Many VPNs in one router: Vilfo review
Thanks to a convenient dashboard accessible via web browser, Vilfo allows you to set groups within which the devices we use daily to navigate can be entered. For example, you can create a group and call it "Netflix" by inserting the devices with which we want to overcome the geo-blocking of the streaming service, for example a tablet, our smartphone and maybe the smart TV. This group will be able to use an ad hoc VPN service, chosen from one of the best performing ones for streaming.
If, on the other hand, we only need to mask our browsing from prying eyes, we can create, for example, a "Security "By associating devices such as our notebook or desktop computer, and choosing a VPN that is particularly careful to preserve our data.
Once we have set up the groups we need and associate the devices we want, it will no longer be necessary to do other, every time the devices connect to the WiFi network generated by Vilfo they will be automatically managed according to the settings we have decided from the router dashboard.
Vilfo router technical features
Inside the Vilfo chassis there is really a lot of technology and hardware power enough for a real computer, despite the small size of only 42mm high , 180mm wide and 120mm deep.Vilfo is equipped with:
An Intel Celeron processor; MediaTek MT7612E single chip Wi-Fi compliant with 802.11ac specifications (Max 867 Mbit / s) and capable of transmitting on 2.4Ghz or 5Ghz; a 1000 Mbit / s WAN port; 3 1000 Mbit / s Ethernet LAN ports; 2 GB of DDR3 1600 Mhz RAM; 8 GB of solid state drive (SSD); two removable 8 dBi WiFi antennas; 1 USB port; 1 HDMI port (to which a monitor can be connected).
Vilfo router configuration
Vilfo's configuration is extremely simple and we have tried it first hand thanks to a sample sent to us by the company Swedish manufacturer of it, an offshoot of the VPN provider called OVPN.Vilfo is not a modem, so it can be connected to an existing modem / router in your home to get Internet connectivity. Just connect one of the free ports on our current home modem / router to the Vilfo WAN port using the ethernet cable supplied in the package.
Once this is done, connect to the VILFO open WiFi network with any device, and visit with a browser address admin.vilfo.com or IP 192.168.0.1, in case there are problems in resolving the domain name. If there are IP conflicts in the LAN to which it is connected, the initial configuration screen itself will suggest a different IP to use, as shown in the figure:
Visiting the indicated address Vilfo configuration will start with a series of mandatory steps to be performed such as the configuration of the WiFi connectivity to be provided, the administrative credentials to access Vilfo, the license key to activate it and, above all, the credentials of the VPN services to which you are already subscribers. Basically Vilfo is able to interface with practically all VPN services on the market.
Among the VPN services that can be selected there is obviously also OVPN, the Swedish provider that gave life to Vilfo.
Once the setup is complete, you can access the dashboard, the control center from where we can monitor all the data of the active connections with Vilfo in our local network, as shown in the figure:
At this point it will be sufficient to create a new group in which to insert the devices present on your local network. Just click on the Devices item, scroll down and enter a name for the group you want to create in the "Create group" space.
In the example shown in the figure we have created a Netflix group to which we have assigned an iPad:
At this point just choose the server a which you want to connect from among those made available by the VPN service (in our example OVPN) and click on the Connect button. From this moment on, the navigation of the device or devices present in the defined group will be masked with an IP different from the real one.
Vilfo is also equipped with a Parental Control system , quite basic, which allows you to set navigation days and times for our children's devices:
Conclusions: our opinion on Vilfo
We had the opportunity to try Vilfo for a week, managing to quickly and easily configure all the devices in our local network, thanks to a Web interface that has proved to be really intuitive and with a very low learning curve.The router has always proved to be reliable and fast in managing the devices present in our LAN and in the diversified assignment of the VPNs set. We also very much appreciated the quantity and quality of the documentation on the Vilfo website which really covers any case that may arise when using the router. The range of the two antennas is also good which, being removable, can also be replaced with larger ones and able to cover even greater distances.
Vilfo's only drawback is probably the price: $ 379 it goes VAT was also added, for a total of 498.75 dollars. It must be said that it is a high-level router, with hardware comparable to a personal computer and with features that are not found on virtually any other competitor on the market. Certainly a niche product, but one that more security conscious users will certainly appreciate for the possibility of effectively centralizing (and in a few clicks) the control of all the devices on their LAN.
