TP-link Archer MR200 VS Huawei B315 Router

Huawei 4G LTE WiFi Routers are very popular in many countries around the world. As the competitor from China, TP-link also has some LTE SIM WiFi routers available, but not well-known as Huawei routers. So many people usually compare the routers from Huawei and TP-link, such as the hot model TP-link Archer MR200 router and Huawei B315 modem router. They want to know which one is better to buy for home or office. To answer the question, it’s necessary to see the difference between the Huawei B315 and Archer MR200 and then conclude.

TP-link Archer MR200
TP-link Archer MR200

TP-Link Archer MR200 VS Huawei B315 in Appearance and Interfaces

Like other TP-Link 4G LTE WiFi router, the Archer MR200 stands horizontally on a desk. The TP-link logo is on the top front. There are some indicators on the front, including the Power, Internet, 4G, Wireless, LAN, WPS and Signal strength. On the back, there are 3 LAN ports and one LAN/WAN port with the power on/off button, WPS reset button, WiFi on/off button, and SIM card slot. The TP-link MR200 has two external antennas available with the router.

TP-link Archer MR200
TP-link Archer MR200

Huawei B315 is standing vertically like other Huawei 4G routers. On the front, there are indicators available for Power, Mode, WiFi, Ethernet and Signal strength. On the back, there are 3 LAN ports and one WAN/LAN port with one USB port and one Telephone port. The SIM card slot is at the side of the router. There are two connectors for high gain lte antennas. Since Huawei B315 has many variant models, some of the interfaces may be missing on specific variant models.

 

Huawei B315 Router
Huawei B315 Router

Huawei B315 VS TP-link Archer MR200 Specs and Features

From the appearance, we can see the two routers are in different design, but some basic indicators are interfaces are similar. Then let’s have a comparison of the TP-link Archer MR200 Specs and Huawei B315 Specs to know features of the two routers:

 

Model TP-link Archer MR200 Huawei B315s
Product type 4G Router with SIM card slot and Ethernet port LTE WiFi Router with Ethernet port
Category LTE Cat.4 LTE Cat.4
Chipset MediaTek MT7620A Hisilicon Balong
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)		 * Huawei B315s-22: 4G LTE B1/B3/B7/B8/B20/B38
* Huawei B315s-607: 4G Band 1/3/7/8/28/40
* Huawei B315s-936: 4G Band 1/3/40/41
* Huawei B315s-608: 4G Band 1/3/5/7/28
WLAN * IEEE 802.11ac/n/a 5GHz, DL to 433Mbps
* IEEE 802.11b/g/n 2.4GHz, DL to 300mbps		 802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz
Max supported users 64 users 32 users
MIMO n/a n/a
Antenna 3 Internal Wi-Fi Antennas,
2 Detachable External 4G LTE Antennas		 Two, SMA-female jacks
Buy Antenna TP-link Archer MR200 outdoor antenna Huawei B315 external antenna
App management TP-Link Tether APP Huawei Hilink APP
SIM Size Standard SIM Standard SIM
Battery No No
Dimensions 202 x 141 x 33.6 mm 186.0 x 139.0 x 46.0mm
Interfaces * 1 x power adapter port
* 3 x LAN port(RJ45)
* 3 x 10/100Mbps LAN Ports
* 1 x 10/100Mbps LAN/WAN Port
* 1 x SIM Card Slot		 * 1 x power adapter port
* 3 x LAN port(RJ45)
* 1 x LAN/WAN port (RJ45)
* 1 x telephone port(RJ11)(depends)
* Two external LTE antenna ports (SMA-female)
* 1 x SIM card slot
* 1 x USB 2.0 port(depends)
Datasheet TP-Link Archer MR200 Datasheet(PDF) Huawei B315 Datasheet(PDF)
User Manual TP-Link Archer MR200 Manual(PDF) Huawei B315S 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 VoIP, DHCP, NAT, IPv6/IPv4 dual stack, Firewall, Port forwarding, DMZ, ALG, Remote management
Firmware download Archer MR200 Firmware Huawei B315s Firmware
Driver Archer MR200 driver Huawei B315s driver
Reviews TP-link Archer MR200 Review Huawei B315 Review
Price/USD 329.00 169.00
Huawei B315 interfaces
Huawei B315 interfaces

Summary

From the spec table, we can see the both the TP-link Archer MR200 and Huawei B315 are LTE Category 4 routers which could support peak download speed up to 150mbps and upload speed to 50mbps. As the typical home router, they both have similar router functions for wireless connection or Ethernet cable connection. The Huawei B315 has many variant models, which may have one telephone port. The variant models of Huawei B315 makes it could support more network providers. The TP-link Archer MR200 has only one variant model and focus on the common LTE frequency bands in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa markets.

 

When we see the price, we feel confused. The TP-link Archer MR200 price is much higher than Huawei B315 price. We suppose the Archer MR200 is not as popular as Huawei B315 modem. For those who want to buy a good home router, we recommend Huawei B315 router. But the LTE frequency bands may vary on different carriers, you must select the right model per your network provider.

