TP-Link Archer A8 5 GHz router review, is it worth it?

The TP-Link Archer A8 (A8) router released in 2020. It is powered by MediaTek TP1900BN @ 1.2 GHz chipset, 64 MB of RAM and 4 MB of flash. The AC1900 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with Archer A8 is 600 + 1300 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports.

The Archer A8 supports dual-band Wi-Fi, offering both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz bands. TP-Link provides a range of affordable networking solutions, making them accessible to a wide range of users.

Table of contents:

• TP-Link Archer A8 specifications
• TP-Link Archer A8 pictures

TP-Link Archer A8 (A8) specifications

Body

The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms, such as larger fans or heat sinks, which can help dissipate heat more effectively. The weight of router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office setups.

System

The TP-Link Archer A8 router is equipped with MediaTek TP1900BN @ 1.2 GHz processor. The router's memory (64 MB) cannot be expanded. When choosing a router, it is important to consider both the flash memory and RAM specifications. The Archer A8 has 4 MB of flash. A larger flash memory allows for more space to store configuration backups. It enables you to save multiple versions of your router's configuration settings, which can be useful for restoring previous configurations or reverting changes if needed.

Within the Archer A8 router's interface, look for a section related to firmware or system settings. The exact location and wording may vary depending on the router's make and model. The TP-Link Archer A8 router comes with 12 V / 1 A PSU. This unit is responsible for providing electrical power to the router, and if it becomes faulty, it can be replaced with a new, compatible one.

Network

The Archer A8 router supports multiple networking standards to ensure compatibility with various devices and systems. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP) and is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The latest firmware supports IPv6 protocol that provides an identification and location system for computers on networks and routes traffic across the Internet.

The TP-Link Archer A8 has 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN and 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN ports. LAN or Ethernet ports (RJ-45) are used to connect devices to the local area network (LAN). Gigabit Ethernet ports of the Archer A8 router allow for faster communication between devices within your local network. WAN ports are the entry point to your local network, making them a potential target for unauthorized access or attacks. It's important to secure your WAN connection by using strong passwords, enabling encryption protocols, and keeping the router's firmware up to date to mitigate security risks. The Archer A8 router supports Gigabit WAN. Having a Gigabit WAN port is beneficial when your internet service plan supports high-speed connectivity, as it ensures that your router's WAN connection can handle the maximum speed provided by your ISP.

Wireless

This router has 3 x 5 dBi, fixed antennas. Antennas play a significant role in Wi-Fi performance and coverage. They are essential components of wireless routers that transmit and receive radio signals to establish wireless connections with devices. This router is 2.4 GHz capable. The 2.4GHz band refers to the portion of the radio spectrum between 2.400 and 2.4835 gigahertz. This frequency range is unlicensed and globally available for various wireless applications, including Wi-Fi.

The 2.4 GHz band is heavily utilized by various devices like cordless phones, Bluetooth devices, and microwaves, leading to higher interference levels. The 5 GHz band is less congested, resulting in reduced interference and a clearer wireless signal. The Archer A8 router is 5 GHz capable. The Archer A8 Wi-Fi router supports multiple spatial streams, typically up to 4 streams. This allows for higher data throughput and improved performance, especially when multiple devices are connected to the router simultaneously.

The AC1900 is a performance indicator that represents the router's theoretical maximum speed. The theoretical maximum speed (600 + 1300 Mbps) represents the highest data transfer rate that the router is capable of achieving under ideal conditions. The TX power (28 dBm) of a router refers to the transmission power or signal strength at which the router broadcasts its Wi-Fi signal. It determines the range and coverage area of the wireless network.

The Archer A8 router offers several security protocols: WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS. The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was the first security protocol for Wi-Fi networks but is now considered weak and easily compromised. It uses a static encryption key and has known vulnerabilities, so it is no longer recommended for securing Wi-Fi networks. The WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) was introduced as an improvement over WEP and provides stronger security. If WPA3 is not available, WPA2-Personal with AES encryption is still considered secure.

The Archer A8 router offers WPS. The WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) provides a simplified and convenient method for connecting devices to a Wi-Fi network. Instead of manually entering the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password, users can use the WPS feature to establish a connection with the push of a button or by entering a PIN. A guest network on the Archer A8 router is a separate network that provides internet access to guests or visitors without giving them access to your main or primary network. It allows you to create a dedicated network segment for guests, keeping their devices isolated from your private network, thereby enhancing security and privacy.

Connectivity

The Archer A8 router doesn't have file-server or print-server functionality.

Administration

The default IP addresses of the TP-Link Archer A8 device is 192.168.0.1. These address allows you to access the router's console login page. Regularly changing the password is a good security practice to protect your network and devices from unauthorized access. It is also recommended to use strong, unique passwords for other devices and online accounts connected to your network for enhanced security. By changing the default password, you improve the security of your router and reduce the risk of unauthorized individuals gaining control over your network. It helps prevent unauthorized access to your router's settings, network configurations, and sensitive information.

The specifications above are based on the official data published by the manufacturer, but we also take user reviews into consideration. If you found an error or something lacking in the specifications above for the TP-Link Archer A8, then don’t hesite and signal the problem to us.

TP-Link Archer A8 (A8) pictures

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