TP-LINK TL-WDR3500 Pro Reviews

Today we take a look at the TP-Link TL-WDR3500 Dual Band wireless router designed and built to be a functional, low-cost N600 router for home or office use. The TL-WDR3500 is priced at $49.99 shipped and features a USB 2.0 port to network your printer and share files. The WDR3500 also has a built-in media server to allow users to share music, video and photos. The TL WDR3500 utilizes two external detachable dual-band antennas that optimizes signal strength and can be easily set up with multiple SSIDs and even has parental controls. When you look at the features list of this router, you are instantly amazed that TP-Link could package so many features into a router that sells for less than $50!

I have to give TP-LINK credit for pushing the envelope for simultaneous N600 routers. The TL-WDR3500 packs a lot of features, including storage sharing, up and downlink bandwidth control and simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi for a mere $50. Unfortunately, its wireless performance is too uneven for me to give it an unqualified thumbs-up. But on the other hand, if you want USB storage and printer sharing along with your simultaneous dual-bands, there aren't any other contenders out there, even considering older and factory refurbed products. The cheapest you can get away for with a Cisco-Linksys refurb is a E3200-RM, which currently will cost you $65 but includes Gigabit Ethernet ports. However if you are willing to forego the USB port, both the EA2700-RM and E2500-RM come in cheaper than the 3500 ($40 and $35, respectively) and the EA2700 will also upgrade you to Gigabit ports. Of course, there is always the D-Link DIR-827, which came out pretty well in our comparison. But at $118, it's priced waaay above what you need to pay these days to get a decent simultaneous N600 router. All things considered, if your budget is tight, router feature wishlist is long and you don't need the speediest or widest-coverage Wi-Fi or Gigabit ports, you might pick up a TL-WDR3500 and see if it works for you.