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Review of the TP-Link Archer C60 router: for a large family. Review of the TP-Link Archer C60 router: for a large family How it works

TP-LINK Archer C60 wireless router review | Introduction

The Internet is replete with advertisements for super-fast wireless routers, multifunctional access points, extra-efficient Wi-Fi adapters and other expensive solutions that don’t really make coffee. However, are they required by the average user?! What if you just need reliable and stable access to the World Wide Web for several wired and wireless clients, and you are not willing to overpay for features that you will never use? TP-LINK company offers a solution - the budget wireless router Archer C60 - today's guest in our test laboratory. Let's start testing it soon!

TP-LINK Archer C60 wireless router review | Appearance

Wireless router TP-LINK Archer C60 made in a white plastic case, the overall dimensions of which are 230x144x37 mm (excluding antennas). For its operation, the device requires an external power supply (supplied) with the following characteristics: 12V and 1A.

The top panel is ribbed; in addition to the name of the manufacturer, it contains six light indicators that display the status of the entire device, as well as its wired and wireless interfaces.

The front and side surfaces are unremarkable; there are only ventilation holes and two antennas operating in the 2.4 GHz band. In general, it’s worth mentioning separately about antennas: wireless router TP-LINK Archer C60 equipped with five external rotating fixed antennas, two of which operate in the 5 GHz band and three are designed to support the 2.4 GHz band.

Four plastic rectangular legs are located on the bottom panel of the device. We find it surprising that the legs are not made of rubber or other soft material, since the plastic legs do not prevent the device from sliding on the table. We were also surprised by the lack of technological holes for wall mounting of the device. In addition to the ventilation grille, which occupies most of the bottom panel of the case, and plastic legs, there is a small sticker on the bottom panel with brief information about the device.

The rear panel contains three of the five external antennas, a power connector along with an on/off button for the device, a recessed Reset button, and a button designed to control the router’s wireless modules. There are also five wired Fast Ethernet ports: one WAN and four LAN.

With this, we complete our study of the device’s appearance and move on to considering its software capabilities.

TP-LINK Archer C60 wireless router review | Initial setup

To manage the router TP-LINK Archer C60 you can use any modern web browser, or the special TP-LINK Tether mobile application. Control using a smartphone is becoming increasingly popular, as it does not require connecting a desktop PC or laptop. Using the Tether application, the administrator can not only perform the initial setup of the wireless router, but also manage it in the future. All basic settings are available to users of the mobile application.

If for some reason the user prefers to use a full-fledged browser to configure and manage the router, then the configuration process will not be more difficult.

When connecting for the first time, the user gets access to the router's Quick Setup Wizard, which allows the initial setup of the equipment in just a few simple steps. A nice option in the wizard is the ability to automatically specify all the necessary settings for the selected region and telecom operator.

It should be noted that there is built-in help, which can be accessed from any point of the device’s web interface, which will make the setup process clear even to novice Internet users.

In conclusion, we would like to draw users’ attention to the Firmware Update item in the System Tools group of the Advanced Settings tab. The update can be performed both manually and automatically (of course, if you have access to the global network). And although changing the firmware version can only be conditionally attributed to the initial setup of the router, we would recommend always updating the firmware first, and only then configuring the device.

This concludes the section devoted to the initial setup of a wireless router TP-LINK Archer C60, and move on to considering the capabilities of the device’s web interface.

TP-LINK Archer C60 wireless router review | Web Interface Overview

To access the web interface TP-LINK Archer C60 You can use any modern browser to access the address 192.168.0.1. Before starting to manage the router, the user is required to enter a login and password (admin/admin by default).

All parameters available for change are located in two tabs: Basic settings and Advanced settings. Let's first consider the capabilities of the menu items on the Basic Settings tab.

The Network Diagram item displays the status of the router interfaces, the presence of a connection to the global network, and the number of wired and wireless clients in both ranges.

Using the Internet item, the user can view and change the basic settings for connecting to the global network. In addition to static and dynamic IP addresses, the following VPN connections can be used: PPPoE, L2TP and PPTP.

Wireless networks are managed using the Wireless Mode item.

To manage the parameters of the parental control mechanism, you need to refer to the menu item of the same name.

Wireless router TP-LINK Archer C60 0 allows you to create guest wireless networks in each of the frequency ranges that the Guest Network item is intended to manage.

Let us now consider what options the menu items on the Additional Settings tab provide users with.

Detailed information about the wired and wireless interfaces of the router, the degree of use of its resources, as well as connected clients can be obtained in the Status item.

Setting up a connection to the global network is done using the Internet item in the Network group.

To change the parameters of the local network interface, you must go to the LAN item of the same group.

The settings responsible for connecting to the IPTV service are collected in the item of the same name in the Network group.

To configure the operating parameters of the built-in DHCP server and DDNS client, you must refer to the DHCP server and DDNS items of the same group.

You can view and change the routing table using the Advanced routing settings item.

To fine-tune the operating parameters of the wireless interface of the Archer C60 model, the user needs to refer to the items in the Wireless Mode and Wireless Mode groups.

The Parental Control item allows you to control the mechanism of the same name.

Quality of service parameters are managed using the Data Prioritization item. Yes, yes, exactly through the letter “e”.

The Protection group items are designed to change firewall settings, control user access, and bind MAC and IP addresses.

You can change the network address translation parameters using the items in the NAT forwarding group. It also manages virtual servers located on the user’s local network.

Wireless router TP-LINK Archer C60 supports IPv6 protocol. The corresponding settings are available in the menu item of the same name.

