Portal Wi-Fi Review: The Little Beast!

Are you having a problem with network congestion? Portal has a solution for that! They have been around for a long time, and they are constantly developing their product to give you a better experience.

Built with rugged and waterproof construction, the Portal Wi-Fi Router is the best-in-class hotspot device for travelers, which allows you to take it anywhere. Also, it can provide a fast and reliable internet connection at speeds of up to 540 Mbps with no phone line needed!This mesh router is Portal’s most recent model, and it’s ideal if you are looking for a reliable yet . Are you ready to know more about its features and benefits? Read on!

PROS

  • Excellent coverage up to 3000 sq. ft.
  • Powerful Wi-Fi booster
  • Lag-free gaming
  • Fair price point

CONS

  • Non-intuitive interface
  • Lack of configuration instructions
  • Performance: 540 Mbps (single unit)
  • Frequency: Dual-band
  • Processor: 1.8 GHz Quad-core
  • Memory: 128 MB
  • Wireless: 802.11a/n/ac/b/g/
  • Antenna: 9 internal
  • Ports: USB 2.0
  • Ethernet: 1 WAN, 4 LAN
  • Additional Features: Beamforming, QoS, MU-MIMO, Parental Controls, Guest Access, Firewall

Main Features and Benefits

Build Quality

The Portal Wi-Fi is marketed as “the world’s first plug and play mesh networking system,” which means you only need one Portal router to start building out your entire home with full coverage.

With a very minimalistic design, the Portal Wi-Fi router features smooth edges and comes in an all-white color with the company’s logo on top. The router is compact, which allows you to place it anywhere at home or in your office, where a stable internet connection is a must. 

Some people may underestimate this device’s performance because of how small it looks, but don’t be fooled! This router packs powerful hardware inside.

Processor

The Portal Wi-Fi router runs on a dual-core ARM Cortex A15 and has 128MB RAM. This router is an improvement from Portal’s first-generation hardware, which only included a single-core processor and 96 MB of RAM.

This upgrade allows the router to handle up to 14 devices simultaneously with no loss in performance or speed for any device you may have connected.

Wide Signal Coverage

The Portal Wi-Fi router also has an extremely long-range, so you will never have trouble using it in your home or office, no matter where you are! Portal’s wireless coverage is over 200 feet indoors and can reach even further if walls are between the router and your device.

Dual-Band

Congestion often happens when there are multiple Wi-Fi networks surrounding your area. Thanks to dual-band frequency (2.4GHz and 5GHz), the Portal mesh Wi-Fi router can simultaneously send and receive data on both frequencies for even more speed. You can even use the second frequency to reduce congestion.

WPA/WPS Encryption

The Portal Wi-Fi router offers security features such as WPA/WPS encryption and port forwarding capabilities at no additional cost to ensure the privacy of the private networks that it creates. This means that the device allows families or individuals to enjoy the convenience of a wireless connection without sacrificing security.

Parental Controls

Equipped with a comprehensive set of parental controls and security features, the Portal Wi-Fi helps in protecting your children, data, and devices online. It can be used as a sophisticated internet filter, with categories like drugs/alcohol, social media, pornography, etc.

Compatibility

The Portal Wi-Fi is also compatible with existing dual-band routers, so your entire network doesn’t need to be replaced! You can set this router upon any existing network in mere minutes. It is also compatible with most Windows, macOS, Linux operating systems, and iOS and Android devices.

Multi-gig LAN Ports & USB Ports

The Portal Wi-Fi Router features five Gigabit Ethernet Ports – 4 LAN and 1 WAN. Because of this, the router can allow multiple wired devices such as NAS systems, computers, and switches to connect to it.This router also has two USB ports but is rated for USB 2.0 speeds only, resulting in slower file transfer speeds. Despite this, you can still connect an external storage device for file sharing, which allows you and users of the network to share files easily. 

Remote Management

The Portal Mesh Wi-Fi also comes with a mobile app that can manage the router using a smartphone or tablet from anywhere at home, making it very convenient for everyone.

It also allows you to create a guest network and wirelessly connect their guests’ devices to the router’s internet connection. The Wi-Fi router provides an easy way for friends, family members, or even colleagues who don’t have access to your local area network.

You may also use the portal web interface to access your portal router settings, but please be advised that there are things you cannot do with the web that you can do with the app.

MU-MIMO

The Portal Wi-Fi router features Multi-User, Multiple Input, Multiple Output, a wireless technology that allows numerous users to access the router without congestion. It simultaneously transmits data packets to multiple devices reliably and quickly.

VPN Service

Like any high-end router, the Portal Wi-Fi router supports a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service so users can get secure remote access anytime, anywhere. This allows you to make the device a high-end public Wi-Fi hotspot that encrypts all data transmitted.

Easy Set-Up

The set-up process for the Portal Wi-Fi takes less than 20 minutes from out of the box to surfing securely on its network and doesn’t require you to have any technical knowledge. If you are looking for an inexpensive way to boost your existing router’s wireless reach throughout your entire household, look no further because the Portal Wi-Fi does precisely this! 

Cons

Non-intuitive Interface

The Portal Wi-Fi is undoubtedly a reliable router; however, it is not perfect, just like the other routers out there. One of its drawbacks is the interface which is not as intuitive. It does not provide as much flexibility or precise controls as other routers like Asus. But this isn’t a considerable drawback when compared to how it performs.

Lack of Configuration Instructions

Another disadvantage of this router is the lack of configuration instructions for configuring the QoS (Quality of Service) settings. Unlike other routers, the Portal Wi-Fi’s feature settings can not be accessed via an internet login or a mobile app.

What is the Portal Wi-Fi Router Best For?

The Portal Wi-Fi Router is the perfect choice for anyone who wants to cut their mobile data cost. This router can save you up to 70% on your mobile plan, making it one of the best ways to reduce your monthly bill! 

With the advanced portal security, Portal is perfect for cafes, restaurants, or even your own house – anywhere you want to provide secure and fast internet access.

Conclusion

The Portal Wi-Fi router is truly dependable for broad coverage and speeds. Although it may have some disadvantages, it does not take away from the many features of this product.  So, if you’re looking for a router upgrade, go no further than the Portal Wi-Fi Router. Want to see more types of travel routers?

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