4G with TP-LINK TL-MR3420

[rich_bb]

I am setting up a broadband connection in a rural area that has good 4G coverage only, no 3G and bad ADSL speeds. Attempting to use a TL-MR3420, the current Vodafone 4G (K5150) usb dongle is not compatible with this device. Has anyone used any other usb dongles sucessfully with this device on Vodafone 4G?

I have also tested a ZTE MF823 which works with the router but refuses to connect to the Vodafone 4G.

[drey_p]

Hi there

The dongles that Vodafone supply all need to connect to a Windows or Mac OS laptop or computer.  They aren't designed to work with any other operating system. Perhaps a MiFi device would work better for your needs?

[rich_bb]

Mifi is possible but the units are not designed to be plugged in all the time in one place or Wifi over a whole house so a router seems the better option?

[ewanrw]

Huawei E5172As works well.

ewan

[rich_bb]

I decided to get the K5150 and load custom firmware (http://ofmodemsandmen.com/ FunnelWeb version of the ROOter - OpenWrt firmware) on the TL-MR3420 which lists the K5150 as a supported modem. Works well.

[Doric]

Bit late to the party but, yes, I am happily using a Vodafone 4G K5150 dongle with the TP-Link, TL-MR3420.  I did have to replace my older model of this same router with the current one (white, spaceship design, ver 2.4) and there was a bit of fiddling around to get it going. But I've now had 8 months of satisfactory operation. We use the combination for the exactly the reason you say - rural location, no landline alternative.

My only gripe is the limiting data cap (8Gb for the deal I'm on). I soon realised that I have to have two dongles with 8Gb each to get through the month. It is a pain in the neck having to monitor data usage via myVodafone, virtually every day, to know when to swap them over. But otherwise, reliablity is good.

[rich_bb]

There is now a 10GB/30day contract for £20/pm introduced a couple of weeks ago that seems to have replaced the more expensive 8GB option. 

[orl0915]

Hi,

I am using K5150 with TL-MR3420 v2.

I get a Vodafone K5150 GUI on 192.168.9.1, and I have to manually connect to Vodafone network.
When I reset the TL-MR3420, I have to manually connect to the Vodafone network using Vodafone K5150 GUI on 192.168.9.1.

Any fix for this, so that K5150 automatically connects to Vodafone network after TL-MR3420 resets?

[Doric]

I have the same problem. It's a pain, but should happen relatively infrequently?

By the way, I have now switched to a Sim-only contract which gives me 20Gb per month for ~£30 - better value than previous 2 x 8Gb dongle contracts at £26 each.  Since I paid for the dongle in full, I can switch the Sim and cancel previous dongle 30-day contracts.