GL-A1300 Slate Plus Travel Router, OpenWrt, VPN, Dual Band

This is very easy to set up. Comes configured as a router for easy connection to your existing LAN or ISP router. Simply plug in the cable supplied into the A1300's WAN port and your existing ISP routers LAN and bingo its ready to go.Its WIFI comes on and once connected using the password on the bottom of the device your connected to its own LAN 192.168.8.0/24 Then just use a browser to access 192.168.8.1 and log in and change the password to something you know. The interface is very simple and efficient.Now you might have purchased this as your VPN gateway for say your Amazon Firestick to use streaming securely.Before you can use any VPN you have to set it up. There's two client choices OPENVPN & WIREGAURD.I have tested both with ProtonVPN and they work a treat and are easy to set up. The easiest to set up is WIREGUARD as you just need to obtain a config file from your VPN provider, save it to your laptop and then under the menu on the router VPN WIREGUARDS CLIENTS just add the config file. Its easy point click, add and it verifies the config and adds the VPN profile to a list of wiredgaurd client options so you can have a few UK, US, etc... then select the one you want it to use and click ... START. It then starts the VPN the VPN indicator goes from amber to green and bingo its all working. Anything you plug into the LAN ports or WIFI now goes down the VPN.Now here's where the designers have really excel'd there's an option under the GLOBAL VPN setting to only allow VPN traffic so this is the 'KILL SWITCH' which means if the VPN stops or fails traffic cannot go to the Internet and expose you.Now for a little more good stuff. I got this for my mum and she won't know about VPN's turning them on or off etc.. by a menu. So if for any reason you need to turn off the VPN ... lets say a TV service like BBC detects the VPN and stops playing or won't start. You have two options, swap the VPN exit node & IP or temp turn off the VPN. So back to my mum and how she can easily do this... There's a little programable toggle switch on the side of the A1300 that you can select it to TURN OFF the VPN when you move it :-)Speed wise its good my 100Bmps WIFI gets close to 60Mbps on both 2.4 and 5Ghz using WIREGUARD. Its a little slower on OPENVPN say 38mbps but both very usable for video which needs 3-6Mbps for 1080p.So no its no gaming superfast wifi device. If you need a faster wifi you need to consider the more expensive models. But most VPN services only get 50-100Mbps in the UK in my experience so this is great for my purpose which is ANY device using this devices WIFI network goes down a VPN :-)Stability. Is very good no drops. If you restart it it auto connects the VPN.Manageability options. Easy access locally via 192.168.8.1 and log in. Or set up access via the GL.iNET GOODCLOUD service. Once enabled on the little router under APPLICATIONS 'GOODCLOUD' and you have created yourself an account on the GOODCLOUD web site, just add the device using the credentials the service provides and you can then access the device via the WEB from anywhere :-) https://www.goodcloud.xyz/Now if you thought things could not get better well they can.. There's an option from https://www.goodcloud.xyz/ login to add your device to a virtual SDWAN site to site network ! So you will need 2 devices. But here's what you can do. Set each device say device 1 up as standard regards its LAN (192.168.8.0/24) default, and your 2nd device at another location as 192.168.9.0/24 so each network is different and add both devices to the site-site service on the web https://www.goodcloud.xyz/ Then any device on either network can communicate via a secure WIREGUARD VPN site - site .. say one device can ping another. Great if you need LAN access across sites.Anyway that's enough for now but I am seriously impressed with this as a former enterprise WAN designer and Security guy. You will not be dissapointed.

Took about 20 minutes for me to set up. I used ChatGPT to guide me through the set up rather than read any instructions, not that I can recall seeing any. Anyway - works better than I expected. I got rid of broadband / fibre at both my houses. Was costing too much. Replaced both with one mobile phone deal with EE with unlimited data at a fraction of the price. Problem was I needed a more reliable and powerful wifi generator than my iPhone. The power and range of this device is extremely good. Better than my last BT wifi box ! I thought I could connect my phone to it wirelessly and I think that is possible with some loss of functionality but I don’t need that facility so I connect my phone to it by wire. Very glad I bought it but some videos on Youtube to help with set up and problem solving would be very helpful! ChatGPT is just as good so no complaints. In the end - I’m delighted with my purchase if only disappointed in the frustration experienced setting it up. PS I have a wifi printer, smart TV and a smart plug which all needed to be connected to the network so my set up was perhaps a little more complicated than some might experience,