Huawei E5788 VS Netgear AC815s

AT&T Unite Explore was an old 4G LTE Pocket WiFi router coming from Netgear AC815S and it had been a popular pocket WiFi router when it’s available in the market with AT&T contract. Here it has a new competitor from Huawei – E5788u-96a. Huawei E5788u-96a was available around the end of 2017 and it becomes the hot model when it’s firstly presented to the public. Somebody may ask: what’s the difference between Huawei E5788u-96a and Netgear AC815S? Which one is better to buy in the two LTE hotspot 4G? We will compare the two portable 4G routers in this article to find the answers.

Huawei E5788 VS Netgear AC815S Appearance and Interfaces

The Netgear AC815S follows the design of the Netgear LTE mobile hotspot router, as it’s introduced to AT&T data plan, there is an AT&T logo on the front with the screen. The touchscreen could be used to check the data, network connection status, WiFi users, and battery status and do some simple setting by clicking home and back buttons at the side of the display. Like its brother model Netgear AC810S unlocked, the back cover of AT&T Unite Explore could be opened and the battery could be removed to insert the SIM card. There is a USB port with two connectors for external LTE antennas.

The Huawei E5788 LTE Router also has a display to show the connection status, WiFi status, battery status and other information about data usage, network provider, and signal etc… There is a button at the side of the display. The user could operate the touchscreen like doing on a smartphone. This feature is very user-friendly. There is an only power button on the top edge side while the opposite locate the SIM card slot. The back cover of Huawei E5788 could not be removed. And it doesn’t have the connector for high gain LTE antennas.

 

AT&T Unite Explore VS Huawei E5788u-96a Specs and Features

From the appearance, we can see the two mobile WiFi hotspots are different. Then let’s have a comparison of the Huawei E5788u-96a specs and Netgear Aircard 815s specs:

 

Model AT&T Unite Explore 815S Huawei E5788u-96a
Product type LTE Mobile Hotspot LTE Mobile Hotspot
Category LTE Cat.9 LTE Cat.16
Chipset Qualcomm MDM9240 Qualcomm MDM9250
Data rates DL 450Mbps/UL 100Mbps DL 1Gbps/UL 100Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B7, B12, B17, B29, B30 * FDD-LTE: Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/19/20/28
* TDD-LTE: Band 38/40/41/42
WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max support users 15 users 32 users
MIMO 2 x 2 MIMO 4 X 4 MIMO
Connector for external antenna Two, TS-9 jacks No connector
Buy Antenna AT&T Unite Explore External Antenna N/A
App management Netgear Aircard APP Huawei Hilink APP
SIM type Micro SIM Micro SIM
Battery Removable, 4340 mAh Non-removable, 3000mAh
Dimensions 112 x 68.6 x 15.45mm 129 x 65 x 13.5mm
Ethernet Port No No
Datasheet download AT&T Unite Explore 815s Datasheet Huawei E5788 Datasheet
User Manual AT&T Unite Explore Manual Huawei E5788 Manual
Other features 3 band CA 4CC CA
Firmware download ATT Unite Explore Firmware Huawei E5788 Firmware
Drivers ATT Unite Explore drivers Huawei E5788 Driver
Reviews AT&T unite explore review Huawei E5788 Review
Price 349.00USD 499.00USD

 

Summary

From the specs table, we can see the Huawei E5788u-96a is more advanced than Netgear AC815S Unlocked. As an LTE-A pro mobile hotspot, Huawei E5788u-96a could support peak download speed up to 1Gigabit/s, which is more than double of the Netgear AC815S peak download speed. Netgear AC815S is more suitable to use in American areas because the supported LTE frequency bands are widely available in American areas. If you use the AT&T Unite Explore in the area out of AT&T service, you must make sure the ATT Unite Explore is SIM unlocked. The Huawei E5788u-96a is also powerful to support the network providers in American, Aisa, Europe and the Middle East. With the support of 4 x 4 MIMO and WiFi users to 32 devices, Huawei E5788u-96a is the best 4G mobile WiFi router in the market.

 

Even though the Huawei E5788 is best 4G MiFi, Netgear AC815 still has some highlighted features that we have to mention. Firstly, it’s in rugged design which is water and dust proof. This feature makes it perfect to the user in outdoor activities. The two connectors for external LTE antennas is also useful if you use it in areas of weak signal. What’s more, the large battery pack of Netgear 815S could work like a power bank to charge other devices if necessary. So if you would buy one from the two routers. You may consider your demand. The Netgear AC815S is more practical for daily use but Huawei E5788u-96a is future-proof with a higher price.

Huawei E5788 VS Netgear AC810s

Many people may have known the Netgear Aircard 810s 4G mobile WiFi hotspot because it has been available for years in many countries. Huawei E5788 is a new 4G LTE Modem available recently; so many people may don’t know this new pocket WiFi router. Here also comes a new question: what’s the difference between the Huawei E5788 and Netgear AC810S? And which one is better to buy in the two MiFi router 4G? Today, we will compare the Huawei E5788 and Netgear Aircard 810s to find the answers.

 

Huawei E5788 VS Netgear AC810S Appearance and Interfaces

If you are familiar with Netgear LTE modem, you may know the Netgear aircard series have very similar feature. On the front of Netgear Aircard 810s, there is a LED touchscreen with a home and back button at the side of the screen. The power button is on the top side while the opposite side locates the USB port for charging and two connectors for external 4G LTE antennas. The back cover could be removed to change the battery and insert the SIM card.

