Slate 7 Wi-Fi 7 Travel Router Launches With Advanced Customization And Security

How do you connect to the internet when you are away traveling? Do you rely on public hotspots at hotels and cafes? If the answer is “yes,” then you may want to rethink because public hotspots can be insecure and it can be like handing the keys to your front door to a total stranger.

These days, more people are playing safe when they travel by taking either a mobile hotspot or a travel router with them so they can quarantine their computer and devices from public networks. Thankfully, are some excellent travel routers on the market from brands like TP-Link and Netgear. However, the latest travel router to arrive on the market from GL.iNet caught my eye.

GL.iNet is a technology company specializing in innovative networking solutions and it has just launched the Slate 7 (GL-BE3600), a next-generation and dual-band Wi-Fi 7 travel router with a built-in touchscreen. The Slate 7 is aimed at power users who run bandwidth-intensive tasks such as 4K/8K streaming, gaming and video conferencing when on the move.

Wi-Fi 7 is the latest wireless networking standard and offers speeds up to 688 Mbps over the 2.4GHz band and up to 2,882 Mbps with 5GHz. With such fast speeds and with compatible client devices, Wi-Fi 7 provides super-fast connectivity, smooth streaming, ultra-fast browsing and lag-free video conferencing.

This new Slate 7 travel router is optimized for VPN performance and has support for OpenVPN up to 100 Mbps and WireGuard up to 540 Mbps. Using a VPN with the Slate 7 provides secure and high-speed connections for anyone working remotely or traveling who needs private browsing.

The Slate 7 includes dual 2.5G Ethernet ports for high-speed wired connections when using bandwidth-intensive applications. Compatibility with Power Delivery means the Slate 7 can be powered flexibly, making it convenient to use when traveling. And with the ability to connect more than 120 devices, the tiny Slate 7 is suitable for use by work teams, families and multi-device users.

The little router runs on OpenWrt 23.05 (Kernel 5.4.213), which means it can be used for open-source customization and can install advanced plugins for security, traffic monitoring and network management.

As you might expect from a travel router, the Slate 7 is compact and lightweight, which makes it suitable for slipping into a work bag or carry-on luggage. The portability of the Slate 7 makes it suitable for professionals, travelers and remote workers who need reliable and secure internet access.

Enhanced by Wi-Fi 7 Technology

Because of Wi-Fi 7 technology, the Slate 7 offers more efficiency, lower latency and improved reliability compared to older generations of travel routers. Security is at the core of this model, with WPA3 security providing stronger encryption, making it harder for hackers to intercept communications and offering better protection for personal data and devices.

According to its designers, the Slate 7 isn’t simply a Wi-Fi 7 travel router. They claim it’s a “revolutionary leap forward in network management,” due to the touchscreen interface that’s designed to simplify getting online. The touchscreen lets users scan QR codes for instant Wi-Fi connections, monitor real-time speeds, toggle VPN on/off, plus it can even be used to switch between preferred VPN providers. All this can be controlled directly from the display without the need to connect to a web interface.

The Slate 7’s touchscreen also has instant network status updates using color-coded indicators for the connection type, whether that’s Ethernet, Tethering, Repeater and Cellular modes. The Slate 7 can attach directly to an Ethernet port or else it can be tethered to a smartphone, work as a repeater for a public hotspot or use a cellular modem like a USB dongle plugged directly into the USB port.

This kind of integration makes the Slate 7 convenient and the advanced functionality should make for more efficient network management. Although the device is simple for beginners to use, it offers a lot of customization and options for power users who understand advanced networking.

PD Support and Hardware Overview

The Slate 7 is powered by a USB Type-C power interface with PD support that’s compatible with 5V/3A, 9V/3A, and 12V/2.5A inputs. There’s no battery option, but you can use a power bank, which amounts to the same thing. Included in the box is a lightweight power supply with a USB-C output. The adapter has four regional plug options for U.S. E.U., U.K. and Australasia conversion heads.

The choice of power options means users can stay connected without the need to carry bulky power supplies. The Slate 7 is powered by advanced OFDMA technology that optimizes bandwidth by efficiently allocating resources across multiple client devices, ensuring smoother data transmission with minimal latency.

For high-speed wired connectivity, the Slate 7 has dual 2.5G Ethernet ports, each capable of 2,500 Mbps broadband throughput. It also includes 512MB of flash memory, 1GB of high-performance DDR4 RAM and a USB 3.0 port for external storage or modem use.

OpenWrt 23.05 For Customization

Because Slate 7 runs OpenWrt 23.05 with Kernel 5.4.213, it’s essentially an open-source platform for advanced networking customization. There is 1GB of storage onboard and users can install a variety of plugins to enhance the router’s functionality. Plug-ins might be for ad-blocking, traffic monitoring, as well as advanced firewall configurations. This option enables IT professionals, power users and enterprise environments to customize for enhanced security and performance.

When traveling or using the Slate 7 to piggyback on public wireless hotspots, a VPN is always recommended and one comes pre-installed on the Slate 7 using OpenVPN (with support for speeds up to 100Mbps) and there’s also the option of WireGuard, which can handle speeds up to 540Mbps. The Slate 7 also supports over 30 VPN services for secure internet access.

Another security feature is the ability to configure the Slate 7 either as a VPN client or server.. This capability enables remote workers and business travelers to establish secure connections back to their corporate network from anywhere in the world. They can safely access sensitive resources and manage equipment like printers, whether they are at home or in the office—while maintaining full control over their network IP address.

The Slate 7— or GL-BE3600 as it is also labeled—is designed for secure, high-speed, and flexible connectivity. Whether it’s used for remote working, traveling or for enterprise networking, it has many features, although it can be a little slow to boot up, taking about a minute or two. However, once it’s up and running, this is an easy device to use thanks to its touchscreen. For those with enough knowledge, the Slate 7 is a one very customizable travel router. It’s also light and compact thanks to small and foldable antennas.

For anyone looking to buy a travel router with almost unlimited bells and whistles, the Slate 7 has extensive customization features, a feature toggle switch, advanced security and VPN integration alongside the speed and advantages of Wi-Fi 7.

Pricing and Availability:

The Slate 7 Wi-Fi 7 travel router is available from gl-inet.com and currently priced at $149.99, with a usual price of $179.99.

Tech Specs:

• Interface: 1 x WAN Ethernet 2.5G port, 1 x LAN Ethernet 2.5G port, 1 x USB 3.0 port, 1 x Type-C Power port, 1 x Reset button, 1 x Toggle button.
• CPU: Qualcomm Quad-core, @1.1GHz.
• Memory/storage: DDR4 1GB / NAND Flash 512MB.
• Protocol: IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac/ax/be.
• Wi-Fi speeds: 688Mbps (2.4GHz), 2882Mbps (5GHz).
• Antennas: 2 x foldable external Wi-Fi antennas.
• Ethernet speeds: 10/100/1000/2,500Mbps.
• Power input: Type-C, 5V/3A, 9V/3A, 12V/2.5A.
• Power consumption <18W (without USB).
• Dimensions: 130 x 91 x 34mm
• Weight: 295g.