Really good - but not fantastic for Tailscale exit node work...I’ve been using the Slate AX (GL-A1300) as a portable Wi-Fi and VPN travel router, and overall it’s a great little device — fast, compact, and feature-rich. It’s especially good for repeater mode on hotel / office networks and for keeping your devices isolated behind your own secure network.What works well:- The hardware is excellent for the price.- Very stable Wi-Fi once configurd.- The web interface is friendly (much easier than stock OpenWrt).- Repeater mode works reliably after the first setup.- Supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and Tailscale out of the box.- Perfect size and power draw for travel.A note for Tailscale users:I wish I had known this before buying it.The Slate does run Tailscale natively, but I have had a battle gettign it to connect to an exit node reliably.Once it is set up to use an exit node (note, to USE and exit node, not be an exit node) it works well.I discovered that after rebooting the router, the exit-node routing sometimes doesn’t engage properly until Tailscale is toggled off/on again in the GUI & via SSH commands.It’s easy to work around and only happens on cold boot, but worth knowing if you rely heavily on Tailscale exit nodes when travelling.Addendum for GL.iNet:The hardware is excellent, but the firmware needed a nudge.It seems by default the Slate overrides its tailscale settings with each boot — which can be fixed making two simple changes:Delay Tailscale startup:- Edit /etc/init.d/tailscale and change:START=80 → START=99(Prevents Tailscale starting before the WAN link exists.)- Disable the automatic cleanup callComment this line:#/usr/sbin/tailscaled --cleanup(Avoids wiping routes that the router actually needs.)After these two fixes, the Slate became perfectly stable across reboots, Wi-Fi changes, travel networks, and captive portals.A future firmware update applying these two tweaks would make the out-of-box experience dramatically smoother.

I must say, this compact device has exceeded my expectations in every way. Its failover and load balancing functions are incredibly efficient, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity. Configuring the VPN server and client options is a breeze, making it perfect for both beginners and tech-savvy users.The built-in Adguard is a game-changer; it flawlessly blocks all ads except those pesky YouTube and video ads. The mobile app adds convenience to the mix, and the hardware toggle button is a thoughtful touch for easy access.I also love how versatile this device is. I’ve successfully attached my external SSD for NAS purposes, and it works like a charm. With WebDav and SMB support, it covers all the bases.In terms of value for money, this device is an absolute steal. The customer support has been top-notch, and the online documentation is easy to follow, making the whole experience even more satisfying. This is a must-have for anyone looking for a reliable and feature-packed networking solution.

I purchased this router to use a work laptop outside the UK. I'm not allowed to install my own software on their laptop so I needed a Uk vpn to access the company servers. Works fine but...Be aware, this takes quite a bit to set up the (Nord) VPN. The inbuilt app will lead you astray. You need to get your Nord VPN credentials from the Nord website and then install their config files.If you just use your normal sign in (email and password) the router won't work in VPN mode. Once sorted it works well.Top tip - the mode switch on the side can be set to conveniently switch VPN on and off.

I’m an amateur at networking but wanted to improve my home network, lock down wan access for smart devices, segregate guest access (or work laptops) and have a VPN to securely route my traffic both back to my home when out & about, and to the internet. I worked with AI and was suggested this device. Basic setup was easy, advanced setup via luci took some learning but made firewall rules and additional SSID setups a breeze. Haven’t gotten my head around VLAN yet.The WiFi strength is really great, I was worried I should’ve spent the extra and got the wifi6 capable 1800 unit but I’m getting 5-8ms ping between floors, to my AppleTV box via moonlight. Massive step up from ISP issued router.Overall a capable little device, beginner friendly with access to advanced features.

Arrived packaged well with everything I needed to get started, and was good to find the power adapter came with the UK as well as EU/US connectors which snap into place.The router was a breeze to set up and the menus have been set up to make it easy to get connected to a host wifi if connecting via another access point. Also works well with my 4G mobile Wifi internet MiFi plugged into USB. This router recognised it as a tethering host and supplies enough USB power to keep it charged and powered. I just needed to change the IP Address range /subnet to avoid clashesI updated the firmware using the official software which again is an easy process. You can let the router do a search or download the latest files from the Gl.inet website and upload to the web gui of the router.Great little travel router with good looks, and foldable wifi antennas to help pack away when travelling whilst giving decent signal when in use.

