TP-Link TL-MR100 300Mbps 2.4GHz Wireless N 4G LTE, Wi-Fi N300, Plug and Play, Parental Controls, Guest Network, with Micro SIM Card Slot, WiFi…

I have tested the router with Airtel 5G sim, Jio 5G sim and VI 5G sim. I observed that there is no problem when you use Airtel or VI 5G sim. The router automatically detect setting and gives you 4G speed as per signal strength in that area. In my case speed of Airtel and VI is excellent in Mumbai. But it is not true with Jio 5G sim.The router gives you wifi signal but without network. Whatever you do you can’t use Jio 5G Sim in it. I have never tested Pure Jio 4G sim so I can’t say about it. It is not fault of router but problem is with Jio 5G sim. Installation is super easy and coverage is also good. Manufacturing quality is also nice. It is really a value for money product if you are want to use Airtel and VI sim and if there is good signal strength in your area.

Lo compre para mis padres y de veras puedo hablar con ellos con mejor conexión qué antes

I recently purchased the TP-Link MR-100 4G router, and it has been a great addition to travel internet setup. If you’re looking for a no-frills option to get reliable internet without broadband, this router is a solid pick.

What I Like About It:
Quick and Easy Setup: Just insert your 4G SIM, plug it in, and you’re ready to go—no technical expertise required.
Reliable for Streaming and Browsing: Delivers steady speeds that are great for Netflix, YouTube, and even light gaming.
Decent Range: 2.4Ghz – Covers my villa well, even with multiple walls in between.
Wired Connectivity: Ethernet ports are a big plus for devices that work better with a stable wired connection. You can choose between 4G & Wireless mode (WAN port is also available)
Portable and Lightweight: Perfect for travel or as a backup internet solution.

Indian 4G Bands – Key to Better Speeds:
The MR-100 supports major Indian LTE bands used by providers like BSNL, Jio, Airtel, and Vi. Here’s a quick breakdown:

Example : (Varies by network operator)
Band 40 (2300 MHz): Best for high-speed 4G in cities and urban areas.
Band 3 (1800 MHz): A versatile band offering a balance of speed and coverage, suitable for semi-urban and rural areas.
Band 5 (850 MHz): Perfect for rural areas or places with weak signals due to its excellent range and wall penetration.

Pro Tip: For the best speeds, you might need to manually test and lock the router to specific bands. The router automatically switches between bands, but manually tweaking can make a big difference depending on your location and carrier.

A Note About Speed Complaints:
While researching, I noticed many people in the comments complained about slow speeds, likely because they didn’t understand how to manually tweak the bands. If you’re unfamiliar, look up guides or tutorials to help you configure the bands. It’s not difficult, and it’s definitely worth the effort to get optimal speeds.

Final Thoughts:
The TP-Link MR-100 is a great 4G router, especially for users who don’t want the hassle of broadband. It’s reliable, portable, and works well once you set it up correctly. Spend some time adjusting the bands for your area, and you’ll see the performance improve significantly. Highly recommended for both primary and backup internet needs!

PS : I’m an expert in tweaking routers & setting good configurations. Please do understand how the bands work and network congestions before you start complaining something. Be realistic of urban vs rural internet speeds. Buying a MR-200 or upper models won’t resolve the speed issues in your area. If you are having low speeds even after tweaking, it’s only due to congestion/unavailability of superior bands in your area.

Overall good experience, first product delivered had one antenna socket missing but replacement delivered in 2 days was fine.

India 4G LTE bands are LTE 850 (5), LTE 900 (8) LTE 1800 (3), LTE 2100 (1), LTE 2300 (40), LTE 2500 (41) – of which Jio uses bands 3, 5 and 40 in Maharashtra. Only the latest 2 products from Tp-link support all these bands, this product (TL-MR 100, labelled as style ‘300 Mbps 4G LTE’) and the more powerful TP-Link Archer MR600 (labelled style ‘ AC1200 Mbps Dual Band | Cat6’). Did not get the Archer MR600 as it costs double the TL-MR100 and its key feature, carrier aggregation (4G+) doesn’t work well as per reviews on Amazon.

Setup was a bit tricky, had to create a new profile for Jio (see picture) which wasn’t intuitive in the UI. I think it is better to set the band and network manually as the device will be placed in a fixed location. You can choose the best band by selecting each in turn and running speed tests – band 3 worked best for me in two locations – city and rural. Note the product accepts the nano SIM (same as that in Jio dongle) and not micro SIM (as per description). Placing the device near a window, preferably with line of sight to tower works best – speed reduced a bit if raining.

The speed is better than that received from the Jio dongle and more stable as well – although no battery is a problem if you don’t have an inverter. One feature not working with Jio is SMS – don’t need to send SMS but need to receive OTP over SMS to login to Jio website. Folks have raised this in Tp-link forums but not fixed as yet. This is particularly needed to check daily usage is not over limit.

On the wifi side, note that the external antenna is for the 4g lte signal – wifi antennas I think are internal to the device which explains the limited range (at most one wall) and reduced speed at distance. Testing speed next to device vs across one wall/ floor results in speed dropping by half. Could be improved by using a wifi extender or access point connected over LAN (not tried). LAN cable included is flimsy and short though.

Could use 3 mobile phones to simultaneously watch Youtube at good quality (at least before the daily limit ran out!). One or two children can do online classes over MS Teams if well setup (near window, limited indoor wifi range)