When purchasing new network equipment a mandatory step is to configure it. It is carried out through firmware created by manufacturers. The configuration process includes debugging the wired connection, access point, security settings and additional features. Next we will describe this procedure in detail, taking as an example TP-Link router TL-MR3420.

After unpacking the router, the question arises where to install it. The location should be selected based on the length of the network cable, as well as the coverage area of ​​the wireless network. If possible, it is better to avoid having devices such as microwave oven and take into account that obstacles such as thick walls reduce the quality of the Wi-Fi signal.

Rotate the router rear panel to yourself to familiarize yourself with all the connectors and buttons present in it. WAN is shown in blue and Ethernet 1-4 is shown in yellow. The cable from the provider is connected to the first one, and all the computers present at home or in the office are connected to the other four.

Incorrectly set network values ​​in operating system often cause the wired connection or access point to fail. Before you begin the task of configuring your hardware, look at Windows settings and make sure that the values ​​for the DNS and IP protocols are obtained automatically. Find detailed instructions on this topic in our other article at the link below.

Setting up the TP-Link TL-MR3420 router

All tutorials below are carried out through the web interface of the second version. If the appearance of your firmware does not match that used in this article, simply find the same items and change them according to our examples; functionally, the firmware of the router in question is practically no different. Logging into the interface on all versions is as follows:

Now let's move on directly to the configuration procedure itself, which occurs in two modes. In addition, we will touch on additional parameters and tools, which will be useful to many users.

Quick setup

Almost every firmware TP-Link routers contains a built-in Setup Wizard, and the model in question is no exception. With its help, only the most basic parameters of the wired connection and access point are changed. To successfully complete this task, you need to do the following:

1. Open category "Quick setup" and immediately click on "Further", this will launch the Wizard.



2. First, Internet access is adjusted. You are asked to select one of the WAN types that will be primarily used. Most choose "WAN only".



3. Next, set the connection type. This point is determined directly by the provider himself. Look for information on this topic in your contract with your Internet service provider. All data to be entered is indicated there.



4. Some Internet connections work normally only after the user is activated, and for this you need to set the login and password received when concluding an agreement with the provider. In addition, you can select a secondary connection, if necessary.



5. In the case when you indicated at the first stage that 3G/4G will also be used, separate window You will need to set the basic parameters. Please indicate the correct region and supplier mobile internet, authorization type, username and password if necessary. When finished, click on "Further".



6. The last step is to create a wireless point, which most users use to access the Internet from their mobile devices. First of all, activate the mode itself and set a name for your access point. With it, it will appear in the list of connections. "Mode" And "Channel Width" leave it as default, but in the security section put a marker next to "WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK" and enter a convenient password of at least eight characters. Each user will need to enter it when trying to connect to your point.



7. You will be notified that the procedure quick setup was successful, you can exit the Wizard by pressing the button "Complete".

However, the parameters provided during quick setup do not always meet the needs of users. In this case the best solution will go to the corresponding menu in the web interface and manually set everything necessary.

Manual setting

Many manual configuration items are similar to those discussed in the built-in Wizard, but here it appears large quantity additional functions and tools, which allows you to adjust the system individually for yourself. Let's start analyzing the whole process with a wired connection:

1. Open category "Net" and move to the section "Access to the Internet". A copy of the first stage from the quick setup opens in front of you. Set here the type of network that you will use most often.



2. The next subsection is "3G/4G". Pay attention to the points "Region" And "Mobile Internet Service Provider". Set all other values ​​solely to suit your needs. In addition, you can download the modem configuration, if you have one on your computer as a file. To do this, click on the button "Setting up the modem" and select the file.



3. Now let's focus on WAN - the main thing network connection, used by most owners of such equipment. The first step is to go to the section "WAN", then select the connection type, set the user name and password if required, as well as the secondary network and mode parameters. All items present in this window are filled out in accordance with the agreement received from the provider.



4. Sometimes you need to clone the MAC address. This procedure is first discussed with the Internet service provider, and then the values ​​are replaced through the appropriate section in the web interface.



5. The last point is "IPTV". Although the TP-Link TL-MR3420 router supports such a service, it provides a meager set of parameters for editing. You can only change the Proxy value and the operation type, which is rarely required.

