The Ultimate Router Comparison Guide … Generation 2!
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| Features (click links for details) |
RT-N66U WiFi VPN Router | E4200 WiFi VPN Router | E3200 WiFi VPN Router | WNR3500L WiFi VPN Router | E2500 WiFi VPN Router | F7D7302 Share N300 WiFi VPN Router |
| Operating System | Sabai OSv5 | Sabai OSv5 | Sabai OSv5 | Sabai OSv5 | Sabai OSv5 | Sabai OSv5 |
| Wireless Type | 2.4 & 5 GHz | 2.4 & 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
| RAM | 256 MB | 64 MB | 64 MB | 128 MB | 64 MB | 64 MB |
| CPU | 600 MHz | 480 MHz | 500 MHz | 480 MHz | 300 MHz | 453 MHz |
| Set-Up Time | ~ 5 min | ~ 5 min | ~ 5 min | ~ 5 min | ~ 5 min | ~ 5 min |
| Supports | PPTP/OpenVPN | PPTP/OpenVPN | PPTP/OpenVPN | PPTP/OpenVPN | PPTP/OpenVPN | PPTP/OpenVPN |
| 2.0 USB Storage | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| LAN Ports | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| Voltage | Dual | Dual | Dual | Dual | Dual | Dual |
| Ethernet Cord | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Flash Storage | 32 MB | 16 MB | 16 MB | 128 MB | 8 MB | 8 MB |
| Price | $299.99 | $209.99 | $184.99 | $169.99 | $139.99 | $99.99 |
Operating System – Sabai OSv5 is an easy to use, advanced feature VPN Router operating system. Preferred by everyday users for it’s fast setup and ease of use, connecting your VPN account to wireless devices has never been easier. Sabai OS also makes advanced features such as port forwarding and multiple gateways as easy as the click of a mouse.
Wireless Type – 2.4 GHz is the most common, and thus the most crowded frequency. While the 5 GHz is more powerful, it has a shorter range and may not be available in some areas of the world. 2.4 GHz can also experience interference from some devices such as microwaves or wireless phones and their proximity to your router should be considered when choosing a wireless type. However, some 802.11b/g client devices require 2.4 GHz.
RAM – Short term memory. Effects the speed of the router.
CPU – Central Processing Unit. Effects the speed and performance of the router.
VPN Support Types – PPTP (point to point tunneling protocol) and OpenVPN differ mostly in speed and security. PPTP is typically faster. If you live in a country with internet freedom, this is likely your best choice. However, PPTP has limited security and encryption. Users that live in areas with high censorship or unstable internet connections will be better served with OpenVPN because of its flexibility and power. See your VPN provider for more details on the best VPN type for your area and connection speed.
LAN Port – Ports which allow you to manually connect a device to your router.
Dual Voltage – Allows users around the world with varying voltages to utilize the router.
Flash Storage – The memory storage of the router. Some of this space is occupied by the Sabai Operating System.
Infographic: How To Get American Internet Abroad
Trying to figure it all out? Here is a road map for being able to watch Netflix, Hulu, Pandora, Spotify, Crackle, and more from outside of the U.S.
Troubleshoot Tuesday: Copying Over an Old SSID
Recently, a customer contacted our customer support to ask the question, ‘If I set my new Sabai VPN Router to my old SSID and password, will my devices automatically switch over to the new router?’
Great question! For customers with tons of devices and a very secure SSID password (read: long!) switching all those devices over to your Sabai VPN Router at setup can be a hassle.
Does it work?
Our test customer says, YES! After disconnecting the old router, he set up the Sabai VPN Router to use the ID and password that all of his devices where set to. With a snap of the fingers, dozens of wireless devices where connected via VPN. Now, all this user has to do is go into Gateways, and choose which devices he wants on the local gateway.
Find great tips like these and more every Tuesday with our Troubleshoot Tuesday blog series! You can automatically get these tips sent to you by using the Subscribe to the Blog field on the right.
Troubleshoot Tuesday: APO, FPO, DPO Addresses at Checkout
We love our military folks! Sometimes though, those APO, FPO, DPO addresses can be tricky! The most common issue is caused by the way the address is split up. If you have a “box number” (ex. “PSC 123 Box 456″) please try entering the address on two separate lines, as follows:
Address line 1: PSC 123
Address line 2: Box 456
If this still causes the system to read your address with an error, try also using the full 9-digit (12345-6789) version of your zip code.
