The router is able to broadcast on both 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequencies meaning you can have high-speed access for all your modern devices to watch media on while you can use the older frequency to reduce traffic and interference.
On top of the 4 Gigabit Ethernet ports, it also comes equipped with 2 USB ports which allow you to use it as a network storage drive, media server or for printer sharing.
How to Setup TP-Link N600 router
Setting up the router is the same as with most other routers. We purchased ours without DD-WRT and promptly installed it using our guide (if you wish to purchase one that is already flashed then head over to Flashrouters).
To change the settings we just went to the default IP (192.168.1.1) and changed the SSID names, multiple since broadcasting on two frequencies, and the security settings. From this point onward any settings you may wish to change are up to you to decide and play around with.
We installed VyprVPN on our router but check out-out DD-WRT list to find out our recommendations.
Is the TP-Link N600 Router reliable
We gave our router a test both with and without DD-WRT installed and noticed that with DD-WRT there was definitely a slight increase in speed. We also found that once we used the optimization tips provided by FlashRouters that there was also a boost in speeds. These tips are as follows:
- Using Google DNS
- Setting up Dual Band correctly - 2.4GHz broadcasting on N-only and 5GHz broadcasting on A-only
- Enabling UPnP
Conclusion
With its decent processing power and 2 USB the TP-Link WDR3600 is definitely a router that is useful for any home or office if you are looking for a cheap solution that can provide you with a lot of customization. As we realised and we will show in posts setting up more complex things can be a bit of a hassle due to limited Flash and RAM so if you are looking for an option that you have to play around with a bit less than we recommend you purchase the Asus RT-ACU66U.