[section_title title=Setup]
Setup
Starting with connecting it to the network, first you must enter the IP of the router into your chosen browser (192.168.1.1 in this case) and you will be directed to the following page.
This page “STATUS” allows you to see all the relevant information regarding the wireless network, such as the 2.4GHz/5GHz settings and information regarding the IP of your network.
Now, providing you use this D9 as a modem router and you have a ADSL 2+ connection then you can simply click “Quick Setup” to set up your connection. As I have an Openreach Fibre Modem I had to click “Operation Mode” from the left-hand menu. This allowed me to change from the default DSL Modem Router mode to Wireless Router mode. It’s great to see TP-Link give you this option as you could start with a ADSL connection then upgrade like I did recently to Fibre. This eliminates the need to purchase a new router as well. However, if you already have a fibre connection and want a new router. I’d recommend you choose the Archer C9 Cable router instead.
Now clicking on “Quick Setup” I was greeted with the “Auto-Detect Connection Type” menu. For this I selected “No, I want to configure The Internet Connection myself” as I know my ISP login information.
My ISP uses PPPoE so I select that from the menu.
Now, here I type my ISP fibre login username and password.
Once this is done, we are greeted with the option to set up the 2.4GHz wireless SSID and Security key options.
Again, the next menu is the 5GHz wireless SSID and Security key options.
Once you have completed it to your liking, it gives you a run through of your settings. Yes, my SSID is “Pretty Fly For A WiFi”. I’m corny like that, haha.
Clicking next, sets up the configuration individually and lets you know whether is was a “Success” or failure.
Back to the “Status” menu we come to see that the settings are all configured correctly and in operation.
It’s very easy and has all the options needed to setup your wireless router to your network.
Next we have the guest network screen, this allows you to edit and change the bandwidth for the router including incoming and outgoing. With the D9 being dual band, it has options for both 2.4GHz/5GHz for simultaneous use.
USB Mass Storage comes up next with drive access, user accounts, sharing, ftp server, media server and print server being catered for.
Port Forwarding options are next. Virtual server, port triggering, DMZ and UPnP are supported.
The Archer D9 also comes with a built-in software firewall, this blows all incoming and outgoing traffic bar the ones you allow in the Port Trigger page.
Router time settings have been around from some time with TP-Link routers, it’s good to see they included it in this model. I use a custom UK time server so the IP for it can be put into the NTP Server 1 box.
The Diagnostic menu allows you to test you to test the “Internet Browsing” and “WAN interface” to make sure they are working properly.
The System Tools menu give you a lot of information and is probably the most useful one for sorting problems. It gives you a log, time settings, manage control, cwmp settings, snmp settings, backup and restore, factory defaults, reboot and statistics.
Now it’s time to see how the Archer D9 performs…
