TP-Link TL-MR3220 Router: settings, overview and reviews

Once again, TP-Link made a mess of the network equipment market, presenting two completely different products under the same label. In this article, the reader will get to know the TL-MR3220 in two versions. Review and feedback of owners will help a potential buyer to decide on a choice.

Positioning the device on the world market

The router is presented by the manufacturer in the budget class, its cost (about 2000 rubles) corresponds to the inexpensive segment. The router is intended for home use as well as for small offices. The main difference between the device and competitors in the budget class is the ability to work with wireless networks 3G / 4G. A full-fledged router, able to work simultaneously with two providers and transmit the received signal over Wi-Fi networks, will undoubtedly attract the attention of all customers for whom the presence of a permanent connection to the Internet is critical.

I paid attention to the manufacturer and signal strength. After all, for the operation of devices at maximum speed via wireless channels, there is not enough modern technology. The main role here is played by the transmitter power and the presence of an antenna to amplify the signal. But first things first.

Acquaintance with the first representative of the line

The standard box in green-and-white colors has a usual complete set: a router, a power unit, a patch cord, a removable antenna, discs with drivers and a detailed instruction manual. On the packaging display, the manufacturer tried to describe all the technologies and capabilities that the product possesses. Because of the limited space on the box, this move led to the fact that during the purchase before the user is a set of all sorts of abbreviations and strange characters that are hard to decipher.

The TL-MR3220 router will satisfy even the most demanding owner. First, all ports and interfaces have a different color, which is quite convenient when putting the device into operation. The network input for connection to the Internet is painted in blue, and the hub for 4 ports has an orange color. To interrupt the power interfaces, USB and antenna connection also fails. They have different sizes.

Impressions from the updated device

Although the second router TL-MR3220 from TP-Link cardinally differs from the first representative, its configuration, functionality and availability of all kinds of interfaces are similar. Many buyers may think that the manufacturer simply upgraded the popular router, presenting it to users in a futuristic package. At first everything looks exactly like that, especially if you compare the claimed specifications.

However, when the case of both devices is opened, it is found that the changes have touched the hardware part. Technologists in the updated version of the router decided to abandon the electrolytic capacitors, replacing them with solid-state drives. Also, unlike the old version, the factory installed improved memory chips, processor and wireless modules.

Declared characteristics

Both devices operate in wireless networks according to the IEEE 802.11 b / g / n standard. Accordingly, theoretically support the speed of the channel Wi-Fi to 150 megabits per second. A standard set of interfaces in the form of one WAN port and 4 LAN ports is present in both devices. As for the USB port, it also has an old and new modification of the router. True, the manufacturer has placed the universal bus interface for the updated version a bit unusual for users - on the side of the device.

Hardware buttons for powering, resetting settings, enabling WPS and quickly disconnecting Wi-Fi are also present on both TL-MR3220 routers. An insignificant difference is only in the frequency range. TP-Link Company, following the world requirements, significantly reduced the range. True, neither the performance of the device, nor the convenience of users is not affected.

Technical capabilities

As practice shows, for the TL-MR3220 router the firmware is an important component that can completely change the functionality of the device. On the one hand, having chosen the necessary software and a set of necessary instructions, the user will be able to configure the router once for himself and enjoy the work. But not everything is so simple at first glance. For unknown reasons, the manufacturer did not create any firmware, in which there is all the supported functionality. The owner will have to choose from what he should refuse.

So, officially declared support for all types of connections, work with all types of encryption (though, 152 bits are not present in all firmware) and other functionalities aimed at the security of systems inside the local network. This includes port forwarding, demilitarized zone, address filtering, Firewall and similar capabilities.

Some strange devices

Before setting up the TL-MR3220, the user will have to thoroughly study the instruction manual that comes with the router. The fact is that when a connection to the Internet is detected, the router immediately turns to the official site of the manufacturer and, after discovering a new firmware, offers to install it immediately. It is necessary either to make updates, or to disconnect the router from the Internet. There are no other options.

As users note in their reviews, the router behaves strangely when the angle of the antenna is changed. It seems that the manufacturer intentionally did so that the signal directly depended on the direction of the amplifying antenna.

Automatic tuning and its functionality

For the TL-MR3220 router, the network settings can be configured in two ways. By default, the device owner is offered to use the setup wizard. After going through all the necessary characteristics of the router, the user will be offered several questions and recommendations, with which you can easily configure the network device.

The assistant can also handle the work of specialized firmware, which initially included data on connection to the Internet, or 3G / 4G services. Create such software providers or service providers. The main task of these firmware is to simplify the configuration of the router by the user.

When you want to create your own network

Fans of manual control will have to spend a lot of time tuning the TL-MR3220. The firmware installed in the router does not have a built-in Russian language. All menu items, including explanations to them, have an English-language interface. But the detailed instruction manual, on the contrary, is devoid of the English description. It turns out that in order to fine-tune the router, it is necessary to study the instruction and not to release it from the hands during the setting process. In manual mode, an additional functionality opens up to the owner, which allows not only setting up the Internet connection and creating a wireless network, but also setting parameters for the operation of all connected computer equipment.

Finally

The router TP-Link TL-MR3220 in any performance is able to surprise the user not only with an affordable price, but with the excellent functionality that all routers of a more expensive class possess. It is this fact that first of all attracts attention to the router in the budget class. Appearance, working with all existing types of networks and excellent data transfer are the second criterion, which is interesting for buyers. There are, of course, negatives to the lack of Russification on the control panel of the device, but in the budget segment to pick on the router with such a question is not worth it.