Adam Parton

I purchased a TP-Link router (TL-WR1043ND) not long ago and it arrived today (Tue 17th Jan '12), all well and good setup and working. I come to setup the "Media Server" part of the machine and the whole thing freezes, not a single budge via Ethernet or Wi-Fi, completely locked my MacBook Pro, PS3, iPhone & Printer (Epson) out of it.

I got on the phone to the TP-Link 24/7 helpline, who seemed nice (at first). She was a bit difficult to understand, I won't explain which country the call center is in but I think you can work out which I'm on about, anyway she told me to connect my Router to a Windows computer and try it with that. I said the magic words "I only use Mac's" and she instantly snapped back at me saying those ill-fated words "I am sorry I am unable to help you then", this then sparked a mini rage inside me which in-turn pushed me to tell her how to reset the router by unplugging and plugging the AC adapter back into the back, and as if by magic, its back up working 100% again.

I then proceeded to tell her (and these are my exact words), "I would strongly recommend that your call centre should cater for mac users, as what you have said to me today gave me a rather negative impression of not just the company, but the brand in a whole", to which I was cut off.

Now this TP-Link router is fantastic, it gives blazing Ethernet speeds to my PS3 (32.8Mbps down and 3.8Mbps up via Gigabit Ethernet) and really has improved the network around the house as opposed to the "Super"hub Virgin Media use for their networks.

As much as I would recommend TP-Link, I strongly also recommend avoiding their Customer Service link as much as possible, and seek advice online regarding your router.