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Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?

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Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?

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Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-08-06 22:50:49

I am in the market for a new router and narrowed down by features, I am considering either the A20 or the C4000.  They look exactly alike.  Comparing the info I can find on tp-link's site:

https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-c4000/#specifications

https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-a20/#specifications

 

The specs for the C4000 says it has 4x 10/100/1000 LAN ports.  The A20 says it has 4x GE LAN ports.  Isn't this the same thing?

 

The specs for the C4000 says it support printer sharing for printers plugged into a USB port on the router.  The A20 specs do not list printer sharing. 

 

A look at the table of contents for the two routers' user guides also show that the C4000 supports printer sharing while the A20 does not.

 

Another difference in the user guides: the A20 has a section about Alexa and IFTTT.  That section is not in the C4000 user guide.  But the C4000 Overview page ( https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/wifi-router/archer-c4000/#overview ) says it works with Alexa and IFTTT (way down on the bottom).

 

So the only difference I can find is printer sharing.  It's odd to think that they would make a new model whose only difference is that a feature for printer sharing is dropped.  There's gotta be something else.  Anyone from TP-Link who can answer?

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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-08-07 16:26:47

@D-L 

 

The Archer A20 and the Archer C4000 are actually the same device.  One has the intent to be sold at retail locations and the other online.  That is the only difference between the two.  

 

Best Regards 

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#2
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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-09-12 01:08:05 - last edited 2019-09-12 01:13:44

@Carl 

 

If these are the same devices, why is the firmware different?  I'm considering buying this, either the A20 online or the C4000 at Costco.  Wondering if one gets more frequent firmware updates or more attention in general?  When bugs are found, do both versions of firmware get updates?  Thanks!

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#3
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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-09-12 16:46:30

@lefish 

 

From what I know, firmware versions are different because they coinside with when that router was offically released. Subsequent firmwares will likely show the same date or build number.  At this time both routers overall have been pretty stable and are on their first release firmware.  TP-Link typically only does firmware updates to optimize or add features or to address bug and vulnerabilties.  If bugs are found we will investigate and once solved issue a firmware update with the patch.   

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#4
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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-09-12 18:28:45
Looking at Support page for both and the Emulator's they are clearly different in some places. Look at these, C4000, https://emulator.tp-link.com/webpages_C4000v2_new/index.html A20, https://emulator.tp-link.com/a20-us-v1/index.html Especially when you click on the Advanced tab on the top. Then look at USB sharing. No Printer Server on A20. Also the 2 system tools are different. Probably why the Firmware is different... C4000 (listed as V2?) Published Date: 2018-04-23 A20 (listed as V1?) Published Date: 2018-12-18 A20 has a Smart Life Assistant tab missing on the C4000, and that brings in Alexa and IFTTT support I assume. Not sure who came first or if this is a simple 'who sold it' situation? If they really are the same, would both firmware work on each one? Something makes me think you couldn't?
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#5
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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-09-12 22:23:25

@D-L 

would stay away from the c4000 bought it a month ago and its going back to my local costco

It started unacceptable buffering on fios streaming videos on monday and finally died today.

Its a good thing I kept my cisco 7 year old router as my backup

 

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#6
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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-09-16 22:23:09

@idreos 

 

Did you contact support to troubleshoot the product?  It might not be the rotuer, but if it is our support team can help get it repalced. 

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#7
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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-09-16 22:24:43

@IrvSp 

 

We are actually discontinuting the print server on most of our routers as most printers are now network printers and do not need to have a router prefrom the network communication for them.  The emulator differences will be looked into though.  

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#8
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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-12-12 11:49:33

@Carl So does the C4000 work with Alexa?

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#9
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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-12-12 18:36:11

 

JVaughn wrote

@Carl So does the C4000 work with Alexa?

@JVaughn,

 

From the FAQ, https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/1569/, it appears it does.

 

I was going to enable Alexa on my A20 but after reading the above, I decided not to. Very limited things can be done (A20 is not even listed in the FAQ?) but even the ones with the most features it can operate with are not major one I'd need to do often? I'd think the most 'handy' would be WPS or Guest Wifi? However I can use a phone with Tether to enable Guest Network as well.

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Re:Difference between A20 and C4000 wireless routers ?
2019-12-12 19:43:22

@IrvSp 

 

The A20 is compatible but it was not added to the FAQs body.  in the top section this artile applies to you will see the A20 v1 and V3 listed

 

 

I will ask that the body be updated as well.  Also although i am not sure if we can add any optimzation to this feature but i would be happy to send any suggestions to the PM on how to improve the service. 

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