Users can select which devices they want to connect through the VPN, and which devices they do not want to be protected.Ĭonnecting the router to our existing Virgin Media Superhub 2ac directly (without switching on the router mode) worked, with the WRT 1200AC consistently providing a better browsing experience than Virgin Media’s bundled router. Individual devices cannot have individual servers. It’s worth noting that the only type of split tunnelling support is VPN (single location) or No VPN. (note that the router counts as one of the three connections). While ExpressVPN usually enforces a limit of three simultaneous connections per account, that limit doesn’t hold for this router, and as we mentioned earlier, you can connect as many devices as your broadband can support, a real boon for households with loads of devices. This, however, would require you to get rid of the ExpressVPN firmware (which is itself a customised version of OpenWRT). You can configure the modem to run on OpenWRT or DD-WRT, two popular alternative router operating systems. The router’s user interface is well laid-out with some clear options that even include a speed test feature, one which connects with the popular Speednet service. Very useful if you want to reset or troubleshoot when you’re not physically near the device. Linksys also encourages you to register for its free Smart Wi-Fi service which allows you to monitor and manage your router using a mobile app from anywhere in the world. Still, if you change your mind down the line, the hardware will still work without the subscription. You will not need a subscription to use the router if you do not plan to use the VPN service, but presumably if you’re buying this product, you’re doing so for the bundled VPN. Check out the best VPN (opens in new tab).You’ll need to enter your 23-digit activation code to use the router, and the VPN service will work on all the devices connected to it. You must have an ExpressVPN subscription (opens in new tab) for the VPN to work (sorry NordVPN users), something that can cost you as little as $99.99 (around £80, AU$135) for a year or $12.95 if purchased on a monthly basis. Note that the WRT 1200AC incorporates beam forming technology which means that it can focus its wireless signals on devices connected to it.Īt the back of the router you’ll find a switch, a reset button, a power connector, one USB 3.0 port, one eSATA/USB 2.0 connector and four Gigabit Ethernet ports. It has a theoretical maximum transfer rate of 300Mbps on the 2.4GHz band and 900Mbps on 5GHz you can of course use both at the same time, depending on your devices. There’s still a Marvel 88F6820 ARM system-on-a-chip at its heart, a dual-core model clocked at 1.3GHz. The original router had 256MB of RAM while the new version 2 we evaluated doubles that to 512MB. Overall, the 1200AC has a very solid feel to it with an air of nostalgia it won’t wobble or fall off a flat surface thanks to a low centre of gravity. As expected, it sits comfortably on four big plastic feet and carries two detachable antennas at the back.Īs with the vast majority of routers on the market, there are plenty of status lights up front (11 in all), a lot of ports at the back, and all the admin details about the router are on its base. There are plenty of holes in its enclosure, a sign that the hardware inside may well get warm under near-constant use. The WRT 1200AC is the heir to that line with some pretty bold lines and a futuristic design. Those who have used the now legendary WRT 54xx series will recognise the device’s blue-black colour scheme. You can nab it for as little as £102 (around $125, AU$165) including delivery from online retailer Ballicom (and you can check out our review of the ExpressVPN service here). Speaking of the WRT 1200AC, this is a relatively mature device that was launched well over a year ago although the one that was sent to us is the v2 incarnation.
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