If you are still experiencing issues with your APO, FPO, or DPO address after these troubleshooting tips, feel free to contact our customer care department by calling 864-862-4072 or emailing customercare@sabaitechnology.com.
Sabai Technology Compatible VPN Providers
Sabai Technology continues to bring our unique brand of revolutionary VPN Routers to an increasing number of providers and customers. This largely became possible with the release of OSv5, which expanded Open VPN compatibility. Below is a (growing!) list of VPN providers that are either affiliated with or are known to work with Sabai VPN Routers. Don’t forget that PPTP always works, no matter what provider you use!
Sabai Technology Approved VPN Providers
These are the VPN providers that Sabai has a working relationship with. Not only is your VPN account guaranteed to work with these providers, but, the technical support experience is optimized.
StrongVPN
Astrill
APO VPN
My Expat Network US/UK
Get Your TV Abroad
SurfBouncer
Private Internet Access
Known Compatible Companies
These VPN providers have at least one customer using a Sabai VPN Router, so we know they work!
Mullvad
Hide My Ass VPN
VPN UK
Express
Witopia
My Private Network
Overplay
UnblockVPN
CyberGhost
PureVPN
SwitchVPN
Other VPN Providers
There are hundreds of VPN providers out there, so this is far from an exhaustive list. Sabai VPN Routers DO NOT work with IPVanish, Hide My IP, Anonymizer, Unblock-US, VyperVPN, and HotSpot Shield.
If your VPN provider isn’t on the list, we would be happy to test your OpenVPN connection before you purchase a VPN Router. If you would like for your VPN provider to work with Sabai Technology to bring premium technical support and ease of use – let us know in comments. We also recommend you contact your provider and tell them you want a Sabai VPN Router!
Troubleshoot Tuesday: New Tech Support Scheduler!
Some troubleshooting issues require help from technical support. Our reviews make it clear that customers love the remote-in option and personalized attention our technical support provides. No confusing directions over the phone while you fumble around your computer trying to find the right buttons to click. Ruth and Tim, our tech support gurus, will take control of the mouse and keyboard so the tech support process is as smooth as possible.
Scheduling Support
Sabai often gets asked why we schedule our technical support sessions. There are several reasons, not the least of which is respect for your time! Due to the complexity of many of our customers setups and tech issues, some tech support issues can take an hour or more. We want to make sure customers are aware of that time frame and we certainly don’t want you to have to wait in queue for that long!
What’s New
Long time customers may have noticed that there have been a few versions of the technical support calendar. Sabai staff have been working toward the perfect solution, so that our support techs time is optimized and to provide the best possible solution for our customers. Check out the new service selections:
Now, customers booking a technical support session with a Sabai Technology tech can choose which items they need help with … allowing Ruth and Tim to be better prepared to help and making your appointment as efficient as possible. We recommend that customers allot for at least one hour for their technical support sessions. Each situation is different, but don’t despair … you are in good hands with Sabai Technology!
Customer Spotlight Part 2: Yossi, VPN Accelerator
In Part One of Yossi’s Customer Spotlight, we learned how he uses a single Sabai VPN Router to run dual gateways in Israel. Next, we will discuss how Yossi uses a VPN Accelerator to increase the usability of his VPN network.
The addition of a VPN Accelerator to your wireless VPN setup can make or break your ability to watch streaming content, depending on where you live in the world. There are many factors that affect VPN speed and some of them are controllable and some are outside of your control. Here is a short list:
Power of VPN Router
If speed is of major concern to you, order a higher end router like the RT-N66U or the 4200. The more power the router has behind it, the better your speed throughput will be. This is exactly why a VPN Accelerator helps so tremendously.
Add a VPN Accelerator
A VPN Accelerator is a mini computer that handles the VPN part of the network for the router, letting the router focus on directing traffic – it’s intended job! By adding a VPN Accelerator, you can expect the same speeds achieved by running the VPN directly on a computer. If you haven’t tried this, doing a speed test this way is the best way to estimate Accelerator network speeds. Your VPN provider will have directions on its website for using VPN directly on your computer.
Location of your VPN Server
Choose the closest possible VPN server for your needs. If you are in South America, connect to Miami or Santa Fe, not New York. If you are in Japan, connect to San Francisco, not Miami. You get the picture.
