TP-Link TL-WR2543ND router review
The TP-Link TL-WR2543ND (TL-WR2543ND) router released in 2012. It is powered by Atheros AR7242 @ 400 MHz chipset, 64 MB of RAM and 8 MB of flash. The N450 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with TL-WR2543ND is 450 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps LAN ports.
Table of Contents
Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. The specs below rely on official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the TP-Link TL-WR2543ND, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
If you need more features, you may want to consider better TP-Link routers. Or, you can look at other routers on the market. This router has USB connectors. They add features and expand your network's capabilities. TP-Link has actively developed innovative networking solutions.
TP-Link TL-WR2543ND specifications
| Brand | TP-Link |
|---|---|
| Name | TL-WR2543ND |
| Type | TL-WR2543ND |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2012 |
Body
| Dimensions | 234 x 36 x 155 mm |
|---|
If you plan to move or travel a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. It needs to be small to be easy to carry.
System
| Chipset | Atheros AR7242 @ 400 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 64 MB |
| Flash | 8 MB |
| OS | TP-Link |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT DD-WRT |
| Power supply | 12 V / 1.5 A |
The Atheros AR7242 @ 400 MHz CPU provides processing power. It handles tasks and services within the TL-WR2543ND router. The amount of RAM in a router can affect its performance. It also affects its capacity to handle concurrent operations and traffic. The 8 MB flash memory in the router serves as the storage medium for the router's firmware. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model. However, it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface.
Other router operating systems offer more customization options. They also have advanced features. Router makers compare this to the default firmware. OpenWrt offers many features and capabilities. They extend the functionality of networking hardware. The TP-Link packages the TL-WR2543ND router with 12 V / 1.5 A PSU.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | no |
Like many modern routers, the TL-WR2543ND supports many network standards too. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The router also supports IPv6. This allows you to use the latest Internet Protocol. This router has Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. They provide data transfer speeds of up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) over Ethernet connections. This router ensures that you can use fast internet from your ISP fully.
Wireless
| Antennas | 3 x 3 dBi RP-SMA |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n |
| Class | N450 |
| Speed | 450 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 20 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 |
| Guest network | no |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. 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 is a Wi-Fi 4 router, with slower data transfer speeds. This can result in slower downloads, video buffering, and reduced performance. Real-world TL-WR2543ND router speeds are lower than its theoretical maximum speed.
WEP was the first Wi-Fi security protocol. But it is now seen as weak and easy to hack. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). By connecting a USB printer to the TL-WR2543ND router, you can make it accessible to all devices on your network. This router has a USB file server. It lets you connect external storage devices to your network. For example, you can connect USB flash drives or hard drives.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | admin |
If you can't log in to your TP-Link router's setup panel, try resetting it. A reset can help you troubleshoot. It is highly recommended to change the default password of your TL-WR2543ND router. Do this after the initial setup.
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this TP-Link one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. We'll talk about what it does well and also where it could use some improvements. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- sufficient memory
- OpenWrt compatible
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- USB 2 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- insufficient flash
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
- missing WPS support
TP-Link TL-WR2543ND photos
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