GL.iNet GL-AR300M16 Mini Router, Wi-Fi Converter, OpenWrt Pre-Installed, 300Mbps High Performance, 16MB Nor Flash, 128MB RAM, OpenVPN, Programmable IoT Gateway
Alternative to GL.iNet Mango. This is not on MediaTek Chipset and supports OpenWRT. Wireguard preinstalled.
CamelCamelCamel.
You need your own VPN subscription service.
You will need to set it up with your own VPN provider.
You download an Openvpn/wireguard profile from them and set it up.
Openvpn speeds 15mbit
Wireguard 50mbit
Most VPNs don’t support wireguard being used in this way, even though they do in their own apps. No profile for it.
Just dont get PureVPN for this; their wireguard profile needs to be reconfig every time you want to use it.
If you want to use PureVPN set it up as IKEv2 it's much faster than OpenVPN
On router?
Watch for NordVPN deals. I got it for 3yrs 97% off just after Black Friday
Anyone got a short summary on the use case of this kind of router?
If you do a lot of travel, it can be used to just log in to the accomodation wifi/internet and then provide internet to all your devices without having to log in on each individual device. Useful when places only provide access for one device. VPN allows you to bypass hotel restrictions.
Ahh cool cheers, sounds handy
Basically two main use cases:
1) You have a wired connection which you want to turn into a wireless connection (so functionality is similar to an wireless access point).
2) You have a USB cellular modem, and you want to turn that into a wireless network.
These are generally travel routers, e.g. if you are travelling, you can buy a data SIM that you can put in one of these and everyone can share the network. Given the speed of LTE / 5G, you could easily have a small family sharing a cellular connection on holidays, for instance.
That being said, for a small apartment, these can function perfectly well as your AIO home internet router.
Thanks for the summary and tips!
I bought the mango a couple months ago and tried using it on a few trips but honestly, it doesn't seem worth it.
Tried using it at Sydney airport and Brisbane airport. I either was unsuccessful getting past the pre-WiFi gateway (you know how when you are supposed to enter your email and agree to the terms of use). I tried spoofing my MAC address with my iPhone's MAC address which got past the gatewat and that didn't work. Also, if you use a VPN the internet simply doesn't work. I think they blocked the VPN. And yes, the VPN worked when I tried at it home.
Pretty much the only time I got this to work successfully with a VPN on was at a motel which provided free wifi and didn't have any type of wifi gateway, it was pretty just connect to the wifi as if you were at home.
Honestly, not worth it
Was worried about this, will mull it over, not a big investment to try it out
Yeah the couple of times I've tried to use mine on trips it's been a massive pain in the ass. I'm not bringing it on my trip to Japan this time. Not worth the space in my luggage.
did you try disabling "DNS Rebinding Attack Protection"?
How does it compare to the mango?
It's compared at the bottom of the listing page.
| Item | GL-MT300N-V2 (Mango) | GL-AR300M16 (this one) |
|---|---|---|
| Wi-Fi Speed | 300Mbps (2.4GHz) | 300Mbps (2.4GHz) |
| CPU | MTK7628NN, @580Mhz SoC | QCA9531, @650MHz SoC |
| Memory / Storage | DDR2 128MB / FLASH 16MB | DDR2 128MB / FLASH 16MB |
| Ethernet Ports | 2 x 10/100Mbps | 2 x 10/100Mbps |
| USB Ports | USB2.0 | USB2.0 |
| Dimension | 58x58x25mm | 58x58x25mm |
| Weight | 39g | 40g |
| Multiple Modes | ✓ | ✓ |
| External Antennas | X | X |
| EAP Support | X | ✓ |
TLDR - its one gram heavier.
TLDR - "faster" CPU
Shadow for the EAP support on that list - personal username/password logins for WPA-Enterprise.
https://www.gl-inet.com/products/compare/
More standard chipset so better support
How's the wifi range on this? Also does it support wifi 6?
Lol wifi 6. On this potato
It doesn’t support wifi 6 or ac. The range is small. Think of it as a mini router for travel but with OpenWRT.
for only $20 more, this is a much better device.
https://www.amazon.com.au/GL-iNet-GL-SFT1200-Secure-Travel-R…
Definitely. Haha I am buying it for the slightly smaller size despite having a slate AX. Probably just giving myself a reason to pull the trigger.
anyone used this to bypass roku geo lock?
I just bought one because I like the look of it…
Please ready the tech specifications before buying, the ethernet ports are only 10/100
The theory is to piggyback on hotel WIFI network and run VPN and share the piggyback network amongst your devices. But the reality is that some hotel WIFIs are crappy and strict that you must count on your lucks to get a decent connection.
Any advice on whether this would be useful on a cruise, possibly splitting a single overpriced internet subscription between three people.
