TP-Link Archer C60 - Hardware & Software

Hi, am I right to understand that this yoke here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-Dual-Band-Ethernet-Wireless-Router/dp/B01M8I7RHS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1533629283&sr=8-1&keywords=Archer+C60 Should have no problem giving me ~300 Mbps over 5Ghz band on my PC while if I was to connect it via CAT5e/CAT6 - It would be limited to 100 Mbps? If I install this in my PC: will it achieve decent speeds? https://www.amazon.co.uk/TP-LINK-Archer-T9E-Wireless-Antennas/dp/B00TZJYRF6/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1533629353&sr=1-1&keywords=Archer+T9E Assuming these two go together: What kind of configuration/setup would I need to perform? I don't assume it's just straight on Plug and Play?

No, that'd give you 1 Gbps, unless you have an ancient motherboard limited to 100/10. There is no common wireless technology that'd give you performance/latency to rival a wired connection.

I have modem from my ISP but it's quite shitty, and I find it to have a bad range. It's one of these: https://www.virginmedia.ie/broadband/learn-about-broadband/equipment/ + It's very limited in controls over who can access what speeds on which band (Which I need)

It'd probably provide you with the QoS controls you require. https://www.broadbandbuyer.com/features/2079-how-to-configure-ip-qos-on-a-tp-link-router/ But you need to check if it works with your ISP. Call support, or try searching the internet for forum posts or such where other Virgin customers confirm whether custom routers work or not.

oh in terms of that - yes it does work, I asked others who got different modem and as it turns out - You just enter modem settings and enable Modem Mode, it will disable WiFi on ISP one and then you connect any router you want via Ethernet cable.

Your first sentence here isn't universally true. There's plenty of trash tier routers that don't have Gigabit ports, and the one linked by the OP is one of them. https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/1826/307a8983-d609-440a-9a0d-b808014905fb/29F7C440-4BD5-4033-8D05-40E0B16D2638.jpeg

Holy crap, I missed that.

So to answer the OP's question: Yes, connecting to that router through ethernet will limit you to 100mbps. No, you don't want to connect to the router wirelessly to work around that. The WAN port you'd connect to your modem is 100mbps too, so whatever speed gain you could get over wifi in perfect conditions is irrelevant. The speed you might get to your router is irrelevant if router -> the world is the bottleneck. And, wireless technologies generally can't compete with wired due to overhead.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think Hardware NAT doesn't matter much for LAN performance or if your Internet connection speed is 100 Mbps or below. You should probably aim to get a router above $100 to avoid disappointment.

I'd probably recommend the RT AC66U just for the newer AC standard. It's otherwise equivalent afaik

So if I don't want to spend much on router, the default from ISP is better then? https://www.virginmedia.ie/broadband/learn-about-broadband/equipment/ It gave me 370 Mbps with Wired Connection but wired isn't an option anymore as I can't drill walls in new place so I need to find alternative. My idea was to get Wifi Card for PC (the one I linked) and Router (The one i linked which I assumed will give me 370 Mbps over 5 Ghz) but guess I will keep looking for another way, I was considering powerlines but according to online reviews - they're all shit.

If you managed to get 370mbps on your ISPs router/modem, its better than the TPLink you posted. The TPLink will never give you more than 100mbps because the cable going TPLink <-> ISP can't go above 100mbps. Try to use the ISP router's wifi. If it doesn't work, save up and catch a good router on sale. I got my N66U for the same price as that TPLink, so it doesn't have to be super expensive.

What about the wifi card I posted? Is that capable of >100 speeds?

I haven't checked reviews, but that wifi card looks fine at first glance

Yes, at least according to Archer T9E | AC1900 Wireless Dual Band PCI Express Adapter | TP

Okay so I managed to setup my ISP router: https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/107290/f60fe2a3-9c0f-4e67-bcba-f0d06fe51828/image.png I played around with channels (selected least congested). Managed to achieve 130 Mbps. I guess that's as good as it gets until I find a way to connect cable. Can someone recommend solid flat cables that I could squeeze into window with minimal signal loss? The router is about 3 meters away from my PC separated by wall, any additional ways I can improve speed here?

I've never used flat cables and I don't know of any "good" ones, but I've not noticed any difference between brands. As long as the classification is right and you don't pull them across stupidly long distances they should perform similarly. Check reviews. The upper limits for Cat6 is estimated at somewhere above 300 ft. You typically secure them with cable clips, or you could invest in cord strips to hide them.

Well I always used my long trusted 50 metre spool of CAT6, it always gave me 370 Mbps even though ISP advertises "up to 360" so cable is fine. The problem is getting it through window into balcony then along balcony - 3 metres into window into my room without drilling. https://files.facepunch.com/forum/upload/107290/349b957e-41c3-4292-9e2c-efe7cf887335/20180807_202615.jpg

If I were you and I couldn't find a way to run a CAT6 cable through a vent/along an already existing wire run etc etc (I'd say fuck it and drill and then spackle the evidence later.....but that's me) I'd go on ebay buy a refurbed t-mobile AC1900 "mobile hotspot" flash it to AC68P firmware using this guide http://www.bayareatechpros.com/ac1900-to-ac68u/ and then flash it to merlin's AC68P firmware (my personal favorite tomato by shibby,advanced tomato or DD-WRT works too) this way is cheap 50£ vs 150£ for the ASUS branded version and will skullfuck anything your ISP's modem/router combo could do