Great review. Concise and thorough! Only one point missed - ATX 1800 has MIMO Wi-Fi, which "should" have better throughput when acting as a wireless repeater. Running these things off a USB-C power bank or charger is a huge benefit when travelling.
I just bought both of these through amazon because I had not found this video at time of purchase. When reviewing the specification sheets for both there is no mention of MIMO for the MT3000, but it is mentioned in the specification sheet for the AXT1800. They’re both Wi-Fi 6 compatible so they should both have MIMO but its odd that its not mentioned anywhere on the MT3000 website or specification sheet.
Hello from Toronto, Canada! A well-structured and articulate review. I have the GL-AXT1800 router for well over a year and it is very good router. In fact, I used that router during my recent trip (for pleasure - it's not just me who went on a trip; my dad came along with me) to Ottawa (Canada's capital - which is situated within the Canadian province of Ontario) and Montreal (a city in the Canadian province of Quebec). By the way, I used that router as a "repeater" to connect with the hotel Wi-Fi in my hotel room that I stayed in those cities. In summary, the router that I had mentioned is a leisure traveller's best friend.
I appreciate your detailed overview, it helped me understand what it can do and see the options. I want to buy one of these as I feel it would be a great security measure, and learning experience.
This nifty little semi-little device works well on the jankiest of intermittent connections if you configure it to port lockdown/Internet Kill Switch WITH OVPN or WG client configuration set). With the 750 device made in 2021 by GL INet, it failed to work on such intermittent, spotty janky WiFi SSID connections.
Same I modified my stralink and removed the stock router completely I get more than 300M where I live, I also use wireguard heavily hence I made the same choice as you.
I work in factory automation and often have to connect PLCs and PCs. When I have to work in a narrow place or for a long time, I put a table some distance away from the equipment and connect this router to the equipment to communicate wirelessly. Since this device uses power through a Type-C port, it is convenient to use it even in places where there is no outlet, because it can be used using a power bank of a smartphone that is commonly used. However, the downside is that you can only specify a limited number of IP bands when setting up the LAN. If the IP of the equipment is different from the IP band supported by this device, there is no way to communicate. It has its own openwrt support, but it doesn't seem to be able to unlock the restricted IP bands even with this feature. It would be good to know. This article may be a little weird because it's a translator.
@@MikeFaucher In the System / Upgrade section, I have turned on the Preview for early release of firmware updates. In the Applications section where Tailscale is listed, it is flagged as "beta".
Great break down I use these routers to brilliant devices. Have ax as my travel router and the older 1300 as backup UniFi wan with usb modem in the gli work brill.
Not yet, but I really need to, as so many devices now use Tailscale. I started to do a video on the GL shortly after I did this video, but the support was not yet fully polished and was a little buggy. It is still on my list. Thanks for the reminder..
Much the same way. Typically you attach the travel router to the internet via the internet section to hotel wifi and when you log into your browser it will take you to the landing page to fill out your credential and it logs in the device and you should be good to go. It has worked for me multiple times. Great question.
EDIT: I do not see EAP mentioned in the beta release notes for 4.6. As mentioned in another comment, it's hardware limited - the MediaTek chipset that doesn't support EAP.
But tbh I didn't check it, I only see that GL.iNet Staff mentioned to support it in 4.6 in "Is no WPA2 Enterprise on Beryl AX a hardware limitation?" theme
Thank you👍 I just purchased the MT3000 model and used your provided link. Excellent video on comparisons on how to use it. I travel and I need a good VPN and other Wi-Fi security.
Excellent review. Thank you very much! I've scoured the net for a good comparison of these two devices and yours was by far the best! I even reached out to GL - iNet and their answer was far less useful than your review! MT3000 is the best choice for me as well. Best of luck to all trying to figure this out. So confusing to us non-techie folks.
Hey Mike! Can you explain how I could connect this to a plane’s WiFi network? Specifically I’m assuming I’d need my laptop open to connect it right? But then can I close my laptop and have the router stay connected? Is there a tutorial on how to do this?
Interesting question. In theory, it should work the same as a hotel but the airlines may use different filters so I can't be sure. I am taking a trip in late February so I will try and test it out then. Thanks for the question.
Hey Mike, Great video, good logic & order to the review and tables. I have setup several home routers so I am asking if you could do a specific video using the GL.iNet routers at a remote location and VPN in to a home network and the setup details, this is where I'm not an expert. I have a comcast Xfinity XB7 router and it would be super helpful shoing an example of how to use this router remotely to VPN to home. One super painful issue is some OTT Services (ie. Hulu seem to work when the laptop was at home recently and it works fine remotely, but if I didn't launch hulu at home in some given time, then I'm remote it won't play. I believe if I were VPN-ed home it would work. I assume i need to use and additional VPN software (subscription) so would be great to hear recommendations / comparisons on those services. Thanks!!
Mike, super cool review. Had one observation regarding your usb attached storage transfer test. The MT3000 managed to achieve read speeds of about 30MB/s which seems very low given the USB3 interface should have a theoretical bandwidth of 5GB/s and if the test was conducted over the 1Gb port should still be able to push nearly 100MB/s. Can you elaborate why you think only 30MB/s were possible. Over WIFI6 this number should be even higher since it's higher bandwidth over the lan port.
Probably because the hardware doesn't support it, as they have stated. It's up to the chipset to do it - not the OpenWRT firmware, and QCA supports it (slate) while MediaTek (beryl) doesn't.
I have the GL-iNet "Mango" GL-MT300N-V2 . It is cheap, simple and easy to use. I just needed to be able to repeat my phone's hotspot wifi and run it through ethernet for my home network. I have unlimited data on my phone.
Great Review. I spend 4 nights a week traveling. I went with the GL-AXT1800 because it can be used on a EAP network; which is used in most hotels I stay at. I'd prefer the GL-MT3000 but it would be useless on many hotel networks; or at least useless for me. Thanks for the in-depth review.
It appears you may be mixing up EAP with captive portals. In reality, most hotels mainly use captive portals, not EAP. On the GL-MT3000, you can manage this by cloning the MAC address of another connected device. As for the real EAP, it's feasible to handle it through LuCI interface.
@@RomanTruman Actually you set up your travel router first as the captive portal will remember the first MAC address it authenticates with. From then on just remember to keep the travel router active. I've done this numerous times with the older model which is the Beryl (GL-MT1300). I am happy to see they still continue to support this model as I was able to upgrade the firmware from version 3 to latest version 4 firmware.
