TP-LINK Archer C8 is out

[azazel1024]

The C8 is already out, but it is priced around $150. It seems to perform better than the C7 though (USB 3 port, the external anntenas are dual band, instead of 5GHz only with 2.4GHz internal antennas).

 

[thiggins]

The C8 is already out, but it is priced around $150. It seems to perform better than the C7 though (USB 3 port, the external anntenas are dual band, instead of 5GHz only with 2.4GHz internal antennas).

Where did you buy the C8?

 

[bsod]

I have eagerly been waiting for the C8, hoping that it has decent USB transfer speed in comparison to the C7. It looks promising, but I'm pretty sure its going to be priced more or less the same as even the AC1900 routers here (UK). Unless its significantly less, its probably better to stick with the better brands.

Its available now from Amazon ($155) in the states, but not yet in the UK. Usually our prices don't translate exactly. For example the Netgear R7000 is at least £150 here. Thats $245!!

What I find strange is, there are already over 1.7k reviews for the product, some of them even from last year on Amazon. Surely this isn't right? Are they just getting mixed up with the C7v2 or have they combined the customer reviews?

 

[azazel1024]

Where did you buy the C8?

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N2ROH0C/?tag=snbforums-20

 

[azazel1024]

I have eagerly been waiting for the C8, hoping that it has decent USB transfer speed in comparison to the C7. It looks promising, but I'm pretty sure its going to be priced more or less the same as even the AC1900 routers here (UK). Unless its significantly less, its probably better to stick with the better brands.

Its available now from Amazon ($155) in the states, but not yet in the UK. Usually our prices don't translate exactly. For example the Netgear R7000 is at least £150 here. Thats $245!!

What I find strange is, there are already over 1.7k reviews for the product, some of them even from last year on Amazon. Surely this isn't right? Are they just getting mixed up with the C7v2 or have they combined the customer reviews?

The reviews are mixed in it appears.

 

[thiggins]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00N2ROH0C/?tag=snbforums-20

Thanks, Checked it yesterday and availability was 5 to 8 weeks. Must be moving in and out of stock.

At $150, it doesn't have the C7's price advantage. And at $150, it's priced with some lower-end AC1900's.

 

[thiggins]

The reviews are mixed in it appears.

Amazon does that a lot. Ya gotta read the fine print...

 

[abailey]

The Archer C9 is supposed to be out pretty soon. I was thinking it would be in the $150 price range but I guess not.
http://www.tp-link.us/products/details/?categoryid=2872&model=Archer+C9

 

[ChristineBCW]

NewEgg USA has them. Amazon DE does (€120). Amazon CO UK doesn't, although this could be a Scottish-vote thingy... or is it the Quebecois?!!

 

[azazel1024]

The Archer C9 is supposed to be out pretty soon. I was thinking it would be in the $150 price range but I guess not.
http://www.tp-link.us/products/details/?categoryid=2872&model=Archer+C9

Knowning TP-Link, I'd be suprised if when the C9 comes out if the C8 doesn't quickly drift to more like $120-130, with the C9 starting around $199.

Give it 3-6 months and you'll probably find the C8 around $99-109 and the C9 more like $139-169.

 

[bsod]

Don't trust the amazon.com reviews. Some of them are listed from 2012. Not even sure if people ordering the C8 are actually receiving the C8 and not the C7v2.

 

[ChristineBCW]

BSOD, yes, absolutely - Amazon's whole Sort functionality, any data filtering, any indexing is simply The Worst I've Seen on any commercial website.

The mating of divergent product reviews with similar ones is notorious in the DVD-BluRay-CD side - where "newly released remasters" are commonplace. But Amazon's simply clueless about assigning a Customer Review to the correct product ID. I don't know how they can screw this up AND maintain screwed up databases, entirely.

Who'd they hire for this DB index programming job? The Apple's chief of iCloud Photo Security?!! (Or rather - perhaps NOW we know where Amazon's ex-DBA went to work next!)

