TP-LINK archer c58 vs c59 vs c60

madam0305

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Nov 27, 2016
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4,510
These 3 routers have the same specs,, only diffs are c58 and 59 has 3 x 5 dBi RP-SMA antennas while c60 has 5 x 3 dBi RP-SMA, plus c59 has usb port and the other two have not, but usb is not relevant for me.

So which should I go for, 3x5dBi or 5x3dBi and why?
 
Solution
These routers you list are extremely new. The c60 only got FCC approval a week or so ago. Unless you want to dig though the massive fcc reports it will be a while there are lots of details about the internal parts used.

In general all routers put out very close to the legal power. A router that uses higher db antenna tends to put out less actual transmitter power but the total of the transmitter and the antenna likely is close to the 30db legal maximum.

This is actually way to generic a answer since all equipment puts out slightly different power levels on the different frequencies it covers so some may be a little closer to the limit than others. You can search the FCC database if you really want.

What it appears the router...
These routers you list are extremely new. The c60 only got FCC approval a week or so ago. Unless you want to dig though the massive fcc reports it will be a while there are lots of details about the internal parts used.

In general all routers put out very close to the legal power. A router that uses higher db antenna tends to put out less actual transmitter power but the total of the transmitter and the antenna likely is close to the 30db legal maximum.

This is actually way to generic a answer since all equipment puts out slightly different power levels on the different frequencies it covers so some may be a little closer to the limit than others. You can search the FCC database if you really want.

What it appears the router with the 5 antenna is doing is they have 3 2.4g antenna and 2 5g antenna. Where the routers with only 3 antenna share the antenna for both the 5g and 2.4g radios. I doubt there is much difference.

Only thing that maybe difference if these routers support mu-mimo since that is kinda strange in relationship to antenna. Still even if it has mu-mimo it makes little difference because the end device must also support it and it is very uncommon yet.

Unless you just have to have a new router you may want to wait a bit. Can you even buy the c60 devices
 
Solution


Thank you for the detailed answer, as far as i understand as an average user -beside that there is almost no diff in this case-, it might better to choose the router which works on lower db antennas to have more transmitter power. or this is irrelevant? Also when sharing 2.4g and 5g on the same antenna sounds like increasing the chance for interference.

All in all i am looking for a router for my parents, which works stable, and potentially has the strongest sign, c60 would be a good choice then, right? or what do you recommend in this price range?
 
The size of the antenna are don't matter...unless you intend to replace them with antenna that would cause the device to violate the laws.

So you get a transmit power of 27db with 3db of antenna to or you get a transmit power of 25db with 5db of antenna it still it 30db of signal. The power of the router is only half the issue since the end device also has to have enough power to transmit a signal back, This is why replacing the antenna with huge ones seldom helps coverage in a house.

These routers are so new I did not even for example know the c60 existed and when I pulled the fccid it said 12/8/2016.

Tplink in general makes good products. They provide good support with bug fixes which is most important. The only nasty thing they like to do is change the internal parts but not change the model number. There are 5 revisions of some of their routers and they are very different in performance ..ie cpu speed...but all have the same external number.
 
My colleague reflashed his routers with DD-WRT and everything becomes manageble !
It's just an idea.

I'm not responsible for mishaps ! You have to know what you're doing.
but it's worth it !

Before I forget: I saw the C60 for around 60€ (70$ or 50£) in a shop in Belgium !

Cheers, Louise.
 
Thanks all for the help, I bought c58 (it was 50€ in Stockholm) as i think that's the simplest from the 3 options I listed, the c60 looks too fancy with 5 antennas but without any good performance...