Can you say more about EAP difference between these routers? It seems the missing feature in the MT3000 is deal breaker if it cannot connect to school and corporate networks using EAP (special username and password). Even many hotels have EAP. What are your thoughts? I want to get MT3000 (cheaper, runs cooler, better chipset). 😢
You are right in the MT3000 does not support EAP though that is mainly referring to client to router. Though I have tested it in multiple hotels, I can not say for sure, but I believe it will work with the understanding that your clients will connect to your travel router in the conventional way. You would really have to try it in your application to be sure. Sorry i was not more helpful.
@@MikeFaucher update on this topic, looks like with 4.6.2 firmware EAP seems to be working fine on beryl ax. I have not tested it yet but some people on their forum have already confirmed it is working.
I installed Tailscale on my laptop and used this to connect to my home. I am planning to use Wireguard or Tailscale when I get caught up. Thanks for the feedback. Will do a video if it works out.
Thank you. I'm in the research phase. I'm leaning towards the MT 3000 now. I understand what the repeater mode is. But, what is the difference between tethering and cellular?
A micro SD slot would have been a huge benefit. Instead, we have to plug and unplug a USB stick into the back and we have to remember to do it before plugging the device in to power.
@@gregphillips3806 I have one but it doesn't change my comment because it's external to the router. Plus, you have something sticking out of the router that's just begging to get bashed by something.
HI Mike Great video. Which do you suggest or recommend to use with a Sim card as I would need this router to give me internet. Thank you again Mike God Bless
These do not support SIM cards directly but you can get a USB modem from T-Mobile. Verizon, or AT&T and plug into the USB port. Thanks for the feedback and hope that helps.
Hi Mike, great video which of these routers would be best for me to use my iPhone 15 as a hotspot and the router to broadcast to my other devices when traveling, including a blink camera with sync module. Thanks a million for your time!
I assume you can create private LAN intranet between your wifi connected devices? my edge-case would be to create a portable smart home network without the internet.
I have a question. I travel and use it to connect my laptops phones and iptv for streaming. I am very low on the experience with the technology. In easy terms I want everything to run well in hotels and just hook it up that can stream video as well. Which one would be best?
Either of these will do a great job. I also recently reviewed the TP-Link (th-cam.com/video/GNw7L6WiO-Y/w-d-xo.html), which was pretty easy to set up. The GL.iNets are almost identical in features. The TP-Link is a bit more basic but easier to use. I hope that helps.
I have a Gl.iNet gl-A1300-ccc travel router. I am stumped how to setup Expressvpn on it. The other issue I am running into is that I can only connect to expressvpn on my laptop with the light UDP protocol and the USA-Los Angeles locations do to the county I am currently visiting. Any help would be greatly appreciated .
I often see comments mixing EAP and captive portals. But as I understand it, these both are completely different authentication methods. So the MT 3000 not having Eap shouldn't be a problem for most daily uses(hotels, etc.), or am I wrong?
Interesting question. Not supporting EAP is not an issue for virtually all public access such as hotels, coffee shops, etc. EAP is more of a framework that allows you to use different methods to authenticate where passwords are not sufficient to provide adequate security. EAP itself has multiple methods an options. I would not personally worry about EAP for a travel router as it should not impact you in anyway. Great question.
In my opinion, the better WiFi performance test would be to connect two computers to the router: one via WiFi and the other wired via Ethernet LAN port. Set up iperf3 pair and test bandwidth that way.
@@MikeFaucher I suggest iPerf for bandwidth testing, because most routers (including GLiNet) have a very bandwidth-limitee USB ports and they are usually a bottleneck in the chain, even if they are declaring to be USB 3.x. PS: I own couple of GL.iNet routers. And while they are not perfect, they are really good as a travel routers.
One of the best comparisons I have seen, the Beryl does seem like a suitable option for me as well. Don't forget to use the link in the description if you buy any of these.
You can use you phone with the travel router. The benefits are extra security, sharing one connection, and sharing files on a portable device. Also, not eveyone wants to use their phones as a hot spot and some have to pay. Great question.
Sorry if I sound dumb. What was the last test for ? Does it mean beryl 3000 is going to give my laptop while traveling, a faster wireless connection and overall higher internet speed compared to axt1800 ?
It means in my testing it was more capable of faster speeds however you will be limited to the internet speed you are connected too. The faster speed can also help if you are playing media from an attached USB drive. Hope that helps.
@@MikeFaucher Actually, in repeater mode, the Beryl AX draws about 3 to 6 watts in actual use; A laptop port should be rated at 2.1Amps minimum at 5V; so more than capable. 15 Watts is the rating on the included Beryl AX power supply. Still I would run it off from a good quality power bank; check the voltage under load to see if it's somewhere around 4.8 to 5.1V under load, if you need portability. IF one adds additional packages, enables extra features, or attaches devices like external USB hard drives, power use will rise; but overall, I'd not recommend the extra load on the laptop; but would use a USB power bank instead; If I needed it only for a few minutes, I might use it attached to the laptop. I do occasionally use it off from a USB battery bank; so I can slap the battery bank on the dash or console with the router sitting on the dash; I'd rather not have additional cables tying it up to the laptop. I keep the router and cables and power bank inside a waterproof case in the vehicle for such use, in a cool shady spot.
Hi, did you have any issue with slate vs the Beryl on captive pages? I have a Slate/AXT1800 whilst my friend had a Beryl. He was able to get to the web, to log into the captive page to activate the wifi- ie. key in room number and name. No matter what I did, I wasn't able to do that with the slate. Basically, I have wifi on but no internet. Did you notice this issue? Thanks
I assume you are talking about the MT3000 and not the the 1300 which I did have issues with. So far, as of today the only issue I had with the MT3000 was on a cruise ship. Hotels have been fine.
@@tmotten Ideally both, but the other option is to install it on your router and then use a client app for everything that will attach in the event your travel router does not support it.
@@MikeFaucherI live in a residence with captive portal login, the MT3000 doesn't have EAP protocol how did you manage, or did you go with MAC cloning? Thank you very much
Hi Mike, Thank you for the review. 1) Will these travel routers make accessing the internet secure after choosing the repeater function and connecting to public wifis at hotels and cafes? For Wireguard VPN to work, do I need to subscribe to a 3rd party VPN service? Or Wireguard a standalone VPN that I can use with these travel routers?