This completes the debugging of the wired connection, but an important part is also considered wireless point access, which is created manually by the user. Preparing to work with wireless connection done like this:

This completes the work with the main parameters. As you can see, there is nothing complicated about this, the whole process takes literally a few minutes, after which you can immediately start working on the Internet. However, there are still additional tools and security policies, which also need to be considered.

Additional settings

First of all, let's look at the section "DHCP Settings". This protocol allows you to automatically obtain certain addresses, making the network more stable. You just need to make sure that the function is enabled; if not, mark the required item with a marker and click on "Save".

Sometimes you need to forward ports. Their discovery allows local programs and servers to use the Internet and exchange data. The forwarding procedure looks like this:

You can find detailed instructions for opening ports on TP-Link routers in our other article at the link below.

Sometimes when using VPN and other connections, routing attempts fail. This happens most often due to the fact that the signal passes through special tunnels and is often lost. If such a situation arises, a static (direct) route is configured for the required address, and it is done like this:

The last thing I would like to note from additional settings– Dynamic DNS. It is only necessary if you use different servers and FTP. By default, this service is disabled, and its provision is negotiated with the provider. It registers you on the service and assigns you a username and password. You can activate this function in the corresponding settings menu.

Security Settings

It is important not only to ensure the correct functioning of the Internet on the router, but also to set security parameters to protect yourself from unwanted connections and shocking content on the network. We will look at the most basic and useful rules, and you can decide whether you need to activate them or not:

1. Pay attention immediately to the section "Settings basic protection» . Make sure all options here are enabled. Usually they are already active by default. There is no need to disable anything here; these rules do not affect the operation of the device itself.



2. Web interface management is available to all users connected to your local network. You can prohibit access to the firmware through the appropriate category. Here, select the appropriate rule and assign it to all required MAC addresses.



3. Parental control allows you not only to set a limit on the time your children spend on the Internet, but also to set bans on certain resources. First in the section "Parental control" activate this function, enter the address of the computer you want to control and click on "Add new".



4. In the menu that opens, set the rules that you consider necessary. Repeat this procedure for all required sites.



5. The last thing I would like to note regarding security is managing access control rules. A fairly large number of different packets pass through the router and sometimes it is necessary to control them. In this case, go to the menu "Control" - "Rule", turn on this function, set filtering values ​​and click on "Add new".



6. Here you select a node from those present in the list, set a goal, schedule and state. Before exiting, click on "Save".

Completing setup

All that remains are the final points, which can be done in just a few clicks:

This brings our article to its logical conclusion. We hope that today you learned all the necessary information about setting up the TP-Link TL-MR3420 router and you did not have any difficulties performing this procedure yourself.

Inexpensive, but very functional router entry level- this is TP-Link TL-MR3420. In addition to the usual 5 RJ-45 ports for connection, it also has one USB. The latter is universal: it allows you to connect a 4G/3G modem to a local area network, external storage or network It is the strong and weak sides this network device and will be discussed in detail in this review.

Router capabilities

Let's start with the specifications of this router. The TP-Link router of this model is a fairly functional entry-level device. It is equipped with one input port and 4 output ports to create a wired segment for home data transmission, each of them is 100 Mbps. This router is also equipped with 2 antennas for wireless transmission information on Wi-Fi technology. This design solution allows you to make the coverage area larger and increase the transmission speed by this method by 2 times to 300 Mbit/s. Another important feature of this router is the presence of a USB port, which, as noted earlier, is universal. You can connect to it a network external drive, a 4G/3G modem, and multifunction device. It is important to take one point into account. There are two versions of this router model. The first of them comes in a “rectangular” case and works only with 3rd generation networks, and the second is a stylish, streamlined case and can work in all existing mobile networks to date.

Contents of delivery

The list of complete documentation for the TP-Link TL-MR3420 compares favorably with its competitors. Reviews highlight the presence of several additional booklets on network products from this manufacturer, which allow novice users to select the most optimal equipment for their home network. In addition to booklets, this list also includes a certificate of conformity, a warranty card and an instruction manual. In addition to the router itself, it comes with 2 bendable antennas, a crimped twisted pair cord, a power supply and a CD with application software. software to configure this network device.

