TP-Link Archer MR400 4G WiFi Router Test

More and more 4G LTE WiFi routers are available in the market; we’ve had the opportunity in recent months to talk about some of the best Wi-Fi routers to cover your entire home without a single WiFi empty area (Would it be Google Wi-Fi, Netgear’s Orbi or Deco M5 from TP-Link?). But while summer is here and so is the vacation time, there is the question of connecting wireless network not at home or on the go.

How to solve this problem? Pull miles of Ethernet cable? Of course not. But why not use a 4G Wi-Fi router, which connects to the network with only one SIM card and then redistribute this connection through Wi-Fi? Of course, there are small stand-alone 4G Pocket Wi-Fi routers (with battery) now, but they usually offer a fairly fluctuating coverage, minimal settings, and are more suitable for small trips that to offer you lasting access Internet.

 

For that, we must adopt more complete solutions. That’s why our eyes turn to the TP-Link Archer MR400 AC1350, which seems to have everything from the ideal candidate. But will it be comfortable at the campsite, in your rental, in your country house or even at home? Let’s see the test below.

 

Compact 4G LTE router with antennas

With rather compact dimensions (20.2 x 14.1 x 3.36 cm), the MR400 is a real wireless router, it has four Ethernet ports (including a LAN and WAN, if you want to use it as a conventional Wi-Fi router). This means that it will be possible to connect wired machines as needed. We would like to find a USB port to allow the sharing of a hard disk or a USB key, but it’s a pity the USB port is missing.

 

At the back of the case, there are two 4G antennas of good size and removable, to avoid damage during transportation or to put larger, which are used to capture the 4G signal. Then what about the Wi-Fi antennas? There are three of them and more classically integrated in the body of the router. They do a pretty good job because the coverage offered very satisfactory in an environment consisting of many very thick load-bearing walls.

TP-Link MR400 WiFi Features

The TP-Link router WiFi is dual band based on its know-how. That is, it produces two networks (802.11ac or n), one that uses a 2.4 GHz frequency field, the other one in 5 GHz. Do not complain that it is not tri-band, in this price range and this kind of products are very rare or nonexistent.

 

Does it matter if the router is dual band? The answer Yes! A choice will have to be made manually because the connection to each of the two networks is not automatic. If the signal range in 2.4 GHz is better, its bit rate is lower: 450 Mbit/s. While the 5 GHz network carries less but it is more resistant to interference and provides above all a much better theoretical bandwidth at 857 Mbit/s. This allows the MR400 to proudly wear the AC1350 designation, a rate that you will never get but which places the device in a family of rather honest routers.

Then let’s talk about the performance for internet connection. It is futile to strive to measure them on a 3G/4G network because everything will depend on the proximity of an antenna, your operator, etc. If the signal received is strong, your flow will approach (more or less) the theoretical maximum, that’s what to keep in mind.

 

To give you an idea of the reality of these speeds, we took advantage of the conventional router mode, which sees it being connected to a conventional fiber box, to measure the speeds offered in Wi-Fi (802.11ac, 5GHz). Whether the distance between the measurement points does not seem important, remember that the test environment is quite hostile to Wi-Fi with a large number of very thick walls.

TP-Link Archer MR400 Speed Test

It shows that the connection is stable and ensures equivalent or similar flows in both directions of use. This is at least the case when one is in the relative vicinity of the router. With 100 Mbit/s measured, the result is obviously much worse than that of mesh routers, in particular, tested by us, the 4G speed flows encountered oscillating generally between 10 and 80 Mbit/s.

 

To continue with this exercise, logically, the further you get from the router, the weaker the signal and the bit rates. However, in this case, the MR400 is doing quite well. Despite the context of our tests, an apartment and a house with thick walls in brick or freestone, the flow provided between 10 and 15 meters remains quite honorable. We get the speeds enough to watch videos or TV streaming in HD and Full HD – forget the 4K. To give an overview of what gives the connection in 4G/Wi-Fi, during our tests, while the reception oscillated between average and bad enough, we measured bit rates of just over 15 Mbit/s in download and just over 3 Mbit/s upload. This is not a good result, but keep in mind that these figures could be much better in an optimal situation.

 

 

Archer MR400 – Easy to install and setup

Then let’s check the Archer MR400 installation and configuration. TP-Link had a good idea to provide SIM adapters for those who use a micro or NANO SIM, the two most common formats at the moment.