Type of Connection
Wired connections are always faster than wireless. If speed on a specific device is critical, for instance your PS3, then connect that device directly into your VPN Router, rather than streaming content wirelessly. This should cause a noticeable difference.
Local Speed
Nothing can increase your local ISP speed. This is one of the factors that is not controllable. Internet speeds are diverse, depending on where you live in the world. Some Asian countries see as much as 100 Mbps while many island nations struggle to get 5 Mbps. Once you add VPN and a VPN Router to your setup, the best we can do is optimize to get as close to your local speed as possible.
VPN Traffic Throttling
If you live in a part of the world that downgrades VPN traffic as “undesirable” there is nothing that you, your VPN, or Sabai can do to overcome that. The only suggestion we can offer is to be sure to try both PPTP and OpenVPN because each works better in some locations than others.
For Yossi, a VPN Accelerator gives him the speed necessary to enjoy Netflix and Hulu Plus content. “I can watch streaming content as well as play streaming content (Pandora, Spotify) whenever I feel like it. It alleviates my dependency on iTunes downloads and makes my Apple TVs a more “complete” device,” comments Yossi. ”It make me feel (at least from the standpoint of content) as if I live in the US.”
If you have more questions about Sabai VPN Routers or the VPN Accelerator, contact Sabai Customer Care by e-mail, chat, or phone. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8 am – 5 pm EST.
Troubleshoot Tuesday: Will a DD-WRT Router work with a VPN Accelerator?
In the nine months or so that Sabai Technology has offered the VPN Accelerator, hundreds of the mini computers have been shipped all over the world. For customers who want to get the best possible speed out of their VPN setups, the VPN Accelerator is a must-have.
The VPN Slow Down
Consider this scenario: Let’s say your local internet speed is 20 Mbps in Germany. You want to be able to watch American Netflix, so you add VPN connection to tunnel your traffic back to New York. Using VPN directly on your computer still gets 16 Mbps, but the problem is you really don’t want to watch Netflix on your computer, you want to watch it on your Smart TV.
So, you get a Sabai VPN Router and run your VPN connection through the router instead of your computer. This allows you to use VPN with your Smart TV and other networked devices in your home. But, even an RT-N66U WiFi VPN Router will slow your connection speed down a bit more, to maybe 12 Mbps – because even the most powerful VPN Router is still not as powerful as a computer. Your wireless VPN speed might still be plenty fast to watch Netflix, but you miss the speeds you used to have!
Overcoming Speed Issues
The answer to overcoming the majority of the speed slowdown is to purchase a VPN Accelerator, which will overcome the bottleneck caused by the VPN Router (it will not overcome limitations placed by your ISP on VPN traffic or make your network faster than your local connection.) Because the VPN connection actually runs on the VPN Accelerator but routes traffic through the Sabai VPN Router, it provides the speed advantages of running a VPN on the computer with the networking advantages of running VPN on a router. The best of both worlds!
Sabai Customer Care is asked all the time whether or not a VPN Accelerator will “help” a certain network setup. The best way to test what kind of speed results can be expected from a VPN Accelerator is to run your VPN directly on a computer and do a speed test. The VPN Accelerator will be able to match or exceed these speeds.
DD-WRT
Customers also ask if they can use a VPN Accelerator with a DD-WRT router. The VPN Accelerator was created to work specifically with Sabai OS, so the answer is no. However, if you enjoy your DD-WRT router for VPN, you will love Sabai OS for all its advanced functionality and features. Plus, the setup is incredibly easy compared to DD-WRT.
If you have more questions about Sabai VPN Routers or the VPN Accelerator, contact Sabai Customer Care by e-mail, chat, or phone. Our office hours are Monday-Friday 8 am – 5 pm EST.
Video: How to Choose a VPN Router
When trying to decide which model VPN Router to purchase, the specs can get confusing. If our comparison guide and quiz aren’t enough to help you make a decision, try watching this short video which walks you through making this decision!
Customer Spotlight: How Yossi Gets Simultaneous Local and VPN Access from One Router
Yossi lives in Israel and he found Sabai Technology while researching Dual Gateway solutions back in 2010. Yossi knew exactly what he wanted – to be able to have both local and VPN connections from one network connection. At that time, dual gateways required one of our Network Bundles, a now defunct product comprised of two E3000s – one to run local traffic, one to run VPN.
