How to verify Archer MR200(EU) V4 4G discontinuous connection
Hello,
I realized that the connection is discontinuous because my home automation system signals it going offline (it's conneced via eth port).
It happens at the same time when the ping 8.8.8.8 -t signals packets loss (between 20% and 25%).
I'm sure it depends by the Archer MR200 because if I put the same SIM card in another 4G router (with the same eth cable) all the connected devices work fine
and even the continuos ping doesn't report packets loss.
I also tried to connect the home automation system to another eht post, but nothing change
There's no connection problem between the home automation system and Archer MR200 because I can ping it frm the LAN continuosly without packets loss, even when the 4g connection problem.
The firmware is the last available.
However, regardless of the connectivity problems of the home automation system, when I use the same sim card on another 4G router I have no loss of packets or other problems.
What kind of log or other information I should looking for to verify the 4G connection stability?
Any Ideas?
thanks
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UPDATE:
I saw many posts on this forum about similar problem.
I forget to say that looking at "Internet status" on web interface, when I have packets loss, the status chages continuously from disconnected/connecting/connected
The very funny thing :) is that this router has just arrived as replacement of my MR200 V2 router that had another problem (less serious than this because it occurred about once a month, while this problem occurs continuously!).
The problem is that on every RMA I've to spend money for sending the router back, therefore this story stars to become very expensive about time and money invested ! :)
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@ElwoodBlues Thank you for your post!
This is exactly my experience with a MR200 v4 router on the latest firmware update (Archer MR200(EU)_V4_20190730, which was a minor one per TP LINK affirmation).
The router keeps losing the 3G/4G connection in a non predictable way and it proved useless to pin point the cause of this behaviour.
I kept a solid eye on the hardware LED indicator: it's full strength at 3 bars (100%) and suddendly it goes down to no bars at all (0%). Then, moments later or seconds later it goes back up to 100% again.
Unfortunately i have no other 3G/4G router to make some comparative testing in the same place, but inserting the SIM card in a generic smartphone and leaving it in the same place of the router shows uninterrupted connection (tested with OpenSignal app on Android).
Fun fact: i also came from a v2 revision of the same model MR200 (which crashed randomly but daily, almost).
This connection disruption is pretty casual, and frustrating. I'd like some sort of active support from TP LINK on the issue.
Please, do it.
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before your post I tried with the same firmware you used (20190730) with same result :(
Using the same SIM card, in the same position, it's quite surprising that using a very cheap portable 4G/LTE router (without 2 big LTE antennas)
I've a signal strenght much better than the one gained with Archer MR200 V4 (that I paid €120 !!!).
I also used an android smartphone with Network Cell Info Lite app that gives very accurate informations.
I'm talking about about 25-30 dBm better signal that makes the difference between a stable connection and a poor connection.
V2 had a much e better signal strenght (same SIM card and same position)! (but it was crashing)
I really want this to be a software problem, but I'm afraid it's about the quality of the antenna or other hardware. I hope I'm wrong, but I'd like feedback from TP-LINK's technical support as the problem is widespread and concerns a non-economical product!
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@babaz75 I've good news for me and I hope for you too! :)
I had the suspect that the problem was due to the continuous switching between 3g and 4g (and
the other way around) about the connection type.
Therefore I changed the default value "4G Preferred" to "4G Only" (advanced/network/internet/network mode) and now
I achieved 2 good results:
1 the connection is stable (no packets loss and the led indicator is stable)
2 for the first time I see "Network Type: 4G LTE" instead of WCDMA, in Advanced/Status
I hope this could help you and someone else ;)
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@ElwoodBlues awesome, pal
unfortunately i've no 4G signal in zone, so i'am always on 3G.
I switched to 3G only, but connection keeps fluctuating
Let's hope someone from TP LINK could offer some official insight.
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@ElwoodBlues Hello! Can someone confirm the trick of using 4G only fixes the problem? For those on 3G, what is the solution?
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You have only one Service Provider in your area? Better chose another one with 4G coverage in your area.
With app "Network Cell Info Lite" from Play Store (free of charge) you can have a lot of useful info about the signal received in your position, including cell direction.
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So, I tried with 4G only and also with 3G only. It did not help.
People with an MR600 should look at the discussion under Archer MR600 Random Disconnects that has some progress being made but for that model only.
Best wishes,
Guillaume_1978 wrote
@ElwoodBlues Hello! Can someone confirm the trick of using 4G only fixes the problem? For those on 3G, what is the solution?
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hi there, everybody!
this reply got me back to this thread after a quarter or such.
My TP-LINK Archer MR200 v4 is still on 1.12.0 0.9.1 v0001.0 Build 190730 RC.59984n firmware (which is the latest released, as far as i know).
Since late october my provider suddendly upgraded the network coverage to a strong 4G (even 4G+) signal: hence i switched to "4G only" in the router settings.
The connection in the last 3 months has been incredibly stable and strong, i barely needed to reboot the router (maybe a couple of times).
Performance, factual or just perceived, got better in a dramatic way.
So, i can guess the router benefits greatly from having a strong 4G signal, or maybe just a quite stable one.
Before the upgrade, i was on the verge to swapping out the MR200 for something else, but now i'm quite pleased with it and would not change for any reason, frankly.
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By way of update on my side
- MR200 kept disconnecting frequently and it was not doing what it is supposed to do
- strength of 4G / 4G+ / LTE signal had been thoroughly tested
- I have been "suffering" with this product for 9 months now and we have decided to give up on MR200
- MR600 seems to receive proportionally fewer complaints than lower models such as MR200 and MR400, although it is not quite clear why
- interactions and files received from tech support seem to indicate that the firmware and testing tools for the MR600 are more recent and more effective
- given the help of the tech support team so far, while we can certainly be critical, they did reply, so I have
i) used the product warranty to return the MR200 (awaiting refund)
ii) given a 2nd chance to TP-Link by buying the more expensive and hopefully better MR600.
The first initial connection shows download speed with MR600 that are at leat 25% faster than before (did 5 speed tests).
I will try to make it work in a reliable way (i.e. without connection interruptions) and will update my finding further on the MR600 forum thread.
Best,
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