Review: TP-Link Archer VR900

by Parm Mann on 16 October 2015, 15:30

Tags: TP-LINK

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Conclusion

...for those who truly care about their network experience, the Archer VR900 can be deemed a worthwhile investment.

Eager to improve the speed of your home or office network? Then consider running patch cables between rooms, as there's really no better solution for users seeking maximum performance and minimal interference.

We'd be remiss not to make such a suggestion, but channelling long lengths of cable isn't a preferred option for most, and it doesn't necessarily help the connectivity of your smartphones, tablets and other roaming devices.

It has become increasingly important to have a quality router at the heart of the home network, and TP-Link's Archer VR900 fits the bill. As a one-stop solution to enhancing the Internet experience, the dual-band router touts a built-in modem compatible with ADSL or VDSL services, a Gigabit WAN port for Fibre or Cable, and an option for an external 3G/4G dongle.

The ability to work with just about any type of Internet connection offers genuine appeal, and as a premium choice performance is hardly lacking. Wireless speeds of up to 600Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 1,300Mbps on the 5GHz put TP-Link's solution among the fastest simultaneous dual-band routers available, and though real-world mileage may vary, the Archer VR900 is a meaningful step-up from an ISP-provided box.

Factor in genuine value-adds such as guest networks, parental controls, wireless scheduling and a built-in media server, and you have a well-rounded router that's smart in appearance and useful in more ways than one.

Bottom line: high-end routers aren't cheap, but for those who truly care about their network experience, the Archer VR900 can be deemed a worthwhile investment.

The Good
 
The Bad
Works with any Internet connection
Simple setup process
Good wireless performance
4x Gigabit Ethernet
USB 3.0 storage sharing
Optional 3G/4G backup
 
Manual firmware updates
Pricey at £140



TP-Link Archer VR900

HEXUS.where2buy*

The TP-Link Archer VR900 VDSL/ADSL modem router is available to purchase from Scan Computers.

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At HEXUS, we invite the companies whose products we test to comment on our articles. If any company representatives for the products reviewed choose to respond, we'll publish their commentary here verbatim.



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HEXUS Forums :: 10 Comments

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'A high-performance modem router for any type of Internet connection'

Unless your internet connection is anything other than DSL, then you'll still need a separate modem. Isn't this like every mid-high end router?
CustardInc
Unless your internet connection is anything other than DSL, then you'll still need a separate modem. Isn't this like every mid-high end router?

It does support FTTC but I'm pretty sure BT, for one, prohibits the use of any modem other than the one they supply.
Actually if you read it has a ADSL port and you can use one of the LAN ports as a WAN port for cable modems/Fibre.
I think routers like this are only suitable for big houses where the antennas make a difference, and even then it makes more sense to just buy a repeater

I wired up my house nearly 20 years ago, it took a good day or 2 but it's so much better. Also, I have a weird mistrust of wireless, no matter how secure it is, I won't run my computer on a wireless network.
mercyground
Actually if you read it has a ADSL port and you can use one of the LAN ports as a WAN port for cable modems/Fibre.

That's what I said. Indeed it does have a DSL (or any variant) port, but that's useless to anyone with a cable or fibre internet connection. It's a great ‘modem router for anyone running on DSL. If you’ve got fibre or cable you will still need a separate modem, meaning that this is not a ‘modem router for any type of Internet connection’, in fact it's a modem-router for outdated internet connections, and a simple router for modern fibre connections.