ExpressVPN Aircove Review
DISCLOSURE – THIS ITEM WAS GIFTED TO THE REVIEWER FOR THE PURPOSES OF WRITING THE REVIEW. ALL THOUGHTS AND OPINIONS ARE THE REVIEWER’S OWN.
Reviewed by Deborah Banasko
Our internet strength has always been an issue as we live in an old stone house; download speeds are slow and as a parent internet security is always a particular concern too.
I was asked to review the ExpressVPN Aircove, a security-focused home router, and I also received an ExpressVPN 12-month account with the review. This is the first Wi-Fi 6 router with built in Virtual Protection Network (VPN). It has parental controls and protection features which protects any product which doesn’t have VPN and is connected to your Wi-Fi or by the ethernet.
The router is powered by a dual band Wi-Fi 6 and has more than enough band width to connect to dozens of devices at any one time. It also has a WPA3 encryption (a much more secure choice than WPA2), and the five ethernet ports allow connection to multiple game consoles, streaming boxes etc.
For people like me who don’t fully understand what this means, all home device (including smart devices) will be protected with a layer of encryption and the VPN encrypts data to prevent any third parties from reading it. There is no limit to the number of devices covered in the home which is a real positive. Internet speeds can be boosted and throttling reduced. I have added a link below to explain the technical elements in more detail.
In honesty I hadn’t realised just how many devices our family of 5 used, and with 98% of all smart device traffic being unencrypted this is something I really should have been concerned about before now.
The router was simple to connect as you just plug it into an electricity socket, then connect the ethernet lead into the modem and that’s it! Next, you down-load the APP and follow the instructions. The company claims that this system can be set-up and running in minutes without the need for any complex manual configuration.
The reality for us wasn’t quite this simple.
I found the instructions quite tricky and had to follow the help and support sections on the APP and the ExpressVPN website. This took around 2 hours because I couldn’t find the VPN dashboard, and scanning the QR code on the router didn’t really activate it. This was quite frustrating.
Once my network had switched over to Aircove, it became a lot easier to follow.
The issue that I have is that once the APP is downloaded onto your PC, smartphone or iPad, the menu option is only available in the top left-hand corner of the PC and not on the other devices. If this is not the case, then I could not figure out how to change it. This is a problem because if I wish to change any of the settings I can only use the PC to do this. I suspect, in time, I will find the solution to this.
Once I understood that this was the case I was able to check whether I was connected, and I was able to pick the location I wanted to use (for example I can access sites outside the UK) which gave me more versatility in accessing specific streaming content. When I didn’t need a specific area I could use the smart location; this feature automatically picks up the VPN server that provides the optimal experience using metrics like download speed, latency and distance.
The APP is straightforward and clear for beginners; it doesn’t matter which platform you use as the APP is virtually the same and can be downloaded to as many devices as you like, but only 5 devices can use the APP at any one time.
Once on the app there are tools which allow you to check that you are protected. By simply clicking into the privacy and security tools you can check that your IP address is hidden and whether you have a DNS (Domain Named System) leak, thus making you feel safe in the knowledge that your IP address, the websites you have visited and your private data are safe.
Using the menu bar you can personalise your ExpressVPN. I opted for it to launch the APP as soon as I started the PC in a minimized form, automatically updating and connecting to the last location used.
Another useful feature is that you can initiate the network lock, for example if the VPN disconnects, but still allow access to local networks like printers, therefore protecting my IP address.
As a woman who likes these sorts of devices to be hidden away this could present an issue for some people as the main “box” has four protruding “prongs” which stand vertically. We managed to position it behind the TV out of sight but it is just something to consider.
The VPN can run constantly, still provide fast internet speeds and provide protection for all devices. Our internet speed has improved noticeably as a result of this hardware, the amount of data that we can receive at any one time has increased, and we are protected. However, the range from the modem is the same as before so the connection in the rooms with a weaker signal remains the same.
The ExpressVPN retails at £289.83 which feels good value for money, given the benefits we are instantly experiencing. If you share ExpressVPN with friends you both get 30 days free service too!
This would make a fantastic gift for technology geeks; for me I am thinking of my husband as a device like this would literally make his year.
I would award this product 4.5/5 stars, I marked it down slightly because I found it difficult to set up.
Rating: 4.5/5
RRP: £289.83
You can purchase the ExpressVPN Aircove router from Amazon here.
If you require any further technical information I have provided the following links; https://www.expressvpn.com/aircove and https://www.expressvpn.com/aircove/specs