this distinctive design with three external antennas. The antennas are rated 5dBi and 3-dBi and this enable them to offer a solid signal that provides coverage to the whole house. The 5GHz bands are through the external antennas while internal antennas boost the 2.4GHz. The LEDs on the router are projected by bright green light. This helps display connectivity for the two bands, four wired LAN ports and WPS setup. You will also have displayed on the back additional USB lights whenever you connect something to them. The best part about the LED lights is they glow brightly in the dark so you do not have to use a torch to check your connectivity. The ac1750 has two 2.0 USB ports, 4 Gbps LAN ports.
The ac2300 design isn’t the most impressive in the router category. In fact at first glance it looks quite outdated but do not let this fool you, it offers some amazing speeds. One outstanding feature is the large heat sink at the bottom of the router. This is capable of handling temperatures of up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The ac2300 measures a decent 8.5 X 7.5 X 1.5 inches and comes with cutouts for wall mounting. It also easily fits on a shelf and due to its compact size offers little obstruction. On the back of the router are ports for 3.0 USB, 2.0 USB, four LAN Gigabit per second Ethernet ports and WAN port.
Performance and network coverage
The c2300 comes with a Broadcom’s BCM4365E chip with 128MB of flash storage and 512MB of RAM. This enables the router to deliver 600Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1.625Gbps at 5GHz. In total it has a bandwidth of 2.25Gbps. This is quite adequate for moderate household browsing. To help you apportion bandwidth to your gadgets effectively, the router comes with TP Link Quality of Service (QoS) software. It also features the innovative Broadcom NitroQAM modulation technology that allows the router to squeeze in more data to its frequencies. The router has a range of 939.6Mbps at 5 feet on the 802.11ac. To help you reach high speeds the ac2300 comes equipped with the latest MU-MIMO and beamforming technologies.
The ac1750 comes with a host of awesome features like guest networks, gigabit Ethernet ports and media streaming. Performance on the router is courtesy of a Qualcomm’s QCA9558 720MHz Scorpio processor chip. To help boost transmissions, each of the antennas also comes with dedicated Skyworks amplifiers. The router has beamforming technology but lacks the latest MU-MIMO – comes in handy in managing bandwidth intensive devices. When it comes to network coverage, the ac1750 performs quite well delivering 59.2 Mbps at 15 feet and 304.4 Mbps at 5 feet.
Setup and installation
Setting up the ac2300 is not that complicated. You can do this through a web-based browser or the Tether Android or iOS app. You can use it as either an access point or router. The router will come with its own username and passwords which you can later change once you setup. You do not need to be an IT guru to setup as you get detailed setup instructions with the device. Setup should take you less than 5 minutes. In the configuration setup you can check QoS, HomeCare anti-virus or parental controls. You will also check whether the malware is active. For the ac1750 once you have it plugged in you can then logging to the web browser and key in a secret name and password. You can change this once the router has been setup. The router comes with a host of customization options which are quite hard to setup manually. The ac2300 comes with the latest encryption standards like WPA2 and WEP. This allows one to authenticate clients through the radius server. Since the router uses DD-WRT open source firmware that enables one to optimize the router.
TP link ac1750 vs. ac2300 – A Comparison Overview
TP link ac1750 – Overview
- 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 TP link ac1750 is an affordable router for home use that combines great performance with high coverage. The router also comes with some impressive features like parental controls, guest networks and media streaming that are quite common in the more high-end router models. The router exterior features a glossy black design that easily complements the rest of your house surroundings. The TP link ac1750 is a dual band router coming with 2.4GHz and 5GHz. It is also 802.11n capable. The basic design of the router features three internal antennas for the 2.4GHz band and 5dBi antennas for the 5GHz band.
At the back the router comes with one Gigabit WAN port, four Gigabit LAN ports, WPS button, two 2.0 USB ports and power switch. The glossy finish is easy to clean but it does leave fingerprints. The TP link ac1750 has bright green LED lights that show router connectivity status. The router are used to monitor the four LAN ports, the two bands -2.4GHz and 5GHz, and WPS setup. The lights provide a bright nice glow during the night. The peak performance at 802.11ac is 363.6Mbps at 5 feet.
The TP link ac1750 runs on the Qualcomm’s QCA9558 720MHz Scorpio chip. It also comes with 128MB of RAM. While this processor speed is on the slow side when compared to competition, the TP link ac1750 comes with skyworks amplifier that enables it boost coverage for its six antennas. The router lacks MU-MIMO technology but this shortcoming is mitigated by it having beamforming technology.
