YourNextApp might earn an affiliate fee on purchases made by way of hyperlinks on our website.

Residence networking will be difficult, particularly for these involved with information privateness. The Specific VPN Aircove hopes to simplify issues with a single router and net interface, however it lacks some punch.

The Specific VPN service by itself has been fairly wonderful, as we have used it for years with out concern or challenge. The prospect of including a router to our community to supply extra controls and VPN instruments was definitely compelling.

The router’s worth and have set align nicely with expectations however will not fulfill everybody’s wants. That and counting on an internet app to handle the router’s VPN instruments is not wonderful.

Specific VPN Aircove design and options

The Aircove does nothing to set itself aside as a router. It takes on the usual black box-with-antenna design that many producers supply.

This single router system has no extenders, nodes, or mesh networking choices. Specific VPN says this router works with current mesh networks if customers join it to a node, although outcomes might differ in bridging routers collectively.

We examined the Specific VPN Aircove as a standalone router with its personal WiFi handle and as a bridge to our Linksys mesh community. When appearing as a bridge, the router can solely see the Linksys node as a single system, so it may transfer the whole community to a VPN however not particular person units.

For testing, we linked a handful of units on to the Aircove and tooled with the VPN configuration system, however as with testing any router, it might have been an arduous job to maneuver our sensible dwelling. It carried out inside expectations for a router of this worth and spec vary with a number of linked units.

Once we moved away from the router to a distinct room, the sign energy deteriorated rapidly. Regardless of what the specs say, situations in a consumer’s dwelling by no means match the best situations outlined within the spec checklist. Nevertheless, the efficiency was acceptable for this router.

Specs-wise, this router strains up with different sub-$200 standalone routers. It has dual-band WiFi 6 with as much as 1,600 toes of protection. It has Gigabit Ethernet with an internet-in port and 4 LAN ports for straightforward wired setup.

Specific VPN claims the Aircove will get as much as 600 Mbps over 2.4GHz connections and as much as 1,200 Mbps on 5Gz. When linked to the router when close to to it, we noticed our 400 Mbps connection peaked, however with the VPN turned on, we get 100 Mbps on common with any system we examined.

There may be nothing outstanding concerning the router’s design or customary characteristic set. Those that use mesh networking or dwell in bigger houses might discover this single router missing for normal use.

What units this router aside and makes it a worthwhile buy is its tie-in with Specific VPN software program. Customers can arrange 5 separate VPNs inside the router’s devoted web site and transfer linked units between them.

Utilizing the Specific VPN Aircove and web site

When establishing the Aircove for the primary time, it is advisable to flip off Apple’s “Restrict IP Handle Monitoring” characteristic within the WiFi settings on the iPhone. This prevents the router from connecting to the web, in our expertise.

After that, customers have to log into the router through the Specific VPN router web site. The setup takes just a few seconds, however it does require an energetic Specific VPN account with an activation code to proceed.

As soon as every little thing is ready up, all of it works fairly nicely. We would favor a local app to manage the VPN configurations reasonably than an internet site, however going by way of the web site is not difficult.

Customers can drag units from one VPN configuration to a different, they usually swap immediately. There’s even an choice to have a “no VPN” to stop units from connecting to the web.

As we talked about, our web pace was reduce from 400 Mbps to 100 Mbps each time we used the VPN. Speeds faired higher with a wired connection, however not a lot.

Specific VPN advertises this as a product geared toward households who need to hold merchandise linked to a VPN 24 hours a day. Whereas we do not have that use case, this router does achieve performing as promised, with sturdy connections and no points with dropouts throughout testing.

Must you purchase the Specific VPN Aircove

It’s tough to suggest the Aircove router. This product targets a tiny area of interest, so those that need a system like this may already know if they need it or not.

We might see a use case for putting in this router in a member of the family’s dwelling who is not too tech-savvy for added privateness and safety. It’s a comparatively cheap router, however the VPN service does require an energetic subscription.

Anybody in bigger houses who depends on mesh networking might have to look elsewhere. The router works finest as a standalone community, however customers might all the time connect it to a single node and safe each system on that node with a VPN.

Once more, this product is area of interest sufficient that in the event you’re asking whether or not you should purchase it or not, it doubtless is not for you. Nevertheless, this is not a foul possibility for anybody buying a single-node router.

Specific VPN Aircove Execs

• Straightforward setup
• Options match the worth
• Nonetheless works as an ordinary router with out subscription
• Easy VPN controls, however…

Specific VPN Aircove Cons

• VPN controls are browser-based, no app
• Requires subscription for VPN advantages
• Individuals with bigger houses needn’t apply
• 24/7 VPN use targets a really area of interest viewers

Score: 3 out of 5

If we have been scripting this evaluation for somebody who lived in a single-bedroom flat or house that wishes absolute management over VPNs, this product would simply rating 5 out of 5. Anybody on the lookout for a single-node router that’s ambivalent about VPNs and privateness would discover this a 4.5 out of 5.

Nevertheless, for many, this router is what it’s. Aircove does what it says on the field and does it nicely for its area of interest.

The place to purchase the Specific VPN Aircove

The VPN options of the Aircove router solely work in america with a paid Specific VPN subscription. In any other case, it should work as an ordinary router.

Get it for $189.90, and as of this evaluation’s publication, save 11% at checkout with the on-page coupon.

Specific VPN is $12.95/month when paid on a month-to-month foundation. Six-month plans value $9.99 per thirty days and 12-month plans value $8.32 per mont. Plus, first-time annual subscribers get a further three months free. Enroll on the Specific VPN web site.