Travelers Are Secretly Using These VPN Routers for Better Security

Travelers Are Secretly Using These VPN Routers for Better Security, A while back I made an article entitled “Don’t Get Fired: Essential Information That You Need to Know About VPNs.” In that piece I broke down what Virtual Private Networks are and exactly how they work. Today I want to show you the hardware and software VPN technologies that I use and demonstrate the best hardware VPN router that I have found.

Before getting into the technical details, I want to be clear about who this is for. This article is for the expat living in another country who would like access to the content of US streaming services, and for the remote worker who would like their computer’s location to appear to be in a different physical location like the United States.

However, I want to give remote workers a word of caution. This article is for informational purposes only and I take no responsibility for your employment or lack thereof. If you are confused by that statement, please go back and read the previous article on VPN technologies first.

Introducing the GL.iNet Slate AXT1800

With that out of the way, let’s talk about this router. When I created my previous article on VPNs, I fully intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the router I was using at that time. It was a smaller version called the GL.iNet AR750. Today I am using the newer GL.iNet Slate AXT1800, which does everything the previous router did and so much more.

Travelers Are Secretly Using These VPN Routers for Better Security The first thing that attracted me to the Slate AXT1800 is its small, portable size combined with its powerful features. This little router is loaded with features for the digital nomad, remote worker, and traveler.

Key Specs and Features

The Slate AXT1800 comes packed with impressive specifications:

Wi-Fi 6 with speeds up to 1.2 gigabits per second on the 5 GHz channel and 600 megabits per second on the 2.4 GHz channel
Three gigabit Ethernet ports, two for LAN and one WAN port
Network attached storage capabilities with up to 512 gigabytes of storage by inserting a mini SD card, effectively turning the router into a shared file server
Up to 120 simultaneous wireless devices supported
Multi-WAN support for connecting several different internet connections and using them for load balancing or failover

This fast little router will handle streaming, gaming, and just about anything else with ease on a high-speed internet connection.

VPN Client and Server Capabilities

The main feature worth highlighting on the Slate AXT1800 is its VPN client and server capabilities right out of the box.

With many routers it is common to be able to set up a server-side VPN to connect two remote locations together, which is known as a site-to-site VPN. What is less common is for a router to also offer the ability to connect as a client to a VPN software service like NordVPN.

NordVPN is the software service used here because it is so versatile. It can be installed on iPhones, iPads, Macs, Fire Sticks, and Android devices. It also works right out of the box with the Slate AXT1800 simply by entering your NordVPN credentials and using the OpenVPN protocol.

On the older AR750 router, configuration files had to be imported manually. On the Slate AXT1800, you simply tell it where you would like to connect and it downloads the configuration files automatically from the NordVPN servers. Setup was complete within minutes of installing the router.

The benefit of having NordVPN running on the router is that every device connected behind it can be on the VPN tunnel. The word “can” is important here, because the router also supports VPN policy routing. This means you can configure it so that only specific traffic goes through the VPN.

For example, you could set it up to only route traffic from streaming services like Hulu, Discovery Plus, or Netflix through the VPN tunnel, while everything else uses your regular internet connection.

VPN Connection Speeds

One of the primary reasons for upgrading from the GL.iNet AR750 to the Slate AXT1800 was speed. The AR750 only offered 13 megabits per second over a VPN connection using the OpenVPN protocol, and up to 50 megabits per second using the WireGuard protocol.

On the Slate AXT1800, you can achieve VPN speeds of up to 120 megabits per second using OpenVPN, and a remarkable 550 megabits per second using WireGuard. Even 120 megabits over a VPN tunnel is more than enough speed to do just about anything comfortably.

Multi-WAN and Failover Support

The last feature worth highlighting is the ability to have different types of WAN connections simultaneously connected to this router. WAN connections are your internet connections. In Mexico, for example, these might be providers like Telmex, Izzy, or Total Play for home internet. You might also have cellular service as a backup.

Here is how it works in practice. You can connect your primary fiber internet service through the WAN port, and at the same time tether your iPhone via USB as a backup hotspot. If your primary fiber connection goes down for any reason, such as a cable being cut, the router will automatically switch over to the hotspot and use your cell phone as backup internet. This happens automatically and keeps all of your wireless and wired devices connected without any manual intervention.

This is a significant capability for remote workers. Being able to use your phone as a backup internet provider for all devices behind the router is something you rarely see in small portable travel routers like this.

Real World Examples

Example 1: Accessing US Government and Utility Websites

One practical test was trying to connect to the government website for a local energy co-op in Atlanta to pay a utility bill. The website itself loads fine, but when attempting to make a payment, the co-op’s firewall blocks foreign traffic. This is not an uncommon firewall policy for state, local, or federal government entities for services that are not meant to be accessed from outside the country. School districts and most large companies follow similar policies.

With the VPN router configured to appear as a US-based connection, these kinds of access restrictions can be bypassed for legitimate personal use.

Example 2: Streaming Services

Once connected through the VPN, the router makes it appear as though you are located in the United States. This gives access to the full US catalogs on services like Netflix, and it also works well for services like Hulu and Discovery Plus that do not currently offer service outside of the country.

FAQ

Who is the GL.iNet Slate AXT1800 designed for?

It is designed for expats living abroad who want access to US streaming services, and for remote workers who need their internet traffic to appear as though it is coming from a specific location like the United States.

What VPN protocols does the Slate AXT1800 support?

It supports both OpenVPN and WireGuard. OpenVPN delivers speeds up to 120 megabits per second on this router, while WireGuard can reach up to 550 megabits per second.

Does the Slate AXT1800 work with NordVPN?

Yes. NordVPN works right out of the box with the Slate AXT1800. You simply enter your NordVPN credentials and the router downloads the configuration files automatically, without needing to import them manually.

What is VPN policy routing and why is it useful?

VPN policy routing allows you to choose which devices or types of traffic go through the VPN and which use your regular internet connection. For example, you can route only streaming service traffic through the VPN while keeping everything else on your normal connection.

What is multi-WAN and how does the failover feature work?

Multi-WAN allows you to connect multiple internet sources to the router at the same time. The failover feature automatically switches to a backup internet connection, such as a phone hotspot tethered via USB, if your primary connection goes down.

Can I use this router as a file server?

Yes. By inserting a mini SD card of up to 512 gigabytes, the Slate AXT1800 can function as a shared network file server for all devices connected to it.

How many devices can connect to the Slate AXT1800 at once?

The router supports up to 120 simultaneous wireless devices.

Conclusion

The GL.iNet Slate AXT1800 is an outstanding hardware VPN router for expats and remote workers who need reliable, flexible, and fast VPN capabilities in a small portable package. Its combination of Wi-Fi 6 speeds, multi-WAN failover, NordVPN integration, VPN policy routing, and impressive VPN throughput makes it one of the best travel routers available. The ability to automatically switch to a phone hotspot as backup internet alone makes it worth considering for anyone who depends on a stable connection while living or working abroad.