@TP-Link_Deco 

I thank you sincerely for your speedy and informative reply. I've learned much ~

1) The tag at the bottom of the Archer A9 AC1900 here says as to Hardware Version: VER 6.6 

2) The router's management software says upon check that the Firmware is up to date. The latest version on board is: 1.1.0 Build 20200416 rel. 72485  

I note this morning that the option below the TP_Link Recommended WPA/WPA2 Personal security setting is WPA/WPA3. As all of our devices seem to accept WPA,would we have better security by switching from the factory-Recommended setting to WPA/WPA3? If so, and we selected that option, is the change transparent,requiring no other router software adjustments which could disrupt service here

TP-Link_Deco wrote

@LinkFan 

 

Hello, thanks for asking, and I will try to answer your questions one by one:

 

1) am I getting AES encryption at all times with the factory-Recommended WPA2-Personal level? Why is TKIP involved, as reported by the iPads?

Answer: May I know the hardware and firmware version of your Archer A9? Please ensure its firmware is up-to-date. As far as I know, the default wireless security should be AES.

 

2) Why would I not select the un-Recommended option of WPA3-Personal if it is a higher security standard? If I do, will it create any disturbance in the router’s performance requiring me to make other technical changes (I would so like to avoid that.} The router manual is silent on these important matters.

Answer: As far as I know, there are clients that doesn't support WPA3 only, which means you may failed to connect to the wireless network if you set the security to WPA3 only on the router.

 

3} The radio button for “Version” is checked at the “Auto” level. I cannot find anywhere what Auto means as to security level. Can you tell me how this works? WPA-PSK and WPA2-PSK are unchecked.

Answer: Auto means the clients will connect to the wireless network with the desired one, which means if it supports both of them, mostly they will negotiate to the WPA2-PAK automatically, while for some old smart devices that don't support WPA2-PSK, they will negotiate to WPA-PSK.

 

4. Analogously, the radio button for Encryption is factory-set at “Auto”, leaving TKIP and AES unchecked (TKIP is deprecated, I believe). Why would would one not wish to set this permanently at the superb AES? If I do that, will it cause router setup turbulence for me?

Answer: This answer is the same one your question 1.

 

May it answer your inquiry, but let me know if it is not, thanks.

 

?

I thank you anew, very much! 

@LinkFan 

Thank you. I did not ask my question again. I was responding to TP-Link_Deco, who wrote to me, on Monday I think, with this request:  "Answer: May I know the hardware and firmware version of your Archer A9?" I presume he wanted to have that information, which I provided yesterday, in order to fully address my interest in understanding the C7 AC1900 security settings and options.

 Maybe you could advise him or her I complied with the hardware and firmware information requested.

@Kevin_Z  

Does the statement............. " We cannot recommend using WPA2/WPA3-Personal, as some devices may suggest use to connect with WPA3 but it actually doesn't connect, thus there might be incompatibility issue. "

Does that mean .....older iPad are not WPA3 compatible?

When I selected  WPA2/WPA3  my  iPhone X would try to connect but security would as for username and password.   I have the AC1900 ver 6.6  with not available firmware updates