I use this exclusively for VPN access for the TV. Considerably faster than my previous GLINet router which was 8 years old. Don't know if it is a faster CPU a later version of the software or what but I am getting twice the bandwidth. Also the install setup is really cleaver. I just connected an ethernet cable to my man router and when I booted this up and logged in it had figured out how to configure a unique sub-net and configure the router appropriately so it was online immediately. It did not have a built-in app for ExpressVPN but they have a manual config which I am used to and works very well.

Used on several work trips so far. Immediately installed full OpenWRT and was able to do some pretty funky networking with it to allow access to internet, but also connect into customer network. Myself and my fellow worker could connect to both via Wifi, all while not concerned at all about the Wifi security, or about having to VPN back to our company and then out to the site we were at. Very nice.

This is the 2nd one of these travel routers that I’ve bought. That’s the best recommendation I can give. I’m using my first one as a router for Streamlocator where it performs very well. It also performed well on the few occasions when I had the opportunity to use it as an actual travel router.

Der GL.iNet GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) Router ist eine ausgezeichnete Wahl für Reisende oder als Ergänzung im Heimnetzwerk, dank seiner einfachen Einrichtung, schnellen Verbindungsgeschwindigkeit und vielfältigen Einstellungsmöglichkeiten bereits in der Standardoberfläche.Positive Merkmale:1. Einfache Einrichtung:Die Einrichtung des Routers ist unkompliziert und schnell, was die Nutzung sofort ermöglicht, ohne lange Konfigurationszeiten.2. Schnelle Verbindungsgeschwindigkeit:Der Router ermöglicht eine schnelle Verbindungsgeschwindigkeit, was für reibungsloses Streaming, Gaming oder allgemeine Internetnutzung entscheidend ist.3. Vielfältige Einstellungsmöglichkeiten:Die Standardoberfläche bietet zahlreiche Einstellungsmöglichkeiten, um den Router nach individuellen Bedürfnissen anzupassen und zu optimieren.4. Guter Support:Der Router wird von einem guten Support-Team begleitet, das bei Fragen oder Problemen hilfreich zur Seite steht.5. Integriertes VPN:Ein herausragendes Merkmal des Slate Plus, was ihn in seiner Preisklasse von allen Routern abhebt, ist das integrierte VPN, das zusätzliche Sicherheit und Privatsphäre beim Surfen im Internet bietet.6. Geringer Stromverbrauch:Der Router benötigt wenig Strom, was ihn effizient und umweltfreundlich macht.7. Tragbarkeit:Aufgrund seiner kompakten Größe und Portabilität ist der Router ideal für Reisen geeignet, insbesondere wenn der WLAN-Empfang begrenzt ist, z.B. beim Camping.8. Gute WLAN-Reichweite:Die WLAN-Reichweite des Routers ist ausreichend, um eine Wohnung komplett abzudecken.9. Preis-/Leistung:Absolute Spitzenklasse und zu dem Preis wirklich unschlagbar.Negative Merkmale:1. Schwierigkeiten mit bestimmten VPN-Verbindungen:Es kann Schwierigkeiten geben, eine Verbindung zu bestimmten VPN-Diensten wie NordVPN über OpenVPN herzustellen. (Kann allerdings auch ein Problem vom Anbieter oder vom Benutzer sein!) Allerdings konnte eine erfolgreiche Verbindung über Wireguard von NordVPN (ja, das geht über einen kleinen Umweg) hergestellt werden, was eine Alternative darstellt. Hier läuft der Router immernoch sehr schnell (abhängig vom Internetprovider und der Leistung des VPN-Anbieters) und funktioniert einwandfrei!Fazit:Der GL.iNet GL-A1300 (Slate Plus) Router ist ein hervorragender Reisebegleiter oder eine ideale Ergänzung für das Heimnetzwerk. Mit seiner einfachen Einrichtung, schnellen Verbindungsgeschwindigkeit, vielfältigen Einstellungsmöglichkeiten und dem integrierten VPN verdient er 5 von 5 Sternen und eine klare Kaufempfehlung.

Alles werkt perfect. De bediening is eenvoudig en intuïtief, ook wat betreft de VPN. Na twee weken gebruik ben ik erg tevreden.

Awesome product, superb speed with almost no packet loss as if I'm connected with LAN (without vpn), and coverage, VPN (vpn cuts down speed as usual) is easy to setup as well.Please be aware that it's original power supply is a US plug (flat plug ends), so you will end a US-India plug adapter/converter.