TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router V4 (Archer AX21) – Dual Band Wireless Internet Router, Gigabit Router, Easy Mesh, Works with Alexa – A Certified for Humans Device

Outstanding Router Performance and Easy Setup!
I recently upgraded to the TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX21) and couldn’t be happier with the performance. Setup was a breeze, and the TP-Link Tether app made the whole process super smooth and quick. Right out of the box, I was able to get everything up and running without any hiccups.
The speed and coverage are impressive! With the WiFi 6 technology, I’ve noticed a significant boost in speed, even with multiple devices connected at the same time. Whether it’s streaming 4K videos, online gaming, or just browsing, everything runs flawlessly with no lag or buffering.
One of the standout features is the dual-band capability. It ensures that all my devices get the best possible connection. The gigabit ports are also a great addition for my wired connections, providing blazing-fast internet speeds.
The build quality feels solid, and the design is sleek enough to blend in nicely with my home decor. The parental controls and guest network features are added bonuses, making it a great fit for family use.
Overall, the TP-Link AX1800 has exceeded my expectations. If you’re looking for a reliable, high-performance router, this one is definitely worth the investment.

A Spectrum Internet Customer’s Point-Of-View
As A Spectrum Internet Customer
I had a Spectrum Advanced WiFi router that does 2G and 5G on the same WiFi network. There is not a way to split the networks in two. If you have a cell phone that is compatible with device steering and you use to connect your 2G devices to, you can call or chat with their Internet Repair support team to set up a feature on your cell phone that may allow the 2G devices to connect but it can be a hit or a miss and it’s too much of a hassle to keep calling/chatting to set this up with as the feature is enabled for only sixty minutes. If the 2G device is connected before the hour is over, it will remain connected but if it’s not, you’ll need to reach back out to try again and you’ll also need to reach back out for other new 2G devices only that don’t automatically connect to the 2G network.
This is a major flaw for an “Advanced” WiFi router. Customers paying a monthly $5 fee to lease their routers should be able to either split the networks in two or leave them as a single network for band steering. Outside of this, the Spectrum routers are fine. However, it’s just better to get your own router.
It would be great if they offered more advanced routers with more features such as VPN’s, hiding network SSID, splitting the 2G and 5G networks, guest network and more. I’d pay $5 more a month on top of the already $5 charge for this. This way customers can select which router they need for their home and still get customer support for it.
As A New Customer For Echo Dot’s
This is the reason why I purchased my own router. I purchased four Echo Dot’s, 5th generation, ’22 release. All of them connected to the Spectrum WiFi router without issue and individually they operated great. However, the Echo Dot’s have a “multi-room audio” feature where you can play music all throughout your home. This was my entire reason for getting these in the first place. This feature was a hit or miss. Sometimes it would work but most of the time only one or two would work and trying to get them all re-paired so I could say, “Alexa, play Discover Weekly from Spotify everywhere,” was a huge inconvenience and took too much time.
After going online and reviewing forums such as Quora and Reddit, I could see what the issue was. The Spectrum WiFi router would switch them between 2G and 5G based off of interference and signal strength throughout the day and if even just one Echo Dot was on a different network than the others, it would throw off the multi-room audio so that it wouldn’t work. So the hunt for a dual band router began.
TP-Link AX1800 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX21) Review
The TP-Link AX1800 Router has been amazing so far. It arrived on the same day that I ordered (Thank you Amazon and of course, most of all, the delivery drivers). When it first came in, the first thing I noticed was how ridiculously light it was which kind of made me nervous about the purchase. The router itself came very nicely packaged, nothing was damaged.
I followed the instructions to the letter but the router was not showing any lights on there after plugging it in once the Internet modem came back online. I re-read the steps again and re-checked the power connections and tried unplugging from both ends but not luck. I honestly thought I got a dud. I looked on the back of the router and saw a button and pressed it in; all the lights began to show and I could begin the setup process.
I use an iPhone and when I pulled up the TP-Link App to set up the router I couldn’t help but notice its low star rating so I opted not to download the app and instead login using the IP address (the instructions provide you with this information and how-to as well). This is my first time ever logging into a WiFi router without the use of a mobile app and I have to say, it is significantly better and heavily preferred. I was able to turn off TP-Link Smart Connect so that I could have two separate SSID’s for the 2G and 5G network. I could also see there was a whole new host of features that I did not have prior such as hiding your WiFi networks from neighbors and having a guest network.
I also did a speed test and they all came back higher than normal and my computer noticeably moves faster when browsing the Internet and streaming video despite being roughly around the same speeds (before it was around 310mbps download/9mbps upload; now it is at around 360mbps/13mbps upload). Maybe the 50mbps DL and 4mbps UL makes a huge difference. I’m not entirely sure. I believe the difference really comes from the router provider a more stable/stronger connection than the Spectrum router. The signals itself are just healthier now.
I also like that the TP-Link router has antennas, four of them to be exact, that you can see. The Spectrum routers don’t have these and if they do, they’re within the router itself. I believe routers with antennas that you can visibly see operate better and send stronger signals.
Did This Resolve My Issue With The Echo Dot’s?
It absolutely did. I re-connected all four Echo Dot’s to the 2G network, which was kind of a pain as well to do (but well worth the time and effort; it would’ve been significantly easier to do if I originally connected them to a dual band router in the first place) and ever since then I have had no issues with multi-room audio. Anytime I want to play music from all four Echo Dot’s at the same time, they all play without issue. Which is great because I plan on purchasing more for a more surround system environment.
Final Notes
If you need a dual band WiFi router that is able to split the networks in two so that you can sign into them separately, this is it. And honestly, if you have a Spectrum router, this is a major upgrade for a fraction of the cost. Just make sure you keep it clean of dust, and keep it in a well-ventilated and cool area of the home and this will easily last you 2+ years. It saves you money and it works better. It’s honestly a no-brainer.
There is also a common misconception with spotty/slow Internet speeds. The majority of signal issues do not come from cable lines (confirm with your ISP provider first though that the signal levels look healthy coming into and from your Internet modem) but come from the equipment itself (modem and/or router) or from the devices you are using (assuming it is only occurring on one or two devices). Which is why upgrading your WiFi router and/or Internet modem can resolve the issues.
I honestly don’t have any issues with the Spectrum Internet modems. I think they’re fine. They all come pre-built, meaning, you can’t change any settings on them. Not a deal breaker for me. However, honestly, if I didn’t have a Landline service with them, I would’ve purchased my own modem as well and long-term wise I will definitely consider it. The Spectrum Internet equipment are fine for the majority of homes. However, there is no one size fits all and if you’re having issues with your equipment whether due to the lack of features available or signal issues (and confirmed with their Internet Repair team that there are no signal issues coming from the lines), this TP-Link router is an exceptional purchase.