Appearance and information content

TP-Link TL-MR3420 looks very stylish. The bottom cover is made of matte plastic and has 2 holes for wall mounting. In its turn top part The body is made of plastic, but only with a glossy finish. Not quite the right solution - dust and dirt will collect on it. There is also an LED indication on the top edge of the router. There are a total of 10 LEDs on this router. The first of them is an indication of the presence of power. If it lights up, then the power supply is turned on and the “POWER” button is in the down position. The second LED is an indication of the operation of the router. If it glows continuously, then loading network device.

The next indicator shows the operation of the wireless segment of the computer network (it should blink constantly when turned on). The next four LEDs show the process of information exchange in the wired section of the network. They are attached to each port on the rear side. Then there is an indicator of receipt from the global web. The LED labeled “3G/4G” indicates wireless network activity. When the last indicator turns on, the search for new network devices begins. In this case, the connection establishment procedure will be performed with a minimum number of manipulations. On the back of the router there are four RJ-45 ports, which are designed to create a wired segment of the computer network. One blue port is intended for connecting an input cable from the provider. Along the edges of the back of the router there are sockets for installing antennas. Next to the right there is a reset button, and on the left there is a power supply and a socket for installing a pin from the power supply. On the left side there is a USB port and a button accelerated connection to the local area network.

Provider details

Next, you need to find out the values ​​that will be set in the TP-Link TL-MR3420. Configuration without these parameters is simply impossible. All necessary information can be found in the agreement with the provider. First of all, this is the connection type. L2TP or PPPoE are most often used for these purposes. Also, this document must provide a login and, of course, a password for gaining access to the global web. If you use a static address, it is also included in this agreement. In general, all the necessary data is often given in this document and must first be clarified so that there are no problems during the setup process.

Scheme for setting

The next step is to assemble a circuit for TP-Link settings TL-MR3420. A 3G modem, network MFP or drive is connected to the USB port. However, only one device can be connected via this interface. Then we install both complete antennas. Next, install the power supply into the outlet, and its cord with a connector to the corresponding port of the router. We install the twisted pair cable that comes with the network device with one connector into the yellow port labeled “1”, and its other end into the socket of the laptop or personal computer. But there is no need to connect the wire from the provider to the network device at this setup stage.

Initial setup

At this stage, software configuration of the TP-Link TL-MR3420 is performed. To do this, turn on the computer and router using the “POWER” button. Then we wait for both the computer and the router to finish loading. Then we launch any Internet viewer that is on the PC. In its address bar you then need to dial 192.168.1.1. Next, a request will appear with the fields “Username” and, of course, password. We take this information from the bottom cover of the router. Typically, the “Username” is “admin”. The default password is 12345. But it’s better to clarify this information. On the first “Start” window, simply click on the “Next” button. Then you need to select the Internet connection mode: only wires are used, a 3G modem is used, preferably a wired connection or a connection using a 3G modem. Check the appropriate box and move on, clicking “Next” again. At the next stage, connection parameters are set. Moreover, both using a wireless modem and using an input twisted pair cable. All necessary logins and passwords are set, as well as the connection type. If used static IP address, then it must be specified along with the mask. All this information, as stated earlier, is in the service agreement. The user, at his own discretion, can only set the name of the wireless network, the password to access it, the type of encryption and select the channel. At the end, you must save all changes made. Turn off all equipment and disassemble the circuit.

We move the router to a permanent place and connect

Now we select the place where the router will be permanently located. It should be located as close as possible to the center of the apartment or house. This will provide the largest coverage area. Also, the input wires from the Internet service provider should approach this point without any problems. Well, there must be a 220V outlet in relative proximity. As soon as the location is chosen, we begin to connect the router according to the previously described method. At the final stage twisted pair from the provider we install it in the blue port of the network device. This completes the switching for the TP-Link TL-MR3420. In most cases, the firmware does not require updating. Therefore, we check that the connection is correct and supply voltage to the router.

Set connection parameters via Wi-Fi

This stage is performed on devices running Android OS. The TP-Link TL-MR3420 itself is already properly configured. Setting up the connection of a mobile device is done like this:

In the status menu, activate the “Wi-Fi” transmitter.

Go to the program menu and find the “Wi-Fi” shortcut. Open this utility.

Checking the wired segment of your home network

Now we check how the TP-Link TL-MR3420 router transmits information over the wired segment of the local area network. To do this, just launch a browser on any computer connected to the network using a twisted pair cable and enter the address, for example, qip.ru. Then press “Enter” and it should open start page this Internet portal.