It's a shame that useful product reviews can't be stored and retrieved accurately, not that I pay too much attention to any verbage - it's the trend and then IF the vendor's tech support folks respond that impresses me.

 

[cheenachatze]

It's already down to $130 on amazon.com. I wonder if it works better with Broadcom clients than the original C7. Nice design for the C8, BTW.

 

[azazel1024]

I can't speak to the C7 as I don't have nor have tried one, but it works just fine with all of my Apple products (iPhone 4s, 5 and now a 6 as well as iPad 2) as well as a windows tablet with a Broadcom wifi adapter in it. Good speed, excellent range, no disconnects.

 

[ChristineBCW]

...Nice design for the C8...

I'm not too sure on boxes that have frames that limit their mounting orientation. I haven't examined the photos to see if that frame could be removed as if I'd mount it on some surface other than a single flat shelf or desk (ie, a pole in the corner, or a wall) but I don't always appreciate needing to make interior-design decisions instead of performance ones.

All of these devices are photo'd to look pretty kewl, though, especially without power-bricks, 5 cables spewed from the back and mashed together on our real-life shelves, desks or racks.

I swear - some photos of Installs make After-The-Tsunami photos look organized.

 

[azazel1024]

The frame cannot be non-destructively removed (big knock). I personally have mine mounted high up on a shelf, face down (ports up). Looks fine that way. Antennas sticking up and that is about all I see.

 

[ChristineBCW]

The frame appears to be one-piece and therefore has some sturdiness to it, so an extended clamp-arm onto its base might yield a pole or rack-post fitting, with a sufficient clearance for cabling. A round-post might allow easy twists to access rear-connections. A square one...ugh. Maybe this is why God invented shrunken heads...

 

[htismaqe]

It looks like they're trying to copy the Asus RT-AC68W design...

 

[ml70]

Has TP-Link fixed their USB HDD and Samba issues already? Their samba used to go into eternal loop if there were more then 64 files in a directory... Tried WDR4900 a year ago and promptly returned it because of that.

Also their DLNA had significant issues, stuff just wasn't there or entire folder tree contents were messed up, and data that was sent to the DLNA "renderer" (for example smart TV) was corrupted.

 

[bsod]

Has TP-Link fixed their USB HDD and Samba issues already? Their samba used to go into eternal loop if there were more then 64 files in a directory... Tried WDR4900 a year ago and promptly returned it because of that.

Also their DLNA had significant issues, stuff just wasn't there or entire folder tree contents were messed up, and data that was sent to the DLNA "renderer" (for example smart TV) was corrupted.

Sadly those are exactly the kind of problems I have encountered with TP-Link in the past and probably one of the reasons I won't buy from them again.

BSOD, yes, absolutely - Amazon's whole Sort functionality, any data filtering, any indexing is simply The Worst I've Seen on any commercial website.

The mating of divergent product reviews with similar ones is notorious in the DVD-BluRay-CD side - where "newly released remasters" are commonplace. But Amazon's simply clueless about assigning a Customer Review to the correct product ID. I don't know how they can screw this up AND maintain screwed up databases, entirely.

Who'd they hire for this DB index programming job? The Apple's chief of iCloud Photo Security?!! (Or rather - perhaps NOW we know where Amazon's ex-DBA went to work next!)

It's a shame that useful product reviews can't be stored and retrieved accurately, not that I pay too much attention to any verbage - it's the trend and then IF the vendor's tech support folks respond that impresses me.

As for Amazon.com, its a strange one. I am from the UK and amazon.co.uk is brilliant, product reviews are categorised(unlike the .com) and the site is well designed and efficiant. The company is excellent and I have never had a problem with returns. I think (but im not certain) that amazon in the US is only a marketplace for different sellers So perhaps thats why there is a difference? They really need to sort out those mixed reviews though, its not right that people are sending reviews on the C8 product page about the C7...like I said before, I wouldn't order it before checking the serial number with customer service. I wouldn't be surprised if you end up with a C7v2 and not a C8.