This
archer scores a bullseye.
If
you had to decide which bit of tech in your house is THE most
important, would you think of your WiFi router? Many probably
wouldn't, but a decent router is the key to getting all those other
gadgets connected to the internet and doing what they're intended to
do. We've been sent another from our chums at TP-Link; a router that
is both easy to use and easy on the eyes. We review the Archer VR600
WiFi Router.
Recently we've reviewed a few a very large, very over-powered WiFi routers (not to mention some very angular and sharp-edged ones from Netgear), so it was actually refreshing to get our hands of the Archer VR600. This thing isn't very big, being only 20cm wide, and moulded in curvy black plastic with silver highlights. The three removable antenna on the back aren't huge either, so the whole package won't be taking up much space – especially considering that it can be wall mounted.
In
terms of ports the VR600 features four LAN and two USB (both of which
are the standard 2.0), and TP-Link are keen to point out that it is
fully compatible with mobile internet dongles. Considering the small
size and light weight, we could imagine it being used quite
successfully remotely with a dongle, so chalk that up as a win. The
DSL-in port is also VDSL, so if you have super-fast broadband the
VR600 can accommodate that. Oh, if you're a BT Infinity customer, you
need that, by the way.
The
specs of the VR600 are pretty average, and nothing about the two
bands (a 2.4GHz and a 5GHz) surprised us. The 2.4 will deliver speeds
of up to 300mbps, while the 5 can push that up to 1300mbps, making it
your go-to choice for streaming to 4K TVs and most game consoles.
However, what we weren't expecting on a device of this size and price
was Beamforming.
On
the 5GHz network Beamforming can be be used to accurately target
individual devices to ensure they get a concentrated stream of data,
while also improving the range of the WiFi. We set ours up to focus
on the Roku player connected to the living room TV. It resulted in
quick loading times of shows on Netflix, and there was never any lag,
especially when the show first starts. We also tested it on a phone
and started to move around the house while watching a YouTube video.
With Beamforming on the Archer VR600 were we able to move further
away (all the way down the street, in fact) without losing signal or
causing loading lag. We're pretty sure that it increased the WiFi
range by up to 50%, so if you have a desktop or games console up in
the farthest corner of you house, and suffer from WiFi dead-spots,
this would work great for you.
The
rest of the time VR600 just worked, and worked very well. Set up was
easy (as it should be) thanks to the TP-Link Tether app for iOS and
Android. It's a nice and clean app that aids both in the set up and
general maintenance of the router. So this is very simple to use and
master, while also looking good and performing great. And hey, ain't
nobody complaining about that price, yo.
£99.99
Visit
uk.tp-link.com