If users need to gain secure remote access to the resources of their own local network, they will have to use one of the tunnel protocols. Fortunately, the router we tested supports two types of such connections: OpenVPN and PPTP. The corresponding settings are available in the VPN server group items.

You can configure time synchronization on the router, perform connectivity checks, update firmware, reset/save/restore user settings, access log information, view statistical information about the router's operation, and perform other administrative tasks using the items in the System Tools group.

We would like to dwell in a little more detail on the System Settings item in the System Tools group. This item has collected a fairly large number of different settings. For example, with its help, an administrator can fine-tune wireless interfaces, change protection settings against DoS attacks, change the speed of network interfaces, and also enable or disable indicator lights.

This concludes our quick look at the capabilities of the wireless router’s web interface TP-LINK Archer C60 and proceed directly to testing the device. The only thing I would like to mention is the presence of a web interface for the Archer C60 wireless router, with which you can familiarize yourself with all the capabilities of the device before purchasing.

TP-LINK Archer C60 wireless router review | Testing The testing section traditionally begins with establishing the device boot time, by which we mean the time interval between the moment power is applied to the equipment and until the first echo response is received via the ICMP protocol. Wireless router TP-LINK Archer C60 loads in 94 seconds. We consider this a normal result.

The second, no less traditional test was checking the security of the device, performed using the Positive Technologies XSpider 7.8 network security scanner. A total of five open ports were detected. The most interesting information we found during testing is presented below.

Before moving directly to load testing, we would like to introduce our readers to the main parameters of the test bench.

Component	PC	Laptop
Motherboard	ASUS Maximus VIII Extreme	ASUS M60J
CPU	Intel Core i7 6700K 4 GHz	Intel Core i7 720QM 1.6 GHz
RAM	DDR4-2133 Samsung 64 GB	DDR3 PC3-10700 SEC 16 GB
LAN card	ASUS PCE-AC88 Intel PRO/1000PT	Atheros AR8131
operating system	Windows 7 x64 SP1 Rus	Windows 7 x64 SP1 Rus

The first load test we carried out was measuring the transmission speed of user data when performing NAT translations. The test results are presented in the diagram below. All measurements were carried out for one, five and fifteen simultaneous TCP sessions.

Then we decided to find out what speeds would be available to those users who connect to providers using the PPTP and L2TP tunnel protocols. To our surprise, the wireless router's performance TP-LINK Archer C60 0 when working with L2TP turned out to be noticeably lower when transferring data from the Internet.

The tested model has built-in VPN servers for the following protocols: OpenVPN and PPTP. Naturally, we decided to find out what speeds remote users would get when connecting to the router using the OpenVPN protocol.

Another wired test was performance measurement TP-LINK Archer C60 when processing IPv6 traffic. The measurement results are presented in the diagram below.

Finally, the time has come for perhaps the most anticipated tests - measuring wireless transmission speeds. First, we carried out measurements in both frequency ranges using channels with a minimum width of 20 MHz.

We then increased the wireless channel widths to the maximum supported values: 40 MHz in the 2.4 GHz band and 80 MHz in the 5 GHz band.

As you can see from the charts above, the greatest benefit from using wider wireless channels comes from operating in the 2.4 GHz band, but unfortunately its use is currently largely hampered by the large number of existing wireless networks. It's also worth noting that we observed that our test clients took a little longer to connect to the wireless network supported by the Archer C60, but this did not cause any further problems.

During load testing, we measured the temperature of the device case using an ADA TempPro-2200 pyrometer. Maximum temperatures of the wireless router case TP-LINK Archer C60 the following: upper surface – 36.3°С, lower surface – 45.1°С. The average air temperature in the room at the time of measurements was 25°C.

In conclusion, I would like to note that most measurements are limited by the performance of the wired interfaces of the tested model, since TP-LINK Archer C60 It has only Fast Ethernet interfaces. However, the results of measuring the device's performance when working with tunnels show that the processor resources are barely enough to process traffic coming from wired interfaces.

This concludes the testing section and moves on to summing up the results.

TP-LINK Archer C60 wireless router review | Conclusion

Overall, we were pleased with the tested model TP-LINK Archer C60, which can be classified as entry-level wireless routers. Today, a router is quite capable of meeting the needs of a small family for Internet access by combining several wired and wireless devices into a local network. However, the cost of access to the Global Network is rapidly falling in price, operators are offering faster and faster tariffs, and it may well happen that in just one or two years the Archer C60’s resources will not be enough to provide the speed available at the provider’s tariff. Today, an inexpensive wireless router TP-LINK Archer C60 It is quite suitable for ordinary users who do not want to overpay for unnecessary bells and whistles.

The strengths of the tested model include the following:

Availability of an initial setup wizard;
built-in parental controls;
support for wireless guest networks;
availability of IPv6 support;
support for both wireless bands;
Availability of built-in help;
acceptable price.

Unfortunately, we cannot help but point out the shortcomings of the device:

low speeds when working with OpenVPN;
lack of USB port;
Fast Ethernet interfaces.

At the time of writing the review, the average price for the TP-LINK Archer C60 wireless router in Moscow online stores was 2,850 rubles.

The high level of competition in any market segment forces manufacturers to fill the chosen niche with several products at once, which have slight differences in functionality and price. For example, in the past we reviewed a wireless router, but in this review we’ll talk about the model.

