Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.

Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2019-11-21 12:15:32
Model: Archer C6  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: 1.1.0 Build 20190115 rel.71848

In the wireless setting for 5GHz, I can only choose channels 36-48.  However in my region (Hong Kong), channels above 100 are also usable.  Please advise on how can I enable these channels.  Thank you.

  6      
  6      
#1
Options
9 Reply
Re:Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2019-11-23 10:25:25

@Tin 

 

The wireless channel supported by 5GHz varies due to different country versions of the router. 

 

Please check it of your own Archer C6 which is printed on the back panel, next to the model number. 

 

If it is EU version, it won't support band 4. 

 

Good day. 

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN Archer GE550 - BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router EasyMesh Is Available When Wi-Fi Routers Work in AP Mode as A Controller. Archer AX55V2 Supports WireGuard VPN, EasyMesh Ethernet Backhaul, IoT Network, Speed Limit,and More If you found a post or response helpful, please click Helpful (arrow pointing upward icon). If you are the author of a topic, remember to mark a helpful reply as the "Recommended Solution" (star icon) so that others can benefit from it.
  0  
  0  
#2
Options
Re:Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2019-11-23 11:56:13

@Kevin_Z Thank you Kevin.  Yes it is EU version.  However Europe show allow no only Band 1.  Why is TP-Link limiting it to only Band 1 but not specifying this in the manual or anywhere else.  Disappointed.

 

Is there anyway I can flash the US version firmware or enable more bands?

  4  
  4  
#3
Options
Re:Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2019-11-23 18:46:51

@Tin 

 

Tplink should specify that c6 only support band 1 in 5ghz.
It can not be expected from tplink. if i knew that i wounld never buy c6.
I will never buy tplink router in my life. All the higher-end router like c9 support band 4 in 5ghz wifi in all regions. So region lock is just an excuse from tplink.
Even their c60 lower-end router support band 4 5ghz in all-region.

so pls stop excusing saying about region lock. 
Just disappointed from tplink, regret to buy c6.

  3  
  3  
#4
Options
Re:Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2019-11-24 08:00:53

I think this is a legal issue. The old TP Link routers which were released before 2016 had a region change option and the firmware was universal. If you set the region to US you had access to the higher channels. But now, the new TP Link routers have separate EU and US models with their own firmware, and so what you see in the channel list is what you get.

 

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/224611-faced-with-fcc-regulations-on-router-capabilities-tp-link-blocks-open-source-updates

 

Not sure about other router manufacturers, maybe they do the same thing.

  2  
  2  
#5
Options
Re:Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2019-11-24 08:36:52

@netcrypt9119 fixing the region may be a regulatory requirement.  However limiting to band 1 only is not.  C60, C7 and C9 etc have more than Band 1.  Why C6 only had band 1.

  0  
  0  
#6
Options
Re:Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2019-11-24 08:59:42 - last edited 2019-11-24 09:01:04

@Tin You can go to tp-link international website at https://tp-link.com/en (as they have EU firmwares instead of US ones) and check the emulators for the latest hardware revisions like C7 V5, C60 V3, C20 V5 etc. The V1 models may have the region change option if they were released before 2016 but because the newer revisions were released in/after 2016 they only have 36 to 48.

 

 

I used to have Archer C20i UK model before, and the firmware was universal. This router was released in 2013. It had the region change option and the channels 149 and up. But after applying the firmware released in 2016 which was for regulatory certification, the higher channels and region change setting was removed.

 

  1  
  1  
#7
Options
Re:Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2020-02-17 23:29:47

@Tin I live in Europe and I see plenty of routers that use ABOVE channel 48. In fact, when I first plugged in my Archer C1200 it could go all the way up to 128. So something is definately not right. TP-Link didn't program their routers per country, but they instead cheaped out and just made general rules.

 

A quick example; These channels are allowed in Denmark. You can clearly see the bandwidth etc. via green colors.

 

I personally use 40mhz, so I should be able to select above 48 no problem. However ......

  0  
  0  
#8
Options
Re:Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2020-02-18 00:48:32

@vBDKv yes, I have read similar articles.  More channels should be allowed in Europe.  TP Link engineers are just too lazy to get the best out of their products for their customers

  2  
  2  
#9
Options
Re:Archer C6 5GHz Channels limited to 36-48 only
2020-02-19 10:10:22

Tp-link just does not care about customers. After sales support is unknown to tp link.

Here's a good example of a wave 2 router (!!!!) sold with only 4 channels enabled: to wave 2 or not to wave 2

 

Years later - " please do not worry, we use the chip which supports 802.11ac wave2. While the firmware to support 160MHz has not released yet that is why you can not see it now".

Someone is having fun.

 

 

  2  
  2  
#10
Options