Reddit reviews GL.iNet GL-MT300N Mini Travel Router, OpenWrt Pre-Installed, Repeater Bridge, 300Mbps High Performance, 64MB RAM, OpenVPN Client

That's a gl.inet MT300N. Their hardware comes with a mildly customized version of openwrt preinstalled. They make a few different ones with different capabilities, like PoE or a microSD slot. They also make a micro stick router, which is an interesting concept.

I put vanilla openWRT on mine, though. The MT300N actually has the capability to turn the power to the USB port on and off via GPIO, which I've used to power-cycle a shitty Verizon USB modem. I've used other models for other things where I would have used a WR703N in the past. Anywhere I need a little Linux box with wifi and a USB host port. The newer models have enough flash and RAM that you can install a decent variety of packages before worrying about running of space.

On the RPi, I've found that the limitation isn't the RPi or its USB 2.0 bus, it's the wifi adapter. I've been able to get 130+ Mbps on even an old RPi B (pre-+) using wired USB 3 adapters. Replacing one of those with a wifi adapter reduce throughput to 10 Mbps, and that's with a single connection. I tried Edimax, TP-Link and non-name generic adapters.

I've since found that the GLi mini travel routers are much easier to get going and offer far better performance at the $20-$40 and between price range. There are several antenna options to suit your layout, and they all run OpenWRT, so there are a host of open-source software options. The ability to enable or disable openvpn with a slider button is ideal. They also support a wifi-wifi bridge/routed configuration for dealing with hotel room portals and the like.

You could probably find a higher-performance wifi adapter for the RPi, but then you're starting to spend more money to maybe match the GLi router's performance. Keep in mind, nothing keeps you from using a RPi behind the router for doing other fun stuff. If you're after good, usable wifi for your setup though, I'd go with something else.

I use this router with my VPN:
https://amzn.com/B01AL7P1FU

It work flawlessly.

This is an option a lot of people don't like (because it's not a Chrome-based solution) but it's worth considering: Get a cheap travel router capable of working with OpenVPN protocols and use your VPN at the router level when you need it.

I have a cheap, powerful router that I love: GLi Mini Travel Router GL-MT300N. Here's a non-referral Amazon link: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01AL7P1FU/

It's $19.99 now but is often cheaper.

Tiny, light-weight, can be run from your computer's USB port or via a cheap cell phone backup battery for hours and hours and hours.

I use it as frequently at home as I do when on the road.

I only need the service for the next 6 months or so, till we get the fiber service hooked up. So I grabbed a cheap velocity modem. I bridged the connection with a MT300N that I had laying around, then erthernet connected to my dd-wrt router. I believe it can be directly bridged to a dd-wrt router that has a usb port, but I'm too lazy, everything is working beautifully. I'm pulling 50+mb/15mb.

I see a few travel routers out there with vpn.

https://www.amazon.com/GL-iNet-GL-MT300N-Pre-installed-Performance-Compatible/dp/B01AL7P1FU

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07794JRC5/ref=sspa_dk_detail_0?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07794JRC5&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=f52e26da-1287-4616-824b-efc564ff75a4&pf_rd_r=VGQMB3HEWV5G8Q8CNFXW&pd_rd_wg=l5cdk&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=4uV3l&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=ce4a151b-b900-11e8-b021-4fd414aa6d60

Edit. Not saying these are the best ones. But it's a start point.

The other option would be a raspberry pi based DIY variant.

Old link but proof of concept. https://makezine.com/projects/browse-anonymously-with-a-diy-raspberry-pi-vpntor-router/

You could also get this: https://www.amazon.com/GL-MT300N-Converter-Pre-installed-Performance-Compatible/dp/B01AL7P1FU

Plug jetpack into that, plug the mini router into whatever router you already have and you're good to go.

I use a travel router - https://www.amazon.com/GL-MT300N-Converter-Pre-installed-Performance-Compatible/dp/B01AL7P1FU

It can either connect to the hotel WiFi or ethernet, and then share that with one wired and as many wireless devices as you like (within reason). Captive portal only has to be done once. Basically, the router takes the IP address from the hotel DHCP server, and then hides all other devices using NAT to that IP address.

Has the added advantage of offering OpenVPN built in, so you can encrypt all of your traffic and avoid any URL filtering or logging that the hotel could otherwise do.

Just setup your VPN on this, and plug whatever your are going to torrent with in the lan port or WIFI.
http://www.amazon.com/GL-MT300N-Standard-pre-installed-Repeater-Tethering/dp/B01AL7P1FU/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1465071553&sr=8-1&keywords=openwrt

Instructions here:
https://tokyobreeze.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/install-openvpn-in-a-router-with-4mb-flash/

Nice thing is that if the VPN drops, the firewall on the router won't forward traffic from the LAN side.

My main router doesn't reach one corner of the house, so in that room I put a tiny travel router and set the SSID, password, and channel number to match the main router, and the DHCP server to assign a different block of IP addresses (the 3rd number in the IP address is what's different). It connects to the main router with a Powerline adapter.

Late, so I'm sure no one else will see this, but I use a travel router when I'm on the road and it ensures that my 3DS (and other devices) can connect to any network. Basically, you simply use a phone or another wired/wireless device to connect it to a wired/wireless/tethered network and sign in or accept the terms. Then connect your devices to it, and they should all now work!

It uses OpenWRT, so you can set up your personal security, port forwards etc, but it's not required.

Obviously, you can do this with many other routers, I'm just giving feedback on the small one I bought.

edit: spekling

: ) Good old modem with those dial-up sounds?

Maybe an ethernet crossover adapter with Mini Travel Router?

My friend uses https://www.privateinternetaccess.com/ to get around the mlb rules.

He actuall uses a mini router like this on his tv's ethernet connection(tv supports mlb tv) to pipe the tv through the socks5 proxy from PIA. The router has a proxy tab where you can have it connect to a proxy and send all traffic hooked up to it through the proxy. PIA has multiple geographical locations in the US you can target as well as canada and mexico. I believe he was using NYC to get around the white sox being blocked(he is near chicago) and used the canada or mexico location to unblock the world series games. MLB seemingly doesn't blacklist proxies.