The digital index in the name suggests that the device should be slightly better than its predecessor. How does this manifest itself? First, the maximum throughput at 2.4 GHz is 450 Mbps instead of 300 Mbps, so the TP-Link Archer C60 belongs to the AC1350 class and the TP-Link Archer C50 to the AC1200 class. Secondly, the number of external antennas has increased from two to five, which promises more stable coverage and better protection against interference. This is not a complete list, and we will look at all its components in more detail later, but for now let’s focus on the technical characteristics.

Specification


		Wireless router
Device class
Wireless Standards		IEEE 802.11b/g/n/ac
Supported frequency bands		2400 − 2483.5 MHz 5150 − 5250 MHz
Maximum throughput		up to 450 Mbit/s
		up to 867 Mbit/s
		3 x external fixed
		2 x external fixed
Wireless Signal Strength (EIRP)

External interfaces		4 x RJ45 (LAN, 10/100 Mbit/s) 1 x RJ45 (WAN, 10/100 Mbit/s)
Wireless Security		WEP, WPA / WPA2, WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK
Supported protocols
		230 x 144 x 37 mm
Compatible OS		Windows XP / Vista / 7 / 8 / 8.1 / 10 Mac OS, NetWare, UNIX, Linux
Device page
Products webpage

Packaging and delivery

The TP-Link Archer C60 wireless router comes in a cardboard box with a traditional colorful design in the company's color scheme. On its sides you can familiarize yourself with the key features of this model and its advantages. True, almost all the information is in English.

For safer transportation, the device and delivery kit are packed in a special form.

In the box we found an external power supply with a power of 12 W (12 V at 1 A), a set of paper documentation and an Ethernet cable. By the way, the TP-Link Archer C50 model has a power supply power of 18 W (12 V at 1.5 A) and comes with a driver disk.

Appearance and hardware platform

TP-Link Archer C50

Both routers have a stylish and attractive design, but upon visual inspection it is difficult to imagine that these are neighbors in the model range. What they have in common is a glossy top cover with an interesting pattern, but the type of bend, shape and color are different. Also immediately noticeable is the presence of five external antennas instead of two. They are all fixed, so they are not easy to remove or replace. Three of them serve the 2.4 GHz band, and two are designed for 5 GHz.

Also on the top panel are all status LED indicators. They glow an unobtrusive soft green color, so they are unlikely to be distracting while working.

TP-Link Archer C50

Another important difference can be found on the rear interface panel: the TP-Link Archer C60 does not have a USB 2.0 port, so you cannot connect an external drive or peripheral device to it. Otherwise, there are no changes: there are five RJ45 ports of the Fast Ethernet category, that is, with a maximum throughput of 100 Mbit/s, a “Reset” button, a “WPS / Wi-Fi On/Off” button and a power button. By the way, to disable the wireless functionality of the router, you need to press and hold the “WPS / Wi-Fi On/Off” button for 2 seconds. If you press it and immediately activate a similar “WPS” button on the client device, a wireless communication channel will be established between them. And to reset the settings to factory settings, the “Reset” button must be held for about 5 seconds.

The underside is dotted with the necessary ventilation holes and a sticker with very important information. In addition to useful technical data, it contains a login and password for accessing the router settings via a web browser. For safety reasons, it is recommended to change them after the first use.

We were not allowed to look inside the TP-Link Archer C60, but according to information, we would have found Qualcomm Atheros QCA9561 and Qualcomm Atheros QCA9882 controllers, 8 MiB of permanent memory and 64 MiB of RAM. The first chip operates at 750 MHz and is responsible for implementing 802.11b/g/n standards in the 2.4 GHz operating range. In turn, Qualcomm Atheros QCA9882 supports 802.11a/b/g/n/ac protocols in the 5 GHz band.

We did not have any questions about the build quality of the TP-Link Archer C60.

Setting up the router

For everyone, TP-Link has developed convenient graphical interface emulators that allow you to familiarize yourself with the configuration options before purchasing the device itself. An emulator is available for TP-Link Archer C60.

The router's graphical web interface has a completely redesigned design.

Now, after entering the initial password and user login, three tabs are available on the page with the address 192.168.0.1: “Quick setup”, “Basic setup” and “Advanced settings”.

The “Quick Setup” mode is a kind of router configuration wizard, which in a step-by-step mode allows you to quickly prepare the device for operation.

The “Basic Settings” tab contains all the necessary parameters for undemanding users. Here you can view the network diagram and the number of connected devices, set Internet access parameters, activate or deactivate 2.4 and 5 GHz wireless channels, set time restrictions on network access (“Parental Controls”), or activate guest networks separately for wireless channels 2.4 and 5 GHz.

The "Advanced Settings" tab is intended for more experienced users who do not have enough basic functionality. It allows, for example, to clone a MAC address, use IPTV mode, deploy a DHCP server, set a router PIN code, view statistics, create a “black” and “white” list of sites, etc.

There are really a lot of settings, and if any questions arise, you can always click on the “?” in the upper right corner and get additional help.

Testing

TP-Link Archer C60 was tested in various data transfer modes - on a wired network, on wireless networks, and from wired to wireless and vice versa. During testing, the following conditions were met:

The router was tested under ideal wireless network operating conditions, at a distance of no more than two meters between points;
Wi-Fi channel throughput was measured at frequencies of 2.4 and 5 GHz;
The throughput of the wired segment was measured in conditions of unshielded twisted pair with a throughput of up to 1000 Mbit/s.