 

Once the MR400 router plugged into the sector (it has no battery and need an external power supply), the configuration can be done by a browser or iOS/Android application. We preferred the first option. The first thing to do is to change the login password. Then we navigate in a clear and detailed interface. As always, it is possible to access a more advanced interface to access more advanced settings. In normal mode, you may decide to choose a different SSID for each network. Guest networks can also be activated, which will be opened by default. Remember to immediately protect access with a password.

 

If we look a little further, we will discover the possibility of setting up a parental control. It is based on a system of white and black lists, which is drawn up oneself. Filtering is then done through keywords. Finally, we choose which devices will be subject to this control. It’s simple and efficient.

 

4G Data is still a rare and expensive commodity, so it will be good to focus on limiting its consumption. This starts with restricting bandwidth limitation on some devices. This will prevent a user from consuming all the flow without leaving it to others. More interesting is the setting up of a monthly cap of megabytes allocated. We will set this maximum and set an alert, for example, 80 or 90% of this total data plan to avoid being out of frame or without connection. Multi SIM data plans are usually rich in gigabytes but 30 GB or 40 GB can evaporate very quickly with YouTube video or application download.

 

 

Summary for TP-link Archer MR400 Test

 

Archer MR400 Advantage:

  • Removable 4G antenna to ensure good reception
  • Dual-band WiFi for fast WiFi speed up to 1350Mbps
  • Compatible with different SIM formats

 

 

Disadvantage:

  • No USB port
  • WiFi frequency management is not automatically

 

To sum up, TP-link Archer MR400 is a good 4G WiFi router for home, office, or even cap if it can get the power supply. The powerful WiFi feature would provide a reliable wireless internet connection for multiple users. The rich settings in the web interface would provide many useful functions. If you are looking for a reliable WiFi router, TP-link Archer MR400 is considerable. But if you want to check more TP-link 4G WiFi routers, click here: https://www.4gltemall.com/4g-wireless-router/tp-link.html

TP-Link 4G Router Archer MR400 VS MR200

Many people know TP-link WiFi router because TP-link WiFi routers are very popular due to the good price and reliable performance. Following the market demand for 4G Routers, TP-Link also presented many 4G WiFi routers to the markets. TP-link Archer MR400 and MR200 are two hot TP-Link 4G Routers with SIM card slot and Ethernet ports. With the similar name, you may don’t know what the difference between the TP-link MR200 and MR400 is. We will compare the Archer MR400 and MR200 to find the answer.

 

TP-link Archer MR200 VS MR400 Appearance

 

The TP-link Archer MR400 and MR200 are both desktop routers. If you let them stand together, you can’t tell which one is Archer MR400 or MR200. They use the same model design. On the top, there are some indicators for power, WAN, LAN, WiFi, and Signal with the new TP-link logo. On the back, there are two external antennas, 4 LAN ports (RJ45 Ethernet port), one of which is for both LAN & WAN. On the left side of the LAN ports, there is the plug for power and power on/off button. On the right side of the Ethernet ports, there is WPS reset button and WiFi on/off button with the SIM card slot. They both use the standard SIM card. If you are using Micro SIM or Nano SIM, the manufacturer TP-link offers the Micro to Standard SIM adapter and NANO to Standard SIM adapter.

 

Archer MR400 VS MR200 Specifications

 

From the appearance, we can see the TP-link MR200 and MR400 are very similar. Seems when they are produced, they are using the same design model. Then let’s have a comparison of the TP-link Archer MR400 Specs and MR200 Specs:

 

 

