@Den24601 

Not sure if this really helps, but on the A20, which is quite similar to the C4000, it works fine.

There are some differences between the C4000 and A20, no Printer Server is one on the A20. Different f/w too. C4000 out later and it is V2, while the A20 is V1, both only have the intial f/w.

@IrvSp 

Thank you.  That's interesting.   The problem is very repeatable on my new A4000; the second description anywhere I've tried kills DHCP every time.  My understanding is the A20's hardware is the same, but the firmware is different.   I've opened a problem with TP-Link, and hopefully, they fix the firmware, or this is going back.

Dennis

@Den24601 

Before posting, I did a couple of searches on "Address Reservation" but didn't find anything.  A few minutes ago, this popped up:

https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/110679

which solved my problem. It is the space character, ASCII 32 Hex 20, causing the problem.  "DELL_Laptop" is OK, but "Dell Laptop" kills DHCP.  This is a known issue that I wasted too many hours working on.

Thanks,

Dennis

@Den24601 

Not sure if the h/w is the same or not? If the same why 2 different f/w?

Check this thread out, https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/167246

Not a lot of detail there, but other manufactures of other devices change just the model number, HP will change the last 2 digits of the printer depending on where sold.

Since the A20 came out first why create a C4000 that as far as I can tell differs only by 2 features? A20 has Alexa and IFTTT support while the C4000 has a USB Printer Server. I suspect those are all done in firmware, no special h/w?

I have a CostCo membership too, but went with the A20. At the time Amazon had a 20% coupon on it and that made the price difference only a few dollars, and although I could get same day delivery on it, they were out of stock (as were other on-line retailers). My old router was working so I ordered it and it took 10 days to come in. Just checked both places and the A20 now costs $40 more it seems (plus tax).

Why a newer C4000 has a Printer Server and no Alexa or IFTTT support? No clue? If the C4000 still has some problems like the time server and what appears to be a new one with Reserved addresses makes no sense as I'd assume since I've got a V1 and  you a V2 that they would have started with the same f/w and made 2 changes that should not have anything to do with Reserved Addresses.

Wonder if you use the MAC and IP Address bonding if you'd have a problem there? That worked well for me too, but the way DHCP hands out IP Address is puzzling to me so I opted for reservations so I know how to reach specific devices.

Den24601 wrote

@Den24601 

Before posting, I did a couple of searches on "Address Reservation" but didn't find anything.  A few minutes ago, this popped up:

 

https://community.tp-link.com/us/home/forum/topic/110679

 

which solved my problem. It is the space character, ASCII 32 Hex 20, causing the problem.  "DELL_Laptop" is OK, but "Dell Laptop" kills DHCP.  This is a known issue that I wasted too many hours working on.

Thanks,

Dennis

@Den24601 

Well, as you can see in my post, I do have a BLANK in the first name...

Interestingly, both the A20 and C4000 are on the first initial f/w.

You are on 1.0.3 Build 20180322 rel.2657, but the A20 is on 1.0.0 Build 20181122 Rel.29339 (5553)? A20 is V1, C4000 V2? C4000 sold before the A20? Based on all this I suspect different h/w and f/w?

Looking at the 2 Data sheets:

C4000 (page 6) https://static.tp-link.com/2017/201712/20171229/Archer%20C4000%20Datasheet%202.0.pdf

A20 (page 8) https://static.tp-link.com/2019/201903/20190319/Archer%20A20(US)1.0_Datasheet.pdf

Note the dates too, the V2 C4000, Dec, 2017, V1 A20, Mar. 2019?

Major differences, the Power Supply:

C4000, External Power Supply: US: 12V/5A , EU: 12V/3.3A

A20, External Power Supply: 12V/4A

A20 is also marked with (US) and it seems to be because of the power supply? US one needs less amperage as well, a sign that at least the internal power distribution chips are different.

Still confused by a V2 product would ship first? Also the slight variation on f/w versions, V1.0.3 vs. V1.0.0?

@Den24601 

@IrvSp 

Both routers are very similar. The A series you will see on Amazon where the Archer C4000 you will see at retail stores.

Firmware is not the same since they were released at different times.

With respect to the DHCP description issue, please remove any special symbols such as a space or hyphon. Only have letters or numbers.

@Tony, seems my A20 can handle 'spaces/blanks' in the name, see screen capture above.

IrvSp wrote

@Tony, seems my A20 can handle 'spaces/blanks' in the name, see screen capture above.

@IrvSp 

Correct, yours can, but this has been seen specifically for the C4000.

@Tony 

Yes, even one entry, like "Dell Laptop" kills the C4000's DHCP, 100%.  "Dell_Laptop" isn't a problem. 

It would be great if the installation instructions carried that warning.  Better yet, include a warning in the router's embedded instructions.

Dennis

@Den24601 

Glad it is working.

Thanks for the feedback regarding the warning.