September 2022 saw the launch of ExpressVPN Aircove, a dedicated VPN router produced and distributed by the British Virgin Islands-based provider. Seeking to simplify the router VPN experience and offer greater flexibility and functionality to an oft-neglected part of the industry, Aircove is nothing if not a bold move. Here, we’ll be explaining exactly what Aircove is, how it differs from current VPN router setups, and whether it’s worth considering for your home.
What is Aircove?
Although usable as a Wi-Fi 6 router without an ExpressVPN subscription, to get VPN protection you’ll need to sign up to ExpressVPN (opens in new tab). However, what sets it apart from a manually set-up VPN router is the intuitive dashboard, accessible at expressvpnrouter.com (opens in new tab). From the dashboard, you can set up device groups, with different locations for each group and enforce blocks on certain devices, which could be used to encourage kids to enjoy internet-free time. This centralized control area allows the permanent protection of a VPN on a router as well as the flexibility of a device-by-device installation.
Aircove specs
RRP
$189.99
Wi-Fi standard
Dual-band (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) Wi-Fi, AX1800 MU-MIMO,Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi speed and coverage
How much is ExpressVPN Aircove?
1.2 GHz 64-bit Quad-Core CPU, 512 MB RAM, 128 MB flash storage
Security features
Built-in ExpressVPN protectionWPA2/3 Wi-Fi securityAutomatic updates
Supported VPN protocols
LightwayOpenVPNIKEv2
Dimensions
210 mm x 120 mm x 36.8 mm, 445 g
Interface
1 x WAN Ethernet port4 x LAN Ethernet ports1 x LED1 x reset button1 x 12V/1.5A DC input4 x external antennas
How is it different from a regular router?
In short, not very. It has all the basic functions of your day-to-day router, but with the bonus of quick and easy ExpressVPN integration. Its Wi-Fi 6 integration is a big bonus, and it’s reported that its connections are strong and can deliver good speeds. However, it’s worth noting that at launch there are a couple of limitations and kinks to be ironed out. Most notably there’s a deactivated USB port and button on the device. Hopefully these will be activated in the future with firmware updates, and seeing as – at the time of writing – Aircove has only been available for a matter of days, we’re sure these will be sorted in time.
How set up Aircove
Setting up Aircove is super simple:
Are there any downsides?
For most users, Aircove will be a useful addition to your router, and will give you access to Wi-Fi 6 and excellent connection speeds. However, if you’re not using a VPN with it – which, admittedly, is an unlikely situation – for what you get in the box it’s quite expensive. Another downside is a problem shared by all VPN-router integrations: incompatibility with some websites and slightly more frequent CAPTCHAs. However, Aircove minimises this by making it much easier to switch locations and deactivate the VPN. Finally, it’s worth noting that Aircove is only compatible with ExpressVPN. If you subscribe to NordVPN, for example, you won’t be able to log in with your current plan and make the most of Aircove’s advanced VPN and usability features.
Is it worth getting Aircove?
If you want to set up a router to deliver VPN connections, Aircove is an incredibly simple solution that’s far more powerful than a simple flashed router. The device groups feature and native support of ExpressVPN offer great customization, and negate almost all of the negatives associated with using VPNs on routers. While it’s more expensive than a regular router, if you want a router VPN, don’t want the hassle of setting it up yourself, and want to use ExpressVPN to protect your household, it’s well worth considering.
title: “Expressvpn Aircove What Is It And Is It Worth Getting " ShowToc: true date: “2022-11-24” author: “Jesse Branch”
September 2022 saw the launch of ExpressVPN Aircove, a dedicated VPN router produced and distributed by the British Virgin Islands-based provider. Seeking to simplify the router VPN experience and offer greater flexibility and functionality to an oft-neglected part of the industry, Aircove is nothing if not a bold move. Here, we’ll be explaining exactly what Aircove is, how it differs from current VPN router setups, and whether it’s worth considering for your home.
What is Aircove?
Although usable as a Wi-Fi 6 router without an ExpressVPN subscription, to get VPN protection you’ll need to sign up to ExpressVPN (opens in new tab). However, what sets it apart from a manually set-up VPN router is the intuitive dashboard, accessible at expressvpnrouter.com (opens in new tab). From the dashboard, you can set up device groups, with different locations for each group and enforce blocks on certain devices, which could be used to encourage kids to enjoy internet-free time. This centralized control area allows the permanent protection of a VPN on a router as well as the flexibility of a device-by-device installation.
Aircove specs
RRP
$189.99
Wi-Fi standard
Dual-band (2.4 GHz/5 GHz) Wi-Fi, AX1800 MU-MIMO,Wi-Fi 6 (IEEE 802.11 b/g/n/ac/ax)
Wi-Fi speed and coverage
How much is ExpressVPN Aircove?
1.2 GHz 64-bit Quad-Core CPU, 512 MB RAM, 128 MB flash storage
Security features
Built-in ExpressVPN protectionWPA2/3 Wi-Fi securityAutomatic updates
Supported VPN protocols
LightwayOpenVPNIKEv2
Dimensions
210 mm x 120 mm x 36.8 mm, 445 g
Interface
1 x WAN Ethernet port4 x LAN Ethernet ports1 x LED1 x reset button1 x 12V/1.5A DC input4 x external antennas
How is it different from a regular router?
In short, not very. It has all the basic functions of your day-to-day router, but with the bonus of quick and easy ExpressVPN integration. Its Wi-Fi 6 integration is a big bonus, and it’s reported that its connections are strong and can deliver good speeds. However, it’s worth noting that at launch there are a couple of limitations and kinks to be ironed out. Most notably there’s a deactivated USB port and button on the device. Hopefully these will be activated in the future with firmware updates, and seeing as – at the time of writing – Aircove has only been available for a matter of days, we’re sure these will be sorted in time.
How set up Aircove
Setting up Aircove is super simple:
Are there any downsides?
For most users, Aircove will be a useful addition to your router, and will give you access to Wi-Fi 6 and excellent connection speeds. However, if you’re not using a VPN with it – which, admittedly, is an unlikely situation – for what you get in the box it’s quite expensive. Another downside is a problem shared by all VPN-router integrations: incompatibility with some websites and slightly more frequent CAPTCHAs. However, Aircove minimises this by making it much easier to switch locations and deactivate the VPN. Finally, it’s worth noting that Aircove is only compatible with ExpressVPN. If you subscribe to NordVPN, for example, you won’t be able to log in with your current plan and make the most of Aircove’s advanced VPN and usability features.
Is it worth getting Aircove?
If you want to set up a router to deliver VPN connections, Aircove is an incredibly simple solution that’s far more powerful than a simple flashed router. The device groups feature and native support of ExpressVPN offer great customization, and negate almost all of the negatives associated with using VPNs on routers. While it’s more expensive than a regular router, if you want a router VPN, don’t want the hassle of setting it up yourself, and want to use ExpressVPN to protect your household, it’s well worth considering.