However, once Sabai OS introduced dual gateways, Yossi saw the potential to dump his second router! Sabai OS is the only way to achieve dual gateway functionality from a single router, meaning you get device by device traffic control on a single network. Want your work laptop to use local internet while your personal laptop and smart tv use VPN? Don’t bother with two networks, which is energy inefficient and can slow down your network.
How does Gateway control work?
Default
This setting tells the Sabai VPN Router how you want any new device added to the network to automatically behave. Does most of your traffic go out over local? Set that as your default and any device that is added to the network will default to local traffic, unless you reassign it in the Device List.
Device List
This list is populated based on devices that are added to the network. As you can see in the image above, each device has a button for D (default), L (local), V (VPN), or A (Accelerator). Any device can be switched to a new gateway at any time by simply clicking the correct button and saving the setting!
Assign All
Want a quick way to switch all of your devices over to, say your Accelerator? No problem. Just use the Assign All buttons above the device list controls.
Save and Surf!
Anytime you change Gateway settings, be sure to save! It is also worth noting that Gateways is much improved in OSv5, so if you are using an older version of Sabai OS you should consider upgrading! No more setting static IPs, restarting devices, or unstable connections. The new Gateways is easy enough for anyone to use.
Yossi loves how his Sabai VPN Router makes content from the U.S. readily available. His favorite apps are Netflix and Hulu plus, which he loves being able to stream whenever the mood strikes. As an Apple TV user in Israel, he likes how his Sabai VPN Router setup offers him a more “complete” device and alleviates his dependency on iTunes downloads.
To learn more about Yossi’s setup, stay tuned for Part 2! If you have pre-sale questions for the Sabai staff, feel free to contact us via email, chat, or phone during our business hours or check out our website – there is a ton more information out there!
Welcome new affiliate VPN provider: SurfBouncer
Sabai Technology is pleased to announce yet another new VPN provider affiliate – SurfBouncer! This personal VPN service is known for offering a wide variety of VPN products. Sabai Technology is proud to be counted among these secure service products.
It is clear the the veteran SurfBouncer crew is knowledgeable and dedicated to an awesome customer experience. Plus, the SurfBouncer service works really well with Sabai VPN Routers!
One SurfBouncer customer review perfectly sums up the need for the service:
I work at a U.S. Embassy in West Africa. Most all U.S. based retailers and e-commerce sites block West-African ISPs for a long list of very good reasons. Even my EarthLink e-mail was blocked. With the Surfbouncer VPN everything works as it would with a U.S. ISP. Additionally, I like the fact that a “curious” host government and an abundance of local hackers can’t see my Internet traffic and personal e-mail. The telephone system here is a government run monopoly and they make attempts to block VoIP. (Originally posted on vpnservicereviews.com)
Customers who have been with the service for a while are aware that the company has long provided an appliance option. While this appliance has served the customers well, Sabai VPN Routers brings advanced functionality, such as Gateways, and more appliance variety to the SurfBouncer community. Sabai Technology welcomes SurfBouncer customers old and new and invites you to learn more about Sabai VPN Routers!
Troubleshoot Tuesday: Router Not Showing Correct VPN Location
Sabai Technology developers are constantly working to improve the user experience, to make using a Sabai VPN Router to extend your VPN tunnel as simple as possible. One long time feature of Sabai VPN Routers that is as elegant as it is simple is the corner status update. It looks like this:
This simple message gives the user real-time information about the status of their connection. Once your OpenVPN or PPTP is up and running on the router, this corner status should provide you with your cloaked IP address, assigned by your provider and a geo-location based on this IP. Every once in a while, while this status will show you connected to VPN, but the server location won’t be correct.
The Cause
The location in the corner display is pulled from a database that maps IP addresses to locations. This database has two flaws: 1) GeoIP information is hard to keep up with, since IP addresses are sometimes reassigned from a server in one location to another server in a different country entirely, and 2) ideally this database would be updated more frequently.
The Bottom Line
The information in the corner is only to give the user notification of when their location changes; it is not intended to reflect with absolute certainty the user’s VPN endpoint location on the globe. For a second opinion on your geo-location, try visiting a website such as TraceMyIP.org or, often times your VPN provider will have an IP locator available on their website.