 

The latest Huawei E5788 is thinner than Netgear AC810S. It also has a touch screen to do settings and show the connection status. The power button is on the top side while the SIM card slot and USB port at the opposite side. But there is no connector for external antennas. Unlike the Aircard 810s, the Huawei E5788 battery is non-removable like the predecessor Huawei E5786.

 

Netgear AC810S VS Huawei E5788 Specs and Features

From the appearance, we can see the Huawei E5788 and Netgear AC810S are very different. Then let’s have a check the Huawei E5788 specs and Netgear AC810S specs for a comparison:

 

Model Huawei E5788u-96a Netgear Aircard AC810s
Product type LTE Mobile Hotspot LTE Mobile Hotspot
Category LTE Cat.16 LTE Cat.11
Chipset Qualcomm MDM9250 Qualcomm Snapdragon X12
Data rates DL 1Gbps/UL 100Mbps DL 600Mbps/UL 100Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands * FDD-LTE: Band 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/19/20/28
* TDD-LTE: Band 38/40/41/42		 B1, B3, B7, B8, B28
WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max support users 32 users 15 users
MIMO 4 X 4 MIMO 2 x 2 MIMO
Connector for external antenna No connector Two, TS-9 jacks
Buy Antenna N/A Aircard 810s External Antenna
App management Huawei Hilink APP Netgear Aircard APP
SIM type Micro SIM Micro SIM
Battery Non-removable, 3000mAh Removable, 2930 mAh
Dimensions 129 x 65 x 13.5mm 112 x 68.6 x 15.45mm
Ethernet Port No No
Datasheet download Huawei E5788 Datasheet Netgear AC810S Datasheet
User Manual Huawei E5788 Manual Telstra 4GX Advanced III Manual
Other features 4CC CA 3 band CA
Firmware download Huawei E5788 Firmware Aircard 810s Firmware
Drivers Huawei E5788 Driver Aircard 810s driver
Reviews Huawei E5788 Review Netgear Aircard 810s review
Price 499.00USD 249.00USD

 

Summary

From the specs table, we can see the Huawei E5788 is more advanced than Netgear AC810S. The Huawei E5788u-96a could support peak download speed up to 1Gbit/s while Netgear AC810S supports peak speed to 600Mbps. They both have only one variant model now. Huawei E5788 could support more LTE frequency bands than that of Netgear Aircard 810s. Huawei E5788 supports the maximum of up to 32 users with 4 x 4 MIMO while Netgear AC810S supports the maximum of up to 15 users with 2 x 2 MIMO. However, Huawei E5788 doesn’t have the connectors for an external antenna. The Netgear Aircard 810s has two TS-9 connectors for external LTE antennas.

From the specs, there is no doubt that Huawei E5788 is better to buy than Aircard 810s. However, the Huawei E5788 price is much higher than Netgear AC810S price. Considering the decent good specs of Aircard 810s, we think Netgear AC810S is a budget mobile router with comparably good specs for daily use. So if the Huawei E5788 price is out of your budget, Netgear AC810S is good to buy.

ZTE MF286 VS Huawei B525s

Huawei had many LTE Cat6 routers available now but the competitor ZTE has very few Cat6 routers in the market. ZTE MF286 router is one of the ZTE LTE Cat6 routers, since Huawei B525s LTE Cat6 router, some people want to know what the difference between Huawei B525 and ZTE MF286 is. We would compare the Huawei B525s with ZTE MF286 from the appearance, interfaces, specs, and features in this blog.

Huawei B525s VS ZTE MF286 Appearance and Interfaces

 

ZTE MF286 and Huawei B525s are both in the typical design of 4G WiFi router. On the front, there are some indicators for Power, WiFi, and Signal. The ZTE MF286 has also the indicators for Telephone, 3G/4G Data and Battery. Huawei B525 doesn’t have the indicator for telephone and battery. But it has the indicator for Ethernet connection. On the back, they both have 3 LAN ports and one LAN/WAN ports. Huawei B525 has only one telephone port while ZTE MF286 has two telephone ports. They both have the power adapter plug and USB port, but the ZTE MF286 has the power on/off button.

 

The SIM card slot of Huawei B525 is located at the bottom while the ZTE MF286 sim card slot is at the edge side. They both have two SMA connectors for external LTE antennas. The unique feature of ZTE MF286 is the removable battery which makes it work like a mobile WiFi router. Huawei B525s has the WPS and Power buttons on the top side while the ZTE MF286 has the WLAN and WPS buttons with the Reset hole on the top side.

