TP-Link Archer C20i 5 GHz router review, is it worth it?

The TP-Link Archer C20i (C20I) router released in 2014. It is powered by MediaTek MT7620A @ 580 MHz chipset, 64 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash. The AC750 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with Archer C20i is 300 + 433 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN ports.

The Archer C20i is an affortable router that supports Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) technology for faster wireless speeds. This router features USB connectors that provide additional functionality and expand the capabilities of your network. TP-Link has been involved in the development of innovative networking solutions.

Table of contents:

• TP-Link Archer C20i specifications
• TP-Link Archer C20i pictures

TP-Link Archer C20i (C20I) specifications

Body

If you plan to move or travel frequently and need to take your router with you, the dimensions become important for portability. Smaller and more compact routers are generally easier to transport, while larger routers with external antennas or multiple ports may be bulkier and less convenient to carry. If you purchase a router online or have it shipped, the weight may affect the overall cost. Heavier routers can result in higher shipping charges, especially for international deliveries.

System

The MediaTek MT7620A @ 580 MHz CPU provides processing power to handle various tasks and services within the Archer C20i router. The Archer C20i has 64 MB of RAM. Some advanced router features and software functionalities require a certain amount of RAM to operate properly. For example, routers with more RAM can support advanced security features, VPN services, or QoS (Quality of Service) prioritization more effectively.

The Archer C20i has 16 MB of flash memory. A larger flash memory allows for more storage space to accommodate future firmware upgrades. The process of upgrading the firmware on routers has become relatively simple and user-friendly over the years. The TP-Link provides easy-to-use interfaces and instructions to guide users through the firmware upgrade process. Alternative router operating systems often provide more customization options and advanced features compared to the default firmware provided by router manufacturers.

This router is OpenWRT compatible. OpenWrt provides extensive customization options, allowing users to modify and tailor their router's functionality to suit their specific needs. The TP-Link packages the Archer C20i router with 12 V / 1 A PSU. A good PSU is an essential component of a computer or electronic device that converts electrical power from an outlet into the appropriate voltage and current required to power the internal components of the device.

Network

The Archer C20i router offers built-in security features to protect your network and connected devices. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The Archer C20i router also supports IPv6 protocol, allowing you to utilize the latest version of the Internet Protocol. The LAN ports are physical connectors on a Archer C20i router that allow you to connect devices to your local network using Ethernet cables.

WAN ports often require specific configuration settings based on the type of internet connection provided by your ISP. The Archer C20i is equipped with Fast Ethernet WAN port, which have a maximum speed of 100 Mbps.

Wireless

The 3 x 2 dBi, internal antennas of Archer C20i influence the quality and stability of the Wi-Fi signal. A properly positioned and well-designed antenna can minimize interference and signal degradation, leading to a more reliable and stable connection. This router is 2.4 GHz compatible. The 2.4 GHz band is widely supported by a wide range of devices, including older devices that may not be compatible with the 5 GHz band.

The Archer C20i supports 5 GHz signals. Most modern devices, such as smartphones, tablets, laptops, and smart TVs, support dual-band Wi-Fi, which means they can connect to both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks. By utilizing the 5 GHz band, you can offload some devices from the crowded 2.4 GHz band, reducing congestion and improving overall network performance. The Archer C20i AC Wi-Fi router is backward compatible with older Wi-Fi devices that support 802.11a/b/g/n standards.

The AC750 refers to the maximum combined data transfer rate supported by the router across all Wi-Fi bands. The Archer C20i is capable of a maximum throughput speed of 300 + 433 Mbps. The real-world speed of a Archer C20i router is typically lower than its theoretical maximum speed. The TX power of Archer C20i can be adjusted by the user or set automatically by the router firmware. Higher TX power values indicate stronger signal transmission, which can result in a larger coverage area.

The Archer C20i 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 C20i 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. The TP-Link Archer C20i router is capable of creating a guest network. Guests connected to the guest network usually have limited access to network settings and configurations. They are typically restricted from accessing devices connected to the primary network, such as printers, network-attached storage (NAS), or other shared resources.

Connectivity

USB ports can offer additional functionality depending on the router's capabilities. The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps), which is equivalent to 60 megabytes per second (MB/s). By connecting a USB printer to the Archer C20i router, you can make it accessible to all devices on your network. This eliminates the need for individual printer connections and allows multiple devices to use the printer simultaneously. The USB file server functionality of this router allows you to connect external storage devices, such as USB flash drives or hard drives to your network. This enables easy file sharing and access among devices connected to the network.

Administration

The default IP address of this router is 192.168.1.1. Explore the router's configuration interface to access more advanced settings such as port forwarding, DHCP settings, parental controls, firewall settings, and QoS (Quality of Service) settings. If you are unable to log in to the setup panel of your TP-Link router, performing a reset can be a helpful troubleshooting step. It is highly recommended to change the default password of your Archer C20i router after the initial setup. If you forget the new password in the future, you may need to perform a factory reset on the router to revert to the default settings.

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 C20i, then don’t hesite and signal the problem to us.

TP-Link Archer C20i (C20I) pictures

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