TP-Link EC230-G1 AC1350 review

TP-Link EC230-G1 mid-range router model with gigabyte ports and dual band Wi-Fi network supporting EasyMesh standard. A good choice for those who want an efficient network at the whole home.

TP-Link is famous for budget solutions for home use, including usb network cards, routers, Wifi extenders, network transmitters and small 4-5 port switches, but this is not the only group of recipients of this company's equipment, we also offer operator solutions 48-port switches, media converters, 24-port PoE switches.

Specification

The manufacturer declares Wifi works in AC1350 standard. This standard consists of 450Mbps at 2.4Ghz and 867Mbps at 5Ghz. TP-Link EC230-G1 is the successor to the Archer C6, it differs from its predecessor in more efficient operation in the 2.4Ghz band and additionally supports the EasyMesh standard.

Box contains

Design

Configuration

The WEB interface is used for configuration, which is available by default at the address https://192.168.0.1 or https://tplinkwifi.net, configuration can be done via a wifi network or via a wired connection. The default SSID and password for our Wifi network is on the label on the bottom of the device.

Basic configuration

Then we indicate how the Internet provider provides us with the service. Supported connection types:
• Static IP address,
• Dynamic IP address,
• PPPoE,
• L2TP,
• PPTP.




Then set the password for the WiFi network to 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz simultaneously.

The next two steps are to display our Wifi network settings and whether our connection has been properly configured.

Configuration panel

Extender configuration

WIn the first step, connect to our router. We can do it via an Ethernet cable or WiFi network. One end of the cable should be plugged into one of the ports labeled LAN and the other to a laptop or computer. The default ssid name and password for our router's WiFi network can be found on the label on the bottom of the device.



To configure our router that will serve us as an extender, open the browser and enter tplinkwifi.net or address 192.168.0.1 in the url



In the first window, enter the password twice to protect our device against unauthorized access to the configuration panel. After do we need to log in with the password just set.

After logging in, click quick setup.



The device will search for available 2.4Ghz wireless networks, select ours and enter the password.



Then repeat this action at 5Ghz.

Then we have the option of changing the name of the network that this extender will broadcast, I leave the same.



We verify the correctness of our settings and confirm them.



Our extender has been configured, we can now check if it has Internet access by looking at the diode on the device. This is the 2nd LED from the right if it is green everything is fine and if orange is a problem. I will give two possible reasons. The router is too far from the main device - our transmitter or we've entered the wrong password.

IPTV configuration

After logging into our configuration panel, go to the Advance -> Network -> Internet tab



We are adding a second type of connection to IPTV. In our case it is a bridge on Vlan 211. We mark the port to which we will connect our set top box.



To the first connection (our Internet) should be added the ports on which we want to have Internet.

Device interior

• QCA8337N-AL3C
• QCA9885

Tests

Tests conditions: In general it is possible to see the repeatability of the test results made on the wi-fi devices only in laboratories. Our tests have been made in offices. That's why they should be treated only as an indication, since the speed and the level of the signal depend on many factors, such as the configuration of the room, the Wi-Fi channels and also the other devices.

Below there is the list of the devices that were used during the tests:
TP-Link EC230-G1
Laptop z kartą Wifi Intel(R) Wireless-AC 9560
Mikrotik RouterBOARD RB4011iGS-5HacQ2HnD-IN
5ghz Wireless (QCA9984)
2,4 Wireless (Atheros AR9300)
IPhone 7 Plus

Results of our tests

1. Internet <-> Router (TP-Link) <-> WiFi 5Ghz (Laptop/Smartphone) (measurement using a 500/100Mbps company Internet connection using the Ookla speedtest.net test)



On the left, the result from the laptop on the right with the smartphone

Laptop result: download 536 Mbps upload 106 Mbps
Smartphone result: download 391Mbps upload 105 Mbps

2. WAN (Mikrotik) <-> Router (TP-Link) <-> LAN (Mikrotik) 

Average score:
• download 937 Mbps
• upload 937 Mbps

3. LAN (Mikrotik) <-> Router (TP-Link) <-> LAN (Mikrotik)


Average score: (when downloading and uploading simultaneously) the mikrotik processor could not cope anymore:
• download 770 Mbps
• upload 774 Mbps


Average score: (with separate download and upload)
• download 941 Mbps
• upload 944 Mbps

4.WLAN 2,4Ghz (Mikrotik) <-> Router (TP-Link) <-> LAN(Mikrotik)

Average score:
• download 127 Mbps
• upload 61 Mbps

5.WLAN 5Ghz (Mikrotik) <-> Router (TP-Link) <-> LAN (Mikrotik)

Average score:
• download 317 Mbps
• upload 371 Mbps

6. WLAN 2,4Ghz (Laptop)<->Router (TP-Link) <->WLAN 2,4Ghz (Mikrotik)


Average score:
• download 76 Mbps
• upload 75 Mbps

7.WLAN 5Ghz (Mikrotik) <->Router (TP-Link) <-> WLAN 5Ghz (Mikrotik)

Average score:
• download 198 Mbps
• upload 129 Mbps


SUMMARY OF TESTS

In all tests we can notice the fast operation of the Ethernet switch. Data exchange between wired clients, both in the local network and with the WAN port, to which the Internet source is connected, reaches speeds above 900 Mbps. Wireless modules in both ranges are also good at replacing fast traffic with the WAN port. The support of the EasyMesh standard also deserves praise.

EasyMesh

EasyMesh is a standard developed by the WiFi Alliance, | devices from different manufacturers may be compatible with it. | Thanks to this, we don't have to limit ourselves to just TP-Link or any other manufacturer.

Summary