Starting OpenWRT on GL.iNet Routers for New Users

[TanKianW]

Another use case: Deploying GL.inet router (again) as hotel wifi repeater during family vacation in Tokyo for better security and single point (sign-in) of connection for every family members. At the same time running AGH and WireGuard client connecting back to home pfsense as VPN server to access my home PLEX libraries to entertain the kids and adults in the land of the rising sun!​

Running as repeater on hotel wifi running AGH and WG VPN client

VPN back home, so IP still appear as Singapore // Access your PLEX server even when you are travelling

 

[hwzlite]

lia lioa for those wanna hoot GL.Inet Black Friday deals

https://store.gl-inet.com/collections/black-friday-deals

 

[hwzlite]

Another use case: Deploying GL.inet router (again) as hotel wifi repeater during family vacation in Tokyo for better security and single point (sign-in) of connection for every family members. At the same time running AGH and WireGuard client connecting back to home pfsense as VPN server to access my home PLEX libraries to entertain the kids and adults in the land of the rising sun!​

Got raiding Akihabara (秋葉原) , heaven For Nerds & Geek and Otaku ?

 

[TanKianW]

Got raiding Akihabara (秋葉原) , heaven For Nerds & Geek and Otaku ?

Sure visit for the network, tech and anime geeks! Very different from Singapore flavor. Wifey and kids complaining.​

 

[XiaoFu99]

Can I check GL-MT3000 model working in repeater mode.

The idea is to share a single WiFi account (e.g. hotel) with multiple users.

In repeater mode, who will issue the IP address? Hotel or GL-MT3000? I read that in repeater mode, basically it's just rebroadcasting the WiFi signal with DHCP/Firewall disabled @ GL-MT3000.

Thanks

 

[TanKianW]

Can I check GL-MT3000 model working in repeater mode.

The idea is to share a single WiFi account (e.g. hotel) with multiple users.

In repeater mode, who will issue the IP address? Hotel or GL-MT3000? I read that in repeater mode, basically it's just rebroadcasting the WiFi signal with DHCP/Firewall disabled @ GL-MT3000.

Thanks

Hotel wifi issue WAN IP, mobile router issue LAN IP.

It will still act as a router+repeater.

 

[XiaoFu99]

Hotel wifi issue WAN IP, mobile router issue LAN IP.
It will still act as a router+repeater.

Thanks

oh ok. so it's like in router mode but using WiFi as WAN input (instead of ethernet)?

and also, let say hotel has both 2.4G and 5G SSID, can I choose which SSID as WAN?

For example , I choose hotel 5G SSID as WAN and so my LAN devices are connected to GL-MT3000 2.4G personal SSID.


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[TanKianW]

oh ok. so it's like in router mode but using WiFi as WAN input (instead of ethernet)?

Yup.

and also, let say hotel has both 2.4G and 5G SSID, can I choose which SSID as WAN?

Can.

For example , I choose hotel 5G SSID as WAN and so my LAN devices are connected to GL-MT3000 2.4G personal SSID.

Yup.

*DISCLAIMER: Only based on my own experience with GL.iNET Beryl GL-MT1300.

 

[xiaofan]

Hotel wifi issue WAN IP, mobile router issue LAN IP.

It will still act as a router+repeater.

Personally I do not like the use of "Repeater Mode" here. It is causing confusion to people. Better to call this "Wireless WAN connection" or just "Wireless WAN".

OpenWRT Wireless Repeater is the same as normal Wireless Repeater -- eg, not in router mode, no DHCP function, etc.
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wifi/atheroswds

 

[TanKianW]

Personally I do not like the use of "Repeater Mode" here. It is causing confusion to people. Better to call this "Wireless WAN connection" or just "Wireless WAN".

OpenWRT Wireless Repeater is the same as normal Wireless Repeater -- eg, not in router mode, no DHCP function, etc.
https://openwrt.org/docs/guide-user/network/wifi/atheroswds

I do not like it too.

But I am using it coz on the GL.iNet settings, it is termed as "repeater" mode. So the user can understand.