Wireless network test

The next step is to check the functioning of the wireless segment of the computer network when connecting a PC to it. The TP-Link TL-MR3420 router itself, as noted earlier, is already configured and must be turned on. Next on PC with wireless adapter go to the network control center. Its shortcut is located in the lower left corner of the screen. In the list that opens, we find our network and connect to it, but do not forget to enter the password correctly. Next, close all windows and launch the browser and use the previously described method to check that Wi-Fi is working correctly when connected from a PC.

The TP-Link TL-MR3420 is interesting primarily because it supports not only the usual wired WAN connection, but also 3G modems. Thus, a connection via a cellular network can be used as a backup channel for accessing the Network in those moments when the main provider suddenly decides to carry out maintenance work or simply “falls”. This feature is also useful for organizing a wireless network in a dacha, where, as a rule, there is no wired network at all.

Looking ahead, we can say that the TP-Link TL-MR3420 is a pretty good solution for a small office or particularly picky users for whom it is important to always be online. If the main channel in the Network “falls”, the 3G connection will be automatically restored. However, the opposite situation is also possible, when mobile Internet access is used as the main one, and a wired connection will wait in the wings. At the same time, we must admit that the TP-Link TL-MR3420 has some, let’s say, oddities and quite obvious shortcomings. Let's take a closer look at the router's capabilities.

⇡ Equipment and appearance

TP-Link decided not to split hairs and packaged the device in a traditional thin cardboard box, decorated in light green tones. It contains images of the device, and next to it are its main specifications, advantages and approximate connection diagram. There is also a list of wireless modem models that have already been tested and are guaranteed compatible with the router. For a more recent list, it is suggested to go to the manufacturer’s official website.

Inside the outer packaging there is a thick cardboard box with a shaped tray inserted inside. It contained the router itself, two removable Wi-Fi antennas, a compact power supply with a thin cord one meter long and a meter patch cord. In addition, the kit includes a couple of advertising brochures, a warranty card, brief instructions and a disk with more detailed manuals in several languages.

The design of the TP-Link TL-MR3420 is also traditional for routers from this manufacturer. The compact body of the device is made of glossy milky-white plastic with matte black inserts on the sides. There is a silver TP-Link logo on the top cover. Appearance The router is not very flashy, but quite nice.

On the front panel of the router, under a small insert made of black glossy plastic, there is a row of green LEDs. These are indicators of power availability, router status, activity network connections, 3G connection and current QSS operating mode. The button to activate the QSS function is located here.

There is a large information sticker on the bottom of the device. It shows the model and serial number router, its MAC address, as well as the IP address and login with the default password to access the web interface. The picture is complemented by a small ventilation grille and four non-slip rubber feet. Also on the bottom there are two T-shaped recesses for screws intended for attaching the router to the wall.

All the main ports and connectors are located on the back wall: two sockets for Wi-Fi antennas, five Ethernet ports (1 x WAN and 4 x LAN), power socket, USB port 2.0 for connecting a modem and a deeply recessed router reset button.

⇡ Characteristics

Router TP-Link TL-MR3420
Standards	IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, IEEE 802.3/3u
Frequency range	2.4-2.4835 GHz
Transmitter power	20 dBm (max)
Modulation type	DBPSK, DQPSK, CCK, OFDM, 16-QAM, 64-QAM
Support MIMO, SST, CCA	There is
Encryption	64/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK (TKIP/AES), WPS (QSS)
Maximum speed	802.11n: up to 300 Mbps 802.11g: up to 54 Mbps 802.11b: up to 11 Mbps
Interfaces	4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN, 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN, 1 x USB 2.0
3G modems	UMTS/HSPA/EVDO
Antennas	2 x 3 dBi
Dimensions	174x30x111 mm
Price	1,600 rubles
Possibilities
WAN connection	Dynamic/Static IP, PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP, BigPond
DHCP/ARP	Server, Client, DHCP Client List, Address Reservation, ARP
Port forwarding	Virtual Server, Port Triggering, UPnP, DMZ
QoS support	WMM, Bandwidth Control
Dynamic DNS Services	DynDns, Comexe, NO-IP
VPN forwarding	PPTP, L2TP, IPSec (ESP Head)
Firewall	DoS protection, SPI, IP/MAC/domain filtering, access control

⇡ Features

The web interface, as well as the capabilities of the TP-Link TL-MR3420, are also largely similar to the functionality of other TP-Link router models. The default IP address is 192.168.1.1, and the login and password are admin. The main menu is located on the left of the interface, customizable parameters are displayed in the center, and on the right is shown brief information on them. Unfortunately, TP-Link has not yet bothered to translate the web interface into Russian. By default, the main page is shown with basic information about the status of the router, the status of current connections, the amount of data transferred, and so on.

