GL.iNet - GL-AXT1800 / Slate AX

> What inspired you to start your selfhosting journey? What's one project you're most proud of so far, and what's the most expensive piece of equipment you've acquired for? My laptop was too loud to keep it on at night. So I moved most services on dedicated hardware. Most expensive was a Slate AX, lol, but that's not part of the permanent infra. > How would winning the unit(s) from this giveaway help you take your setup to the next level? Comet would allow me to manage the monster in the garage in the fortuitous case sshd fails. Flint 3 would just be cool, even if it does look like Batman's router. > Which channels do you most frequently use to learn about or purchase IT equipment? Amazon, it's always Amazon. > Looking ahead, if we were to do another giveaway, what is one product from another brand (e.g., a server, storage device or ANYTHING) that you'd love to see as a prize? A radio-transparent cupboard for all my apartment's network equipment!

I have the GL-AXT-1800. I have traveled extensively all over the world with it for the last 3-4 years. I use NordVPN with it to get FuboTV, Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV and Youtube and Apple Music. No problems works great and all my other devices auto connect to my SSID using the NordVPN link from my router. I also travel with my Apple TV hard wired into my GLinet router. I bring an HDMI cable to use on the hotel tv. I usually just remove the Hotel HDMI cable and use mine. I also bring a couple TriBit bluetooth speakers. It works for me and sounds awesome. You can also add NordVPN to your Apple TV. It works by double VPN as well!

How small you wanna go? Look at Gli-net's travel routers. I carry one in my luggage and they're great.

How small you wanna go? Look at Gli-net's travel routers. I carry one in my luggage and they're great.

Update: slate ax purchased and works like a champ. Recommend.

A major drawback to using a travel router as a permanent home router compared to normal routers is the wifi range. You'll find that the antennas of the travel routers are much smaller and lower powered than those of traditional routers meaning the range is hindered. If you live in an apartment then this may not be an issue, however if you live in a house, that could be problematic. Travel routers are meant to be used in close proximity to the connecting devices ie within a hotel room for example. So don't expect a miracle when it comes to the wifi range (compared to traditional routers). In regards to Beryl AX vs Slate AX, it would all depend on what you need. I doubt you would actually feel the difference in speed between both in the real world, but the Slate has an additional gigabit port that might be beneficial to hard wire one of your devices on your network. If you have a switch, then this advantage isn't really one to consider though. If you're really thinking about using a travel router as your permanent home router, then it's best that you think about your environment. If you live in a smaller place (studio or apartment), then it might work really well for you. If you live in a larger place with plenty of walls, then I would recommend getting another Flint. I hope this helps 🙂

I have an older Slate and use it as my travel router. It can connect to my FWG with no issues over wireguard. The FWG applies all of the normal security rules to the traffic, just like being at home.  I personally prefer the Slate for travel and would highly recommend it.  On a side note, I have had issues with some places not allowing VPN traffic, including OpenVPN on port 443. So, in a situation like that, the Purple would be better as it can apply all of the proper network security measures on its own.

well you need to touch their modem, thats how the internet connection gets into the property. if they have a seaprate modem and router then you can unplug their router and plug in yours, I personally like the GL-iNet traver routers, but any router would do in this case. however if they have a combo router-modem then your gonna need to plug your router into theirs anyway to get internet, and while you could setup a VPN on the GL.Inet that sends all your trafic though it, but at that point you might aswell save yourself the money on the router and just run the VPN directly on your devices.

GL.Inet 100% as it runs relativley pure OpenWRT and has a bunch of nice features that while you might not use them this time are great for other times, like you can connect it to public wifi and then your devices to it to isolate them, and as mentioned above setup a VPN service on it to send all your traffic though the VPN. i'm pretty sure TP link dosnt have these features or if it does they are way more basic. I deff know it dosnt let you connect to public Wifi's and use that as a wan connection cuz iv had to reaseach it recently due to moving to an appartment with shared wifi.

1. I got into self hosting because I was tired of paying for services that never quite delivered how I wanted and stopped working if my internet did. 2. I travel enough that I frequently use an older Gl.Net router to provide some protection and get more of my devices connected if I have to pay for a connection. I have also been wanting a KVM for my home server so I can better administer it from afar. In particular one that might let me restart or power it up with button presses or a jumper interface. 3.I learn a lot from Reddit, but probably most from encountering a problem and researching it until I find a solution that suits my needs and capabilities. That research takes me everywhere… but mostly Reddit these days. 4. I’d love a lower-power feature rich NAS. I consult for a lot of friends and families, and these have become a popular request. Ugreen might have the best offering for now, but I do feel like there’s still room for improvement. Edit: Products I’d choose if I won would be the POE KVM and travel router.

Most “normal” routers cannot use an existing wifi network as their WAN. GL.iNet is really best in class when it comes to this.

I use my GL routers while traveling and then use them to combine multiple devices to phone home via wireguard, no issues in any aspect. I view them as different use cases for me personally. I wouldnt mind the loss of a Slate/Beryl/Mango as a Firewalla given the different functions. Also I generally like having the extra lan ports on the GL Routers at some locations... Added, this is for trading situations where I hard wire 2 laptops I use in trading for and use a 3 port router.