Monday, July 29th 2024
TP-Link Launches the $99 Archer BE3600 WiFi 7 Router
To date, WiFi 7 routers have been costing hundreds of dollars, with high-end models going for as much as US$800 for standard routers, with mesh systems easily breaking the US$1000 barrier. TP-Link's new Archer BE3600—also known as the Archer BE230 in some markets—is the polar opposite to those expensive routers, as it's being sold for a mere US$99. We've even found it for less than that in some countries, although we've also seen the BE230 model for twice as much, so the pricing varies quite a lot depending on where you live. You might be wondering how much router you get for your money, since there has to be some trade-offs, right?
Well, you wouldn't be wrong, but there are fewer trade-offs than we expected. As the model name implies, the combined WiFi speed is 3600 Mbps in theory, with the 5 GHz radio delivering up to 2882 Mbps and the 2.4 GHz radio delivering up to 688 Mbps. Both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios are 2x2, but at least the 5 GHz radio supports up to 240 MHz channel width, although 160 MHz is far more common on the device side. However, there's no 6 GHz radio to be found at this price, which isn't entirely unexpected at this price point. However, new features like Multi-Link Operation (MLO) are supported. You also get a pair of 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, something only routers at around twice the price of the Archer BE3600 has featured so far. There's even a USB 3.0 for those that want to connect up a storage device to their router as a makeshift network drive. According to a teardown done by the FCC, the Archer BE3600 is based on a Broadcom SoC with integrated WiFi and a Realtek switch for the Gigabit ports.
Source:
TP-Link
Well, you wouldn't be wrong, but there are fewer trade-offs than we expected. As the model name implies, the combined WiFi speed is 3600 Mbps in theory, with the 5 GHz radio delivering up to 2882 Mbps and the 2.4 GHz radio delivering up to 688 Mbps. Both the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz radios are 2x2, but at least the 5 GHz radio supports up to 240 MHz channel width, although 160 MHz is far more common on the device side. However, there's no 6 GHz radio to be found at this price, which isn't entirely unexpected at this price point. However, new features like Multi-Link Operation (MLO) are supported. You also get a pair of 2.5 Gbps Ethernet ports, something only routers at around twice the price of the Archer BE3600 has featured so far. There's even a USB 3.0 for those that want to connect up a storage device to their router as a makeshift network drive. According to a teardown done by the FCC, the Archer BE3600 is based on a Broadcom SoC with integrated WiFi and a Realtek switch for the Gigabit ports.
29 Comments on TP-Link Launches the $99 Archer BE3600 WiFi 7 Router
Like the article mentioned, you get MLO. But there is another important feature with WiFi 7: Flexible Channel Utilization aka preamble puncturing, blocking off a portion of a channel that got interference, and WiFi still working. With earlier WiFi the channel with interference just might stop working completely. Or as one reviewer mentioned "Wi-Fi 7 handles interference more gracefully by slicing off the portion of a channel with interference, 20MHz at a time, and keeping the clean part usable. " I currently don't have a WiFi 7 router, and don't have a lot of money, but I did have a chance to try out 2 WiFi 7 routers before, and this does work nicely - no more disconnects in a high density environment (aka apartment), sure WiFi slows down, but it does keep working.
Either it’s an expression I am not familiar with or a typo. Not sure what outer means in this context.
Remember the saying: "cheap is as cheap does"
And also remember that they HAD to cut some corners somewhere to get to that $99 price point, and since the chipset and radio are the most expensive parts of any router, that's probably where the savings come from, that and thin, flimsy plastic housing and bottom barrel antennae.......
Yet it may work fine for a while, but after about 6 months, you'll be shopping for a new router again, hopefully having learned your lesson & get a known quality unit :D
I know that not all WiFi 7 are Broadcom. UniFi is using Qualcomm for example.
I checked two other TP-Link companies, good to know that there's a third that doesn't come up if you search for TP-Link.
Updated the news post accordingly.
Like other posts, I can confirm that they do last a long while.
But then again, with any new product you never know. I tend to be in the "wait and see" crowd. Could be great, could be worst thing imaginable.
//
Another thing someone noted was that WiFi 7 isn't ratified yet. This whole ratification business confused the living hell out of me, with so many WiFi 7 products popping up and certification since early 2024, I didn't know what to think. But its basically the RC-version of WiFi 7. And while I need a new router badly, I'd rather wait till its actually ready
www.asus.com/event/network/eol-product/
also FYI
TP-LINK TL-7DR3610 • BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 • FL860 • AC|WiFi (26167)
CPU: Airoha AN7563PT 2x @1.0GHz (6nm), 128/512MB
WLAN: MediaTek MT7991BV/MT7976CN, 2T2R/3T3R
Airoha is a MediaTek company. They spun off their Bluetooth, GNSS, cable modem and fibre networking stuff there.
Hopefully production versions are better built :fear:
Personally I’m partial to Synology routers. I really like that Synology SRM.
www.wi-fi.org/discover-wi-fi/wi-fi-certified-7After the disaster with the TP-Link Archer routers logging everything you do and every single page you visit and sending them to antivirus companies regardless of you disabling the HomeCare feature or not, I put my AC68U back in service. Turns out ASUS is still actively maintaining it, a new update was released in April
www.asus.com/supportonly/rt-ac68u/helpdesk_bios/
I'm probably never gonna buy another TP-Link router, even if they fixed this problem in the newer ones. ASUS on the other hand... yeah I'll keep paying their tax I guess.