Your anyti first question is yes. As for the second question, no you don’t need to subscribe to anything. Just need a device in your network that runs it.
@@lihihongan5289 This needs 15W of power, which many laptops can't put out. If yours can, it should work but it will not connect and power through the same port.
I just got the MT3000, my issue is, especially when travelling, but even at home, we do not use a PC. Only Apple phones, and some handheld gaming devices. Am I wasting my time having one of these without a PC? Is it even possible to use without a PC? Thanks
@@MikeFaucher great. Thanks. It’s the how I’m struggling with. Most videos I’ve found talk about how great the device is, but fail to show how to get the best from it. More research required my end. Thanks.
I have not personally tried one but I hear good things. My preference is to stick with UniFi for support of VLANs as it makes it easier to secure your network. I am sure you will be happy with Eero but I don't have personal experience.
That is a pretty long answer for the comments, but I would suggest you search my channel for VPN setups. I am not sure what type of router you have so I am not sure where to direct you. If you can give me more information on your hardware I will try to help.
@@MikeFaucher thank you I have a GL MT3000 and I would like to use it for work from my laptop using VPN service I m using in this case PI VPN . Is this a 100% working solution to be able to work overseas with my Location set for usa ?
This device is to connect either wired or wirelessly to any internet source and allows you to connect multiple devices to it and share the connection such as paid portals in a hotel.
My issue with those routers using them in hotel wifi is that afaik you need to turn off VPN kill switch to pass the captive portal which inevitably leads to data being exposed until you enable the VPN Killswitch again. Anyone got a good advice to avoid this?
@@MikeFaucher ok. The only workaround that comes to my mind is using the guest Wifi function of the router as kind of a protected Wifi which you only enable as soon as the VPN Killswitch is enabled. This way you only need one device to sacrifice for the captive portal and have a few byte of it’s data exposed to the hotel wifi. Not the best solution imo but better than nothing probably. Not sure if I take things too serious there. I usually prefer using usb tethering with those routers and my phone but in some hotels there’s no (great) cellular signal available.
@@MikeFaucherhi Mike just bought the 3000 with your link. Which VPN do you like to use? I’m thinking nord, but I am thinking I should go the residential route.. traveling expat use case… thanks
Have you had any experience with using it on a cruise ship? If I used it on a cruise ship, would I need turn the device into a hotspot? Thanks in ADVANCE.
Hello, i have a question please? Actually 2 1. If my company blocked VPN websites will these still work? Also what do i need to buy and how do i configure it?? And can i travel anywhere ? That is first 2. I have a company VPN which is Cisco, can i still use this?? Can you give the exact link of what you got and do you mind teaching me how to set it up? 3. Will it be fully remote? And would i not be able to use wifi with it? Do i need the etharnet cord ? Also last question do i need to build a home VPN server? Is it really necessary?
As to your first question, it is impossible to answer without know what your company is using. If you use something like Tailscale it will most likely be open. I have never used Cisco VPN so I can't answer to this. For more information on Tailscale, I have done several videos which you can find here (th-cam.com/play/PLe4WUEmjPoJ3RSVVwxXHzqZ4q96uQ-EPb.html). A VPN has to run on something even if it not a server. It can be run on a NAS, PC, or mostly any device. Hope that helps.
@@TheDicampo Technically, maybe. But don't be sneaky about it; which I suspect you are trying to do this without your employers knowing about it. In some working fields, working abroad brings other concerns for the business; in my case, data might fall under legalities for import/export regulations for any data, on the laptop and over the network. Being sneaky about working outside the USA might be a fire-able offense with many companies. If you are already working from home, I suspect that you are already using a VPN on your laptop; so the only logical reason to try to do this with two routers is literally to be sneaky about it. If I was your employer, and I found out about it, your employment would end that same day I discovered it.
Hi Mike, new subcriber over here ;) Love how detailed your reviews are. I would like to upgrade my travel router setup. Some months back I bought the cheap TP-Link travel router which supported WISP but it died on me on the first trip. Got the refund inmediately, very unreliable. I have an M1 Nighthawk 4G router that I could use for travel purposes but it would be limited as the software is really bad and unflexible. So I am thinking on selling that one to get a better mobile solution. I have another compact 4G router which is a Huawei R218h from Vodafone, which I am also willing to sell to try to finance a complete solution to have the MT3000 or AXT1800 or even consider a version with 4G if it makes sense. The alternative is to get one of these two routers you reviewed and just use the M1 Nighthawk with an ethernet cable to feed 4G internet when on the road. What do you think? Thanks for taking the time to read this comment and sharing your point of view.
I would go with a 4/5G USB modem and attach directly to a travel router like one of these, or alternately, you can hotspot to your phone with the travel router so it would act as a modem. Thanks for the sub and the feedback.
Travel routers i believe deal with captive portals better that hotels use to connect to their wifi networks. It is small so It doesn’t take up much room to take with you. Has a lot of features that regular home routers have as well.
01:47 Strange, today I did update my GL-AR750S-EXT and it does support WPA3 with one of the latest firmware, I think all models after that will have this feature too. With WPA3 support I'm thrilled with my unit, and this will extend my device usage for a longer time. 😋 Thanks for sharing❤
@MikeFaucher I assume its possible to have all traffic on the routers LAN go through a vpn either openvpn or wireguard and make the internet unreachable if the vpn is unreachable?
For me travel routers should contain Sim card modem features. instead of calling these travel routers the term that comes to mind would be portable. Good video non the less :-)
Great review. Concise and thorough! Only one point missed - ATX 1800 has MIMO Wi-Fi, which "should" have better throughput when acting as a wireless repeater.
Running these things off a USB-C power bank or charger is a huge benefit when travelling.
Great point, and thanks for pointing that out.
You just sold me!
As far as I understand MU-MIMO is part of wifi 6 standard. So both should have it.
Beryl AX also has it because it’s WiFi 6…
I just bought both of these through amazon because I had not found this video at time of purchase. When reviewing the specification sheets for both there is no mention of MIMO for the MT3000, but it is mentioned in the specification sheet for the AXT1800. They’re both Wi-Fi 6 compatible so they should both have MIMO but its odd that its not mentioned anywhere on the MT3000 website or specification sheet.
