Today we are reviewing a TP-LINK M5250 mobile 3G router with a battery met, and support for SIM cards of almost any mobile operator. I think the TP-LINK M5350 model can also be considered within the framework of this record, since they are almost the same.
This small device from TP-LINK can distribute the Internet to several of your devices for 6-7 hours. In fact, this is a 3G modem and a Wi-Fi router, in a compact body, which can work autonomously. It fits easily into your pocket and can easily be lost in your car.
TP-LINK M5250 works as follows: we insert into a mobile router the SIM card of the operator that suits you best for the price of tariffs and the quality of communication. We set up the whole thing according to the instructions that I have already prepared for you: instructions for setting up a TP-LINK M5250 mobile router (and there is practically nothing to configure there). We charge the battery from the computer, and that's it, the router is ready to distribute the Internet connection for 10 devices (this is the maximum). As for the speed, the router can work in 2G and 3G networks. The maximum speed is 21.6 Mbps. You can also insert a Micro SD card (maximum 32 GB) into the router and use it as a USB flash drive.
Personally, I think this is an ideal device for those who need access to the Internet in the car, outdoors, and in those places where there is simply no way to connect to a home or public Wi-Fi network. Yes, you can go online from your smartphone, and even distribute the Internet via Wi-Fi. But now, and so not every smartphone survives until the evening without charging, and then there is such a load on it. It will be necessary to laugh it every couple of hours 🙂 And then they turned on the router, and got the Internet when we need it. There will definitely not be any problems with charging the router. The Micro USB cable can now be found everywhere: at home, in the car, at work, and more.
TP-LINK M5250 Review
Almost the entire router is made of plastic, which looks like rubberized. But no, it's just embossed plastic. There are glossy plastic inserts on the front and back. They scratch very quickly and collect prints.
On the front panel, you can see the logo, a button to turn the router on and off, and a glossy panel with three indicators: the battery level, the status of the Internet connection, and the status of the Wi-Fi network. During operation, they fade out, and only the charge level flashes. To see all the indicators, you need to press the power button.
This is how TP-LINK M5250 looks like in a car:
The back cover is removable. Under it is the battery, and two slots: for a SIM card, and for a Micro SD card. The cover is removed very easily, but it does not fly off itself. Even after falling on the grass, I already managed to drop it 🙂
That's all. The set includes a USB cable for charging, instructions, and adapters from micro-SIM, and nano-SIM to a regular card.
The control panel is simple, but in English. There is no firmware in Russian. You can enter the settings just like on conventional routers. At 192.168.0.1, through a browser. I wrote more about this here. Well, see the setup instructions, the link was given at the beginning of the article.
Specifications:
- Supports HSPA +, HSPA, UMTS, EDGE, GRPS, GSM networks.
- Built-in 2000mAh battery.
- Supports Micro SD cards up to 32GB. It is detected as a storage device when connected to a computer.
- Wi-Fi speed up to 150 Mbps.
- Wi-Fi network encryption: WPA-PSK / WPA2-PSK.
- Built-in antennas.
Opinions from the TP-LINK M5250
The device is definitely interesting. As for the reviews on the web, they are very different. And as usual, one contradicts one thing. Basically, they write that the battery holds well, up to 10 hours. Among the shortcomings: there is no adapter for charging in the kit (you can use the adapter from the phone, or charge from the computer), and there is no way to connect the router to the computer in modem mode. But this is a router, and it should not be connected in modem mode (although it would not be bad). We buy a Wi-Fi receiver for a computer, and connect to the Internet without any problems.
Among the shortcomings, I would single out only the glossy parts of the case, which are scratched, and the not very informative screen. More precisely, there is not even a screen here, but just indicators. It's good when you can quickly find out which network the router is on, the signal level, traffic consumption, etc. Therefore, I probably advised you to buy the TP-LINK M5350 model. They are the same, only the TP-LINK M5350 has a small screen that displays useful information. And if you need 4G / LTE support, then you can see the TP-LINK M7350 model.
Leave your feedback on TP-LINK M5250, and share your experience if you already own this device.