 

ZTE MF286 VS Huawei B525 Specs and Features

 

From the appearance, we can see the interface difference and then let’s have a check the ZTE MF286 specs and Huawei B525 specs for a comparison:

 

Model Huawei B525 ZTE MF286
Product type Huawei WiFi Router with Ethernet port LTE WiFi Router with Ethernet port
Category LTE Cat.6 LTE Cat.6
Chipset HiSilicon LTE Cat6 Chipset Qualcomm MDM9230
LTE Data rates DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands Huawei B525s-23a: Band  1/3/7/8/20/32/38
Huawei B525s-65a: Band  1/3/4/5/7/8/20/19/26/28/32/38/40/41		 ZTE MF286: Band 1/3/7/8/28
WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max supported users 64 users 64 users
MIMO 2 x 2 MIMO 3 x 3 MIMO
Antenna Two, SMA-female jacks Two, SMA-female jacks
Buy Antenna Huawei B525 antenna ZTE MF286 outdoor antenna
App management Huawei Hilink APP ZTELink APP
SIM Size Micro SIM Standard SIM
Battery NO Removable, 3000mAh
Dimensions 163 x 52 x 226 mm 180 × 170 × 30 mm
Interfaces * 3 x LAN port(RJ45)
* 1 x LAN/WAN port (RJ45)
* 1 x telephone port(RJ11)
* Two external LTE antenna ports(SMA-female)
* One micro-SIM card slot
* 1 x USB 2.0 port		 * 3 x LAN port(RJ45)
* 1 x LAN/WAN port (RJ45)
* 2 x telephone port(RJ11)
* Two external LTE antenna ports (SMA-Female)
* One micro-SIM card slot
* 1 x USB 2.0 port
Datasheet Huawei B525 Datasheet(PDF) ZTE MF286 Datasheet(PDF)
User Manual Huawei B525 User Manual(PDF) ZTE MF286 User Manual(PDF)
Other features  Firewall, CS Voice, VoIP, TR069 Remote Management, HTTP Online Upgrade, QoS, USB Share, UPnP, IPV6, DLNA, Fax, Print, VPN  Firewall, CS Voice, VoIP, TR069 Remote Management, HTTP Online Upgrade, QoS, USB Share, UPnP, IPV6, DLNA, Fax, Print, VPN
Firmware download Huawei B525 firmware ZTE MF286 firmware
Driver Huawei B525 driver ZTE MF286 driver
Reviews Huawei B525 Review ZTE MF286 Review
Price/USD 259.00USD 199.00USD

 

Summary

From the specs table, we can see the Huawei B525s and ZTE MF286 are both LTE Cat6 router which could achieve download speed up to 300Mbps and upload speed to 50Mbps. The Huawei B525 router has two variant models now but ZTE MF286 has only one variant model. They both support maximum up to 64 wireless devices but ZTE MF286 supports 3 X 3 MIMO while Huawei B525 supports 2 X 2 MIMO. The removable battery adds many bonuses for ZTE MF286 router because it can make the MF286 router used as a mobile WiFi router. Then the ZTE MF286 could be used in much more circumstances. With the similar technical feature, ZTE MF286 price is cheaper than Huawei B525 price. Perhaps because the Huawei B525 is the latest router and ZTE MF286 is an old model. We didn’t take the speed test for Huawei B525 and ZTE MF286, but from the specs, we think the ZTE MF286 is better than Huawei B525 Router.

ZTE MF286 VS Huawei B315

As two important network equipment manufacturers from China, Huawei and ZTE supplied similar networking products to the network providers and users worldwide. As the typical network terminals, Huawei and ZTE both have a series of 4G LTE Router for hundreds of network carriers and thousands of end-users all over the world. The ZTE MF286 and Huawei B315 are two of the most popular 4G WiFi routers. Those who don’t use the two routers may don’t know what the difference between Huawei B315 and ZTE MF286 is. To buy one of the two routers, they may feel hard to decide. We will compare the Huawei B315 and ZTE MF286 router to give a clue.

 

Huawei B315 VS ZTE MF286 Appearance and Interfaces

Huawei B315 and ZTE MF286 are both typical WiFi router for home. On the front, there are some indicators for Power, WiFi, Data, and Signal. ZTE MF286 has also the indicator for telephone and battery. The Huawei B315 doesn’t have the telephone port and battery, so there is no indicator for a telephone. On the back, they both have 1 port for WAN/LAN and 3 ports for LAN. The ZTE MF286 router has two telephone ports and one USB port, which are not available in Huawei 4G Router B315.

 

They both have the interface for an external power adapter, the Huawei B315 also have the reset hole at the side of the adapter. ZTE MF286 provides a button switch to power on or off the router. The SIM card slot is both located at the side of the two routers.

 

ZTE MF286 VS Huawei B315 Specs and Features

From the appearance and interfaces, we can see the ZTE MF286 and Huawei B315 are very similar in shape but there is the obvious difference in the interfaces and battery; they are both designed for the home WiFi router. Then we compare the ZTE MF286 specs with Huawei B315 specs:

 

