TP-LinkAX3000 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX55 Pro) - Multi Gigabit Wireless Internet, 1 x 2.5 Gbps Port, Dual Band, VPN, OFDMA, MU-MIMO, USB Port, WPA3, Compatible With Alexa

This is a very popular router for many reasons. It is easy to install, configure, and use, is reliable, has a good track record, performs well, and looks good.It also has one other feature which is very rare in routers these days, and that is a hard-wired switch to shut off the wifi radios. Now, I know that most people love and drool all over themselves because of wifi, but I don't really care for it. I don't like adding even more RF radiation to my environment, and I prefer the security of wired circuits. Yeah, I know I'm old school, but that doesn't make my reasons for avoiding wifi any less true.I like the physical switch because software switches can be compromised more easily. A physical switch requires a physical presence to engage the switch. It can't be compromised from an online or otherwise software based attack.On some occassions, I have to use wifi (phone updates, etc.), so I like having the option to turn it on when needed. This is the only router I have found which has that capability. I think it is stupid that others don't have this capability. When I have used the wifi, it has worked well.I found setup very easy with plenty of instruction available online. It was instatnly compatible with my Spectrum cable modem, and I have have absolutely no issues with it in about a year of use. I cannot speak to the extra security features, as I also have a hard-wired cuttoff switch to air gap the router from the modem when not in use. I also turn the router off when not being used for long periods of time.The display LEDs are very simple and make it quite easy to monitor the status of the router, its connection to computers, its connetion to the modem, and the on or off status of the wifi radios. Simple and effective.I have just bought another one on sale for future use in creating an internal network which will not connect to the internet.I find it to be well designed, functional, and so far pretty much trouble free. Your mileage may vary.If any US company wants to compete with TP-Link for making a really great router, they would do well to study the design of this router. And, for Heaven's sake, put mechanical switches in for critical functions like shutting off various radios like wifi and bluetooth.Good job, TP-Link. I highly recommend this router. (Possible devious backdoors notwithstanding, IF they even exist).

I bought a Deco X55 back in July 2022 after my 11-year-old Apple AirPort Extreme / Time Capsule just couldn't keep up with all my connected devices (now numbering 27 including IoT lights, etc).Although I liked the Deco, it was a bit harder to set up than it should have been. I will separately comment on that product instead of including it here.Suffice to say that I could never achieve the full 500 Mbit/s speeds I was paying for and instead would get in the mid 400's if I was lucky and often it fell to the high 300's. I put devices that didn't need the bandwidth, such as IoT light switches, thermostats, etc. on the 2.4 Ghz band. But still, even with my computer 4 feet from the Deco, I could never hit 500. The forcing function for me was the Deco did not have a USB port and I wanted to hook my 6TB external hard drive to the router so it would be accessible by my iPad and two computers "over the air".The first thing I noticed was how easy it was to set up. I used the tether app and it did not skip a beat. Very intuitive and it just worked, first time, out of the box when I followed the guidance of the app on my phone.The second thing I noticed was the speed. Routinely getting 520-540 Mbit/s speeds from the devices where I need it, like Apple TV, iPad, and my laptops.The third thing I noticed was the signal strength. I guess that is to be expected since it has 4 antennas instead of the hidden one in the Deco's little white cylinder that is aesthetically pleasing but just simply not as powerful.The Archer AX3000 also has two processors so whether it is signal strength, processing power, or a combination of the two, every device in my house that needs to have a high-speed connection has it - no matter where I am at within the 1800 sq. ft. structure.I place the router on top of a tall bookshelf and I like that I can see the LEDs without standing on a step stool. The Deco didn't permit that because of where the LED was located; I had to stand on the couch to see if the light was red or green.Both the Deco and the Archer AX3000 were good at keeping devices connected without dropping them and with staying connected to my cable modem. My old Apple AirPort would drop its connection to the modem about 3-4 times per week, and that is what prompted me to start looking for something more reliable. Also, the Time Capsure (2TB hard drive) was starting to faintly squeal on occasion, and I think that was the fan. It tended to get very hot and it was clear to me that it was being taxed too heavily with so many devices. It started it's life in 2012 with only 5 connections (iMac, 2 phones, 1 iPad, 1 printer) and this gradually increased to 5X as many devices. I am today at 27 and counting and the Archer AX3000 has no trouble keeping up.I like the Tether app and the ability to give names to my connected devices, to see what band they are on, and to assign icons.Connecting my external hard drive was also pretty straightforward and most of my issues were in understanding how to enable Win 11 and my ipad to use SMB and FTP to access the HDD - not any failing of the router.The price was reasonable ($135) and I could not be happier with the upgrade. Now, to put my Deco X55 on eBay and find it a new home. It was a good little device for the 6 months I had it, but my home is small enough that it doesn't need a mesh device and satellites, and now that I have compared it to the Archer AX3000 it is clear that the Deco cannot match the performance. I pay for 500 Mbit/s through my ISP (Spectrum) and I am finally getting not only the full 100%, but actually about 110% in most cases.

My previous router was well over a decade old and started dropping out. This TP-Link AX3000 is an excellent replacement! I'm finally getting full use out of my ISP. I have the router in my office which is in the corner of my house. While that's not ideal for coverage, I'm still getting coverage at the other end of my 2500sf home. Yes, the speed drops quite a bit, but it's still more than I need in that area. Setup was super easy. I chose to set it up using the browser instead of the app. The browser automatically popped up when I plugged in the router. It walked me through the steps, downloaded firmware updates and was running in minutes. I chose to use the same SSID and password as my old router and everything in my home connected automatically. I have about 19 devices connected including a couple of PCs, phones, Roku devices, Amazon devices, thermostat, wireless plugs, etc. Everything is running great. It's only day one, so fingers crossed everything stays this way :) Very happy with this purchase and how easy it was to set it up.