Comparative performance testing in 802.11n mode at 2.4 GHz using WPA2 encryption

The main stated improvement of the TP-Link Archer C60 over wireless data transfer is the increased throughput at the 2.4 GHz frequency: from 300 to 450 Mbps. Unfortunately, in practice we did not feel this: the maximum flow throughput in both directions even decreased slightly from 89 to 80 Mbit/s. Perhaps the large amount of interference is having an effect, because this is the range that is most widespread in our time.

Comparative performance testing in 802.11ac mode at 5 GHz using WPA2 encryption

Data flow in both directions

Data flow from client to router

Data flow from router to client

But I was a little pleased with the 5 GHz range. If the maximum throughput in all three cases was the same 89 Mbit/s, then the average performance of the TP-Link Archer C60 was slightly higher. For example, for data flow in both directions we got 138 versus 136 Mbit/s. For the other two directions, the difference is also 2-4 Mbit/s in favor of the tested model.

Comparative testing of packet transmission speed through the LAN interface for another LAN client

Data flow in both directions

Data flow from client to router

Both routers have Fast Ethernet RJ45 interfaces with a maximum throughput of 100 Mbit/s, which is confirmed by the test results.

Comparative testing of the speed of packets passing through the router's NAT service

Data flow in both directions

Data flow from router to client

The NAT service in TP-Link Archer C60 and TP-Link Archer C50 is implemented at the hardware level. The average throughput of both devices reaches 95 Mbit/s, but in terms of maximum performance, the TP-Link Archer C60 took the lead - 89 versus 80 Mbit/s.

conclusions

Since throughout the review we compared routers and routers, it is quite logical to summarize all the data obtained in our conclusions. At the time of preparation of the review, the average cost of the first in the domestic market reaches $53, and the second - $43. How do they differ from each other?

Firstly, both devices have different designs. And here it is difficult to objectively give preference to someone, since everyone has different tastes. We can only say that both routers look very nice and stylish. Secondly, the number of antennas is striking: the model in question has five (three for the 2.4 GHz channel and two for the 5 GHz channel), while the TP-Link Archer C50 has only two, both dual-band. That is, the coverage stability of the TP-Link Archer C60 should be higher.

The third point concerns external interfaces: both are equipped with five RJ45 ports with a throughput of up to 100 Mbps (although I would like to see gigabit options), but the TP-Link Archer C50 has an additional USB 2.0 port for connecting an external drive or peripherals. Why the engineers decided to abandon it in the TP-Link Archer C60 remains a mystery, especially since the Qualcomm Atheros QCA9561 controller used has USB 2.0 support.

Now regarding performance. Unfortunately, the test results did not show any improvement in throughput for the model in question for the 2.4 GHz channel. This may be due to the presence of a large amount of interference at the time of testing. But the new product turned out to be a little better in the 5 GHz band.

Additionally, TP-Link Archer C60 boasts an updated web interface with a lot of useful settings. And if you wish, you can use the Tether mobile application to configure and control the operation of the device from a smartphone or tablet.

Advantages:

support for the 802.11ac standard and two frequency bands;
nice design and high-quality assembly of the case;
convenient and functional web interface for configuration;
the presence of five external antennas for stable coverage;
IPv6 protocol support;
hardware implementation of NAT service;
possibility of remote control using TP-Link Tether mobile software.

Peculiarities:

the glossy body requires additional care;
use of Fast Ethernet ports.

Flaws:

lack of USB interface.

We express our gratitude to the Ukrainian representative office of the companyTP-Link for the router provided for testing.

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Manufacturer of network devices TP-Link is one of the leaders in the field of wireless communications. Its portfolio of solutions is represented by various series. This article will provide information about the TP-Link Archer C60 Wi-Fi router, its characteristics, capabilities and advanced functions. As an example, instructions are given for setting up access to the World Wide Web of well-known providers.

The TP-Link Archer C60 router (or otherwise Archer AC1350) is an advanced solution for home use and small offices.

It is painted light gray.

On top of the model there are five antennas that transmit data to the local network. Three of them operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, and the remaining two operate at 5 GHz. Devices that operate with two frequencies are also called dual-band.

The 5 GHz frequency allows the router to use the new 802.11ac wireless standard. In accordance with it, the data transfer speed over Wi-Fi reaches 867 Mbit/s. For comparison, when using a frequency of 2.4 GHz. the maximum speed is 450 Mbit/s.

The TP-Link Archer router model C60 supports two wireless channels and a three-by-three coverage area (MIMO).

The TP-Link C60 solution does not support a backup communication channel via 3G/4G modems, a media server and updating via external media, since it does not have a USB port, and it is also impossible to change the functions of the buttons. Among the advanced features there is no torrent client option.

Appearance

The Archer router is designed in the classic style of the vendor: rounded edges and a solid color.

On the back of the C60 model there are four LAN ports, one WAN connector (for the provider), as well as a RESET, WPS and power button. There is a separate power connector.

All necessary cables for the operation of Archer AC1350 are included in the package.

Connection and preparation for work

Before performing the initial setup of the TP-Link Archer C60 router, you need to prepare it. We connect the power cable to the outlet, and the network cord from the provider to the WAN port. Next, you need to connect the equipment to the Archer router from which you will set up a connection to the Internet. For example, a laptop.

Settings

The Archer AC1350 router is configured through the device’s web interface. To find out his address, look at the reverse side:

The C60 router address, username and password for the first login are highlighted in red in the screenshot.

Open the browser and enter the address, then the credentials. Below you will find the basic settings in two modes: automatic and manual.