When you log in for the first time, the Quick Setup Wizard will automatically launch, which will guide the user through all the main stages of router configuration.

Setting up a connection with client devices using the QSS function (aka WPS) is included in a special section of the menu. Considering the presence of a separate button on the case, such love for QSS is surprising. However, this really simplifies the procedure for pairing devices with a router, which is very important for inexperienced users.

Perhaps the most important option is choosing your preferred network connection. You can allow access either only through a wired WAN connection, or only through a 3G network. A more practical option is to automatically switch to the backup channel if the main one fails. Depending on the mode, some Internet connection options will not work, such as changing the MTU.

Setting up a 3G modem is as simplified as possible. Just plug the modem into the USB port, wait until the router recognizes it (a minute or two), and then select your country and operator name. There is a small flaw here. The list of countries includes Russia and Russian Federation. In the first case, Beeline is available, and in the second, Megafon and MTS. All connection settings have already been entered, but if you wish, you can check the Set the Dial Number and APN manually box and manually enter the parameters for an operator that is not in the list. All 3G modem models that are supported by the router are listed. In some cases, you will have to additionally download the configuration file from here. The list of models is constantly updated, and the manufacturer monitors the correct operation of modems with a router in various cellular networks and promptly publishes configuration updates, which will eventually be included in the main firmware. True, this applies mostly to foreign operators. And in Russia, actually, there are not three operators cellular communication, and a little more. According to company representatives, support for WiMax modems is also planned, but the release dates for the corresponding firmware are still unknown.

The rest of the router's capabilities are quite standard. In settings local network specify the IP address of the router and select one of the common subnet masks or manually specify your own. For a WAN connection, you can use a static or dynamic IP address, as well as a connection via PPTP, L2TP, PPPoE, or “non-native” BigPond for Russia. The resources of the provider’s local network, as a rule, will be available without additional “shamanism” with routing. You can set the MTU size and connection downtime, specify your own DNS server addresses, change the router name, as well as the Internet connection mode (manually, on request, or always). But this is not available in all modes (see above). There is also an option to clone the MAC address from the PC to the WAN interface to meet the requirements of particularly picky providers.

TP-Link TL-MR3420 supports Wi-Fi 802.11b/g/n. It is possible to work either in only one of these standards, or in mixed mode: 802.11b/g or 802.11b/g/n. As usual, you are asked to select the country of use and leave automatic settings parameters. If desired, you can manually select the channel to use and specify its width, as well as the maximum data transfer rate. It is also easy to change the SSID of the access point, disable the SSID announcement, or turn off the wireless module altogether, or switch it to the wireless network coverage expansion mode via WDS.

Encryption and authorization in the wireless network is carried out using 64/128-bit WEP, WPA/WPA2, WPA-PSK/WPA2-PSK (TKIP/AES) algorithms or through a Radius server. Filtering by white and black lists of MAC addresses is available, as well as the ability to view a list of connected clients indicating the number of transmitted and received packets. For advanced users, it is possible to fine-tune the parameters of the radio module.

The built-in DHCP server allows you to view the current list of connected PCs, and at the same time set the binding of IP addresses to MAC.

TP-Link TL-MR3420 can forward ports both for an individual machine and for the entire local network at once, and also supports UPnP with the ability to view current rules. One of the computers on the network can be moved to a demilitarized zone (DMZ).

Network security features include a basic firewall, protection against some types of DoS attacks, and ignoring ICMP echo. You can set four MAC addresses of machines from the local network from which access to the router’s web interface will be allowed, and also allow access to it from an external network. There are also options for transparent transmission of VPN connections (PPTP, L2TP, IPSEC) and some types of traffic.

