Travel Router

[bbunge]

I am currently in a motel 300 miles from home. All my WIFI devices are connected to a GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 travel router that I purchased from Amazon for $34.99. And, the travel router connected to the motel WIFI has a Wireguard client connected to my home router so all my clients connect through a secure tunnel! And they get DNS from my Pi-Hole on my home LAN.
While I don't travel much and I like to try things this GL-SFT1200 is the best $35 I have spent in a long time. Getting it to connect through the motel captive portal involved cloning the MAC address from a client (used a random MAC) connected once to the Motel WIFI. Google is your friend for a how to....

 

[Tech9]

Disappointed. Where did your brand loyalty go?

You could pay ASUS 3x more for BE wireless and 2.5GbE port... and Asuswrt-Merlin support.

 

[CaptainSTX]

I am currently in a motel 300 miles from home. All my WIFI devices are connected to a GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 travel router that I purchased from Amazon for $34.99. And, the travel router connected to the motel WIFI has a Wireguard client connected to my home router so all my clients connect through a secure tunnel! And they get DNS from my Pi-Hole on my home LAN.
While I don't travel much and I like to try things this GL-SFT1200 is the best $35 I have spent in a long time. Getting it to connect through the motel captive portal involved cloning the MAC address from a client (used a random MAC) connected once to the Motel WIFI. Google is your friend for a how to....

I am a big fan of Gl-inet travel routers. Just upgraded from a Slate AR750S to a Slate 7. More expensive than your unit but has lots of features. Slate 7 has ARMv8 four core processor which can handle WireGuard clients with download throughput of 300 Mbps+ using the VPN tunnel. Also has Ad Guard, Zero Tier and Tailscale installed. Supports dual WAN with the option of either load balancing or fall over and with limited testing this functionality seems to work. VPN offers a complete set of options for both server and clients including VPN director options. Firmware on this model features automatic cloning of a smart phone's MAC address which makes connecting to hotel WiFi very straight forward. Router has two 2.5 gig Ethernet ports. Over kill in features on this router for a device which is marketed as a travel router. My only concern is the Slate 7 runs hot at 74 C but it does come with a two-year warranty.

 

[routerq]

Q on smart phone's MAC address : Most phones now come with the feature to randomize the MAC address, so does your Travel Routers cloned MAC address change when you move to different hotel or re-authenticate your wifi service at the same hotel?

 

[Tech9]

Most phones now come with the feature to randomize the MAC address

You have to disable this feature. Otherwise you need to authenticate your device every time you connect.

 

[bbunge]

Q on smart phone's MAC address : Most phones now come with the feature to randomize the MAC address, so does your Travel Routers cloned MAC address change when you move to different hotel or re-authenticate your wifi service at the same hotel?

You can clone the MAC address from the device. Using a random MAC is a problem when you switch from the hotel WIFI to the travel router WIFI. You can also copy or wright down the random MAC used to connect to the hotel then manually add it to the travel router. Turning off random MAC is the easiest, though not mandatory.

 

[CaptainSTX]

You can clone the MAC address from the device. Using a random MAC is a problem when you switch from the hotel WIFI to the travel router WIFI. You can also copy or wright down the random MAC used to connect to the hotel then manually add it to the travel router. Turning off random MAC is the easiest, though not mandatory.

Turn off phone's Wi-Fi MAC randomizer before connecting to hotel's Wi-Fi. That way both your phone can connect to the hotel's WIFI when away from room and in your room you can connect to your travel router's Wi-Fi.

Nice feature of GL-inet travel routers is that you can connect the router to the hotel's wifi on the 2.4 Ghz band and then use your travel router's 5 Ghz band in the room.

 

[fruitcornbread]

Disappointed. Where did your brand loyalty go?

You could pay ASUS 3x more for BE wireless and 2.5GbE port... and Asuswrt-Merlin support.

There's a dual-band Ubiquiti Travel Router that coming out soon. SWX-UTR recently hit FCC around last week so it'll get released probably within 1 to 2 months.

2.4GHz 2x2
5GHz 2x2
2 Ethernet ports
USB-C Powered
USB-C Passthrough
BLE

 

[Tech9]

There's a dual-band Ubiquiti Travel Router that coming out soon.

Ah, no... I have GL.iNet model. This is the Toyota in travel routers. Fair price, reliable, does the job.

 

[bbunge]

Ah, no... I have GL.iNet model. This is the Toyota in travel routers. Fair price, reliable, does the job.

Funny you should mention Toyota after you poked me about brand loyalty. My family has driven Toyota for 33 years. Only had one breakdown which was my fault for not changing a timing belt. Today it is hybrids! As for Asus loyalty? I am not as loyal to Asus as I once was. My Asus are working OK for now but something better may catch my notice....