Fact is most can just set it up conveniently on the GL.iNet mobile app (or webgui) and do not need to meddle into the OpenWRT Luci interface to get it up and running.

 

[hwzlite]

Update on some interesting features like the TAP-S2S mode for OpenVPN & Wireguard:

https://blog.gl-inet.com/software-updates-enhancements-sdk-4-5/

 

[TanKianW]

**Change of Thread Title to "Starting OpenWRT on GL.iNet Routers for New Users"**

Making a slight change to the title to "Starting OpenWRT on GL.iNet Routers for New Users". To cover the full range of GL.inet routers instead of just the "travel" series since they will likely be expanding their range of consumer (home) routers in 2024.

The GL-inet routers will be a good fit for home users looking for more "Opensource" firmware (OpenWRT) support as compared to some of the OTS consumer routers out there with proprietary firmware. At the same time, users do not have to worry (or fear) about the compatibility and challenge of "DIY flashing" such firmware on different brands of routers.

Take note that some of the configurations (Eg. VLANs) on Page 1 may not be valid anymore with the newer version of OpenWRT but the usual settings on GL-inet remain mostly intact.

*Feel free to share and post your learnings, experiences, purchases, reviews, problems, challenges or even write your own tutorials on your GL-iNet routers if you are confident to do so. You could learn more by guiding and teaching others. Just remember to keep the discussion civil and be respectful. ​

 

[TanKianW]

**Casual Watch: Network Savvy Ytbers turning to GL.iNet Routers as their Preferred Travel Companion**
As more network-savvy Ytbers started to travel, the benefits of a portable GL.iNet router really started to shine. Even Network Chuck ditched his DIY RasPi router and changed to a Slate. However, I find bringing along a "portable NAS" is overkill. A WireGuard VPN will solve his remote PLEX access (with transcoding done at server side) as I shared earlier in my HK and Japan trips. Network geeks tend to "overthink" or "over-complicate" a solution. Sometimes something OTS that offers tons of customization could have easily solved the problem. You can do Customs DNS, Wireguard, AdGuard Home, QOS, Tailscale (CLI) etc, all in a small router which you can bring around with you.





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[jasonho]

**Casual Watch: Network Savvy Ytbers turning to GL.iNet Routers as their Preferred Travel Companion**
As more network-savvy Ytbers started to travel, the benefits of a portable GL.iNet router really started to shine. Even Network Chuck ditched his DIY RasPi router and changed to a Slate. However, I find bringing along a "portable NAS" is overkill. A WireGuard VPN will solve his remote PLEX access (with transcoding done at server side) as I shared earlier in my HK and Japan trips. Network geeks tend to "overthink" or "over-complicate" a solution. Sometimes something OTS that offers tons of customization could have easily solved the problem. You can do Customs DNS, Wireguard, AdGuard Home, QOS, Tailscale (CLI) etc, all in a small router which you can bring around with you.

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i like the part where he powered his glinet router and “portable” nas under his airplane seat

maybe I can try that next time and broadcast “FreeOnlyFansMovies” guest wifi ID on my next long haul trip

 

[TanKianW]

i like the part where he powered his glinet router and “portable” nas under his airplane seat

maybe I can try that next time and broadcast “FreeOnlyFansMovies” guest wifi ID on my next long haul trip

My next deployment will be the upcoming Hokkaido family road trip in June!

Will probably set up the travel router in the rental car with tethering to my Android phone or using an industrial 4G/5G modem.

 

[hwzlite]

My next deployment will be the upcoming Hokkaido family road trip in June!

Will probably set up the travel router in the rental car with tethering to my Android phone or using an industrial 4G/5G modem.

Wow....nice , jiak hong again , so envious...

