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We liked
The Archer D9 combines an ADSL2+ modem, and works fine with cable connections, something not offered on all 802.11ac routers. It also boasts excellent performance on both 802.11n and 802.11ac frequencies, and the software is impressive, providing a largely comprehensive set of features.
We disliked
There are minor things that niggled us such as the lack of status LEDs to show activity on the Ethernet ports, and the D9 is not always that user friendly – for example, you need to manually set the device up to work with a cable connection. It's also not as cheap a proposition as previous TP-Link models, such as the Archer C7.
Final verdict
Although competition is fierce between networking firms, TP-Link holds its own against rivals with the Archer D9, offering great performance and a good range of features at a reasonable price – but it's no longer one of the most affordable routers around, as its predecessor was.