Model Huawei B315s ZTE MF286
Product type LTE WiFi Router with Ethernet port LTE WiFi Router with Ethernet port
Category LTE Cat.4 LTE Cat.6
Chipset Hisilicon Balong Qualcomm MDM9230
LTE Data rates DL 150Mbps/UL 50Mbps DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands * Huawei B315s-22: 4G LTE B1/B3/B7/B8/B20/B38
* Huawei B315s-607: 4G Band 1/3/7/8/28/40
* Huawei B315s-936: 4G Band 1/3/40/41
* Huawei B315s-608: 4G Band 1/3/5/7/28		 ZTE MF286: Band 1/3/7/8/28
WLAN 802.11b/g/n, 2.4GHz 802.11b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max supported users 32 users 64 users
MIMO n/a 3 x 3 MIMO
Antenna Two, SMA-female jacks Two, SMA-female jacks
Buy Antenna Huawei B315 external antenna ZTE MF286 outdoor antenna
App management Huawei Hilink APP ZTELink APP
SIM Size Standard SIM Standard SIM
Battery No Removable, 3000mAh
Dimensions 186.0 x 139.0 x 46.0mm 180 × 170 × 30 mm
Interfaces * 1 x power adapter port
* 3 x LAN port(RJ45)
* 1 x LAN/WAN port (45)
* 1 x telephone port(RJ11)(depends)
* Two external LTE antenna ports (SMA-J1.5)
* One SIM card slot
* 1 x USB 2.0 port(depends)		 * 3 x LAN port(RJ45)
* 1 x LAN/WAN port (RJ45)
* 2 x telephone port(RJ11)
* Two external LTE antenna ports (SMA-Female)
* One micro-SIM card slot
* 1 x USB 2.0 port
Datasheet Huawei B315 Datasheet(PDF) ZTE MF286 Datasheet(PDF)
User Manual Huawei B315 Manual(PDF) ZTE MF286 User Manual(PDF)
Other features VoIP, DHCP, NAT, IPv6/IPv4 dual stack, Firewall, Port forwarding, DMZ, ALG, Remote management  Firewall, CS Voice, VoIP, TR069 Remote Management, HTTP Online Upgrade, QoS, USB Share, UPnP, IPV6, DLNA, Fax, Print, VPN
Firmware download Huawei B315s Firmware ZTE MF286 firmware
Driver Huawei B315s driver ZTE MF286 driver
Reviews Huawei B315 Review ZTE MF286 Review
Price/USD 169.00 199.00USD

Summary

 

From the specs table, we can see that the ZTE MF286 is more advanced than Huawei B315. ZTE MF286 router could support LTE Cat6 achieving download speed up to 300mbps and upload speed to 50Mbps. But unlike Huawei 4G Wireless router, ZTE MF286 has only one variant model while Huawei B315 has many variant models supporting various LTE frequency bands. The unique feature of ZTE MF286 is that it has a removable battery of 3000mAh, which makes it would work like a mobile WiFi router. The feature is not common in similar routers.

ZTE MF286 could support up to 64 wireless users while Huawei B315 router could support half to 32 WiFi-enabled devices. They both use standard 6 pin SIM card. With the advanced feature, ZTE MF286 price is a little bit higher than that of Huawei B315. If you are looking for a router that can provide faster speeds, it’s better to buy ZTE MF286. But if you concern about the price, Huawei B315 is a decent and budget router to buy.

ZTE MF286 4G LTE Router Test

Since LTE networks are becoming more and more popular, there are many stationary or mobile LTE routers from various brands on sale, and one of the most interesting routers is ZTE MF286 4G router. It combines the features of stationary router and the mobile router.

ZTE MF286

 

Not as well-known as Huawei B593 router, ZTE MF286 is quite a new router, it was introduced to some network providers in Europe at the end of last year. It supports the latest network standards, primarily LTE Advanced (aggregation of two bands, downloading at speeds up to 300 Mb/s), and within the Wi-Fi network, it supports the 802.11ac standard (2×2 MIMO, or up to 867 Mb/s).

ZTE MF286

Of course, there are no miracles in practice, the LTE speeds drop down in real use. Wi-Fi bandwidth is also a fraction of the theoretical value: between computers in the LAN and WLAN during testing it did not exceed 288 Mbit/s. Like other desktop routers, the ZTE MF286 has four Gigabit Ethernet ports, a USB 2.0 port for connecting a USB drive and file sharing, as well as an analog telephone line connector. Of course, there is also a built-in modem and a slot for mini SIM cards, under the plugs, two SMA connectors for the external LTE antenna.

 

An unusual feature is a removable battery with a capacity of 3000 mAh. It is a bit similar to the equipment for mobile 4G routers because you can take it anywhere and use it for at least 3 hours. It is a pity that instead of the USB charger, it has a 12-volt AC power adapter – you cannot power it with a power bank.

ZTE MF286

The function set is similar to other stationary LTE routers. The main screen of the configuration interface shows a network diagram where you can go to LTE settings, Wi-Fi or a list of connected devices. An interesting thing is the ability to choose the bandwidth that can be used by the modem built into the router. However, the Wi-Fi capability is much larger, above all the advantage is simultaneous operation in the 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz band. The router has a Wi-Fi optimization function – it scans the radio band, detects existing networks and automatically selects the best channel. You can enable an additional guest network (Multi SSID) on both frequencies, limit the number of clients in each SSID network, and set a time limit for guests (in hours).

ZTE MF286

 

Hardware and software provide the possibility of using WPS to quickly establish connections, as well as completely disable Wi-Fi. When it comes to managing devices on the network, there is actually only one function: blocking with one click (this is an easy-to-use MAC filter implementation):

 

In the lower part of the interface, there are additional functions, among them SMS and address book supported, but there is no USSD code support. There is an important function of setting the mobile data transfer limit (or time of using the network). After exceeding a certain threshold (eg 80% of the limit), a notification appears in the interface and in the form of a red color of the 4G indicator. It is not clear how (manually or automatically, on a certain day of the month), to reset information about the use of the data packet.

