TP-Link AX11000 Next-Gen Tri-Band Gaming Router

I received this router last week which is also known as AX50. I was overexcited of getting WiFi 6 router. I overlooked some review on amazon about how it heats up when placed on flat surface and ordered myself as I needed a gigabyte router and thought to invest in the new technology. So far I can summarize some of the issues I came across on this router (I have around 10 Tp-link routers at this point, from cheapest to N to dual band.)1. It does heat up considerably from top and bottom middle portion. If I have to keep this router and no firmware can fix this, you have to install a PC cabinet fan under it to help remove the heat.2. This router doesn’t provide Bridging/WDS functionality that all other routers that I have from tp-link has. Very disappointed as this functionality is present even in the least expensive tp-link router.3. The range of 2.4 GHz is no better than cheapest tp-link single band dual antenna that cost around 1000 rs has so disappointed with 2.4GHz WiFi performance.4. 5 GHz band is as usual have short range. The 5 GHz AC can connect to any device with a maximum of 1200 Mbps link speed, even if supported WiFi adapter maximum speed is higher to 1200mbps. If only AX mode is selected, router can connect to AX device to maximum of 2400 Mbps but it will not run AC mode. With mix mode with AC and AX, the maximum connection speed reduces to 1200 Mbps even for AX devices. So, this router is called AX router with 2400 Mbps for 5GHz or a AX router with 1200 Mbps that can connect to AC devices too, so it is misleading on part of TP-link. I shared the same on their forum but no response from their representative.5. Channel numbers for each band seems to change from those set in the admin configuration page after few session so if any bridge router connected to this AX router, it will disconnect.6. Ethernet Gigabit ports is maxing out at around 750 mbps read and 350 mbps write speed. I used CAT 7 cable to test the speed in my internal network. With a gigabit switch, I can get around 900mbps read and 600mbps write. Disappointed here too.7. AC wifi is maxing out at 22 MBps and 45 MBps in the internal network test. This is disappointing result as this results is what I can get with older tp-link C5 router.8. With Intel AX200NGW wifi 6 160 MHz adapter, I could connect to the router with 2400 Gbps connection.9. This router doesn’t support tp-link OneMesh functionality which allow to connect other router to form a internet mesh to avoid wifi deadspots in home or office.For configurations, I have disabled Airtime Fairness and OFDMA. I have enabled MU-MIMO as my laptop Killer’s wifi adapter 1550i supports it. Smart connect is disconnected. One ethernet and 2 wlan devices are connected to the router. AX functionality is not yet tested as I still have to install Intel’s wifi 6 AX200NGW adapter to my laptop. Router is running on new firmware as mentioned in the details.I did some test to get AX performance of the router. I enabled OFDMA, from 20 MHz till 160 MHz and MU MIMO functions for 5 GHz band and did all test with wifi router 1feet from the laptop equipped with Intel AX200NGW 160MHz wifi adapter. The test was done using Synology Diskstation connected to the router Gigabit port. Diskstation is capable of read and write of over 800 Mbps.Channel number 120 (DFS) Below is the test results:20MHz – Writing 98.33 Mbps reading 166.51 Mbps – laptop achieved connection with link speed of 287 Mbps40MHz – Writing 125 Mbps reading 250 Mbps – laptop achieved connection with link speed of 574 Mbps80MHz – Writing 180 Mbps reading 350 Mbps – laptop achieved connection with link speed of 1200 Mbps160MHz – Writing 165 Mbps reading 370 Mbps – laptop achieved connection with link speed of 1200 Mbps160MHz – Writing 190 Mbps reading 400 Mbps – laptop achieved connection with link speed of 2400 MbpsFurther I tested the USB 3.0 speed by connecting a Lexar Triton USB 3 with maximum speed 170 read and 170 write speed. I got no more than 15 MBps in write and 25 MBps in read when router was connected with 2400 Mbps speed. The result of these transfer is again disappointing .Other star attraction feature of QoS and parental control won’t work if you have no tp-link id and internet connection. For this id, you have to give personal information and potential risk of direct connection of this router to some Chinese company which, if they want, they can access all of your devices connected to this router.In view of my observations since last 2 days and several test as mentioned above, I believe that this router is not worth the money spend.Bridging/WDS function removed and AX band and USB 3 actual transfer rate as well as 2.4 GHz range are mediocre at best. Heat generation is another big issue to the longevity of the device.

Easy to install and has one of the easiest to use interface but the 5gh band fails sometime,the customer service said they will address the issue in the next update.also it still doesn’t have onemesh support so doesnt cover my entire house.