Exactly the comparison I was looking for and so thorough. Thank you for taking the time to gift us this
@@maxlepkowski7794 Glad it was helpful.
Hello from Toronto, Canada!
A well-structured and articulate review. I have the GL-AXT1800 router for well over a year and it is very good router.
In fact, I used that router during my recent trip (for pleasure - it's not just me who went on a trip; my dad came along with me) to Ottawa (Canada's capital - which is situated within the Canadian province of Ontario) and Montreal (a city in the Canadian province of Quebec). By the way, I used that router as a "repeater" to connect with the hotel Wi-Fi in my hotel room that I stayed in those cities.
In summary, the router that I had mentioned is a leisure traveller's best friend.
Outstanding feedback, thanks for sharing the experience. I was originally from Montreal so I know it well. You described a great use case.
I appreciate your detailed overview, it helped me understand what it can do and see the options. I want to buy one of these as I feel it would be a great security measure, and learning experience.
Glad it was helpful! Than ks for the feedback!
i did order 2 travel routers today, one TP-Link WiFi 6 Travel Router (TL-WR1502X) and one GL.iNet GL-MT3000 (Beryl AX) . Cant wait to test them
Awesome, let us know what you think of them.
I went with the AXT1800 due to its superior Wireguard performance. Thank you for the in-depth review!
Excellent, thanks for the feedback, and glad you found it helpful.
This nifty little semi-little device works well on the jankiest of intermittent connections if you configure it to port lockdown/Internet Kill Switch WITH OVPN or WG client configuration set). With the 750 device made in 2021 by GL INet, it failed to work on such intermittent, spotty janky WiFi SSID connections.
@@TheReal_E.IRIZARRY Thanks for the feedback.
@@MikeFaucher np
Same I modified my stralink and removed the stock router completely I get more than 300M where I live, I also use wireguard heavily hence I made the same choice as you.
I work in factory automation and often have to connect PLCs and PCs. When I have to work in a narrow place or for a long time, I put a table some distance away from the equipment and connect this router to the equipment to communicate wirelessly. Since this device uses power through a Type-C port, it is convenient to use it even in places where there is no outlet, because it can be used using a power bank of a smartphone that is commonly used. However, the downside is that you can only specify a limited number of IP bands when setting up the LAN. If the IP of the equipment is different from the IP band supported by this device, there is no way to communicate. It has its own openwrt support, but it doesn't seem to be able to unlock the restricted IP bands even with this feature. It would be good to know. This article may be a little weird because it's a translator.
@@임종욱-w4d Great comments. I have not run into this limitation. Thanks for pointing it out.
Update : The MT3000, and probably others, now supports Tailscale.
Thanks for the update, it is a great addition if it works correctly. Thanks for the good news.
@@MikeFaucher In the System / Upgrade section, I have turned on the Preview for early release of firmware updates. In the Applications section where Tailscale is listed, it is flagged as "beta".
Great break down I use these routers to brilliant devices. Have ax as my travel router and the older 1300 as backup UniFi wan with usb modem in the gli work brill.
Awesome, thanks for the feedback.
Did you not end up doing a separate video about tailscale install on this router?
Not yet, but I really need to, as so many devices now use Tailscale. I started to do a video on the GL shortly after I did this video, but the support was not yet fully polished and was a little buggy. It is still on my list. Thanks for the reminder..
when a hotel has a landing page that you have to login in order to connect to the wifi, how does that work with these travel routers?
Much the same way. Typically you attach the travel router to the internet via the internet section to hotel wifi and when you log into your browser it will take you to the landing page to fill out your credential and it logs in the device and you should be good to go. It has worked for me multiple times. Great question.
Or u could change to static and then login.
Actually the EAP is implemented for GL-MT3000 in 4.6 firmware beta. So it should be in production firmware soon. Stay tuned ;)
Thank you.
EDIT: I do not see EAP mentioned in the beta release notes for 4.6. As mentioned in another comment, it's hardware limited - the MediaTek chipset that doesn't support EAP.
@@diedrichg 4.6 is still in beta and unstable, you can find more info in forum them: MT3000 Beryl AX Open Source WiFi driver firmware
But tbh I didn't check it, I only see that GL.iNet Staff mentioned to support it in 4.6 in "Is no WPA2 Enterprise on Beryl AX a hardware limitation?" theme
Really great overview, thanks!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the feedback.
Great video/breakdown as usual. Looking forward to the vpn video with you adding tailscale to this router.
Thanks and it is on my list for sure. I should be working on it very shortly. Appreciate the feedback.
Thank you👍 I just purchased the MT3000 model and used your provided link. Excellent video on comparisons on how to use it. I travel and I need a good VPN and other Wi-Fi security.
Outstanding and thank you for the feedback and support.
Excellent review. Thank you very much! I've scoured the net for a good comparison of these two devices and yours was by far the best! I even reached out to GL - iNet and their answer was far less useful than your review! MT3000 is the best choice for me as well.
Best of luck to all trying to figure this out. So confusing to us non-techie folks.
Thanks for the great feedback. Appreciate it.
Thank you for doing this. It has made my decision to buy GL.iNet GL-AXT1800 easier. Can't wait to see more.
Great and good luck.
Hey Mike! Can you explain how I could connect this to a plane’s WiFi network? Specifically I’m assuming I’d need my laptop open to connect it right? But then can I close my laptop and have the router stay connected? Is there a tutorial on how to do this?
Interesting question. In theory, it should work the same as a hotel but the airlines may use different filters so I can't be sure. I am taking a trip in late February so I will try and test it out then. Thanks for the question.
Thanks Mike, I appreciate the help. I don’t know much about networking but I’m intrigued by using a travel router
@@kennycampbell24 They are very handy and can save you money if you have to pay for Wi-Fi.
@@kennycampbell24 They are very useful land can save you money if you have multiple devices.
Hey Mike, Great video, good logic & order to the review and tables. I have setup several home routers so I am asking if you could do a specific video using the GL.iNet routers at a remote location and VPN in to a home network and the setup details, this is where I'm not an expert. I have a comcast Xfinity XB7 router and it would be super helpful shoing an example of how to use this router remotely to VPN to home. One super painful issue is some OTT Services (ie. Hulu seem to work when the laptop was at home recently and it works fine remotely, but if I didn't launch hulu at home in some given time, then I'm remote it won't play. I believe if I were VPN-ed home it would work. I assume i need to use and additional VPN software (subscription) so would be great to hear recommendations / comparisons on those services. Thanks!!