Function parental controls allows you to limit network access to a list of pre-entered website addresses for machines on the local network. First, set the MAC address of the parent computer, to which these restrictions do not apply, and then enter the MAC addresses of the machines from which requests will be filtered in accordance with the time specified in the scheduler.

The access control system at first glance is quite complicated, but in practice it is not so complicated. To begin with, groups of computers are specified according to IP or MAC lists. Then the goals to which access will be regulated are indicated. These can be IP addresses or entire subnets, as well as domain names By keywords. It is possible to specify ports and protocol type (ICMP, TCP, UDP). The scheduler specifies time intervals (days of the week + hours). For example, the work week or lunch break. Finally, filtering rules are created. A group of computers, a target and a time interval are selected - permission or access is denied for everything. For example, the accounting department is allowed access to social networks only before the start of the working day, after it ends and during lunch. At the same time, on weekends and at night, access anywhere is completely prohibited.

For TP-Link TL-MR3420, you can manually register static routes, and at the same time view the list of current active routes.

Among the useful options is the function of controlling the width of the channel used, the incoming and outgoing speed of which is set manually. Each IP address or group of IP addresses is then specified with its own rate limit, which can be applied to selected protocols and ports.

A special section includes IP assignment by MAC address using the ARP protocol.

DDNS support is limited to three services: DynDNS, Comexe and No-IP.

The list of router capabilities is completed by functions standard for such devices: synchronization with an NTP server and setting the clock on the router, which, by the way, has no idea about daylight saving time in Russia, backup/restore/reset all settings, firmware update, reboot, ping and traceroute via web interface, keeping logs with the ability to save them or send them by e-mail (including automatically), displaying general statistics on the traffic of each machine.

In general, in terms of capabilities, the TP-Link TL-MR3420 is at a completely modern level. The only thing that would be worth adding is the implementation of more fine tuning IGMP, which is enabled by default. However, this router is more suitable for an office, where it is critical to be always online, rather than for home use. Minor imperfections in the interface (the sacred difference between Russian and Russian Federation) and some oddities in the settings (does anyone really need GOPHER forwarding now?) do not count.

⇡ Testing

When connecting a 3G modem to home page The web interface displays the signal level and other information about the connection. Testing was carried out with Huawei modem E173u-1 on the Megafon network. Taking into account the low signal level, the obtained connection speeds in Speedtest.net can be considered quite acceptable. By the way, when you connect a modem, the router’s web interface starts to slow down terribly. This does not affect the data transfer speed in any way, but it still causes some inconvenience.

Used as test benches for wired connections ASUS laptop K42JC (Intel Pentium 6100, 2 GB RAM, HDD WDC WD3200BEVT, Gigabit Ethernet JMicron JMC250) and a desktop machine (AMD Athlon64 X2 4800+, 4 GB RAM, WDC WD3200AAKS, Gigabit Ethernet Realtek RTL8168B). For Wi-Fi testing, we used Trendnet TEW-664UB (802.11n @ 300 Mbps, 2.4 / 5 GHz) and ASUS USB-N13 (802.11n @ 300 Mbps, 2.4 / 5 GHz) adapters. Wireless network tested in both 802.11 b/g/n mixed mode and 802.11 n only mode, and the traffic was encrypted using the WPA2-PSK TKIP/AES algorithm. All devices were in close proximity to each other. The test used regular copying of files over the network, as well as the iperf 1.7.0 utility.

Transmission direction	Min.	Max.	Avg.
WLAN ↔ WLAN, Mbit/s	45,4	115,8	80,6
WLAN → LAN, Mbit/s	89,7	94,7	92,2
LAN → WLAN, Mbit/s	42,4	65,3	53,85
LAN ↔ LAN, Mbit/s	82,3	94,1	88,2
3G connection, Mbit/s	Download: 1.67 Upload: 0.87

The data transfer speeds of WLAN → LAN and LAN ↔ LAN are obviously limited by the capabilities of the hundred-megabit Ethernet ports on the router, which, by the way, is very sad. But the LAN → WLAN speed turned out to be surprisingly low. But the speed characteristics of a purely wireless connection are quite decent.

The quality of the wireless connection is quite good. When transmitting data over a distance of 10 meters and through two brick walls, the speed dropped by about 1.5 times, and after 15 meters and already three walls - by about 2 times, while the connection remained stable. Access to the Network via the L2TP protocol showed that the data transfer speed was simply limited by the width of the external channel of 12 Mbit/s. During operation, the router behaved quite stable - no freezes or hints of delays. However, under heavy load it became noticeably hot.