 

There is also parental control consisting of three elements: a list of “children’s” computers, a network access schedule (division into days of the week and hours), and a whitelist of pages. The feature affects the operation of security.

 

In the advanced settings, you can find a lot of additional functions, characteristic for the ZTE LTE router. This includes passing VPN connections, static MAC-IP binding (MAC address must be “patched” manually or copy device lists), packet filtering, manual port forwarding, UPnP, DMZ zone. The firewall is enabled by default and it is not possible to disable it. The advanced feature is the ability to adjust the power of the Wi-Fi signal (although it should probably be in the section on Wi-Fi), as well as the URL filter (should be in the parental control).

 

Other advanced features include DDNS, date and time configuration, SIM card PIN configuration, saving/loading configuration to/from the file, periodic updates software and ping diagnostics. The WatchDog function is interesting, which pings a specific IP address with a specified interval. After a few failed pings (their number can also be determined) resets the router to re-establish a connection.

 

There is also a file server function, there must be files on the USB memory stick in the network. So the router has a lot of functions, some very useful. It is a pity that some of them do not work as you would expect. Compared to other fixed routers, there is a lack of options, such as bandwidth management, any event log, e-mail notifications, or VPN connection (as in business equipment). The ZTE MF286 4G Router does not have a mobile application, but for smartphone management, you can use a good-looking mobile page with the most important settings.

Summary

ZTE MF286 can work like as a stationary router and as a mobile WiFi router. The web interfaces provider rich options for internet settings and WiFi features. It provides enough functions for daily use. If you are looking for a stationary router, you may consider ZTE MF286 Router.

Huawei B612 VS Huawei E5186

We had introduced the Huawei E5186 and Huawei B525 Cat6 router a few months ago and now Huawei presents a new 4G Cat6 router B612 to Europe market. We had compared the Huawei B612 with Huawei B525 router and today we will check what the difference is between Huawei B612 and Huawei E5186 router.

Huawei B612 VS Huawei E5186 Appearance and Interfaces

 

The front of the two routers are similar, they both have a few indicators for power, mode, WiFi and signal with Huawei Logo on the front. The Huawei E5186 has one more indicator for Voice. One the back, Huawei E5186 router has 3 LAN ports and one LAN/WAN port. It also has two telephone ports and one USB port, but Huawei B612 has only one telephone port and no USB port available. The Huawei B612 router has an angled backrest which makes it stand more stable.

 

The SIM card slot of Huawei E5186 modem is at the edge side of the device while the Huawei B612 SIM card slot is at the bottom. The Huawei E5186 has the WiFi button and WPS button with the reset hole at the below side of the SIM card slot. The Huawei B612 power button is at the top side with WPS button. They both have two connectors for external antennas. The connector type is SMA and covered by a cap.

Huawei E5186 VS Huawei B612 Specs and Features

 

The two routers Huawei B612 and E5186 are both in the typical design of Huawei 4G wireless router. Then let’s compare the specifications of Huawei B612 and Huawei E5186 to see more difference:

 

Model Huawei B612 Huawei E5186
Product type Huawei WiFi Router with Ethernet port Huawei WiFi Router with Ethernet port
Category LTE Cat.6 LTE Cat.6
Chipset HiSilicon LTE Cat6 Chipset HiSilicon LTE Cat6 Chipset
LTE Data rates DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps DL 300Mbps/UL 50Mbps
Supported 4G LTE frequency bands Huawei B612s-25d:  B1/B3/B7/B8/B20/B38/B40/B41/B42/B43
Huawei B612s-51d: B2/B4/B5/B7/B41		 Huawei E5186s-22a: Band 1/3/7/8/20/38
Huawei E5186s-61a: Band  3/7/28/40
WLAN 802.11 b/g/n/ac, single-band 2.4GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac, dual-band 2.4GHz & 5GHz
Max supported users 32 users 64 users
MIMO 4 x 4 MIMO 2 x 2 MIMO
Antenna Two, SMA-female jacks Two, SMA-female jacks
Buy Antenna Huawei B612 external antenna Huawei E5186 external antenna
App management Huawei Hilink APP Huawei Hilink APP
SIM Size Micro SIM Micro SIM
Battery NO NO
Dimensions 240 × 155 × 78 mm 190 mm × 200 mm × 32 mm
Interfaces * 3 x LAN port(RJ45)
* 1 x LAN/WAN port (RJ45)
* 1 x telephone port(RJ11)
* Two external LTE antenna ports (SMA-female)
* One micro-SIM card slot
* 1 x USB 2.0 port		 * 3 x LAN port(45)
* 1 x LAN/WAN port (45)
* 2 x telephone port(RJ11)
* Two external LTE antenna ports (SMA-J1.5)
* One micro-SIM card slot
* 1 x USB 2.0 port
Datasheet Huawei B612 Datasheet(PDF) Huawei E5186 Datasheet(PDF)
User Manual Huawei B612 User Manual(PDF) Huawei E5186 User Manual(PDF)
Other features  Firewall, CS Voice, VoIP, VoLTE, IPv6/IPv4 dual stack, NAT, DHCP, VPN, DMZ, UPnP, ALG,  Firewall, CS Voice, VoIP, TR069 Remote Management, HTTP Online Upgrade, QoS, USB Share, UPnP, IPV6, DLNA, Fax, Print, VPN
Firmware download Huawei B612 firmware Huawei E5186 firmware
Driver Huawei B612 driver Huawei E5186 driver
Reviews Huawei B612 Review Huawei E5186 Review
Price/USD 399.00USD 169.00USD