Model TP-link Archer MR400 TP-link Archer MR200
Product type 4G Router with SIM card slot and Ethernet port 4G Router with SIM card slot and Ethernet port
Category LTE Cat.4 LTE Cat.4
Chipset Qualcomm MDM9207 MediaTek MT7620A
LTE Data rates DL 150Mbps/UL 50Mbps DL 150Mbps/UL 50Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands * 4G: FDD-LTE B1/B3/B7/B8/B20 (2100/1800/2600/900/800MHz)
TDD-LTE B38/B39/B40/B41 (2600/1900/2300/2500MHz)
* 3G: DC-HSPA+/HSPA+/HSPA/UMTS B1/B8 (2100/900MHz)
* 2G: EDGE/GPRS/GSM Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
* 4G: FDD-LTE B1/B3/B7/B8/B20 (2100/1800/2600/900/800MHz)
TDD-LTE B38/B39/B40/B41 (2600/1900/2300/2500MHz)
* 3G: DC-HSPA+/HSPA+/HSPA/UMTS B1/B8 (2100/900MHz)
* 2G: EDGE/GPRS/GSM Quad Band (850/900/1800/1900MHz)
WLAN * IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5GHz, DL to 867Mbps
* IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz, DL to 450mbps
* IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5GHz, DL to 433Mbps
* IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz, DL to 300mbps
Max supported users 64 users 64 users
MIMO n/a n/a
Antenna 3 Internal Wi-Fi Antennas,
2 Detachable External 4G LTE Antennas
3 Internal Wi-Fi Antennas,
2 Detachable External 4G LTE Antennas
Buy Antenna TP-link MR400 external antenna TP-link MR200 external antenna
App management TP-Link Tether APP TP-Link Tether APP
SIM Size Standard SIM Standard SIM
Battery No No
Dimensions 202 x 141 x 33.6 mm 202 x 141 x 33.6 mm
Interfaces * 3 x 10/100Mbps LAN Ports
* 1 x 10/100Mbps LAN/WAN Port
* 1 x SIM Card Slot
* 3 x 10/100Mbps LAN Ports
* 1 x 10/100Mbps LAN/WAN Port
* 1 x SIM Card Slot
Datasheet TP-Link Archer MR400 Datasheet(PDF) TP-Link Archer MR200 Datasheet(PDF)
User Manual TP-Link Archer MR400 Manual(PDF) TP-Link Archer MR200 Manual(PDF)
Other features Traffic Control, Dynamic IP/Static IP/PPPoE/PPTP(Dual Access)/L2TP(Dual Access), Access Control, Local Management, Remote Management, DHCP, Port Forwarding,  Dynamic DNS, VPN, Access Control, Firewall, Supports IPv4 and IPv6, IPSec VPN Traffic Control, Dynamic IP/Static IP/PPPoE/PPTP(Dual Access)/L2TP(Dual Access), Access Control, Local Management, Remote Management, DHCP, Port Forwarding,  Dynamic DNS, VPN, Access Control, Firewall, Supports IPv4 and IPv6, IPSec VPN
Firmware download Archer MR400 Firmware Archer MR200 Firmware
Driver Archer MR400 driver Archer MR200 driver
Reviews TP-link Archer MR400 Review TP-link Archer MR200 Review
Price/USD 369.00 329.00

 

Summary

From the specs table, we can see the TP-link Archer MR400 and MR200 are both 4G LTE Router which could achieve 4G LTE download speed to 150Mbps and upload speed to 50Mbps based on the support of LTE Cat4. Other features are completely the same except that the WiFi feature. Due to the configuration of the MIMO 3 x 3 antennas in the 2.4 GHz band and the MIMO 2 x 2 in the 5 GHz band, the Archer MR400 provides a total transfer rate of up to 1350 Mbps (450 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz network and 867 Mbps in the 5 GHz). For comparison: the predecessor Archer MR200 model is limited to a speed of 300 Mbit/s in the 2.4 GHz network and 433 Mbps in the 5 GHz network. That’s why the TP-link MR400 is also called Archer AC1350 and TP-link MR200 is called Archer AC750. Of course, the TP-Link Archer MR400 is technically better than TP-link Archer MR200 AC750. If you would buy one router from the two, the Archer MR400 is better to recommend since the prices of the two routers are very close.

TP-Link Archer MR400 AC1350 4G LTE Router Review

Sometimes 3G/4G networks will broadcast a better connection than those from the ADSL network. TP-Link presents the new Archer router MR400, which is upgrading from the predecessor Archer MR200 AC750  Router, when ADSL access is not possible at home or on the move, the TP-Link Archer MR400 Router can take over to distribute the connection of 3G/4G mobile networks via WiFi.

With the MR400 Router, there is an Ethernet cable packed that can be used to wired one to four PCs via the dedicated ports. The 4G LTE router has a power button, reset or access to WPS for a fast connection and a button that allows to enable or disable the Wifi connection only. The location of the SIM card is easily accessible. Two adapters for Micro-SIM or Nano-SIM are provided; one click shows that everything is well engaged.

The MR400 Archer is light and rather pleasant at the design level. However, the black body seems to be a little textured and not glossy. It acts like a dust magnet and even with clean hands fingerprints appear from the first manipulation.

