Setting up a tp-link (A6) router without tp-link cloud account?

[Rick Law]

Anyone has experience with TP-Link AC1200 (Archer A6) router?

I am thinking of getting one of those to use as an access point only.  I found the user manual on-line, and the setup of the router (and set up as access point only) both started with sign up at tp-link-cloud and creating a cloud account ID.

I much prefer to just go http://(router IP) and use default admin/pw instead of having to go to tp-link-clould or tp-link anything even for initial setup.

If anyone has TP-Link AC1200 (Archer A6) experience --  I just want to find out if it is optional or required to register on their cloud to use the local web admin interface.  Besides, last thing I need is some cloud app to edit my router or access point from outside my firewall.

Yes, I did web (re)search already... and found that with my initial choice NetGear (WAC 104 router/access point) NetGear cloud logon is NOT optional.  That is why I am looking at tp-link and other alternatives.   I am hoping that cloud-fever illness is limited to netgear only...

Thanks

[paf]

No cloud account needed. Just use http access.

[PKTKS]

No cloud account needed. Just use http access.

yep  no cloud account needed..

**AND**  they also have a handy applet on ANDROID...

IMHO  any fab. moving their Network gear to "CLOUD"  shit is doomed...

Privacy is the bottom line for any serious network  apart these
shit jerk assholes w/CLOUD fever..  delusional 

Paul

[Rick Law]

Thanks guys!

I am going to order that shortly.  I don't mind it if it is optional, but when my initial research shown Netgear made theirs non-optional, I was worried.

I would have gone for their higher end model, but their "Amazon Certified: Works with Alexa" label held me back..  I want my network infrastructure to be faithful and loyal to me...  Any possibility of outside modification or eavesdropping a flag raiser.

This cloud-fever is getting out of hand...

==========================================

Just for the record (since I initially made the claim about my WAC124 web search result without citation) here is what I found about the Netgear WAC124 (with link to his comment):

Customer Review

Robert N.

1.0 out of 5 stars
 Totally useless ! Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2019
Style: AC2000 | WiFi5Verified Purchase

 Despite various old information on the web, this Netgear WAC124 will not allow setup without first creating an account at Netgear and then letting the AP use it (at a minimum, the first time you try to set it up). That makes this device utterly useless in a situation where you need to create WiFi connectivity without internet or you simply have no desire to have your infrastructure access outside or outside access your infrastructure. I wish I could give it zero stars.

I've used Netgear for years including lots of their high end 10G switches. I've committed tens of thousands of dollars to Netgear equipment over recent years but now I see their gear is becoming useless for security conscious engineers or use on restricted networks.

If you're a push button installer and don't care about privacy, this may still be ok for you. Otherwise, look for equipment that lets you control the install. 

178 people found this helpful
^{https://www.amazon.com/gp/customer-reviews/R10IR9V0C9SIW3/ref=cm_cr_arp_d_viewpnt?ie=UTF8}

[BrokenYugo]

There's always reflashing with OpenWRT, though I haven't had the best luck with it (kernel memory leak on a R6220 that requires weekly reboots).

[retiredcaps]

For tplink archer a6, openwrt code is experimental as per

https://openwrt.org/toh/hwdata/tp-link/tp-link_archer_a6_us_tw

If it were mine a6, I would prefer open source experimental vs closed proprietary OS that likely will never get updated after a while.

I have an used tplink archer c7 that I picked up for $5 CAD.  It can run the latest openwrt 21.02 release candidate 2.  For $5 CAD, I'm super happy with it. I have picked up many free routers, primarily Cisco/Linksys, but unfortunately, they used the closed source proprietary Broadcom chipset and that limits them to 802.11g only (no 802.11n or any 5Ghz wifi). 

dd-wrt has proprietary blobs for these Cisco/Linksys routers that allow 802.11n and 5Ghz, but it would be nice to have the option to choose either open-wrt or dd-wrt.  open-wrt would be my first choice.

PS. I have compiled openwrt code successfully before so if I owned the a6, I could update the software myself every 6 months with patches.

[rdl]

I set up a (different) TP Link wireless router as an access point for a single PC to use a few years ago. For some reason TP Link want you to go through a website to access the router (tplinkwifi dot net). I didn't like the idea of going through an external web site to access the set up at all. At least, by going to the website without the router connected (cookies and JavaScript turned off), they tell you another option is to use the router's default ip address and connect as usual. The two they tell you to try are 192.168.0.1 or 192.168.1.1

I finally did get it to work as an access point, but since the router was only about 10' from the PC I ended up using an Ethernet cable instead.

[Rick Law]

For tplink archer a6, openwrt code is experimental as per

https://openwrt.org/toh/hwdata/tp-link/tp-link_archer_a6_us_tw

If it were mine a6, I would prefer open source experimental vs closed proprietary OS that likely will never get updated after a while.
...
...

I too would prefer ddwrt/openwrt.  I had three access points and they are all running on dd-wrt.  One died and the other ones couldn't carry the load/coverage. This new access point (Archer router) would be the replacement - hopefully it may even allow me to reduce my access point count to below three.

I read through the openwrt for the tp-link archer (both a6 and a7).  The installation is not as simple as what I recalled needing to do for dd-wrt.  It requires a build as well as setting up a TFTP server.  As I am time short (more like attention-span short since I am interrupted very often).  I am a little apprehensive building the entire tool-chain needed to do a TFTP firmware burn.

As my need is more urgent (access point right on the kitchen table is just an accident waiting to happen), I am intimidated by building the tool chain to build a recovery image and building the TFTP server.  Firmware burn is too unforgiving to try to do everything right the first time while dealing with constant interruption.  So for now, I have to take the easy way out.  Great suggestion however.  OpenWRT certainly is on my mind.

Speaking of which...  I am being interrupted now...