One of the issues I have whenever I travel is the internet connection. While mobile data mostly solves the problem, it drains your phone’s battery life and the hotspot is not usually strong enough. Public free WiFi is another common option at airports, cafes, or hotels. In this case, the issue would be security. ASUS solves that with the ASUS RT-AX57 Go Travel Router.
Looking at the design, the ASUS RT-AX57 Go Travel Router doesn’t look like your usual router. It’s closer to an external HDD since it doesn’t have any external antennas, but it does have five internal with support for WiFi 6 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands and 160MHz channel.
It’s larger than your standard HDD but light and slim enough to conveniently pack it in your bag. It has WAN and LAN ethernet ports, USB-C DC-in, and USB-A 3.0 ports. It comes with its own power adapter, but for portability and traveling light, you can power it using a smartphone charger or power bank as long as it can provide 18W of power.
One of the main features of the ASUS RT-AX57 Go Travel Router is tri-mode connectivity. First, it can function as a regular router for the home, and if you already have an existing ASUS mesh network, it can work as an additional node. Second, it can provide a private WiFi hotspot over public Wifi using WISP mode (Wireless Internet Service Provider). What it does is the RT-AX57 Go connects to the public WiFi and then creates a private hotspot for your own devices. This way, you’ll have your own WiFi network with AiProtection features powered by Trend Micro. Lastly, it supports 4G/5G mobile tethering, allowing you to supply the RT-AX57 Go with mobile internet from your smartphone.
Setup is done via the ASUS Router App. Initial setup takes about 10 minutes, but once done you can conveniently access all the router’s features straight from your smartphone, including One-Tap Security Scan, ASUS Safe Browsing, encrypted online privacy with DNS over TLS, VPN, Instant Guard, and Parental Controls, to name a few.
In our experience, the ASUS RT-AX57 Go Travel Router works as advertised. In my case, I set it up with the same SSID and password as my network at home. Then, when I get to my hotel room, I plug it into the hotel’s ethernet jack or use the free public WiFi, and my devices will automatically connect to my network. It also gives me peace of mind as I can do online banking in a much more secure network. It’s a great addition to your gear if you travel frequently.
The ASUS RT-AX57 Go Travel Router is priced at around PHP 6K. See the listing here — https://shope.ee/2LCFR6INdE