Before you make any changes to the C60 router configuration, you should back up your data. Go to the “System Tools” tab, “Backup” subsection:

In the new window, select “Backup”. The C60 router OS will download the current configuration state into a separate file. Specify the path to save it:

If you need to restore the previous “config”, select the “Restore” subsection. We indicate the path to the previously saved file and perform the restore operation.

Automatic setup

To get automatic settings, on the main screen we find the “Quick Settings” tab and follow the “Wizards” prompts.

Select the time zone depending on your region of residence and click “Next”.

The next step requires you to specify the connection type used by your service provider. If the user doubts or does not know which technology, click on “Auto-detection”. The operating system of the Archer C60 router will automatically determine the connection type and select the appropriate option:

The third step suggests cloning the physical address of the network adapter. This option is only necessary if the provider provides Internet access only to a “white” list of MAC addresses. If this is not necessary, leave the parameter in its current state:

At the fourth stage, Wi-Fi is configured on Archer equipment. The user comes up with a name for the network and a password. If necessary, the point can be hidden. Select the “Hide SSID” item:

At the last stage, we verify all changes made. If everything suits you, click “Save”. Applying the new parameters will take 2-3 minutes, after which Internet access will be activated:

Connecting to the Internet manually using the example of some providers

Let's look at how to configure the C60 model manually. On the main Archer window, select the “Advanced Settings” tab. A menu will open on the left, where we go to the “Internet” section:

"Rostelecom", "Dom.ru"

The first two providers use an identical scheme for accessing the World Wide Web:

Let's move on to the next section of the C60 router. It is hidden in additional settings:

The first part prompts the user to select the mode for obtaining an IP address for the backup communication channel from the provider: “Dynamic” or “Specify manually”. We leave the option as in the screenshot. The following parameters of the Archer solution are unchanged, unless there are separate instructions from the service provider:

The second part contains advanced settings for the provider's functionality. We leave IP and DNS addresses in dynamic mode. Connection mode – “Auto”. After that, click “Connect” and save the changes.

At the end of the page there is a section responsible for cloning the physical address of the network adapter. For Rostelecom and Dom.ru there is no need for identification by MAC address. Accordingly, this paragraph remains unchanged. Save the changes with the appropriate button.

Beeline provides access to the Internet through its VPN server using L2TP technology. As in the previous paragraph, select the “Network” subsection:

The method for connecting the C60 router to the World Wide Web is L2TP. Next, enter the credentials specified in the agreement with Beeline. The client receives IP and DNS addresses automatically from the VPN server:

The second part involves setting up a secondary connection to the Internet using the built-in software of the Archer router. Set the settings as shown in the screenshot above. Next, click “Save”.

Below is the option to clone the MAC address. Since Beeline does not bind the account name to the physical address of the network card, we leave everything unchanged:

We reboot the C60 equipment.

NetByNet

The service provider uses a connection method through a dynamic address received by the C60 router from the provider. Go through the network settings, select the connection type “Dynamic IP”:

If the message “There is no cable connected to the WAN port” is on, check the connection between the Archer router and the network cable from NetByNet.

Fill out the advanced settings subsection as shown in the screenshot below:

Go to the subsection of cloning a physical address, select the second item. If the user wants to specify a different MAC address, activate the third item. Specify it manually and click “Save”:

Then we save the changes made on the C60 equipment.

Wireless network

Now let's look at the process of configuring a Wi-Fi network on the Archer C60 router. Go to the section “Setting up wireless mode”:

A work area will open on the right. At the top there is a switch between two ranges. Choose any of them:

We come up with an arbitrary name for the Wi-Fi network for the C60 router. We set the encryption and security key to WPA2. This is the current level of protection today.

The password itself must be at least 8 characters long, contain numbers, Latin letters and special characters. We leave all other indicators as shown in the screenshot.

The Archer AC1350 router also has a Guest Network feature. It is designed to create an independent network from which you cannot access the internal resources of the owner of the C6 router:

If desired, access to internal resources is opened by checking the appropriate checkbox.

We indicate the maximum protection level – WPA2. We come up with the network name and password ourselves. There is also switching between the two bands, just like in the wireless home network settings.

This mode is necessary for owners of the Archer C60 model who are afraid to distribute their personal information among other citizens of the country.

The C60 router can be configured in repeater mode when using the WDS function. The latter is available only on one of two frequencies. The user selects a router using the “System Settings” section and activates the “WDS Bridge” mode:

Additional operating modes will be discussed in more detail in a separate article.

IPTV

The C60 router supports digital television. Go through the “Network” section, IPTV tab:

A workspace with the following characteristics will open.

By default, digital television is supplied to the third LAN port of the Archer router. Accordingly, we connect the TV set-top box to this connector with a network cable. This completes the setup.

IPv6 protocol

Archer C60 network equipment supports IPv6 protocol. We go to the corresponding section through the web interface:

By default, the protocol is enabled.

We choose a method of connecting to the World Wide Web. The technology is specified by the provider in the contract with the client.

Fill in the username and password provided by the service provider. By default, the version 6 IP address is provided automatically.

Open the tab with advanced parameters:

The mode for obtaining an address is automatic. If you need to specify it manually, select “Provided by your Internet service provider.”

We leave the remaining parameters of the C60 router as shown in the screenshot. Click “Connect” to activate the configured connection and save the configuration.

In most cases, addresses are assigned by the DHCP server on the C60 router. We leave everything else unchanged. Save the current setting.

Individual user connection settings

The Archer AC1350 router has a function for switching indicators to night mode. Open the “System Tools” section, “System Settings” tab.

The page contains many options. Night mode is below.

