The Archer A5 of TP-LINK is a router, a device that connects other devices (e.g. computer, mobile, television) either wirelessly or with a cable, and shares internet access. It needs to be connected to a modem to access the internet. It is Wi-Fi 5 generation, the most widespread Wi-Fi standard, which can meet the needs of most users currently. There is now also the next generation Wi-Fi 6 which offers the ability to connect many more devices to serve the increasingly growing smart devices in a home. It emits a signal at two frequencies, 2.4 & 5GHz. It offers higher speeds compared to single band and can connect more devices. The 2.4Ghz frequency is the most widespread and has a long range. The 5Ghz provides higher speeds than 2.4Ghz but is more sensitive to obstacles (e.g. walls) that reduce its range. This difference, as well as its more limited use, helps to have fewer interferences from other networks.

The device has the ability to configure a VPN (Virtual Private Network) so that traffic from all devices on our network passes through it. The VPN acts as an intermediary between us and the rest of the internet, giving us the ability to appear geographically in another country and the pages we visit see the VPN address as the visitor's address instead of our own. This provides us with anonymity and access to content with geographic restrictions. VPN services are usually paid with a subscription.

With MAC address filtering, it allows specific devices to connect based on their unique MAC address, excluding any device with a MAC address that has not been defined as acceptable. It offers WPA2 security, a protocol that replaced WPA in 2004 and uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) technology approved by the US government for classified documents. It is considered secure for home use.

• Maximum Wireless Speed: 1200Mbps
• Maximum LAN Speed: 100Mbps
• Ethernet LAN connections: 4