TP-Link Archer VR400 AC1200 Wireless Modem Router, VDSL ADSL Wifi Router, Mesh Wifi Booster, Dual Band Internet Booster, Full Gigabit Ethernet Ports Mesh Routers, Plug and Play, Gaming Xbox PS4 Steam

This TP-Link Archer VX1800v dual-band wifi Gigabit router with VDSL2 and VoIP replaces a trusty old wifi TD-W8970 which was working beautifully with an external Vigor 130 VDSL2 Modem but they lacked a VoIP socket. And BT is taking away my old copper analogue landline.This VX1800 offers that essential VoIP and VDSL2, simplifying my system. In addition it has improved security, much faster WiFi 6 and excellent internet speeds. Best of all, I still don’t need to unpack the undesirable and relatively ancient Home Hub2 from its box.On a 24/7 average it’s using the same level of power as the previous setup; the VX1800v varies between two to eight Watts, depending on LAN and WAN activity and chosen WiFi power level.Set-up is easy if you know what all the acronyms mean, but if you don't then it is possible to make mistakes. Displaying relevant downloaded VX1800v user manual pages alongside the admin pages when logged into the router helped, but keeping track between them and in context considerably slowed down configuration.With the Quick Set-up it can be connected in only a couple of minutes, mostly taken by negotiating with the ISP. But then customising it for a complicated local network might take hours.I have set Static IP addresses in all my wired network devices, checked all the firewalls were On (default is On), let the DHCP search between 2 and 254, and set new passwords for the router Admin, and also the WiFi. It also let me set up a Guest WiFi access with its own tough password.I also updated the firmware; fortunately the VX1800 kept all my settings. As a precaution I had backed them up on the PC in case a restore was needed to put them in place again.I tested the WiFi range with my laptop while setting up, to check the security and password system, and discovered I could be sitting fifty feet away in the shade of a tree in the garden, or just outside in the street in my car, and still transfer at the full speed. This wifi reach is further than before; I may reduce the power level.The VDSL2+ Broadband speed Fibre To The Cabinet is 55Mb/s and 10.5Mb/s, same as before with the old devices. It will be much better when the ONT sits next to it.

This VDSL/ADSL Modem router is simply amazing.I have used the simple term "router" to refer to this and competitor/alternative products.I was at the point of adding a NAS to my network and needing switching to fibre broadband when I found out that the Sky router offered had a very limited number of ethernet ports - certainly less than the older one it was meant to be replacing. Additionally, I read reviews commenting on the poor range they were getting from their new Sky fibre broadband router. I therefore decided to do some research.I was somewhat put off by the relatively high price for this router but having read the reviews struggled to ignore them.What buyer's remorse was to be had was very short lived. The router came very well packaged and exudes class and quality.Setting up the router was dead easy and even setting it up for Sky (instead of the replacement router they sent me) was straightforward requiring no 3rd party software anywhere in the process. TP-link have all the necessary info on their website for this. I set up my 2GHz wireless network, my 5Gz network and importantly, a guest network for when friends and family visit and I don't want them leaving with my key network passwords in their mobile phones.The router has worked flawlessly, supporting all my usual audio-visual smart equipment, mobile phones, laptops, printers and anything else we have thrown at it. It has excellent range and I pick up a good clear signal wherever I am in the house and indeed out in the garden.I am no IT geek so not able to go into any detail about any of the advanced features or aspects that could drive the score to less than 5 stars. What I can say though is that I have had no issues with this router - and yes, it's very fast! Very highly recommended!

This review is for the VR-600 type 2 (aka AC1600 II). I should also say that I got this quite cheap from a third party sale, £60 plus £1.92 postage, for an opened box. When I tried to set it up, it demanded a password, but first time it should have prompted me for one of my choosing. It had clearly been used, and I had to press the "reset" button, and after that I was able to set it up.I have to say it's fairly solid in operation. One feature I couldn't use is the "5G" wireless, the internal walls in our flat totally defeated the 5G signal. However, the 2.4G signal was much better, and we can now get a reasonable signal in our bedroom, we couldn't with our previous router. It an old brick-built maisonette, and the signal has to pass through 2 brick-built walls and a solid concrete ceiling to get from the router to the bedroom, so that's a plus. Even though the "signal strength" seems to drop on its indicator, it still continues to work, with our previous modem it would keep dropping.Setting it up was straightforward. Later I was able to locate, amongst the "Advanced Settings" a place to allocate all our domestic stuff, including TV, phone, computer, a fixed IP address. It tends to keep connections more stable, and means that you can do more within the network.I've not been able to work out what this TP-Link Cloud is all about yet, seems that a lot of pointless nonsense, I've not been able to find a use for it at all. I was hoping that maybe I could download files from the USB drive plugged in, or use the wirelessly connected printer, but no.All in all, a good modem, does the job, but the so-called "Extras" are mostly a waste of time and effort for me. Loses a star because the signal strength isn't quite what was expected from reviews (though better than the ISP router), and the 5G connection, for me, caused more problems than it was worth, so I disabled it, and for the hype. Glad I bought it though.