When put to the test the TP link ac1750 was capable of transmitting over 360.6Mbps on both channels for up to 5 feet. At 15 feet with the 802.11n (2.4GHz) channel it got a peak speed of 59.2Mbps at 15 feet and 304.4Mbps at 5 feet.
You can plug in the TP link ac1750 through their web browser or through connected devices on the TP-link Android and iOS app. You will find the username and passwords printed underneath the router. Once you enter the default names you can change it through setup. To completely setup the device, it will take you averagely 6 minutes. When it comes to customization it is more prudent to it automatically rather than manually as you will have to setup on over 20 custom screens.
To enhance security, the TP link ac1750 comes with the latest encryption standards – WPA2 or WEP. The radius server authentication helps keep your network safe – especially when you are running the router for a small enterprise. Should you decide to optimize your router you will find the DD-WRT open firmware come in handy. You also get parental controls to check what your kids are surfing.
What we liked:
- Two USB ports
- Dual bands at an affordable price
- Glossy finish
- Parental controls
- Easy to setup
What we did not like:
- The coverage isn’t that great
TP link ac2300 – Overview
- Powerful 1.8GHz dual core processor leading edge 1.8GHz dual core 64 bit CPU with 2 co processors and...
- Faster Wi Fi enjoy 4K video and play online games simultaneously with ultra fast 802.11AC Wave 2 MU MIMO...
If you are looking for something compact, inexpensive with good network coverage then the TP link ac2300 is an ideal router for home use. It comes with anti-malware software meaning you do not have to worry much about network attacks. While there is nothing impressive with this router when it comes to aesthetics. On the outside you have three external antennas and a large heat sink that is capable of dissipating up to 100 degrees Fahrenheit. This means you will not experience any forms of overheating during work overloads. The router measures a decent 8.5 X 7.5 X 1.5 Inches and this makes it ideal for fitting in small desk spaces.
To help you move three independent data traffic lanes the TP link ac2300comes with a Broadcom’s BCM4365E chip that supports dual bands. You also get 128MB of flash storage and 512MB of RAM. With this the TP link ac2300 is capable of supplying 600Mbps at 2.4GHz and 1.65Gbps at 5GHz. This gives the router a theoretical bandwidth of 2.225Gbps.
This router is a high performance router as it can also squeeze in more data (by 20%) into the frequencies. This is done through Broadcom’s NitroQAM modulation technology. You also get TP-link Quality of Service (QoS) technology. To know which bands are on and system activity the TP link ac2300 has four blue lights on the top. If the lights become an irritant you can easily switch them off from the top. At the rear of the router are four LAN gigabit-per-second Ethernet ports, WAN port, on/off switch, 2.0 USB and 3.0 USB ports. You also have a Wi-Fi protected setup button and reset switch. The router is capable of speeds of up to 939Mbps at 5 feet using the 802.11ac.
The TP link ac2300 also uses the latest beamforming and MU-MIMO technologies and this helps keep the router range and speed optimal. This is an excellent mid-ranger router that is capable of achieving 913.8 Mbps at 50 feet and 682.3 Mbps at 15 feet. With such kind of ranges it is sufficient to connect most mid to large homes. You can perform your 4K video streams and web browsing with ease without suffering from any buffering issues or skips.
The setup for the TP link ac2300 is pretty easy and fast. You can perform the setup process through the TP Link tether app on iOS or Android. Alternatively, you can perform the setup through the web interface. The app really comes in handy as you can monitor router activity on the go. It also comes with a set of useful instructions that come in handy during setup.
What we liked:
- Compact deign
- Built-in antivirus protection
- Fast internet connectivity
- Leverages on latest beamforming and MU-MIMO technologies
What we did not like:
The design is not that impressive
Verdict: Which is better – TP Link ac1750 or ac2300?
The TP Link ac2300 is a decent router for home use. It comes at a reasonable price with good performance from the 5GHz band. It also has two USB ports that will support most of your peripherals like printers. The router 5 dBi and 3dBi antennas do a good job of offering coverage to the whole house.
FAQ
How do I Boost my router network?
Each router comes with its own range and speed. Depending on the size of your house you can choose a router that offers the largest range. However, if you network is not that strong you may begin by eliminating any obstructions like home appliances or not placing it behind walls. You may also want to ensure that there is no network interference from things like microwaves, radios, walkie talkies or baby monitors.
How do I protect my network from attacks?
Your first course of action is to get a router that comes with internal anti-malware software. Most of the malwares that attack routers do so by stealing bandwidth and then spreading it through other devices. It is also prudent that you constantly keep your software updated.
