TP-Link TL-MR3020: The perfect portable WiFi router

Apple’s OSX updates are great, until you realise that a piece of hardware will not work anymore. That is what happened when I plugged in my Tata Photon 3G modem (ZTE MF190) into my freshly upgraded El Capitan MacBook. Luckily, there was a solution to the problem… get some new hardware! The TP-Link TL-MR3020 is probably the best rated portable WiFi router in the market. I picked it up after reading the reviews on Amazon. And boy, it is a great router indeed. Before I move on, let me tell you the specs. The device is capable of 80

11bgn so it should work seamlessly with all your gadgets. The device has 3 ports

an ethernet port, a USB port and a micro-USB port to power it up. There are 3 modes the router will work on: the 3G/4G router mode, the WSIP Client Router mode and the AP mode. There is also a WPS/RESET button. The best part about the device is its form factor. It isn’t the smallest router of its kind, but is definitely is portable. It can be powered by USB, so plugging it into a 5V battery pack and leaving it in your bag is the best way to carry it around. The USB port accepts most common USB modems, including the Tata Photon 3G modem I use. The only disadvantage is that there isn’t an internal battery, but that is okay considering you can use a battery pack to power the device.

The setup process is cake. The given quick installation manual is easy to follow and I managed to set-up my router in under 5 minutes. As for the WiFi performance, the device scores well. TP-Link is the world’s no. 1 provider of WLAN products and this device reciprocates the quality. I’ve used the device for over 3 hours continuously and never incurred a connection drop or a loss of connection. The WiFi range is pretty good too I managed to use it up to 7 meters away with a wall in the middle. Do I recommend the product then? Yes, definitely. This product is worthy of all the 5-star ratings it has received. If you want a simple way to create a WiFi hotspot off your 3G/4G modem, this is the best option.