I will be glad to add it to my list. What you are describing is a perfect fit for Tailscale. Thanks for the feedback.
MT3000 usb is also for cellular dongle btw...
Yes it is. Thank you for pointing that out.
Mike, super cool review. Had one observation regarding your usb attached storage transfer test. The MT3000 managed to achieve read speeds of about 30MB/s which seems very low given the USB3 interface should have a theoretical bandwidth of 5GB/s and if the test was conducted over the 1Gb port should still be able to push nearly 100MB/s. Can you elaborate why you think only 30MB/s were possible. Over WIFI6 this number should be even higher since it's higher bandwidth over the lan port.
This mainly because of WiFi. I tested these over WiFi to validate the wireless performance. Hope that helps.
@@MikeFaucher Yes, it's faster over the Ethernet, but low-power SoC and Samba is still the bottleneck and you will never achieve the USB3.0 speed.
Why the hell didn't they add EAP to the most modern unit 🤔
Good question, but overall they serve the intended market. Need some features to add for the version....😀
Probably because the hardware doesn't support it, as they have stated. It's up to the chipset to do it - not the OpenWRT firmware, and QCA supports it (slate) while MediaTek (beryl) doesn't.
Thanks! Are these units like hotspots? I visit a place with very poor cell service and no Wi-Fi. Any help with this? Thanks!!!
No, these travel routers allow you to connect your phones, iPads, or laptops to this device, which then hooks up to a single internet connection.
thanks for helping me to choose, great video. new subscriber here . BTW your name is Faucher , do you speak french?
Thanks for the feedback and sub. I do speak a little bit but have lost most of it. It was my first language. Thanks.
I have the GL-iNet "Mango" GL-MT300N-V2 . It is cheap, simple and easy to use. I just needed to be able to repeat my phone's hotspot wifi and run it through ethernet for my home network. I have unlimited data on my phone.
That would slow things down a bit with the extra hop. Thanks for your feedback.
I watch everything in 1080p or 1440p so I don't notice any slow down.
Great Review. I spend 4 nights a week traveling. I went with the GL-AXT1800 because it can be used on a EAP network; which is used in most hotels I stay at. I'd prefer the GL-MT3000 but it would be useless on many hotel networks; or at least useless for me. Thanks for the in-depth review.
Awesome feedback, thank you.
It appears you may be mixing up EAP with captive portals. In reality, most hotels mainly use captive portals, not EAP. On the GL-MT3000, you can manage this by cloning the MAC address of another connected device. As for the real EAP, it's feasible to handle it through LuCI interface.
@@RomanTruman Thanks for the clarification.
@@RomanTruman Actually you set up your travel router first as the captive portal will remember the first MAC address it authenticates with. From then on just remember to keep the travel router active. I've done this numerous times with the older model which is the Beryl (GL-MT1300). I am happy to see they still continue to support this model as I was able to upgrade the firmware from version 3 to latest version 4 firmware.
@@Darkk6969is mt1300 worth it ? what makes it better than mt3000
Can you say more about EAP difference between these routers? It seems the missing feature in the MT3000 is deal breaker if it cannot connect to school and corporate networks using EAP (special username and password). Even many hotels have EAP. What are your thoughts? I want to get MT3000 (cheaper, runs cooler, better chipset). 😢
You are right in the MT3000 does not support EAP though that is mainly referring to client to router. Though I have tested it in multiple hotels, I can not say for sure, but I believe it will work with the understanding that your clients will connect to your travel router in the conventional way. You would really have to try it in your application to be sure. Sorry i was not more helpful.
What is EAP? Can’t find anything specific on it
@@africandreamchild en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extensible_Authentication_Protocol
@@MikeFaucher update on this topic, looks like with 4.6.2 firmware EAP seems to be working fine on beryl ax. I have not tested it yet but some people on their forum have already confirmed it is working.
@@Shumitu Thanks for the update.
Great Video I have the MT-1300 . I have been thinking about upgrading to use Tailscale. Did you get Tailscale set up on either one of them?
I installed Tailscale on my laptop and used this to connect to my home. I am planning to use Wireguard or Tailscale when I get caught up. Thanks for the feedback. Will do a video if it works out.
Thank you. I'm in the research phase. I'm leaning towards the MT 3000 now. I understand what the repeater mode is. But, what is the difference between tethering and cellular?
Tethering is when you attach your phone to be used as a modem. Cellular is when you use a USB cell modem.
Looking into this for my father-in-law with cellular
Hope it helped. Good luck.
A micro SD slot would have been a huge benefit. Instead, we have to plug and unplug a USB stick into the back and we have to remember to do it before plugging the device in to power.
Agreed, thanks for the feedback.
U can get a SD to USB adapter
@@gregphillips3806 I have one but it doesn't change my comment because it's external to the router. Plus, you have something sticking out of the router that's just begging to get bashed by something.
HI Mike
Great video.
Which do you suggest or recommend to use with a Sim card as I would need this router to give me internet.
Thank you again Mike
God Bless
These do not support SIM cards directly but you can get a USB modem from T-Mobile. Verizon, or AT&T and plug into the USB port. Thanks for the feedback and hope that helps.
Hi Mike, great video which of these routers would be best for me to use my iPhone 15 as a hotspot and the router to broadcast to my other devices when traveling, including a blink camera with sync module.
Thanks a million for your time!
Either one of the ones reviewed here will do that are probably the best choice over any thing else out there. Thanks for the question.
Awesome I just ordered the MT3000 through your link, thanks for the quick replay and keep doing these fantastic videos.
@@AAFreedom2024 Thank you and thanks for the feedback.
I just set the MT3000 up using the Tethering option, its was super easy, Thanks again!
@@AAFreedom2024 Great to hear and thanks for the feedback.
thank you for the comparison.
@@papermate8773 my pleasure.
@@papermate8773 My pleasure.
I assume you can create private LAN intranet between your wifi connected devices?
my edge-case would be to create a portable smart home network without the internet.
Sure, works like any router in case.
@@MikeFaucher just bought the AXT1800 after watching your review. Thank you.
@@briancrink Thanks for the update and good luck.