Me gusto bastante, solo lo conecte al modem de telmex y la instalación casi que se hizo sola. En cuanto a la velocidad la verdsd excelente, yo lo compre por que el modem que telmex me dio solo trae banda 2.4, y me daba velocidades maximas de 20-30, cuando por cable me daba 60-70, al desabilitar la red wifi del modem de telmex y activar la del este router bueno la 5G, la velocidad por wifi se igualo a la de por cable lo cual esta perfecto, el router es caro, pero si lo agarras en oferta creo vale mucho la pena. En el caso del home care, es gratis ya viene al menos con este modelo, no me dice nada de periodo de evaluación ni nada de alguna suscripción, el servicio como tal creo que esta bien para uso residencial y a lo mejor pequeños negocios, trae bastantes opciones y es fácil de usar, me gusta mucho las opciones qientese para controlar los dispositivos. Lo unico que puedo criticarle es el alcance de la red 5G, el alcance de la 2.4 si se extendio considerablemente y es estable, pero la 5G se degrada facil si hay muros, los mios son de ladrillo. Imagino que para lugares donde llega fibra óptica y hay velocidades superiores, este model debe haver maravillas, tal vez para mi caso lo estoy usando a un 50% pero estoy satisfecho por que aumento mi cobertura y me duplico/triplico la velocidad del wifi y le dio estabilidad. Si lo vem ej oferta no lo piensen.

Tenia muchas dudas de comprarlo por los comentarios pero lo hice. Mi router es version 1 (V1) y a 6 semanas de instalarlo, ha funcionado perfecto. Al configurarlo se instalo una actualizacion de firmwate que salio a finales de Febrero 2021. La velocidad no aumento, tenia antes con modem de Telmex 200mb (fibra optica, modem doble banda Huawei, muy estable y bueno) y con este router sigo teniendo 200mb. Compre este router para tener mas alcance, y me sorprendio. La velocidad casi no se pierde auque estes lejos del router, y ahora la señal llega a distancias que antes no. Por ejemplo, a 40 metros de distancia el router me da 50mb de velocidad conectado por wi-fi 6 (con modem telmex tenia menos de 20 metros de alcance). Antes en los lugares mas alejados con el modem telmex me llegaban 10mb, y ahora en ese mismo lugar 80mb. En resumen este router aumenta significativamente el alcance de la señal, y la velocidad contratada casi no disminuye aun cuando no estes cerca. Trae muchas opciones de personalizacion, control paretal, seguridad, antivirus sin pagar suscripcion, red de invitados, etc. Muy buena compra hasta el momento con zero problemas de desconexion o interrupciones.