 

Summary

 

From the specs table, we can see the two Huawei Cat6 routers both could achieve peak download speed up to 300Mbps. They both have two variant models now. The Huawei E5186 supports dual-band WiFi while Huawei B612 supports only a single band on 2.4GHz. Huawei E5186 router could support up to 64 wireless users while Huawei B612 supports up to 32 WiFi users. However, the Huawei B612 supports 4 x 4 MIMO technology while Huawei E5186 supports 2 x 2 MIMO. Except for the interface difference, the MIMO technology should be the key difference.

 

One more thing we have to mention is that perhaps the Huawei B612 is a latest new model, the price is more expensive, but we suppose the Huawei B612 price would become cheaper soon. If you want to buy a 4G LTE modem router, we think the Huawei E5186 is very good to recommend based on the price/performance ratio.

TP-Link Deco M5 Review

TP-link Deco M5 is a WiFi router available in 2017 and now is well-known in many countries. The highlight of TP-Link Deco M5 is that WiFi mesh system which provides WiFi throughout the house, at high speed and without interruption. With the arrival of the new WiFi mesh routers, it is finally easy to realize a good WiFi connection in every nook and cranny of the house without pulling wires.

What is WiFi mesh?

These new WiFi mesh systems work as follows; Each WiFi point is connected to the other units via a mutual wireless connection. Each device has a separate WiFi transmitter that is used purely for mutual communication between these units.

 

WiFi devices such as your smartphone and tablets are connected to the network via a private WiFi transmitter in the unit. The big advantage is that the available bandwidth of such a WiFi point does not have to be shared between for example your tablet and the mutual communication between the different WiFi points.

The main advantage, of course, is that you do not have to pull any wires. For example, you put a unit in the living room, a unit on the first floor in a bedroom and the third unit in the attic. These three units form one large WiFi network together.

 

TP-link Deco M5 WiFi Roaming

An additional advantage of these WiFi mesh systems is that they ensure that connected equipment is always automatically connected to the best available transmitter. They also call this technology “WiFi roaming”.

Suppose you have a station on each floor and walk from the attic to the ground floor with your tablet while watching a movie, then the system will automatically and without interruptions transfer the signal to the wifi point with the best connection.

 

TP-Link Deco M5 Test

The Deco M5 system comes with 3 separate mesh routers that are identical so it does not matter which unit you will use as the main unit. In addition to the routers, there are 3 power adapters and a LAN cable. You connect 1 of the units to the LAN port of the modem/router, then download the free app on your smartphone and start the installation.

 

TP-Link Deco M5 installation and configuration

The installation is really very simple and within 5 minutes the system is installed. You will first have to create a TP-Link cloud account by choosing an e-mail address and password. Next you will be asked to enable your location data and bluetooth on the smartphone. After logging in you can start the installation.

 

The TP-Link Deco M5 is installed via bluetooth and during the configuration, you will have to stand next to each unit with the smartphone to install the unit. After that, the entire system can be centrally controlled from the app.

After starting the app, it will automatically find the deco nearby and will first be asked to choose a name and password for your wireless network. After filling in a network name and password, you will be asked where the Deco unit is located. So you can easily indicate in which room of the house the unit is located to get a clear overview of the network later.

 

 

After choosing, the Deco will be configured and the LED will turn blue when it is ready for use. In principle, the system can already be used, but we repeat this step two more times to install the two other units. The app also asks you if you are ready or want to add another unit at that moment.

 

To configure the other two units, you have to stand in the vicinity of the units as the installation works via bluetooth and can therefore only be done at a short distance. When you have finished configuring the units, the network is ready for use. The whole process takes at most 5 minutes!

TP-Link Deco M5 APP options

When the installation is complete you can further configure the system via the TP-Link App if desired. The Deco M5 system has a lot of nice options. The home screen shows immediately which Deco M5 units are connected and what the last measured internet speed is. You can also see directly in this screen which devices are all connected to the system. If you click on the device, you will receive more details about the device and you can add it to a group.

Such a group is useful because you can deny these groups WiFi access at certain times and filter content. This is useful for families with small children.

 

 

 

TP-link Deco M5 Content filtering and WiFi schedule

This division into groups is relatively easy by giving a name to the group and then choosing to what level the group belongs. This way you can choose a group for small children or adults or create your own group. It is possible to block certain websites or content and thus you have full control over what users see. You can then only access these groups at certain times to the internet. If you do not want the children to be on the Internet after 8 hours, except on weekends, you can easily arrange this.

 

 

 

TP-link Deco M5 WiFi guests network and security

Through the app you can throw a WiFi guest network in the air with a few taps on the screen. This guest network is separate from the rest of the network and can be provided with its own network name and password. Of course you can also manage the connected devices with a WiFi scheme and content filtering. This way you can give visitors access to your internet connection, but you have complete control over what they view and when.

Unique to the TP-Link Deco M5 is that there is Anti-Virus software from Trend Micro. This actively monitors the network for viruses and protects all equipment before the malicious software can be installed.

