You don’t have to shell out a fortune to get a decent entry-level WiFi 7 router, as TP-Link’s newly announced Archer BE3600 is currently on sale for the bargain price of $99, making it a promising and affordable option for consumers and small businesses alike.
The Archer BE3600 operates on dual-band frequencies, delivering speeds of up to 2,882Mbps on the 5GHz band and 688Mbps on the 2.4GHz band. It features four external antennas with beamforming technology for better signal strength and coverage. It offers multi-RU, 4K-QAM, and multi-link operation (MLO), allowing data to be received simultaneously on different frequencies and channels.
Archer BE3600 supports both VPN client and server, allowing you to run both VPN and regular internet connections simultaneously. It also supports EasyMesh, allowing users to seamlessly extend their network with other EasyMesh routers and range extenders.
6GHz band is not supported
The router comes with two Multi-Gig ports with 2.5Gbps each, three 1Gbps LAN ports, and a USB 3.0 port that supports various file systems, including NTFS, exFAT, HFS+, FAT32, etc. These ports provide adequate data transfer capabilities within your network, even if your Internet speed does not meet the requirements for ultra-fast broadband.
The Archer BE3600 supports multiple encryption standards, including WPA, WPA2, WPA3, and WPA/WPA2-Enterprise. Additionally, TP-Link’s HomeShield security suite offers a range of protection features, including malicious site blocking, intrusion prevention, and real-time IoT protection. The router can be easily set up and managed through the TP-Link Tether smartphone app.
Given the price, it’s not surprising that TP Link’s offering lacks some of the features found in higher-end models like the Asus RT-BE88U, most notably the lack of support for the 6GHz band, a feature that’s becoming more common in high-end routers but is limited by regional regulatory variances.