I have a question. I travel and use it to connect my laptops phones and iptv for streaming. I am very low on the experience with the technology. In easy terms I want everything to run well in hotels and just hook it up that can stream video as well. Which one would be best?
Either of these will do a great job. I also recently reviewed the TP-Link (th-cam.com/video/GNw7L6WiO-Y/w-d-xo.html), which was pretty easy to set up. The GL.iNets are almost identical in features. The TP-Link is a bit more basic but easier to use. I hope that helps.
Did you test the samba speed on different ports?
No I did not as I was mainly testing this in the typical use case using wireless. I have used it but never tested it. Thanks for pointing that out.
I purchased one (MTX3000) just yesterday.
Does that model have wifi 6 ??
Do you mean the MT300? I an not familiar with the MTX3000.
@@MikeFaucher yes and the axt1800
@@gregphillips3806 Awesome, enjoy, nice units.
The Beryl AX3000@@MikeFaucher
How to set up NAS that can use outside network?
Can you expand on the the NAS type and what you are trying to do. Most of the time a solution like Tailscale is your best bet.
Excellent speed test for shared folders, i found the same speed for the AXT1800 of around 12mbs... which is disappointing given its a usb 3.0 port.
Agreed, thanks for the feeback.
Edit: I found formatting the same drive to exFAT increased transfer speed dramatically....
Thank you so much Uncle Mike this is amazing(!) 🌞
Thanks for the feedback.
When in Repeater mode, can it share the received wifi signal to the connected devices on the LAN ports?
Yes it can.
@@MikeFaucher Thank you for the quick response. One of the essential fetaures I'm looking at to get this.
@@rzxxxxxxx Let me know how it goes. Thanks for the feedback.
I have a Gl.iNet gl-A1300-ccc travel router. I am stumped how to setup Expressvpn on it. The other issue I am running into is that I can only connect to expressvpn on my laptop with the light UDP protocol and the USA-Los Angeles locations do to the county I am currently visiting. Any help would be greatly appreciated .
I have not setup ExpressVPN so I do have the experience. The VPN clients I use I install on the devices. Sorry I could not be more help.
I often see comments mixing EAP and captive portals. But as I understand it, these both are completely different authentication methods.
So the MT 3000 not having Eap shouldn't be a problem for most daily uses(hotels, etc.), or am I wrong?
Interesting question. Not supporting EAP is not an issue for virtually all public access such as hotels, coffee shops, etc. EAP is more of a framework that allows you to use different methods to authenticate where passwords are not sufficient to provide adequate security. EAP itself has multiple methods an options. I would not personally worry about EAP for a travel router as it should not impact you in anyway. Great question.
In my opinion, the better WiFi performance test would be to connect two computers to the router:
one via WiFi and the other wired via Ethernet LAN port.
Set up iperf3 pair and test bandwidth that way.
Thanks for your suggestion. That would be easy to do. I had not testing 1G lan ports but it is a great suggestion.
@@MikeFaucher I suggest iPerf for bandwidth testing, because most routers (including GLiNet) have a very bandwidth-limitee USB ports and they are usually a bottleneck in the chain, even if they are declaring to be USB 3.x.
PS: I own couple of GL.iNet routers. And while they are not perfect, they are really good as a travel routers.
@@real_andrii Thanks for the input. I use iPerf on many of my tests of higher bandwidth devices and add it to all in the future. Thank you.
One of the best comparisons I have seen, the Beryl does seem like a suitable option for me as well.
Don't forget to use the link in the description if you buy any of these.
Thank you for the feedback, it is appreciated.
Hi, may I ask what are the benefits of using a travel router when you can use your phone's Wi-Fi? Thanks in advance.
You can use you phone with the travel router. The benefits are extra security, sharing one connection, and sharing files on a portable device. Also, not eveyone wants to use their phones as a hot spot and some have to pay. Great question.
@@MikeFaucher
Thank you so much. Let's try to make things easier, not more complicated, but I understand some people may need a travel router
It also adds an additional layer of security.
Does this router have a detachable antenna? I can't find any information even mentioning this. I need a way to use the amplifier for range extender.
The antenna folds down but is not removeable. Hope that helps.
@@MikeFaucher this helps, thank you!
11:05 can you show how to setup on such scenario
If I do an update to this I can show an example but every place is a little different. Good suggestion.
A very good review, do you think the mt-3000 is good enough for streaming movies using a usb stick?
Yes, I use for that purpose. Your movies need to HD or less. 4K is bit of a struggle.
@@MikeFaucher Thanks man, i'm using 1080P as always in my smart tv. I wonder how fast the ftp transfer speed in the mt-3000? is it similar to samba?
@@zandatsu07 It uses samba. Mainly limited by Wifi.
Sorry if I sound dumb. What was the last test for ? Does it mean beryl 3000 is going to give my laptop while traveling, a faster wireless connection and overall higher internet speed compared to axt1800 ?
It means in my testing it was more capable of faster speeds however you will be limited to the internet speed you are connected too. The faster speed can also help if you are playing media from an attached USB drive. Hope that helps.
@@MikeFaucher Thank you. Based on what I saw on the video, the fastest download and upload speed AXT1800 was capable of was 12 mg?
Thanks for the video. Do you think a laptop delivers enough power to the routers (through the USB-C port) to adequately power them for portable use?
Not sure as it would depend on the laptop. This device draws 12-15watts so it may be a bit much for many laptops.
@@MikeFaucher Thank you. So a USB battery pack would probably be better.
@@MikeFaucher Actually, in repeater mode, the Beryl AX draws about 3 to 6 watts in actual use; A laptop port should be rated at 2.1Amps minimum at 5V; so more than capable. 15 Watts is the rating on the included Beryl AX power supply. Still I would run it off from a good quality power bank; check the voltage under load to see if it's somewhere around 4.8 to 5.1V under load, if you need portability. IF one adds additional packages, enables extra features, or attaches devices like external USB hard drives, power use will rise; but overall, I'd not recommend the extra load on the laptop; but would use a USB power bank instead; If I needed it only for a few minutes, I might use it attached to the laptop.
I do occasionally use it off from a USB battery bank; so I can slap the battery bank on the dash or console with the router sitting on the dash; I'd rather not have additional cables tying it up to the laptop. I keep the router and cables and power bank inside a waterproof case in the vehicle for such use, in a cool shady spot.
thanks! very good review
Thanks for the feedback, appreciate it.
