The Archer AX80 from TP-LINK is a router, a device to which other devices (e.g., computer, mobile, TV) connect either wirelessly or via cable, and it distributes internet access to them. To access the internet, it needs to be connected to a modem. It is of the Wi‑Fi 6 generation, the most modern Wi-Fi standard that offers speeds up to 40% higher than Wi-Fi 5. It coordinates communication with connected devices to consume less battery and works better in environments with many Wi-Fi devices. Ideal for homes with many smart devices. It broadcasts signals on two frequencies, 2.4 & 5GHz. It offers higher speeds compared to single band and connection of more devices. The 2.4GHz frequency is the most widespread and has a long range. The 5GHz provides higher speed than the 2.4GHz but is more sensitive to obstacles (e.g., walls) that reduce its range. This difference, as well as its more limited use, helps it have fewer interferences from other networks.
It supports WiFi mesh, which is a complete home WiFi system with multiple access points designed to eliminate dead zones and provide seamless WiFi at home, with higher speeds and more devices. The device has VPN (Virtual Private Network) configuration capability so that traffic from all devices on our network passes through it. The VPN acts as an intermediary between us and the rest of the internet, allowing us to appear geographically in another country and for the pages we visit to see the VPN's address as the visitor instead of ours. This provides us anonymity and access to geographically restricted content. VPN services are usually paid with a subscription.
It features an SPI firewall, a mechanism that checks data traffic for patterns of known attack types (e.g., DDoS). At the same time, its NAT firewall hides the addresses of all devices on your local network behind a unique address, increasing security. With MAC address filtering, it allows specific devices to connect based on their unique MAC address, blocking any device with a MAC address not set as acceptable. It offers next-generation WPA3 security, with even greater password protection and easier and more secure device connections. It offers WPA2 security, a protocol that replaced WPA in 2004 and uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) technology, which is approved by the US government for confidential documents. WPA2-Enterprise is intended for corporate use and provides increased security compared to WPA2-Personal.
