Key takeaways
- On a 300 Mbps or gigabit internet plan, the WR845N caps the entire home at under 100 Mbps.
- Wired PCs and consoles plugged into the LAN ports also stop at about 95 Mbps.
- File transfers between a PC and a network drive will be slow by modern standards.
The TP-Link TL-WR845N is a basic single-band Wi-Fi 4 (802.11n) N300 router that still works for light use on internet plans under about 100 Mbps, but in 2026 it is a legacy design: it runs only on 2.4 GHz, its wired ports are 10/100 Mbps, and it supports only older Wi-Fi security standards. For most homes, a low-cost dual-band router such as the TP-Link Archer C6 or a Wi-Fi 6 model like the Archer AX21 is a far better buy for only a little more money.
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TL-WR845N Specs at a Glance
| Spec | TL-WR845N |
|---|---|
| Wi-Fi standard | Wi-Fi 4 (802.11b/g/n) |
| Band | 2.4 GHz only |
| Max wireless link rate | 300 Mbps (2×2, 40 MHz channel) |
| Antennas | 3 fixed external |
| WAN port | 1x 10/100 Mbps |
| LAN ports | 4x 10/100 Mbps |
| USB | None |
| Security | WPA/WPA2 |
| Typical price range | About $15–$30 |
The “N300” figure is the theoretical maximum link rate between the router and a 2×2 device under ideal conditions. Real-world throughput on 2.4 GHz is commonly well under half that, and it drops quickly in busy apartment buildings where neighbors’ networks share the same three non-overlapping channels.
The Real Limit: 10/100 Ports
This is the spec that matters most and is easy to miss. Every wired port, including the WAN port that connects to your modem, tops out at 100 Mbps, and real throughput lands around 90–95 Mbps. That means:
- On a 300 Mbps or gigabit internet plan, the WR845N caps the entire home at under 100 Mbps.
- Wired PCs and consoles plugged into the LAN ports also stop at about 95 Mbps.
- File transfers between a PC and a network drive will be slow by modern standards.
Worked example
If you pay for a 500 Mbps plan and use a WR845N, you can use at most about 95 Mbps, roughly 19 percent of what you pay for. A gigabit-port dual-band router in the $35–$60 range recovers that lost speed immediately.
Where It Still Makes Sense
Despite its age, there are honest use cases:
- Slow DSL or rural plans of 10–50 Mbps, where the router is never the bottleneck.
- A small network for smart home devices, which mostly use 2.4 GHz anyway.
- Access point or extender use behind a main router, depending on the hardware version’s operating modes, to add 2.4 GHz coverage in a garage or workshop.
- Temporary or very low-cost setups, such as a spare router to keep on hand.
Coverage for a single small apartment or a modest single-floor home is usually adequate thanks to 2.4 GHz’s longer range, though speed falls off sharply through multiple walls.
Where It Falls Short in 2026
- No 5 GHz band. Everything shares crowded 2.4 GHz, which also carries Bluetooth and microwave interference.
- No WPA3. Modern routers support WPA3, which better protects against password-guessing attacks.
- No OFDMA or MU-MIMO. Ten or more active devices will compete for airtime and slow down noticeably.
- Limited firmware future. Budget legacy models receive few or no updates over time. Keep the firmware as current as possible and change the default admin password.
TL-WR845N vs Common Alternatives
| Model | Wi-Fi gen | Bands | Max link rates | Wired ports | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TP-Link TL-WR845N | Wi-Fi 4 | 2.4 GHz | 300 Mbps | 10/100 | $15–$30 |
| TP-Link TL-WR841N | Wi-Fi 4 | 2.4 GHz | 300 Mbps | 10/100 | $15–$25 |
| TP-Link Archer C6 (AC1200) | Wi-Fi 5 | 2.4 + 5 GHz | 300 + 867 Mbps | Gigabit | $35–$50 |
| TP-Link Archer AX21 (AX1800) | Wi-Fi 6 | 2.4 + 5 GHz | 574 + 1,201 Mbps | Gigabit | $55–$80 |
| TP-Link Archer AX55 (AX3000) | Wi-Fi 6 | 2.4 + 5 GHz | 574 + 2,402 Mbps | Gigabit | $80–$130 |
The WR845N and WR841N are close siblings: both are 2.4 GHz N300 routers with 10/100 ports. The WR845N’s third antenna can help a little with coverage consistency, but it does not raise the 300 Mbps ceiling or fix the port limit.
Which Router Should You Buy Instead?
| Your situation | Pick |
|---|---|
| Internet plan under 50 Mbps, few devices, tight budget | TL-WR845N is acceptable |
| Plan of 100–300 Mbps, small apartment | Archer C6 or another gigabit AC1200 router |
| Plan of 300 Mbps–1 Gbps, 15+ devices | Archer AX21 or Archer AX55 |
| Gaming, 4K streaming, work-from-home calls | A Wi-Fi 6 router with gigabit ports |
| Already own a WR845N | Reuse it as an access point or extender for 2.4 GHz devices |
Quick Setup and Safety Checklist
- Connect the modem to the blue WAN port and a computer to a yellow LAN port.
- Open the admin page via tplinkwifi.net or the router’s default IP printed on its label.
- Change the admin password from the default immediately.
- Set WPA2-PSK with AES encryption and a long passphrase; disable WPS if you do not use it.
- Pick channel 1, 6 or 11 based on which is least crowded, and use 20 MHz width in dense buildings for stability.
- Check for firmware updates for your exact hardware version, shown on the label as V1, V2 and so on.
Verdict
The TL-WR845N is a functional, very inexpensive router that suits slow connections and simple 2.4 GHz networks. Its 10/100 ports, single band and lack of WPA3 make it a poor primary router for most US homes in 2026. Spending $20–$50 more on a gigabit dual-band or Wi-Fi 6 router delivers faster speeds, better device handling and stronger security for years longer.