 

TP-link Deco M5 QoS

With the QoS function in the TP-Link Deco M5, you can easily give priority to certain data. So you can choose that gaming gets more priority compared to chatting and surfing, or vice versa. You can also set the QoS settings yourself if you do not want to use the preconfigured priority list. With the help of handy sliders, you can screw the level up or down per part.

 

 

TP-link Deco M5 WiFi performance

The TP-Link Deco M5 is therefore easy to configure and has some nice options in the app, but the most important of these are the performance of the system. We are very pleased with the results of the Deco M5, we get the maximum out of my 300 Mbps through wired connection and wirelessly we also achieved almost the full speed. This speed is really more than enough to stream movies from Netflix, for example, even in 4K resolution. Even wireless gaming should not be a problem with this performance.

 

 

TP-link Deco M5 Disadvantages

The Deco M5 is a bit slower with roaming. If you walk between the different points, switching between the wifi points can take a little longer than with Amplify. But then we are really talking about a difference of no more than 10%. No disadvantage for our test, but for some users maybe: you have to create a TP-Link cloud account at the beginning and turn on your GPS location. If you are very fond of your privacy/anonymity, you may not like this.

The app is sometimes not entirely translated in some languages. There are some English texts hidden here and there, but that will not influence for normal use.

 

TP-link Deco M5 Advantages

Anti-Virus software is built in which is very nice to protect your equipment. Another great advantage is the price of this set. The price of TP-link Deco M5 is very attractive now comparing the price when it’s first available in the market. A third advantage of the TP-Link Deco M5 is its design. The router of the mesh points Deco M5 units are small and handy to place.

 

 

Conclusion

The TP-Link Deco M5 is currently the best WiFi mesh system available. The price/quality ratio is very good, the app is convenient and extensive and the WiFi range is top notch. The test was carried out in a new house on 3 floors, where WiFi signals often pass through walls and ceilings without any difficulty. The fact that we were able to realize a perfect WiFi network at high speeds indicates that the quality is good!

TP-Link TL-MR6400 4G LTE Modem Router Review

TP-link TL-MR6400 is a powerful wireless broadband wireless router. Simply insert a 4G/LTE SIM card and the built-in modem connects to the internet wirelessly through fast-moving mobile broadband. Thanks to wide range and speed of 300 Mbps via WiFi, you can enjoy 4G/LTE internet access throughout your home or office – perfect for those in locations where 4G/LTE speeds are faster than regular ADSL or broadband via cable. The TP-link TL-MR6400 router delivers even streaming HD videos and fast transfer of files.

150 Mbps 4G/LTE mobile broadband

With the 4G wireless broadband router, you can enjoy download speeds of up to 150 Mbps and allow you to share your network on multiple WiFi devices. This allows you to enjoy streaming HD movies and experiencing quick-speed file transfer on multiple devices simultaneously.

Up to 300 Mbps

The TP-link LTE router delivers 300 Mbps WiFi connections – it allows you to stream movies and transfers files at super fast speed. The integrated antennas also ensure that you get stable wireless connection and coverage.

Easy to Setup and use

The TL-MR6400 WiFi router is easy to use. With an integrated 4G LTE modem and built-in SIM card slot, the connection to the wireless network is easy. Simply plug in a SIM card and turn on the router and you have a fast, stable and reliable WiFi network.

As a versatile LTE modem that lets you connect your home appliances wirelessly or wirelessly to your network, TP-Link TL-MR6400 modem is designed to guarantee a constant internet connection. Works with all the SIM cards of all operators in Europe and Aisa, two antennas are included, which can also be changed more efficiently if needed. Below are the general specifications of TP-Link TL-MR6400 for review:

TP-link TL-MR6400 Specifications and Features:

  • 4G LTE maximum download speed of 150 Mbit/s
  • 4G LTE maximum upload speeds up to 50 Mbit/s
  • 4G: FDD-LTE Cat4 (800/900/1800/2100 / 2600MHz)
  • TDD-LTE (2300 / 2600MHz)
  • 3G: DC-HSPA+ / HSPA+ / HSPA / UMTS (900 / 2100MHz)
  • 2G: EDGE / GPRS / GSM (850/900/1800 / 1900MHz)
  • WiFi up to 300 Mbps at 2.4 GHz
  • Fully compatible with 802.11b/g/n standards.
  • Two external antennas for reception and two 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.
  • 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 replace the IPv4 protocol used by all devices in the future. Networking IPv6 support, therefore, enables the device to work with future technology.
  • VPN Support: IPSec Pass-Through, 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, Mini-SIM (normal size)
  • Sales Package Contents: TL-MR6400 Modem, AC Power Adapter, Ethernet Cable, 2 Antenna (SMA), Micro-SIM to Mini-SIM Adapter, Nano-SIM to Mini-SIM Adapter

File download for TP-Link MR6400 4G Router:

TP-Link-TL-MR6400(EU)_V2_Datasheet

TP-Link-TL-MR6400(EU)_V2_Quick_Installation_Guide

TP-Link TL-MR6400 User Manual

 

If you want to check more TP-Link 4G LTE WiFi Routers, click here: https://www.4gltemall.com/4g-wireless-router/tp-link.html

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