I suspect so but we opted to not get internet on our recent cruise at our phones JUST reached land
I’m wondering too. Upcoming cruise I think I might buy to try for fun.
I bought several because in theory they're cool as heck but the reality is I think I've used it once :(
Recently went on a cruise, may have been useful there actually as I think wifi can be locked per device?
Mango didn’t really work with my Telstra 4gx modem, it only detects it once in a while and I had to ssh into the modem to see that there’s a usb device issue, according to the logs. I had contacted the seller, they said I needed to provide extra power for a usb modem. I don’t have the power cable to rule that out so can’t really argue with them lol In the end they offered me a $20 coupon so that I can make another donation…
For those who know they will definitely use it, the higher end model looks way better. Wifi 6, usb C and overall cleaner. Obviously pricey though https://amzn.asia/d/iFyvqc8
Since the PlayStation Portal can't connect to public wifi's (no browser for login) can I use this instead? Can this connect to public wifi's? How do you login?
Yep it can. You log in via the portal using the GL.iNet app or a web browser on any device.
Use repeater mode to then broadcast it's own wifi (using the connected public wifi's internet) which you can set your own password or have none.
Thank you for the thorough response.
Just to clarify, it lets you open a login page for public wifis that open up a webpage to login? In repeater mode?
I'd probably go the more expensive model. But let me get this right. Personally I'd be using it for travel. So would this connect to the hotel's wifi and then also allow wifi access for my devices to this router?
ie is it possible to connect to wifi, and then share that wifi to other devices? Also will it pop up those screens so you can enter room number/password etc?
I have the old, now discontinued/superseded version of the Slate for travel and as a home VPN router and it's great. I'd recommend the current Slate AX (GL-AXT1800) if it fits your budget.
Yep they do everything you described and much more.
You use the GL.iNet app or a web browser on any device to connect the router to hotel wifi, and enter room number and password etc on those captive portal screens (you only have to do this once for the router, all your other devices will connect to the routers own wifi so no captive portal screens/logins to deal with). You then broadcast your own private secure wifi from the router with a password you set, and connect all your devices to that. If the hotel has a device limit, they only see you're using one device (the router) regardless of how many you connect.
Awesome, sounds really good. Appreciate your comments. Have grabbed the Slate Plus version. About $72. I've been working remotely and always just use the public Wi-Fi, which of course has not been ideal. This should be exactly what I need to keep my data secure.
Also I gather you connect all your personal devices to it once and from then on all you need to do it login to the WiFi once, sign in, and your devices will all be connected. Instead of having to connect each device to hotel/etc.
It shows 40.90 on my amazon… I missed it?
Can you connect two mobile phones to this and share their data similtaneously to say a laptop for greater speeds?
no
That’s not how the internet works
$27.81 now with the 15% off coupon
I have a mango, shadow and recently got an opal.
Mango and then Shadow were/are my tiny travel router that is one of the first things i'd setup in any hotel, so all my devices can connect and I dont need to configure them. They'r tiny and light. Like having a box of matches in your bag.
Downside is the range is good for a hotel studio/suite and since it is single band the speed isn't going to compete with what you have at home. It is also Micro-USB - not a big deal, I have a USB-C to micro-USB adapter tip that lives with it.
The opal is faster, better range… and MUCH bigger. USB-C power, 3 wired ethernet port, BIGGER.. Shadow/Mango are Airpod Pro case size, vs a Costanza Wallet. More than 4 Mangos/Shadows in size.
For people having trouble with the hotel login pages, try diabling "DNS Rebinding Attack Protection".
I used the Opal model on a trip to the USA this year and only had around a 50% success connect rate and had a zero % connect rate to wired. When I could connect I just used a normal vpn on the pc or phone
This is actually cheaper now despite expired, there’s a 15% coupon. Was unable to cancel this order though
Just grabbed the Slate Plus version, looks to be a bit faster. Came to about $72 with the auto coupon.
Wtf… just arrived, it’s tiny!!
Great, isn’t it??
it is impressive, so much so that ive returned it and got the most expensive Slate AX Model.
Was that just because you want something bigger?? I’d go for size does matter. The small one I think does 300Mb/s anyway. When was the last time you used a public wifi or hotel connection that could do anywhere near that?
@GOCAT9: The big 'disadvantage' of a single band box is that by repeating and transmitting on the same band you lose half your bandwidth. So with the cr@ppy public wifi you get here youre losing half of the pathetic speed to start with. Using a dual band you can repeat off one band and transmit off the other and conserve your bandwidth. Of course you pay by having a bigger, heavier box that has higher power requirements.
Pity the USB150 is a dead line as that is/was a great little portable jigger. Luckily still got a couple…
Noob question. Do I need to have my own VPN service/subscription or is it included in the device?