TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73)- Dual Band Gigabit Wireless Internet Router, High-Speed ax Router for Streaming, Long Range Coverage, 5 GHz

There are many routers claiming to be fast and support the max speed of the wifi 6 protocol. However, most routers fall short terribly. Some heat up like a toaster like AX3000 and some don’t have the processing power i.e. the required number of CPUs to quickly process the packets by 20+ devices. Further, some are $300+ which kind of brings the affordability into play.

This router however finds the right balance in all the features which I was looking to upgrade. I was looking in the range of about $100 and tried to AX3000. However, it heats up too fast and then starts to thermal throttle the speed and doesn’t even stay connected with the clients like a laptop or mobile devices. I have tried a Netgear router from Costco AX4300 but fall short when around 20 devices are connected to it and don’t support the mesh networking.
Features which I wanted and like:

Range:
This device has a superb range by itself and covers my home pretty easily. I see I have a good wifi signal at all ends of my home and I live in a 2-floor apartment with the router placed upstairs.

Mesh:
I like to receive a good network in my backyard as well and so I have added a RE505X which costs another 80 bucks but saves money on my mobile data plan as I don’t invest in an unlimited data plan. There is only 1 SSID that is broadcasted and it automatically switches based on where I am in the home.

Heat:
Some routers heat up and create a fire hazard and also have the probability of breaking down sooner than I like them to. This is not the case with this one and it stays relatively cooler and never experienced any slowing down of the network. I have touched it to check several times and it’s good.

Setup:
The setup was really easy. The basic setup can be done in minutes and there is no RnD required. The tether app is pretty cool for basic setup. I also have requirements for static IP based on mac address and port forwarding. Both of them are easy to configure. They also have support for dynamic DNS so you can easily host your basic website in your home network. For this, I need static IP address reservation and port forwarding.

Parental controls:
This is a real plus that allows me to block youtube or any site whenever I need to get my kid away from the TV.

Reboot schedule:
I like to have a reboot schedule which is good this router has it and very easy to set up.

LED lights:
This router allows to turn off led lights and I like it that way once the setup is complete.

Summary:
I think its a router for average home with right balance of ease of use and price and features.
Note: I have not been paid for this review and have bought the router with my own money.

2 Weeks Update:
Going strong with over 20 devices connected, no disconnections reported by anyone in device. I have 3 heavy internet users at home. No heating issues, range is good.

4 Months Update:
Working perfectly for 4 months. No issues.

2 year update
Still works as new with no issues

Pros:
– Super easy/fast setup
– Handles many many connected devices very well
– Companion iOS app works well and has the features I need/want

Cons:
– Expensive
– Looks audacious (I don’t like the way it looks…you may, regardless, it’s OUT THERE)
– Not all named devices show up properly in the routing table (i.e. My wireless cameras have network names but the router only sees the IP address. You can name devices manually though)
– Local network throughput is much lower than I hoped for (Note: I may have other local network issues contributing to this but low speeds show up between wireless and wired clients)
– Internet scheduling is broken (i.e. You can NOT setup a schedule that goes from 11PM to 7AM; you can setup a schedule from 7PM to 12PM or from 12AM to 7AM though. In other words, you can’t have a schedule that refers to both AM and PM in the same schedule)

Background:
I got this router for one main reason…my ISP provided MODEM/router was struggling to keep up with the demands of my growing connected devices. I was encountering three problems: 1) Devices would keep disconnecting from the MODEM/router; 2) Connected devices would “contend” over internet access which caused issues with browsing and streaming; 3) I had to reboot the MODEM/router weekly so it could regain its sanity

I was looking to solve the above problems and an additional benefit I was looking forward to was related to parental controls by setting up schedules, quotas, and remote disconnect of devices.

Experience/Process:
I ran some tests before buying this router and determined that my internet speed/bandwidth was not my issue. So I researched a router that had multiple antennae and beefed up processing power. The setup was super easy and the app used to manage the router has the basic features I was looking for. I have a complex network with multiple routers, switches, and connected devices (both wired and wireless). With full home automation, smart appliances, five family members all with multiple connected devices, and relentless visiting of friends and extended family members, I expected the transition from old to new to be a little more painful. This was not the case. I followed the simple directions and after a couple of reboots I have done almost nothing to adjust/tweak the new router. The new router has been running for a few weeks now and shows no signs of requiring a reboot. No devices have disconnected and browsing/streaming experience is excellent now. Although there is a fair amount of gaming in the house, all gaming devices (consoles and PC’s) are wired so I can’t speak to wireless latency quality.

Overall Impressions:
I’m super happy with the router because now I can use the internet without thinking about it again…it just works and it’s fast. The price tag was pretty hefty though and I’d care less if the access scheduling worked properly and I had better throughput when transferring files between local network clients. That said, scheduling and local file transfers were not the reasons I bought this router and both scheduling and local file transfers are still better than my ISP provided MODEM/router. In the end, it still feels like a win. If you have many connected devices and your internet experience has gotten worse over time, this is probably a great option for you. If you’re looking for a wireless gaming router, I have no reason to believe it would not perform as expected but…all of my gaming devices are wired.

When an aging and already flaky Linksys router finally gave up the ghost, there was no question in my mind that the replacement would be a TP-Link product. I’d recently installed a TP-Link full mesh system at a home we’d remodeled and was impressed by the speed, ease of set-up, quality, and features. I didn’t need a mesh system to replace the old Linksys so after some research I landed on this Archer AX73. It has exceeded expectations. The set-up was a snap, the speed impressive, and range surpasses that of the old system to the point that I no longer needed a wireless extender – this one device in an upstairs closet is staying connected everywhere I roam, and connects without difficulty to the Ring doorbell in the front, my irrigation system and garage door opener in the garage, and Alexa-controlled pathway lighting system installed on the far opposite outside wall of the house. Having guest wi-fi again is also nice.

My only complaint is that it requires yet another app on my phone. I already had the TP-Link Deco app for the mesh system, and needed to install the Tether app for this one. Would much have preferred to manage both systems via just the Deco app. But that’s an annoyance because I like fewer apps that do more across a manufacturer. Who knows, maybe TP-Link will fix that someday.

Even with that minor annoyance, this is a 5-star router with features that exceed the price point.

The TP-Link AX5400 WiFi 6 Router (Archer AX73) has exceeded my expectations in every way. The speed is incredible—whether I’m streaming 4K videos or gaming, everything runs smoothly without any buffering or lag. The dual-band feature, especially the 5 GHz, provides high-speed connectivity for all my devices, and the long-range coverage ensures that I get a strong signal throughout my entire house, even in areas that were previously dead zones.

Setup was a breeze, and the router’s performance has been rock solid since day one. If you’re looking for a fast, reliable router for high-demand tasks like streaming and gaming, this is an excellent choice.

El TP-Link Router AX5400 WiFi 6 (Archer AX73) ha mejorado significativamente la velocidad y estabilidad de mi red, proporcionando una conexión rápida y confiable en toda la casa. La configuración fue sencilla y la cobertura es excelente, incluso en áreas donde antes tenía problemas. La capacidad de manejar múltiples dispositivos sin pérdida de rendimiento ha hecho que sea una solución perfecta para mi hogar.