By default, the slider is set to “On”. The owner of the Archer C60 network equipment sets a time interval during which the LED indicators will not light up. After this it saves the configuration.

Dynamic DNS

The dynamic DNS address option allows the owner to connect to the Archer AC1350 router from an external network. To do this, you need to register to get a domain name or IP address.

The link to the site is located in the web interface of the C60 router. Go to the “Network” section, select the tab of the same name:

On the right is the choice of one of the service providers: TP-Link, NO-IP or DynDNS:

Follow the link “Proceed to registration”. A new tab will open asking you to provide your details. We fill in all the required fields and confirm the data. After this, the user will receive a message with the specified name and password, which must be entered into the appropriate fields on the C60 router.

When choosing a dynamic DNS from the manufacturer of the Archer AC1350 router, the client will be required to enter a unique TP-Link cloud identifier:

Click on the inscription, highlighted in a different color and underlined. An authorization window will open. To obtain an account name and password to access your TP-Link personal account, you must first register in the vendor’s cloud. Following the wizard's prompts, we go through registration.

After this, the client will have access to the functions of his personal account from the router manufacturer Archer.

Security Settings

The Archer C60 generation network appliance has built-in protection against network attacks. Its parameters are located in the “Protection” section. It is divided into three categories:

The first contains the main firewall parameters:

By default, it is disabled. We switch it to the “On” mode.

The next three options assume basic knowledge of networking technologies. If the owner of the C60 device does not have the necessary skills, it is recommended to set the level to low. We leave the rest unchanged.

If the equipment has already been attacked from an external network, the table below provides relevant information:

The serial number, IP address and physical address from which the DOS attack was carried out are indicated.

The second section allows you to create lists of allowed and prohibited devices connected to the Archer router:

Initially, it is in the “Enabled” position, “white list” mode.

The following is a list of equipment currently connected to the C60 router:

The user selects the required mode: prohibiting or allowing, entering data in the following table. For example, the white list looks like this:

The owner of the Archer device independently edits this list using the “Add” or “Delete” functional buttons. When you select the add option, the following dialog box will open:

The client enters the name of the equipment by which the “OS” of the Archer AC1350 router will identify him. It can be arbitrary, since it carries only reference information. In the next line, enter the physical address of the device that will be allowed access to the C60 router’s network. After clicking “Save” it will be added to the “white” list.

The same principle is used to create a “black” list.

The third point is responsible for issuing IP addresses on the local network to the specified physical addresses of devices. This is called IP to MAC Binding. As follows:

In accordance with the physical address, the client machine will be assigned an “IP” from the built-in DHCP server of the Archer AC1350 router. The first table shows a list of active connections,
and the second is used to create bindings:

The user clicks "Add". A working window opens where information is entered. The client specifies the physical and IP addresses, then comes up with a description of the binding. Saves changes. Now, with each active connection, the physical address of the device will be checked against the ARP table. If this value is present there, it will be assigned the corresponding IP address.

The parental controls feature allows you to block access to certain web resources or the entire Internet using the built-in settings of the Archer router. They are located in the tab of the same name on the “Control Panel” of the C60 router.

By default, this option is enabled. The following is a list of devices that are blocked from accessing the external network:

Clicking “Add” opens the workspace. The user enters the following data.

Equipment name – a random set of characters for identification. The field is intended for reference information.
MAC address – enter the physical address of the equipment that needs to restrict access to the World Wide Web.
The “Internet access restriction” item is a calendar where the user specifies the required blocking time interval.
The “Description” field is optional, but you can leave notes in it:

After filling out all the information, save the data.

Below on the page there is a table containing domain names. As in the previous section of the article, “white” and “black” lists are also compiled here:

The Archer router owner adds templates and then saves the changes.

Setting up the printer

The Archer C60 model does not have a built-in USB port; therefore, the printer is connected only through a DHCP server. To do this, we connect it to a common local network. The device will be automatically assigned an IP address from the available range.

Setting up a VPN server

The Archer AC1350 router has a built-in VPN server function on two different protocols. You can configure it in the tab of the same name in the right panel:

Now about each of the options in more detail. Open VPN is free for all users:

The first step is to activate the VPN, since it is initially disabled on the C60 model. Select the data transfer protocol when using OpenVPN: TCP or UDP. Specify the port value; by default it is 1194.

The next subsection is responsible for creating the security certificate. It is loaded on the client workstation for authorization. When you click the “Create” button, specify the path to save on your local PC.

Below is the function for saving the VPN server configuration. Click “Export” and enter the path to save.

The second protocol is PPTP. The parameters look like this:

Check the top box to enable the VPN server option. In the next line we indicate the range of IP addresses. The maximum number of clients that can connect simultaneously is 10 people. Advanced options contain additional functions to provide access to internal resources.

At the end there is a table where account names are written down. The client comes up with a name and password, after which the user can connect to the VPN server.

The third section contains general information about active connections:

Possible malfunctions and ways to eliminate them

Problems that arise when working with the Archer AC1350 router can be divided into two types: physical and software.

The first type includes, for example, problems with the network cable, damage to the casing of the C60 equipment. Most difficulties can be solved by replacing components.
The second type is problems with the logic of the operating system. It manifests itself in the form of unstable operation of the Archer device, freezes or slow actions on the part of the router.

If the method does not help, try rolling back the settings to the factory configuration. How to do this is described in the corresponding section of the article.

If difficulties arise during the process of connecting to the Internet, you should remember the error code. This site contains articles on the topics of possible errors that arise during the operation of network devices. The user can independently find the necessary information and try to solve the problem by following the prompts.

