TP-Link is the latest brand of routers that TM is giving to UniFi users. Judging from posts here, there's an awful lot of confusion as to which model is better. So far we have the C5v2, C1200v1 & C7. The C7 seems to be quite rare and I haven't seen a C5v1 yet. So if you have one of those, please let us know.

Here's what I have found so far. I have access to the C5v2 and C1200v1 so I'll expand on this as time permits.

Router Bootup Time

Archer C1200 v1
1:21:05 Router Reboot
1:24:15 DynDNS Updated
1:26:45 Webgui Login
Time: 5 mins 40 secs

Archer C5 v2
1:37:00 Router Reboot
1:37:45 PPP Connected
1:37:47 DynDNS Updated
1:38:05 DHCP Responding
1:39:00 Webgui Login
Time: 2 mins 0 secs

Not 100% accurate, I was testing remotely so I had to wait for dyndns TTL of 60 secs. I think the C5v2 is already up at 1 min 5 secs as its DHCP server starts responding to lan/wifi devices at that point in time.

CPU
Maybe this explains it. CPU data from wikidevi.com.

Archer C1200 v2.x (no data for v1.x) uses BCM47189 ARM Cortex A7 900 MHz (2x2 MIMO despite the 3rd antenna)
Other routers which uses this SoC: ASUS RT-AC1200G

Archer C5 v2.x uses BCM47081 ARM Cortex A9 800 MHz (2x2 MIMO)
Other routers which uses this SoC: Linksys EA6350(Time's 500mbps router), D-Link DIR-868L rev A1 & ASUS RT-AC56S

Archer C5 v1 uses QCA9558 720 MHz but only 2 out of 3 possible wlan chains (2x2 MIMO).
Other routers which uses this SoC: Archer C7, Mikrotik hAP AC, TL-WR1043ND, TL-WDR7500.

Archer C7 uses QCA9558 720 MHz and all 3 wlan chains (3x3 MIMO).

Performance
https://forum.lowyat.net/index.php?showtopi...post&p=84658440
Fellow forumer reported here of C1200 hanging during torrents. Possibly running out of ram or memory leak. Looking worse for the C1200.

Quick Summary
C5v1/C7 > C5v2 > C1200

In case you're wondering the D-Link DIR-850L uses the Realtek RTL8197D CPU. Same as the DIR-815. Not great.

This post has been edited by soonwai: Apr 25 2017, 03:01 PM

Reserved for future expansion...

Interesting....i always wonder if the newer tplink much better or not

C1200 i not touching yet but from your testing result seem slow booting up overall that other.. interesting...

Archer C5 is by far the best wifi router I have ever used. Very stable, good speed and very good coverage. Most importantly, no reboot for whatever reasons needed during operation.

Good to hear! Do you have the C5v1 or v2?

V2.......

I'm also using c5 v2, i reboot it only when some odd situations occur, and that's quite rare, usually after unifi maintenance, which is quite frequently recently

Agreed. I tested tplink c5 and asus ac55uhp. Performance wise ac55uhp n c5 are about the same. Wireless throughput and coverage.

Only price and extra features differs them hehe

Bro mind to do some research & share us your view on asus router price ranging frm rm200-rm600?
Give u 3 LIKEs

well performance wise i guess its about the same more or less tho.....
currently using ac68u. same wireless coverage and throughput as other ac1900 which is half the price. Even the USB 3.0 port doesn't impressed me much. Speed are so-so only.

if need no extra features can always go for cheaper brand.

But C7 has V1, V2 and V3........TM normally provide which version for C7?

V2 I guess.

I am using C7 V2. So far, it never makes problem and function well without any interruptions. I bought the router last 4 months ago. C7 is the best router so far I ever used.

P/s: I am UniFi Advance 50 user here. Currently waiting for my speed upgrade to 100 Mbps.

This post has been edited by Jjuggler: Apr 19 2017, 03:01 PM

I'm not so much into Asus routers though I'm currently using a RT-N12D1 (was mine but now my neighbours) and I have an old RT-N16. Sorry.

Ok np ty bro. Btw mikrotik hp ac come with dual band or single band wifi?

It's dual band, tri stream.
https://routerboard.com/RB962UiGS-5HacT2HnT

ty bro will study more on this model

Actually all you need to know is in the name.
RB962UiGS-5HacT2HnT
RB - RouterBoard so you know it's a Mikrotik.
9 - Form factor, boring beige box.
6 - 6 physical ports (5 GBe + 1 SFP)
2 - 2 radios 2.4 & 5Ghz
U - has a USB port
i - has PoE out
G - has Gigabit ports
S - has an SFP port
- - breathing space
5HacT - 5Ghz High power AC Triple chain
2HnT - 2.4Ghz High power N Triple chain

There you go.

Eh bro the PoE is for what?Also setting interface user friendly or not?Thinking of buying one to replace the *beep* dir 850L