TP-Link VX420-G2v review: Have modem-router, can travel

I’ve been trying to find an NBN provider-championed modem-router that I’d recommend, and it’s been tough. The ZTE H1600 was my first disappointment, with WiFi and latency issues. Then the NetComm NF20MESH suffered from dropouts. And the TP-Link VX230v needed regular restarts to preserve uptime. So, I think you’ll understand why I was nervous when I first took the TP-Link VX420-G2v for a spin, expecting it to disappoint in similar ways. Thankfully, it’s been a smoother modem-router experience.

There are two varieties of the TP-Link VX420: the G2v, which is the main focus of this review, and the G2h, which I have a (very) second-hand version of, but I couldn’t (easily) get going. The main difference is that the G2h has a SIM card slot for 4G backup, while the G2v does not. Whichever variant you go with, the VX420 is a provider-configured modem-router, meaning you may not have full functionality if you shift away from an eligible NBN provider.

Of the NBN providers we track in our database, the G2v model is available from Dodo ($159.90) and TPG ($114.95) as an optional plan add-on. The G2h is available as an optional add-on from iiNet ($192) and included with Vodafone plans, though it has a $180 pro rata cost with the latter if you leave within 24 months. The list below is of providers in our database that offer the TP-Link VX420, either in G2v or G2h variants.

It feels like an age since I’ve tested a networking device that didn’t have a companion app that offers guided setup. The TP-Link VX420-G2v (and G2h) are old school in that you only have a browser-based web portal for setup and subsequent tinkering. If, like me, you’re with a zero-credentials Dynamic IP/IPoE provider, setup is effectively plug and play after power cycling your NBN connection box and powering on the G2v. With a credentials-required (PPPoE) provider, though, you’ll need to use the web portal to punch in your internet username and password.

The VX420s have custom provider firmware and come preconfigured. If you’ve been sent one by your NBN provider, you’re good to go. If not, you should start by using a pin or SIM ejector tool to reset the device while powered on: just hold it down for five seconds and wait a minute or so. Underneath the vertical stand – and, yeah, the VX420 is seemingly built exclusively for vertical orientation – is where you’ll find the web portal IP address, default admin password as well as the default WiFi name (SSID) and password.

After accessing the web portal, you’ll likely be prompted to reset your password, which is a good thing. But that’s also where you’ll encounter a system that errs on the side of security over convenience. It’s tricky to go in too hard on that approach, but it is still a pain. For resetting the admin and WiFi passwords, you’ll need to meet three of four rules: at least one uppercase letter, one lowercase letter, one digit and one special character. Oh, and the password needs to be at least 10 characters long.

For me, it meant I couldn’t use my old SSID username and password, which I typically keep between networking devices so that all of my wireless devices automatically connect to the new network.

I do internet speed tests right after initial configuration to gauge speed potential, not just overall but also relative to wired and wireless performance in different parts of my apartment. While the front part of my apartment typically never has WiFi issues, the back part has issues with any networking equipment that can’t penetrate thick walls. The TP-Link VX420-G2v (and G2h) is a dual-band WiFi 6 device with internal antennas. Given my previous slow experiences with similarly priced modem-routers, I wasn’t expecting much from the speed tests.

All of my router internet speed tests are conducted with an Exetel NBN 100/20 FTTC apartment connection, using Ethernet for the first test then a Google Pixel 7 Pro for the WiFi tests (via WiFi 6). All of the tests below were done in the evening. Lower numbers are best for latency (measured in milliseconds), while larger numbers are better for download and upload speeds (both measured in megabits-per-second). Use the top line of results in the tables as an idea of best-case speeds at that time of day, then every line below as comparative. Signal strength according to Google is ranked from best to worst as excellent, good, fair and poor.

For a baseline comparison, here are my previous speed test results from the TP-Link VX230v.

And here’s what the speed test results looked like for the TP-Link VX420-G2v.

The study is my WiFi dead spot trap, which catches out most underperforming networking devices. The drop in download and upload speeds plus the spike in latency make the study an impractical space for WiFi devices connected via the VX420-G2v. The bathroom and bedroom (also in the back part of my apartment) fare better, but video streaming at 1080p in the bathroom proved patchy even though the download speeds are technically fast enough. Even GIFs had issues loading during sit-down bathroom tests.

Looking across the results, the speed dips seem to come whenever the 2.4GHz WiFi band kicks in. While the VX230v hung onto the 5GHz band in my bedroom, kitchen and laundry, the VX420-G2v is quick to switch to the slower 2.4GHz band, and the megabits tumble in those tests. The VX420-G2v also failed to pass a speed test for my garage test spot, which wasn’t the case for the VX230v. When WiFi devices are using the 5GHz band, speeds are great; but the range feels painfully limited before the VX420-G2v flicks over to the 2.4GHz band.

Tinkering settings in the TP-Link VX420-G2v (and G2h) isn’t as straightforward as using a companion app. Every tweak is made via the browser-based web portal, and even those options are restricted based on provider firmware settings. For the G2v, it meant there wasn’t an option for manual firmware updates, which is concerning in terms of a lack of future security updates.

While there’s a decent selection of basic settings – WiFi, USB sharing, guest network and parental controls – switching to the advanced view adds more options but buries some of the options (like mesh) in sub-menus. You may have to click around to find all of the settings if you like to tweak. For me, switching the IP address to something else was straightforward, and I appreciated that the IP address pool was automatically updated after changing the modem-router’s default IP. Still, I had to manually designate a Razer Blade 14 IP address to get internet connectivity, which is odd.

Note that changing these kinds of settings necessitates a two-minute restart. Technically, you can add any EasyMesh-certified device as a mesh expansion to the VX420-G2v, but I couldn’t get the G2h to work in this configuration, neither by scanning the network nor using the WiFi Protected Search (WPS) button. It’s worth noting that I couldn’t find any Quality of Service (QoS) settings – an automated way to manage finite internet bandwidth – but my tests suggest that it’s enabled by default.

The TP-Link VX420-G2v is a decent modem-router that’s compatible with all NBN technologies out of the box. While better suited to smaller homes that aren’t prone to interference, the VX420 still proved a reliable set-and-forget network tool for everyday internet tasks. It’s not going to replace pricier models, but it’s also a modem-router that can likely travel with you between providers if you don’t want to upgrade.