Also, the owner of the device can always contact the provider who provides online assistance to its clients. All you have to do is dial the hotline, voice the problem, and then they will be transferred to specialists.

Firmware update

Like any network equipment, the C60 router also needs to be updated. The latest firmware versions contain corrections and new functions are added. Let's talk about how to "update" the current software.

Via web interface

For the Archer router, the latest software versions are available on the official website. Link: https://www.tp-link.com/ru/download/Archer-C60.html#Firmware.

Go to the main menu of the device, select the “System Tools” tab, “Firmware Update” subsection:

The workspace will open. We manually specify the file downloaded from the vendor’s official website. Click “Update”:

The process will take no more than five minutes, after which the C60 router will reboot. Some versions reset Archer routers to factory status. This is stated in the annotation for the “update” distribution kit on the official website.

Via mobile application

The mobile application does not support updating the firmware of the Archer AC1350 hardware. It is intended only for managing and changing some parameters.

Android - https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.tplink.tether

On the application description page there is a list of compatible devices with TP-Link Tether.

Resetting the router to factory settings

To do this, press the RESET button on the back of the Archer AC1350 router with a thin object, for example, a screwdriver or a pen rod. Hold it for 20 seconds. Once the reset is complete, the lights on the C60 network device will flash simultaneously.

As a rule, a rollback to the factory configuration is performed if the equipment has stopped responding to user requests.

Conclusion

The article provides a complete review of the TP-Link Archer C60 router: characteristics, capabilities, functionality. Instructions are given on how to set up Internet connections to the most well-known providers.

The Archer AC1350 router itself is a budget solution for home use and small offices. Despite the low cost, the solution contains a VPN server, parental controls, guest network and other useful features.

pros

Advantages of Archer AC1350 network equipment compared to others:

Availability of two different Wi-Fi frequency bands: 2.4 GHz. and 5 GHz.
The built-in firewall increases the level of protection against network attacks.
You can configure the C60 router through the mobile application.
There is a “Guest Network” option, which allows you to limit Wi-FI access for visitors.
The built-in VPN server and DynDNS option allow the user to access the device from the World Wide Web.
Five antennas located around the perimeter of the case allow for maximum wireless signal coverage.
The generation of Archer routers supports the new Wi-Fi protocol 802.11ac, as well as data transmission over IPv6.

Minuses

Disadvantages of Archer AC1350 network equipment:

The wireless network signal drops out from time to time. This is due to a flaw in the software of the C60 model.
Lack of USB port.
It can’t cope with a load of several clients and starts to freeze a little.

Another instruction for setting up routers, and today we will be setting up the TP-Link Archer C60 (AC1350). I have already reviewed this model, you can see it at the link. There you will find specifications and you can leave your review about the TP-Link Archer C60.

Usually, all instructions for setting up routers turn out to be long and boring. There are a lot of different moments and nuances that need to be talked about. Many settings options, etc. After all, everyone has different devices, providers, settings. I will try to make this instruction as simple and short as possible. In fact, for the router to work normally, you just need to set the parameters for connecting to the Internet provider, change the Wi-Fi network name and set a Wi-Fi password.

Setting up the TP-Link Archer C60 router is practically no different from setting up other TP-Link routers. New models with an already updated control panel installed. And in general, the algorithm of actions when setting up a router will always be almost the same, regardless of the manufacturer or model.

Connect TP-Link Archer C60 and go to the control panel

There are two ways to configure the router:

Connect to it using the network cable that comes with the kit. In this case, you must have a laptop or desktop computer with a network card. This is the best way. If possible, then at the time of setup I advise connecting the router via cable.
Via Wi-Fi network. With factory settings, the router immediately distributes the Wi-Fi network. We can connect to it, go to the control panel and set the necessary settings. This method is suitable for those who do not have a LAN port on their laptop, or do not have a computer at all. You can configure it from your phone or tablet. I wrote more about this here. To configure the TP-Link Archer C60, you can use the proprietary one.

By cable:

All you need to do is connect the router to your computer. Also, immediately connect the Internet to the router’s WAN port. Here is the connection diagram.

Via Wi-Fi:

In this case, it is enough to turn on the power of the router, connect the Internet to it, and connect your device to the Wi-Fi network, which will have a factory name.

To connect to this network, you will need a password. Factory password (PIN), name of Wi-Fi networks (at 5GHz and 2.4GHz frequencies), MAC address, IP address of the router and factory username and password indicated on the sticker at the bottom of the router.

I will show the setup process using the example of a router with factory settings. Before writing this article, I reset them to factory. Therefore, if you have already tried to configure the router, or it has been configured before, your settings may differ. If you have already tried to configure the router, then it is better to reset the settings. To do this, you need to hold down the Reset button for 10 seconds with something sharp.

The router will reboot and the settings will be restored.

To access the Archer C60 control panel, just open your browser and go to http://tplinkwifi.net(or 192.168.0.1), and specify the factory username and password (admin and admin). If you haven't changed them yet.

If you encounter any problem and cannot access the router settings, then see the solutions from this article:. And separate instructions for logging into .

The control panel will open, and the router will immediately prompt us to change the factory username and password to enter the settings. I recommend doing this. Just enter a new login (I left admin) and a new password twice.

The next time you enter the settings, you will need to specify the set password and username. If you forget them, you will have to do a factory reset (I wrote about this above).

The Quick Setup Wizard will open immediately. Cool stuff. You can use it to configure your router step by step (specify region, Internet connection parameters, Wi-Fi network settings). You can try it.

