TPLink Archer MR 200: A double duty 4G LTE router

A Wi-Fi router which helps home users to access internet on multiple devices using just one broadband cable connection is fairly common these days. But how reliable are such wired data connections? Unless the service provider has provided his own UPS at the cable head, chances are the connection will trip every time power fails in your apartment and the genset kicks in.

Now, TP-Link has addressed this common problem, by incorporating a SIM slot in its Archer MR200 router. If your cable data connection works, it is the more economical way to work. But when it fails, you can switch over to the SIM -- and this router takes a 4G SIM which means your data speeds might be even faster than cable -- theoretically around 150MBPS. But I am yet to achieve anything more than 30 MBPS from an Indian 4G SIM.

This is a dual band router -- 2.4GHz and 5GHZ -- which means, it uses two distinct wireless networks, which makes for better, more stable connections?

Since good dual antenna Wi-Fi routers cost around Rs 5,000 -- Rs 6,000, the asking price of Rs 8,999 for the TP-Link Archer MR 200, may not seem excessive, considering the additional 4G SIM capability. However, the raw rating is that of an 'n' router (802.11 b/g/n). I wish they had gone to the faster 'ac' rating, since this has been around for over a year now.

— IndiaTechOnline