 

[BradenHeat]

**Casual Watch: Network Savvy Ytbers turning to GL.iNet Routers as their Preferred Travel Companion**
As more network-savvy Ytbers started to travel, the benefits of a portable GL.iNet router really started to shine. Even Network Chuck ditched his DIY RasPi router and changed to a Slate. However, I find bringing along a "portable NAS" is overkill. A WireGuard VPN will solve his remote PLEX access (with transcoding done at server side) as I shared earlier in my HK and Japan trips. Network geeks tend to "overthink" or "over-complicate" a solution. Sometimes something OTS that offers tons of customization could have easily solved the problem. You can do Customs DNS, Wireguard, AdGuard Home, QOS, Tailscale (CLI) etc, all in a small router which you can bring around with you.





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which,hopefully, they have something new soon

btw, was theportal routers we had, dual wired WAN ? or was it one physical WAN port and one Wireless WAN ?

i like the part where he powered his glinet router and “portable” nas under his airplane seat

maybe I can try that next time and broadcast “FreeOnlyFansMovies” guest wifi ID on my next long haul trip

not sure how he got the energy to focus, but the flight cost alone is a bomb, cant even imagine when wifi is on as well

Wow....nice , jiak hong again , so envious...

Our daikor, go there JAV [ Jiak Air Vacation ]

 

[TanKianW]

Wow....nice , jiak hong again , so envious...

Our daikor, go there JAV [ Jiak Air Vacation ]

吃西北风。

 

[xiaofan]

Best New Comer Router for OpenWRT 2024
https://forum.openwrt.org/t/best-newcomer-routers-2024/189050

• GL.iNet GL-MT3000 68 - Right around $100, available now, easy installation, plenty of horsepower - Thanks @qunvureze for the recommendation
• Netgear R7800 30 - Older model, well under $100 used, easy to flash, only handles SQM to about 180mbps - Thanks @slh for the recommendation
• GL.iNet GL-MT6000 67 - This appears to be a great router, and is now officially supported with OpenWrt 23.05.3. Its price (~US$159, March 2024) doesn't quite meet the criteria, so you will need to decide if it's worth the extra money. Thanks to many people for the recommendation

 

[TanKianW]

**SHARING: Real life Vacation Deployment: MAC Clone for bypassing the log in page on most Hotel's Captive Portal**
A current vacation trip involving some hotel hopping around Hokkaido Japan was encountered with some Hotel's free wifi that requires the loading of log in page from their captive portal. This might pose a challenge when you trying to setup your GL.inet travel router as a wifi "repeater" . Therefore since this period is "vacation season", hope my simple setup tips will be useful to the forumers deploying their GL.inet travel router on the move. Actually, one simple way of overcoming (most of) this is to login/register as per normal using your mobile phones on the hotel's wifi captive portal, then copy your mobile Mac address, go into Mac clone of your GL.inet router (Beryl for my case) copy your mobile phone Mac address to the router, then simply connect your router to the wifi.

Mac clone settings under "More settings" on your GL.inet router:

Just in case the router lost the hotel's wifi signal, Set auto scan and reconnect:

Your router will be connected and good to go. You can check that from the webgui or app:​

Some might ask why you use a repeater in hotel when you can connect directly? Well for security reasons! Connecting directly to hotel wifi could be very dangerous for your connected devices especially if the hotel networks are hacked or compromised. Truth be told, some hotel networks still using admin as log in user and 12345678 as password...wah piang. I can even configure their network remotely, if I want to. Dun ask me how I found out. Adding a router creates that extra layer of protection. For the more tech savvy, you could even route all your traffic back to your home fire wall through an encrypted tunnel such as a VPN. At the same time you can even connect back to your media server back home to get your kids entertained when they are bored in the hotel, and everyone in the hotel just need to log on to one point through your travel router.

Location in Japan but my IP still appear to be in Singapore.

I am routing all my encrypted traffic through a VPN client tunnel (WireGuard) on my travel router back to my home pfsense firewall (server). At the same time running Adguard Home server on my travel router.

For those who has a huge media library at home, you can even connect to your PLEX media server back home. Suggest setting up a transcoding server for smooth streaming​

Last but not least, a complimentary photo of me gaming on the Steamdeck and admiring the huge summer green plain Infront of me with some fresh Hokkaido ice-cream jiak. ​