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Which Wi-Fi router works

Not every router works reliably on the dormitory network. This page explains what matters and which models we recommend.

To connect your devices over Wi-Fi, you need your own Wi-Fi router. Not every device is suited for that.

What your router needs

  • DHCP on the WAN port
    The internet connection must be configurable as Dynamic IP / Automatic IP – your router gets its address automatically, not a fixed one. You can recognise these routers by a separate network socket for the internet, usually blue and labelled "WAN" or "Internet". If the device has a socket labelled "DSL" instead, it is a DSL router.

  • Wi-Fi 6 preferred
    With many Wi-Fi networks packed into one dormitory, newer routers hold up better.

We only document the models below. Other devices: use the manufacturer's manual, or pick a recommended one — and still connect the router through the WAN port only.

Model Speed approx. price Note
TP-Link Archer AX12
recommended Wi-Fi 6 no DFS		 1 GBit/s €36 Cheapest Wi-Fi 6 router with no speed penalty, but no DFS.
TP-Link Archer AX53
recommended Wi-Fi 6 DFS		 1 GBit/s €49 Best balance of price and performance.
TP-Link Archer AX73
available Wi-Fi 6 DFS		 1 GBit/s €104 More range, for a shared flat or large apartment.
TP-Link Archer C6
available Wi-Fi 5 no DFS		 1 GBit/s €32 Slightly better Wi-Fi than the Archer C2, also no speed penalty. Wi-Fi 5 only, no DFS.
TP-Link Archer C2
recommended Wi-Fi 5 no DFS		 1 GBit/s €29 Cheapest recommendation with full line speed, but only Wi-Fi 5 and no DFS.
TP-Link Archer AX18
available Wi-Fi 6 no DFS		 1 GBit/s €42 Same tech as the AX12, but pricier. No DFS.

Approximate prices as of 31 August 2026 (geizhals.de). They change constantly – treat them as a ballpark, not a promise.

Hover over a tag to see the reason behind it.

We advise against these models. If you already own one, it still works – check the reason badge for what to watch out for.

Model Speed approx. price Note
TP-Link Archer C50
not recommended Wi-Fi 5 no DFS		 100 MBit/s €25 Cuts your connection to a tenth.
TP-Link Archer C20
not recommended Wi-Fi 5 no DFS		 100 MBit/s €25 Cuts your connection to a tenth.
TP-Link Archer A5
not recommended Wi-Fi 5 no DFS		 100 MBit/s €29 Cuts your connection to a tenth.
TP-Link TL-WR841N
not recommended Wi-Fi 4		 100 MBit/s €14 2.4 GHz only, no 5 GHz Wi-Fi – replace it urgently.
TP-Link TL-WR840N
not recommended Wi-Fi 4		 100 MBit/s €14 2.4 GHz only, no 5 GHz Wi-Fi – replace it urgently.
TP-Link TL-WR940N
not recommended Wi-Fi 4		 100 MBit/s – 2.4 GHz only – replace even if you already own one.
TP-Link Archer AX10
discontinued Wi-Fi 6 no DFS		 1 GBit/s €44 Works perfectly, just without DFS.
TP-Link Archer C7
discontinued Wi-Fi 5 no DFS		 1 GBit/s – If you already own one, it works fine.
ASUS RT-AX58U
discontinued Wi-Fi 6 DFS		 1 GBit/s – Setup is a little more involved than on TP-Link.

Models tagged discontinued are listed last: they work, but are hard to buy now.

2.4 GHz and 5 GHz

Your router transmits on two bands. 2.4 GHz reaches further and gets through walls better. In a dormitory that also means your Wi-Fi runs into many neighbours' routers, and they all share three non-overlapping channels. 5 GHz has a shorter range – still plenty for your room – and is faster, with far more channels. So connect everything that can do 5 GHz to 5 GHz – leave 2.4 GHz for older devices.

Top: a dormitory corridor. 5 GHz covers your room, 2.4 GHz the whole corridor. Bottom: what reaches your room. Your Wi-Fi at full strength on both bands, plus nine other networks on 2.4 GHz and almost none on 5 GHz. 2.4 GHz range 5 GHz range corridor your room What reaches your room your Wi-Fi other Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz shares airtime with 9 networks: slower 5 GHz has the airtime almost to itself: faster Your room gets full signal on both.
Schematic: your Wi-Fi has to share airtime with every other network that reaches your room. On 5 GHz hardly any do, and your room is still fully covered.
What DFS means

The 5 GHz band has around twenty channels, but most routers may only use four of them. The rest are shared with weather and aviation radar. A router may only use them if it listens in and vacates the channel the moment a radar appears — that listening is called DFS.

The 5 GHz band: neighbouring Wi-Fi networks crowd onto the four standard channels, while the 15 DFS channels are nearly empty. Use by neighbouring Wi-Fi 4 channels for every router 15 channels with DFS only Radar has priority 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 100 104 108 112 116 120 124 128 132 136 140
Schematic: routers without DFS share channels 36 to 48. Routers with DFS move to the remaining channels and clear them as soon as a radar transmits.

What this means for you: in a dormitory, hundreds of devices crowd onto the same four default channels. A router with DFS can move to the others, where almost nobody transmits. That is the most noticeable difference between two otherwise equally fast devices — more than any number on the box.

You do not have to configure anything. Leave the channel setting on Auto and the router picks the quietest channel itself.

Newer devices may need a firmware update from the manufacturer before first use.

Once your router has arrived, continue with Connect your router.