⇡ Conclusions

Overall, the TP-Link TL-MR3420 can be called a very successful router. The advantages of the device include a nice design, compactness, good speed characteristics, ease of working with 3G modems and stability, coupled with a good set of functions. The only thing I would like to improve in this model is to replace the hundred-megabit Ethernet ports with gigabit ones. TO minor shortcomings This also includes the lack of finer IGMP settings, heating during operation, and a sharp slowdown in the operation of the web interface in the presence of a 3G modem. In general, the TP-Link TL-MR3420 is well worth the money (the average cost according to Yandex.Market is 1,600 rubles) that is being asked for it.

TP Link TL-MR3420 is one of the most worthy representatives of budget class routers that support settings for Internet-based networks from Rostelecom. Among the huge range of routers, choosing the most suitable model for home or office use is very difficult. If you plan to create a small work network and connecting additional equipment, for example, then the TL-MR3420 router from TP Link will be the best option, which will not only allow you to organize the uninterrupted operation of all devices, but will also help reduce costs.

Setting up the TP Link TL-MR3420 router from Rostelecom

The TP Link TL-MR3420 router is very popular for setting up services provided by Rostelecom. To start working with the equipment, we will need to connect the power supply, Internet cable (WAN) and Ethernet cord to the corresponding connectors located on the back of the router. Then we must proceed to connecting the network cable to the computer, with the help of which further configuration will be carried out. The compact body of the TL-MR3420 model contains three devices:

• 3G modem (USB-Ethernet output);
• Wi-Fi access point;
• LAN router.

This allows you to make a router from TP Link a universal equipment that does not take up much space in your home or office.

Selecting a location for installation and connecting the device

Before you start connecting the TP Link TL-MR3420 yourself or use the services of a specialist from Rostelecom, you need to choose the optimal location for installing the equipment. There are recommendations to consider:

• availability of free space (at least 30 cm above the router);
• absence of a nearby heat source (it is advisable to avoid places where direct sunlight may fall);
• opportunity quick access to the connectors.

A suitable option is often to place the router on one of the walls, where there is sufficient air access for ventilation of the equipment.

Setting up the TP Link TL-MR3420 web interface for Rostelecom

The router is configured using the interface on the web page. It will not take a significant amount of time, thanks to the intuitive layout of the options. To enter the basic parameters, go to the WAN network subsection and select the connection that corresponds tariff plan. To organize a PPPoE connection, enter the password and login data into the appropriate fields. This information is issued to the subscriber at the time the contract is concluded. After filling in the data for connecting Rostelecom, we confirm and save the changes.

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When setting up the TP Link TL-MR3420 router with a connection to services from Rostelecom, you must adhere to the following sequence:

• open an Internet browser;
• enter the device's IP address in address bar (192.168.0.1);
• go through the authorization procedure by entering your login and password information (by default this is admin/admin);
• specify the connection details of the provider.

You can also select additional device parameters that are used by the subscriber, for example, television.

Attention! If Internet access from Rostelecom is provided using ADSL technology, then you will need to configure the connection on the modem, and only then connect the Ethernet cable from it to the router connector. In this case, it will be unnecessary to enter your Internet login information on the router itself.

Wi-Fi network settings

The TP Link TL-MR3420 router works not only as a wired router. With its help, you can easily organize Internet distribution for your entire home or office network by connecting wireless equipment and several devices with Ethernet connectors.

To configure Wi-Fi parameters in the TP Link TL-MR3420 router, you need to activate the corresponding communication module, with the help of which the Internet will be distributed from Rostelecom. To do this, in the web interface, go to the section called “Wireless Mode”. Here we arbitrarily set the name Wi-Fi points, and also select network protection parameters. After confirming and saving the options, wireless connection will be completely ready for work.

The high performance of TP Link TL-MR3420 for a budget device and support for high-speed data transfer standards up to 300 Mbit/s allow its owners to comfortably use the Internet connection. With its help, you can create a wireless secure network and use the router for internal data exchange. The equipment makes it possible to quickly and easily organize home network with support for IP television and telephony from Rostelecom.