TP-Link Archer MR600 SIM Card Setup

The TP-Link Archer MR600 is a 4G router for a small office, a kiosk or a backup line. It takes one nano SIM, and a ThingSIM connects once a custom APN profile is created and data roaming is switched on.

Specifications and menu paths checked against TP-Link's own documentation on 3 November 2026; sources are listed at the end. Menus can move between firmware versions, so if yours differs, follow the manual for your version.

What the Archer MR600 Is

A 4G+ Cat 6 router with dual-band Wi-Fi (AC1200) and Ethernet ports, sold in the UK in several hardware versions (V1 to V5). It can also run as a normal Wi-Fi router on a wired connection, with 4G as the backup.

Which ThingSIM Suits the Archer MR600

Compatible. TP-Link's EU datasheet lists LTE bands 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 20 and 28 (FDD) and 38, 40 and 41 (TDD), which cover the 4G bands used by all four UK networks. The router has one nano SIM slot and no eSIM, so order a physical ThingSIM and push out the nano size from the trio card.

A router shared by a few devices or used as a backup line usually suits UK 4-network 5 GB at £8.85 a month. For a single card terminal or camera, 1 GB at £2.40 may be enough. ThingSIM plans top out at 5 GB, so they are not a replacement for everyday home broadband.

Insert the SIM

1. Activate the SIM in the ThingSIM portal when you are ready to test; billing starts that day.
2. With the router unplugged, push out the nano SIM from the trio card. Do not use an empty SIM adapter in the slot.
3. With the gold contacts facing down, insert the nano SIM into the slot until it clicks.
4. Connect the power and press the power button.

Set Up Mobile Data on the Archer MR600

Log in at tplinkmodem.net (or 192.168.1.1) from a device connected to the router.

1. Go to Advanced → Network → Internet and click Create Profile.
2. Give the profile a name, set the PDP type to IPv4 and the APN type to Static. Enter the APN shown in your ThingSIM portal when you activate the SIM. Leave the username and password blank and set Authentication Type to None.
3. Click OK, then choose the new profile in the Profile Name list.
4. On the same page, make sure Mobile Data is on and switch Data Roaming on. A ThingSIM connects to UK networks as a roaming SIM.
5. If the router asks for a PIN, go to Advanced → Network → PIN Management. TP-Link says the router needs a SIM without a PIN lock.

Two SIMs and Failover

The MR600 has one SIM. To use 4G as a backup for a wired line, choose Wireless Router Mode under Advanced → Operation Mode, then turn on 3G/4G Backup under Advanced → Network → Internet.

Check It Is Working

Basic → Network Map shows whether the router is connected, and the Signal Strength LED shows up to three bars. Then open a web page from a device on the router and check the SIM's usage in the ThingSIM portal.

Troubleshooting

• No network at all: check the router's hardware version against TP-Link's datasheet for that version, and that the SIM is fully seated with the contacts facing down.
• Connected to a network but no data: Data Roaming is the setting most often missed on this router.
• Signal but no data: check the SIM is activated in the ThingSIM portal, the APN matches the one shown in the portal exactly with no spaces, and data roaming is allowed. Then work through signal but no data in order.
• It worked, then stopped: look at the SIM's usage in the portal. A ThingSIM pauses when it reaches its monthly allowance; upgrade the plan straight away or wait for the reset.

Common Questions

Does a ThingSIM work in a TP-Link Archer MR600?

Yes. The MR600's LTE bands cover the four UK networks. Insert the nano SIM, create a custom APN profile with the APN shown in your ThingSIM portal and switch Data Roaming on.

What size SIM does the Archer MR600 take?

A nano SIM. A ThingSIM is a trio card, so push out the nano size.

Can I use an eSIM in the Archer MR600?

No. The MR600 has a physical SIM slot only, so order a physical ThingSIM.

Related Guides

• Setting up a 4G router with a data SIM
• 4G broadband backup
• TP-Link routers and gateways
• APN settings: how to set up the APN on a device
• How much data does my device need?
• The best IoT and M2M SIM cards in the UK
• The UK 4-network 5 GB plan
• Compare every ThingSIM plan

Sources

Checked on 3 November 2026.

• TP-Link Archer MR600 (EU) V5 datasheet, bands: static.tp-link.com/upload/product-overview/2024/202406/20240618/Archer%20MR60…
• TP-Link Archer MR600 user guide (REV3.0.0): static.tp-link.com/upload/manual/2022/202205/20220519/1910013189_Archer%20MR6…
• TP-Link Archer MR600 product page (UK): www.tp-link.com/uk/home-networking/5g-4g-router/archer-mr600
• TP-Link Archer MR600 downloads (UK): www.tp-link.com/uk/support/download/archer-mr600