Hi, did you have any issue with slate vs the Beryl on captive pages? I have a Slate/AXT1800 whilst my friend had a Beryl. He was able to get to the web, to log into the captive page to activate the wifi- ie. key in room number and name. No matter what I did, I wasn't able to do that with the slate. Basically, I have wifi on but no internet. Did you notice this issue? Thanks
I assume you are talking about the MT3000 and not the the 1300 which I did have issues with. So far, as of today the only issue I had with the MT3000 was on a cruise ship. Hotels have been fine.
@@MikeFaucher Thanks Mike. Did you have any issues with the AXT1800 to log into the hotel wifi? He didn't have an issue with the MT3000.
@@mel9520 Not in my testing with it. They both worked very similarly when it came to logging in.
Hello, do you know can these routers be powered by a usb power bank or does it need to be plugged into the wall? Thanks
They can be powered by USB C.
Could I configure my home router like the Opal to achieve being able to use my home IP overseas?
For that I would configure Wireguard or Tailscale to route from overseas to you home.
@@MikeFaucher Thanks. Is that a configuration on my home router or the travel one or both?
@@tmotten Ideally both, but the other option is to install it on your router and then use a client app for everything that will attach in the event your travel router does not support it.
If I add videos to the SD card, can I then stream those to chromecast?
Absolutely.
Have you tried accessing hotel Wi-Fi that requires login via splash pages? Having issues getting around it. Thanks.
Yes I have used it many times. Once you attach your device to the WiFi, then you should be able to login with your browser.
@@MikeFaucherI live in a residence with captive portal login, the MT3000 doesn't have EAP protocol how did you manage, or did you go with MAC cloning? Thank you very much
Hi Mike, Thank you for the review. 1) Will these travel routers make accessing the internet secure after choosing the repeater function and connecting to public wifis at hotels and cafes? For Wireguard VPN to work, do I need to subscribe to a 3rd party VPN service? Or Wireguard a standalone VPN that I can use with these travel routers?
Your anyti first question is yes. As for the second question, no you don’t need to subscribe to anything. Just need a device in your network that runs it.
Do you have to use the power brick that came with these, or just a USB-C cable to your notebook computer will power it?
You can power this from a USB charger.
@@MikeFaucher So, powerbank or DC wall...no laptop USB...right?
@@lihihongan5289 This needs 15W of power, which many laptops can't put out. If yours can, it should work but it will not connect and power through the same port.
I just got the MT3000, my issue is, especially when travelling, but even at home, we do not use a PC.
Only Apple phones, and some handheld gaming devices.
Am I wasting my time having one of these without a PC? Is it even possible to use without a PC?
Thanks
@@stuartleckie This device is not only for pc. I only travel with apple devices. These are web based for setup and work great with all devices.
@@MikeFaucher great. Thanks.
It’s the how I’m struggling with. Most videos I’ve found talk about how great the device is, but fail to show how to get the best from it.
More research required my end.
Thanks.
i keep seeing these and well maybe you can answer this i mainly want to know do these devices protect and hide ur internet activity from others?
Only if you run through a VPN.
Can this router WAN port be configured for static address?
Yes it can. Hope that helps.
I just received mine trying to connected is a little difficult
What is the difficulty you are experiencing?
getting it connected and setting up@@MikeFaucher
Would you get one of these or a Eero pro 6 triband mesh router?
I have not personally tried one but I hear good things. My preference is to stick with UniFi for support of VLANs as it makes it easier to secure your network. I am sure you will be happy with Eero but I don't have personal experience.
Would you recommend me an alternative with built in SIM card slot?
Not off hand. You might consider a plug in USB modem.
Hi how I can set up my router and VPN app for work while traveling
That is a pretty long answer for the comments, but I would suggest you search my channel for VPN setups. I am not sure what type of router you have so I am not sure where to direct you. If you can give me more information on your hardware I will try to help.
@@MikeFaucher thank you I have a GL MT3000 and I would like to use it for work from my laptop using VPN service I m using in this case PI VPN . Is this a 100% working solution to be able to work overseas with my Location set for usa ?
@@jalial11 if im not mistaken it has built in vpn, or u can run the vpn on your laptop.
can i ask, what exactly is this device. Like how does it get wifi? does it work from satellites from a subscription based system?
This device is to connect either wired or wirelessly to any internet source and allows you to connect multiple devices to it and share the connection such as paid portals in a hotel.
Is there any SIM card slot?
No, you have to use a USB cell modem.
Which one is the best for someone working in a call center? Do you have any recommendations for someone looking to work abroad?
They should be the same for that application.
@@MikeFaucher I have a VPN on my work pc . I need the best latency. That’s why I need to know what is the best choice.
Great review, I picked up a lot of good tips and info
@@mug2y Thanks for the feedback. Appreciate it
My issue with those routers using them in hotel wifi is that afaik you need to turn off VPN kill switch to pass the captive portal which inevitably leads to data being exposed until you enable the VPN Killswitch again. Anyone got a good advice to avoid this?
I use my VPN on the client so it has not been an issue. Goint point though.
@@MikeFaucher ok. The only workaround that comes to my mind is using the guest Wifi function of the router as kind of a protected Wifi which you only enable as soon as the VPN Killswitch is enabled. This way you only need one device to sacrifice for the captive portal and have a few byte of it’s data exposed to the hotel wifi. Not the best solution imo but better than nothing probably. Not sure if I take things too serious there. I usually prefer using usb tethering with those routers and my phone but in some hotels there’s no (great) cellular signal available.
@@50ctsYou can never be too cautious. Thanks for your input.
@@50ctsI think it would be good to feedback this to the company and see what they say
@@MikeFaucherhi Mike just bought the 3000 with your link. Which VPN do you like to use? I’m thinking nord, but I am thinking I should go the residential route.. traveling expat use case… thanks
Have you had any experience with using it on a cruise ship? If I used it on a cruise ship, would I need turn the device into a hotspot? Thanks in ADVANCE.
I have, it worked great on one ship and was blocked on a different ship so I think it depends on their configuration.
@@MikeFaucherDo you remember which ship?
Was hoping for that video that covered Tailscale but looks like you never got to it.
It is on my list for an upcoming video as is Wireguard. Thanks for the feedback.
