ZDNET’s key takeaways
- TP-Link’s new BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router is designed with portability in mind, making it ideal for business travelers.
- Still, it packs useful connectivity features like dual-band support with up to 3.6 Gbps, adjustable antennas ,and more.
- The router is priced at $140, with a promotional code on Amazon bringing it down by $30.
Calling public Wi-Fi unreliable is an understatement; we all have horror stories about dealing with networks in airports and hotel lobbies. But public Wi-Fi woes could soon be mitigated with networking brand TP-Link’s recently-launched Wi-Fi 7 travel router.
Also: The best travel VPNs: These are the best VPNs, ranked, for your next trip abroad and bypassing censorship
Aptly called the BE3600 Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router<!–>, this compact (and rather cute) device can deliver lightning-fast wireless connections with its dual-band support for 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz channels. The former can reach speeds up to 2,882 Mbps, while the latter can hit 688 Mbps.
Put two and two together, and the Travel Router has a max speed of 3.6 Gbps. Not too shabby. If that wasn’t enough, it can support connections with up to 90 different devices simultaneously.
TP-Link works with a tether app for mobile that simplifies network control, which means you’ll only have to log into that public Wi-Fi portal page once, then the rest of your devices can connect to the router.
Features and design
It measures 4.96 x 3.68 x 1.5 inches and weighs about half a pound. In terms of length and width, the gadget is about the size of an average index card. It is definitely sleek enough to fit inside your travel bag. On either side are adjustable antennas for extending the wireless signal’s strength and range.
Below the antennas is a “customizable action button” that TP-Link states activates certain features like the VPN or guest mode.
If you’re like me and strongly prefer wired connections, you’ll find a 1Gbps LAN and a 2.5 Gbps WAN port on the back of the Travel Router. Next to those is a USB-A port for transferring files. Exact numbers were not given, but given that it is a USB 3.0 input, expect speeds of up to 5Gbps.
Also: The fastest Wi-Fi 7 internet providers in the US, ranked
It does need to be plugged in to work, but TP-Link includes a power adapter. The company recommends sticking with the included one, but if you don’t want to carry around more stuff, you have the option of connecting a power bank or your laptop to the Travel Router via the USB-C port.
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Other notable features include support for the OpenVPN and WireGuard protocols, which allow owners to connect to over 35 VPNs, plus seven operating modes, such as Ranger Extender and Mobile Hotspot. The TP-Link B3600 Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router–> normally retails for $140 on Amazon. But if you enter the code 30WIFI7 at checkout, you’ll shave $30 off your purchase.
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Source: Robotics - zdnet.com
