TP-Link offers a new LTE router TL-MR6500v which has a special feature of the integrated telephone function including the RJ11 interface for an analog telephone. In the test, the TP-Link TL-MR6500v will show how well the router works in practice. Since the router requires a MicroSIM card, TP-Link has even included an adapter from Nano-SIM to Micro-SIM.
First impression of the MR6500v: for a stationary LTE router, the TP-link 4G WiFi Router is flat and quite small. This may also be because of the fact that the cellular antennas have to be screwed externally to the router and are not integrated into the device, as is the case with most other LTE routers. The advantage of the external antennas, however, is that you can also connect your own 4G LTE antennas if necessary, as these are standardized SMA connections.
The design of the TP-Link TL-MR6500v is rather unspectacular: There is a glossy black front with some LEDs that indicate the operating status and the reception strength. The underside has plenty of ventilation holes so that no heat can build up. All connections are on the back. There are three RJ45 LAN interfaces, an RJ11 socket, a connection for the power supply unit, a MicroSIM slot and three buttons: Power, WPS/ Reset and WLAN On/ Off.
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TP-Link TL-MR6500v Router Reviews: up to 150 Mbit/s
TP-Link has installed a comparatively slow LTE Cat4 modem in the TL-MR6500v, which can achieve speeds of as high as 150 Mbit/s in the download and as high as 50 Mbit/s in the upload. In addition to 4G/ LTE, 3G/ UMTS is also supported, but the router can not support 2G/GSM. The following frequency bands can be used:4G/ LTE: B1, B3, B7, B8, B20, B38, B40, B41 – 3G/ UMTS: B1, B8. With this frequency band support, the router can be used well and with no problems in Asia, Africa and Europe. An example: where the Huawei B818 router can download around 300 Mbit/s, the TP-Link TL-MR6500v only delivers around 60 Mbit/s. This means that the router can only use a small part of the capacity made available by the cellular network.
The max speed in the test was around 90 Mbit/s in the downlink and just under 50 Mbit/s in the uplink in test LTE network. The latency times were pleasantly low at well under 20 milliseconds. In addition to IPv4, the router also supports IPv6; in the test with a SIM card, addresses from both areas were assigned. In practice, the low max speed of the LTE modem is not a problem for most applications. The TP-Link TL-MR6500v Router is perfect for surfing and video streams are no problem either. The device may not be ideally suited for very large downloads or for use with many devices at the same time.
Slowly: LAN and WLAN
The TP-Link TL-MR6500v has three RJ45 100 Mbit/s LAN connections on the back, of which LAN3 can also be used as a WAN connection if required. Of course, Gigabit LAN would have been nice, but given the low price, the maximum of 100 Mbit/s is still okay.
TP-Link has also made savings in the WLAN with the TP-Link TL-MR6500v Router and relies on a radio module that works exclusively in the frequency range around 2.4 GHz. The TP-Link TL-MR6500v Router can not fully supply larger apartments or a single-family house; the use of a WiFi repeater may be advisable here.
TP-Link enables the configuration of a WLAN schedule in the settings of the TL-MR6500v in order to automatically switch the WLAN on and off. If necessary, a WLAN guest network can also be activated in the web interface.
TP-Link TL-MR6500v Router Reviews: Telephony
The TP-Link TL-MR6500v is one of the very few LTE router models that offer a telephone function in addition to the Internet. If you have an analog phone connected to the RJ11 connection on the back of the router, you can either make calls via the SIM card and be available (Voice over LTE, VoLTE) or you can store special VoIP access data and make calls via a third-party provider. By the way: the TP-Link TL-MR6500v Router does not offer a DECT function, so cell phones need a suitable external DECT base.
TP-Link TL-MR6500v Router Reviews: Operation
The TP-Link TL-MR6500v router can be easily configured via a web interface in the browser. In the test, the display was clearly structured both on a Windows PC and on the iPad and operation was very easy and clear. The setting options on the MR6500v are quite extensive. In the network or Internet area, such as, not only the network mode (e.g. 4G preferred) can be set, but the frequency band can also be selected. This can be very helpful, especially when used with an external LTE directional antenna.
Further setting options in the Internet area concern, such as, a freely adjustable “data limit” for volume tariffs together with dynamic DNS or static routing. In the web interface, the user has the option of receiving and sending SMS. Such as, messages can be received from the network operator or, if a corresponding tariff is used, SMS can be sent to top up the prepaid credit. The LEDs on the front of the TP-Link TL-MR6500v Router can be switched off in the web interface at certain times or completely. A firmware update is also possible in the web interface. Other functions in the web interface are, for example, child protection, a content filter, NAT and VPN settings. In addition, bandwidth prioritization of certain services and applications is possible via QoS.
TP-Link TL-MR6500v Router Reviews: Conclusion.
The TP-Link TL-MR6500v offers an excellent price-performance ratio. If you are looking for an inexpensive LTE router with a telephone function and many setting options, the TL-MR6500v is a very good device.
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