Early Access Archer BE800 V1 Support for VPN Merge, Guest/IoT Network Extension via EasyMesh, and More!
Hey Everyone!
We're excited to share an early glimpse into what the latest firmware update for the Archer BE800 V1 brings! Introducing a range of new features, especially significant enhancements to the VPN Feature and EasyMesh Network usage, we encourage all Archer BE800 V1 users to install this firmware and share your feedback with us.
We value your opinions and feedback ― it is crucial to our continued product improvement.
Download the update today and experience your router's new features!
New Features/Enhancements:
1. Enhanced VPN Features
VPN Merge
We have officially upgraded the previous VPN Client feature to the new, more powerful VPN Merge. This optimization significantly enhances the flexibility of your network. With VPN Merge, you can now connect different devices on your network to multiple VPN servers simultaneously. For example, your work laptop can connect to a corporate VPN while your smart TV uses another VPN for video streaming. To use this feature, simply enable VPN Merge, add your desired servers to the Server List, and assign them to specific devices in the Client List.
VPN Kill Switch
VPN Kill Switch can help improve your network security. When you enable this feature for a VPN server, it will continuously monitor the connection status. If your VPN connection drops unexpectedly, the Kill Switch will immediately block internet access for all devices using that VPN. This protection remains active until the connection to the VPN server is safely restored, preventing potential data leaks.
Other Enhancements:
- Support for DDNS Synchronization during OpenVPN server configuration.
- Additional third-party VPN support when configuring the VPN Client: IPVanish, PureVPN.
2. Enhanced EasyMesh Network
EasyMesh Traffic Separation (*Extend Guest Network)
We have introduced the Traffic Separation feature within the EasyMesh R3 protocol, enabling the synchronous extension of the main router's Guest Network capabilities to satellite devices. This enhances the security of your main network.
IoT Network configuration synchronization
We have introduced the capability to synchronize certain IoT Network configurations from the main router to satellite devices, further enhancing the performance of EasyMesh satellite units.
EasyMesh Client Binding
EasyMesh Client Binding allows you to pin specific devices (e.g., smart TVs or IoT sensors) to a designated EasyMesh node, preventing unnecessary roaming and improving connection stability for latency-sensitive or stationary clients.
EasyMesh Satellite Node Binding
EasyMesh Satellite Node Binding allows you to manually specify which upstream node a satellite should connect to.
3. ECO Mode V2
The new ECO Mode Feature is designed to help you save power intelligently. The default selection is Smart ECO mode, which automatically adjusts power consumption based on your real-time traffic usage and turns off the LEDs. This minimizes the impact on your regular internet activities while reducing energy use. For more personalized control, you can also choose from several other power-saving modes and even schedule them to be active only during a specific time period.
4. Admin Password Recovery
We have introduced new methods to recover your local administrator password, ensuring you never lose access to your router's settings. You can now choose between two secure recovery options. You can enable and configure these options under System > Administration.
Security Questions
Set up answers to predefined security questions. This allows you to verify your identity and reset your password quickly.
Email Recovery
Configure a designated email address and your own SMTP server to receive password recovery instructions directly to your inbox.
5. Advanced USB Features
We have upgraded the USB Sharing feature with two powerful new management tools. First, you can now perform a Disk Scan to verify the health of your connected drive. This can be triggered manually or scheduled to run automatically at regular intervals for proactive data protection. Second, we have integrated a Format function, allowing you to format a USB drive directly from the router's interface without the need for a computer. These features provide greater convenience and control over your network storage.
6. Backup & Restore
We have significantly upgraded the router's backup functionality for greater control and security. You can now perform a Selective Backup, allowing you to choose specific configuration modules to save, such as Network, Wireless, or Security settings. Additionally, you can now encrypt the backup file with a password, ensuring your sensitive configuration data is protected from unauthorized access.
7. DHCP Detection
To help you troubleshoot common network phenomena, we have added a DHCP Server Detection tool. Having more than one DHCP server active on a network can cause IP address conflicts and prevent devices from accessing the internet. This new one-click tool allows you to scan your local network to easily identify any other active DHCP servers, helping you resolve conflicts to ensure a stable and reliable connection.
8. Guest Network Exception Button
We have added a button to the Access Control whitelist that does not apply to the Guest Network. When enabled, the allow list mode will not affect the Guest Network. All devices in the Guest Network can connect to the internet.
9. New features for the Tether App
- TSS (TP-Link Simple Setup): Added support for Auto Discovery & Quick Configuration of Tether App.
- QoS (Quality of Service): Added support for configuration within the Tether App.
Other Enhancements/Bug Fixes:
(1) Optimizations of IPv6 Dial-Up Methods and Functional Experience.
(2) Enhanced system security, stability, and performance.
Firmware Download:
Before Upgrading
(1) It is always recommended to save a copy of the router's Backup Config file before upgrading or downgrading firmware.
(2) This pre-release firmware for the Archer BE800 V1 is available for all versions (EU/US/AU/CA/etc).
(3) For instructions on how to upgrade your router's firmware, please see: How to Upgrade the Firmware on TP-Link Wi-Fi Routers?
(4) This pre-release firmware version cannot be reverted to the previous official version.
Direct Firmware Download Link
| Archer BE800_V1 | Archer BE800_V1_1.4.1 Build 20260313 (Pre-Release Firmware) |
Additional Information
As always, we value your feedback. If you happen to encounter any concerns during or after the router firmware upgrade, please feel free to comment below with the following information. Your input helps us continue to improve and provide the best possible products and support.
- Provide a detailed network layout, including how the devices are connected, especially if there are EasyMesh satellite devices.
- Include a detailed description of the behavior and as much information as possible regarding the specific conditions that seem to trigger it.
Thank you for your continued support and for being part of our community.
Update Log:
Updated Download Link to Build 20260203 Pre-Release Firmware (Feb 3rd).
Updated to Build 20260313 Pre-Release Firmware (Mar 19th).
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@Ryan Just noticed this. Lost power, when router rebooted MLO network are not shown as available. Had to go into the router settings and disable/enable it to be seen again. Verified by turning off router and when it came back on the MLO netwrok was not available until I disabled/enabled again.
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Thanks for the feedback―and for taking the initiative to reproduce the behavior. Will send this up to the teams. 👍
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This is not fully unique to this beta fw but is a bug and it does translate into impacting a new features as well so you can make the line that it's a bug and kill 2 birds with one stone maybe?
I have BE800 in AP mode setup as main for EasyMesh
I have 2x BE400 setup via wire backhaul as extenders in this mesh.
In the BE800 it never shows clients connected to the BE400's despite they are.
One impact on the new features, binding can't work.
I can't go to the BE400 via the main unit and bind anything because it shows no clients on them. It only appears to show clients on the BE800 (which I guess you can bind those items but isn't really helpful if you want to bind something to an extender).
IF I go direct to the webUI of the BE400 and look at clients I can see the ones connected to it but binding isn't supported at this layer, only the main can control.
Similar bug exist in the tether app. It does not ever think anything is connected to the extenders despite items are.
I suspect the heart of the issue is AP Mode support seems to not be implemented properly still with something. I've not previously reported this as not the end of the world but now with a nice new feature I'd like to use, it has merrit to being fixed.
I am happy to report the other features do seem to work well now though such as IoT and Guest syncing.
So now just need AP mode fixed for where clients are connected :)
Another "nice" to have thing would be is if WPA3 Enterprise could be supported. Currently only WPA2 Enterprise is on main SSID. Would also love to see guest network allow us to select protection like main and IoT and not be limited. For example I want to force WPA2 only on guest but not an option.
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