Great review!
Thanks for the feedback!!
I hate that they got rid of micro SD card slot
Agreed. I usually carry an USB card reader anyway, but you are right. Thanks for the feedback.
Update: the MT3000 does support MU-MIMO.
Thanks for the follow up.
I bought the GL-MT3000 today. Which 4G modem will you recommend me?
They should all work, but I have not tested any with this device. Good luck and let us know what you decided. Thanks for the feedback.
Hello, i have a question please? Actually 2
1. If my company blocked VPN websites will these still work? Also what do i need to buy and how do i configure it?? And can i travel anywhere ? That is first 2. I have a company VPN which is Cisco, can i still use this?? Can you give the exact link of what you got and do you mind teaching me how to set it up? 3. Will it be fully remote? And would i not be able to use wifi with it? Do i need the etharnet cord ?
Also last question do i need to build a home VPN server? Is it really necessary?
As to your first question, it is impossible to answer without know what your company is using. If you use something like Tailscale it will most likely be open. I have never used Cisco VPN so I can't answer to this. For more information on Tailscale, I have done several videos which you can find here (th-cam.com/play/PLe4WUEmjPoJ3RSVVwxXHzqZ4q96uQ-EPb.html). A VPN has to run on something even if it not a server. It can be run on a NAS, PC, or mostly any device. Hope that helps.
Hi i got the AX1800 but i wanted to know when you would post your video on setting up the VPN
@@garbrieleihemere6115 I have not had the opportunity yet, but it is on my list. Is there a particular VPN you want to cover? Is Wireguard OK?
@@garbrieleihemere6115would you be able to set up the 2 routers to work remotly outside usa?
@@TheDicampo Technically, maybe. But don't be sneaky about it; which I suspect you are trying to do this without your employers knowing about it. In some working fields, working abroad brings other concerns for the business; in my case, data might fall under legalities for import/export regulations for any data, on the laptop and over the network. Being sneaky about working outside the USA might be a fire-able offense with many companies. If you are already working from home, I suspect that you are already using a VPN on your laptop; so the only logical reason to try to do this with two routers is literally to be sneaky about it. If I was your employer, and I found out about it, your employment would end that same day I discovered it.
Hi Mike, new subcriber over here ;) Love how detailed your reviews are.
I would like to upgrade my travel router setup. Some months back I bought the cheap TP-Link travel router which supported WISP but it died on me on the first trip. Got the refund inmediately, very unreliable.
I have an M1 Nighthawk 4G router that I could use for travel purposes but it would be limited as the software is really bad and unflexible. So I am thinking on selling that one to get a better mobile solution.
I have another compact 4G router which is a Huawei R218h from Vodafone, which I am also willing to sell to try to finance a complete solution to have the MT3000 or AXT1800 or even consider a version with 4G if it makes sense.
The alternative is to get one of these two routers you reviewed and just use the M1 Nighthawk with an ethernet cable to feed 4G internet when on the road.
What do you think? Thanks for taking the time to read this comment and sharing your point of view.
I would go with a 4/5G USB modem and attach directly to a travel router like one of these, or alternately, you can hotspot to your phone with the travel router so it would act as a modem. Thanks for the sub and the feedback.
I dont see difference between these and just a typical wifi router ?
Portability and size with the added capability of a wireless bridge to public Wi-Fi sets them apart.
Travel routers i believe deal with captive portals better that hotels use to connect to their wifi networks. It is small so It doesn’t take up much room to take with you. Has a lot of features that regular home routers have as well.
@@Placesandspaces35 Agreed.
Will the AXT1800 work ok in a hot environment like in a vehicle for example?
Not sure. You will have to check the MFG specs for operating temperature.
I went with the GL.iNet GL-MT3000 as soon as the pre-order went out. I pass on my trusty GL-MT1300 to my daughter for use in her apartment.
Awesome. They are still good units.
Does using these routers at a public Wifi location (such as Starbucks) improve privacy, security and anonymity? Thanks.,
It does but for single use, a VPN is a better choice. Great question.
@@MikeFaucher Thank you!
how much is monthly payment
No monthly payment. You buy it just like any router from the store. No subscription.
01:47 Strange, today I did update my GL-AR750S-EXT and it does support WPA3 with one of the latest firmware, I think all models after that will have this feature too.
With WPA3 support I'm thrilled with my unit, and this will extend my device usage for a longer time. 😋
Thanks for sharing❤
Outstanding. Thanks for the feedback!
Do these come with a VPN kill switch?
They have a physical switch you can disable the VPN but not a kill switch like NordVPN uses. It is a different use case.
@MikeFaucher I assume its possible to have all traffic on the routers LAN go through a vpn either openvpn or wireguard and make the internet unreachable if the vpn is unreachable?
@@tsiiphsycoii Absolutely.
thankyou
Glad you like it.
It says to enter the password on the back of the unit. There’s absolutely nothing that says “password” on the back of the unit. Now what?
It should say KEY not password, right below the ID.
@@MikeFaucher Thank you so much! I wish the instructions that came with the unit actually said that. Why do they not just label it as password?
@@RobertLattery Glad you found it. Best of luck with it.
such an easy voice to listen to
Thanks for the feedback. Appreciate it.
Wow so the cheaper router is actually faster?
Yep, for most applications.
I use a single low cost Intel Nuc for all this stuff plus a powered USB hub for cellular modem and wifi AP. Can't afford anything else.
Good solution
can it be done using pi ? is there a guide that i can follow ?
@@xr4nchy I am sure there is something but I am not aware of one. Post it if you find something.
I have the two of them
Awesome, thanks for the feedback.
The ATX1800 is better for site to site VPN for remote workers abroad
Thanks for the feedback!
Why do you say so? I’m trying to do exactly that.
@@kageosama15 it has less bugs plus the wireguard bandwidth is almost twice as Large
Great as usaual
Thanks for the feedback, appresciate it.
For me travel routers should contain Sim card modem features. instead of calling these travel routers the term that comes to mind would be portable. Good video non the less :-)
Thanks for the feedback. Good point but not much in that catagory that is not proprietary to a cell carrier.
Great video, turns out I was already subbed ahahaha
Awesome and thanks for the feedback and the sub.
Axt-1800
Thanks
gd vid tho
Thank you!
u sound like u not slept for five weeks
Not far from the truth. Thanks for the feedback.