• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

SEENIT

TV, Film, Broadband, Pay-TV, Games, Computing & Tech | News, Comment & Reviews

  • ARTICLES
  • ADVERTISE
  • Twitter

TP-Link Archer C7 and BT Sport – an update

August 27, 2013 - Martin Hoscik@martinhoscik

ArcherC7We first played with the TP-Link Archer C7 last month when we flagged it up as a router which seemed to work just peachy with BT’s new internet delivered (IPTV) sports channels.

Since then we’ve been using the device on a rotating basis alongside BT’s HomeHub 3 and the Apple Airport Express, assessing and comparing its performance.

We’re pleased to report that the C7 has delivered solid performance over both WiFi and cabled connections, routinely clocking up speedtest.net speeds of 65Mbps+ over WiFi on a BT Infinity connection.

This compares to around 72Mbps on the Apple Airport Express and a paltry 30-40Mbps on the HomeHub 3.

Despite its slightly slower WiFi result, the TP-Link Archer C7 offers a distinct advantage over Apple’s entry-level router – compatibility with those IPTV channels.

Since we first played with the C7, BT has brought 18 extra channels to its Infinity-powered YouView service which, like the sports channels, require a router which supports the IGMP Multicast protocol.

If your router doesn’t support this all-important protocol it can’t pass the data to the set top box and all you’ll get is a blank screen.

(Note, this only applies if you’re viewing the channels via a YouView or BT Vision+ box, not BT’s app or any other set top box such as Sky+)

As you’d expect, BT’s HomeHub supports this but the Apple Airport Express doesn’t which has left a lot of BT broadband users frustrated at having to junk a decent router and revert to BT’s no-frills and poor performing in-house job.

The good news is that the C7 supports IGMP out of the box and in our tests has worked just fine with the extra channels.

The reason so many BT users like to ditch the Home Hub is its lack of options – beyond turning WiFi on and off, the limited ability to deny specific devices access web access at set times of the day, and changing your network name there’s not a lot the Hub really allows users to do.

And if you have the older HomeHub 3, which most probably do as its successor has only been available for a couple of months, you’re also limited to creating and running a 2.4Ghz network rather than the faster, less congested 5Ghz supported by other routers.

In contrast the TP-Link Archer C7 supports both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz networks, the ability to create a guest networks, MAC ID filtering, SSID hiding and a wealth of advanced port forwarding options.

(A full, non-BT related review of the TP-Link Archer C7 will follow soon and we’ll look at these features in greater depth in that.)

As we noted before, it’s always possible that BT could tweak the requirements for the channels to ensure viewers only use their supplied router, but for now there’s an alternative to the HomeHub.

Buy the TP-Link Archer C7 from Amazon.co.uk.

Share

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
  • Click to print (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)

Related

Tagged With: BT, Telecoms




SPONSORED VIDEO

More

Trailer: Denzel Washington in The Equalizer 2

Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom – watch the film’s final trailer

The Boy Downstairs – Watch a trailer for the new romantic comedy

Margaret Thatcher’s rise to power to be explored in new BBC Two documentary

Vodafone unveils new home broadband and mobile SIM bundles

BT to stream Ridley Scott’s The Terror for free on YouTube

FEATURED

Lost episode of The Avengers is coming to DVD

McMedia – new dogs learn old tricks

Ridley Scott’s The Terror – AMC releases trailer and first look images

Batman: Gotham By Gaslight is coming to Blu-ray and DVD

MORE FROM US

Latest from: streamedTV

Amazon signs development deal with Gone Girl author Gillian Flynn

Amazon Prime Video becomes exclusive UK and Ireland home of US Open Tennis Championships

Amazon’s Dietland gets new trailer

Netflix orders new horror drama which is also its first-ever Dutch original series

ADVERTISE ON SEENIT

We’re pleased to offer a number of advertising opportunities to high quality brands including sponsored content, competitions and advertising placements.

Please contact us for details.

MORE FROM US

Sports On Telly

Amazon Prime Video takes UK rights to US Open Tennis Championships

Europsort confirms World Snooker Championship coverage plans

Grand National – Most Successful Jockey’s

The Snooker World Championship is the Highlight of the BBC’s Spring Sporting Schedule

Copyright © 2018 MayorWatch Publications Limited · All Rights Reserved · Contact Us · Copyright · Terms of Use · Privacy Policy

MayorWatch Publications Limited · 20-22 Wenlock Road · London N1 7GU · Company Number 6291816

seenit.co.uk uses cookies to ensure we give you the best experience on our site. Accept If you continue without changing your browser settings, we'll assume that you agree to our use of cookies. Read our privacy policy.
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.