I don’t know about you, but in my case the settings were only in English. It was not possible to switch the language. Perhaps you just need to update the firmware. But I haven't checked.

I will show you how to set the necessary parameters in different sections of the settings. I will not use the Quick Setup Wizard.

Internet setup

Important point. Let me remind you that the cable from your Internet provider or modem must be connected to WAN port of the router.

If you previously launched an Internet connection (high-speed connection) to connect to the Internet, you no longer need to do this. The router will establish this connection. It is important.

To connect to the Internet, your ISP uses some type of connection. This can be: Dynamic IP, PPPoE, L2TP, PPTP, or Static IP. You should definitely know what type of connection your ISP uses. No other way. It would also be nice to immediately find out whether the provider uses MAC address binding (this is rare, but it happens). This information can be found directly from the provider, or in the connection agreement.

If you have a popular connection type Dynamic IP (without binding by MAC address), then the Internet should work immediately through the router. Since the default router settings are Dynamic IP. You can immediately go to the Wi-Fi network settings.

If the Internet does not work through the router (without internet access, or limited), then you need to set the parameters for connecting to the provider. To do this, go to the tab "Advanced" - "Network" - "Internet".

There we select our connection type and set the necessary parameters. Typically, this is the username, password, and server address. For example, I chose PPPoE.

After you have set all the parameters, click on the “Connect” button. If the router connects to the Internet, then save the router settings. If it doesn’t connect, then check the settings. We clarify the parameters with the provider.

L2TP and PPTP are configured in the same way. Only there, in addition to the username and password, you will also need to specify the server address (which is also issued by the provider).

Our goal is for the router to establish a connection with the provider.

Setting up a Wi-Fi network and password on TP-Link Archer C60

From the Wi-Fi network settings, I advise you to change only the name of the network itself, and of course the password. Since we have a router, the settings need to be set for both networks. Or, if necessary, you can turn off one of the ranges. I'll explain now.

Since we don’t need to change any special parameters, we open the basic settings on the “Basic” – “Wireless” tab.

There you will see settings for two networks: 2.4GHz Wireless and 5GHz Wireless. We change the name (SSID) and password for each range. The password must be at least 8 characters long. In English letters.

If, for example, you do not currently need a 5GHz network (well, you don’t have devices that support it), then you can turn it off. Simply uncheck the "Enable Wireless Radio" checkbox next to it and save the settings.

After saving the settings, you will need to reconnect to the Wi-Fi network. By specifying the new password we just set.

If you forget your Wi-Fi password, you can always look it up in the router settings. Or, use the tips from the article: .

Setting up IPTV

IPTV settings are set in the section "Advanced" - "Network" - "IPTV".

It is enough to connect the set-top box to one of the LAN ports of the Archer C60 router, and set this port for IPTV in the settings. In bridge mode.

I think there will be no problems with this.

That's it, we have finished setting up the TP-Link Archer C60 router. I hope everything worked out for you. If you encounter any problems, then reset the settings and try setting up again. Check your settings with your provider.

Ask questions in the comments and share your experience. Best wishes!

Wi-Fi router TP-Link Archer C60 equipped with a special feature to block unwanted web pages, social networks and other sites from children or staff. The model is equipped with five powerful external signal receivers: two antennas operate at a frequency of 2.4 GHz, and three at 5 GHz. This combination provides a wide coverage area even taking into account possible interference, such as thick walls and other room design features. Both communication channels provide access to online content at high speed (450 and 867 Mbit/s). This makes it possible to uninterruptedly download resource-intensive applications, watch movies in HD quality, and participate in online games.

The TP-Link Archer C60 Wi-Fi router is characterized by a convenient and multifunctional web interface, and management is also available using a special downloadable Tether application. In addition to four LED indicators, the case contains RJ-45 connectors, WLAN and five Ethernet ports for creating a home local network. The router is characterized by secure operation, protecting the user's personal information through data encryption.

New Wi-Fi standard 802.11ac

Archer C60 supports the latest 802.11ac wireless standard. It will allow you to perform resource-intensive tasks, as well as run applications at speeds that are 3 times faster than the 802.11n standard. As a result, you will receive: faster and more powerful Wi-Fi, which will allow you to unleash the maximum potential of your devices.

Fast dual-band Wi-Fi

Archer C60 will provide simultaneous Wi-Fi connection in two bands.
2.4 GHz channel: 3x3 MIMO creates stable Wi-Fi at speeds of up to 450 Mbps, making it ideal for tasks such as sending email, browsing the web and listening to music.
5 GHz channel: speed up to 867 Mbps for resource-intensive applications - allows you to watch HD video streaming, play online games and conduct video conferences without delays.

Improved coverage and stability

Archer C60 has 5 antennas, three of which broadcast at 2.4 GHz, and two at 5 GHz. They are installed alternately to optimize the transmission of dual-band Wi-Fi according to the 802.11ac standard - this ensures maximum network coverage and resistance to interference.

Parental control

Provides Internet access control for children or staff. URL blocking makes it easy to create a blacklist or whitelist to block internet access.

Guest network

Allows guests to connect to a separate Wi-Fi network, keeping personal data secure. Sharing the internet while staying safe has never been easier.

Modern design

Archer C60 is a modern device not only inside but also outside. Archer C60 has an elegant color and texture to match the interior of your home.

Easy setup and management

Thanks to its user-friendly web interface, Archer C60 can be set up in just a few minutes. You can also control the router from your smartphone thanks to the Tether mobile application.