 

 

Interface connection

Once the SIM inserted and the router MR400 connected to the wireless network, the LEDs give the status on the connection of the device and the availability of the wifi. They are however quite discreet. The manual prompts you to first connect to the wireless network whose name (SSID) and password are listed under the router.

It is then necessary to access the interface of the router via an internet browser by entering the IP address 192.168.0.1 or tplinkmodem.net. Here it is possible to enter the default identifiers (admin / admin) to enter the interface. The password can be changed to the one per user’s preference. To configure from a smartphone or tablet is more easily, TP-Link also offers applications for iOS (download from Apple store)or Android(Download from Google Play).

 

Features and connection

A small assistant helps the user to configure the router in 3 simple steps, it was enough to leave the information by default. Before that you have to enter the PIN code of the SIM card. The interface indicates the path to follow to access it. Once the connection is tested and the wizard finished, we connect to the interface.

It is well designed and easy to handle if you speak English. The “Basic” tab contains a graphic representation of the network and the devices connected to the routers, the possibility of modifying the Wifi parameters, activating a guest network or a parental control function.

The “Advanced” tab contains everything that can be expected from a conventional router: NAT rules, security settings, bandwidth control to avoid eating too quickly his package or even what to connect to a VPN. An SMS section allows to send text messages without leaving the interface, it worked without difficulty.

 

The bandwidth test was very convincing with an excellent bit rate that makes us forget that we are connecting to a mobile network and not to ADSL. Of course the quality of connection depends on the presence of 3G or 4G antennas from the operator, but the result is more fluid than using the modem of the smartphone.

Below are the general specs for TP-link Archer MR400:

 

  • 4G LTE maximum network speed of 150 Mbit/s
  • 4G LTE maximum speed per network 50 Mbit/s
  • 4G: FDD-LTE Cat4 (800/900/1800/2100/2600MHz)
  • TDD-LTE (1900/2300/2500/2600MHz)
  • 3G: DC-HSPA+ / HSPA+ / HSPA / UMTS (900/2100MHz)
  • 2G: EDGE / GPRS / GSM (850/900/1800 / 1900MHz)
  • WiFi with up to 450 Mbps speed at 2.4 GHz
  • WiFi with up to 867 Mbps speed at 5.0 GHz
  • Dual-band – both frequencies can be simultaneously enabled, with WiFi speed up to 1350 Mbps.
  • Fully compatible with 802.11b/g/n/ac standards.
  • Two external antennas for reception and three internal WiFi networks. External antennas can be replaced with more powerful antennas with SMA connection.
  • Ethernet WAN – One LAN port can be used as a WAN port, allowing the device to work as a wireless router.
  • The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) feature enables wireless network encryption and devices to be connected at the touch of a button.
  • DynDns, NO-IP support
  • The DoS / SPI firewall protects the network.
  • Multiple SSIDs (up to two separate networks)
  • The Quality of Service provides more bandwidth for speed-demanding activities such as games, VoIP calls, and videos.
  • IPv6 Support: IPv6 is a new network capability that will in future replace the IPv4 protocol used by all devices. Networking IPv6 support therefore enables the device to work with future technology.
  • VPN Support: IPSec Pass-Throuth, PPTP Pass-Through, L2TP Pass-Through
  • Operating system idle – management with a web browser
  • A separate power switch as well as a button from which the wireless network can be closed and started.
  • Interfaces: LAN x 3 RJ-45 10/100, LAN / WAN x 1 RJ-45 10/100, MiniSIM (normal size)
  • Dimensions: 202 x 141 x 33.6 mm
  • Sales Package Contents: Modem, AC Power Adapter, Ethernet Cable, 2 Antenna (SMA), MicroSIM MiniSIM Adapter, NanoSIM MiniSIM Adapter

 

 

Conclusion

TP-Link regularly offers new firmware for the Archer MR400 Router on the support pages of its site. For now only English is available, on the other hand it is a pity to have chosen a body material that is certainly very flattering visually, but also very messy.

However, the TP-Link Archer MR400 router is doing the job well, and the configuration is very easy. The interface is quite simple to handle, even for those who do not speak English fluently and the application also allows some settings from a smartphone. In all, TP-link Archer MR400 is a good router for home or office.

 

If you like this router, welcome to buy from here: https://www.4gltemall.com/tp-link-archer-mr400-ac1350-4g-lte-router.html