> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.ctrl.blog/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Vilfo VPN router review: Vilfo as a Wi-Fi access point – Part 2:4 - URL: https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/vilfo-review-p2-wifi/ - Published: 2018-03-20T13:29:00.000Z - Updated: 2026-08-23T22:24:04.000Z - Description: The Vilfo VPN/security router has support for Wi-Fi, but it’s too under-powered to serve as your household’s Wi-Fi router. - Author: Daniel Aleksandersen - Tags: Networking, Review, VPN, Wi-Fi **Sponsored:** Vilfo provided the product for free. It had no editorial control of this review. The Vilfo VPN router has some support for Wi-Fi, but is it any good as a Wi-Fi router? This is part two in a series on the Vilfo router. 1. Part 1 [Overview, setup, and hardware](https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/vilfo-review-p1-overview/) 2. Part 2 Vilfo as a Wi-Fi access point 3. Part 3 [Not designed for security or privacy](https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/vilfo-review-p3-security/) 4. Part 4 [Conclusions](https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/vilfo-review-p4-conclusions/) Vilfo uses the MediaTek MT7612E Wi-Fi module. It’s found in a few well-reviewed routers, but there are significant design differences in *all* other routers with this Wi-Fi module and the Vilfo. Vilfo only supports one 5 GHz or one 2,4 GHz network; it can’t do both at the same time. Every other Wi-Fi router pairs the MT7612E with a secondary Wi-Fi module so that one can handle the 2,4 GHz network and the other can handle the 5 GHz network. With Vilfo, you must decide whether you want to use the latest Wi-Fi technologies and get the fastest theoretical speeds, or be compatible with lower-end and legacy devices. The Vilfo website lists the following feature: > “Vilfo will support 802.11ac” 802.11ac is the latest and fastest Wi-Fi technology. However, what does ”support 802.11ac” mean? The *big deal* with 802.11ac is support for up to eight simultaneous input–output streams between multiple devices (MU-MIMO) at speeds up to 1,69 GBit/s. Vilfo is only designed for a two-transmitting–two-receiving antennas (2T2R) array. This limits the theoretical max speeds of 867 MBit/s to one double-antenna device at a time, or 433 MBit/s to two single-antenna devices simultaneously. When not acting as a VPN gateway, the Vilfo can max out my 250 MBps internet connection over Wi-Fi under ideal conditions. I was unfortunately not able to perform any real performance tests as the review unit I received **didn’t have working 802.11ac** at all. The wireless network driver kept crashing after a few seconds of communicating with any device over 802.11ac. This caused the Vilfo to stop transmitting or receiving anything over Wi-Fi for several minutes before the Wi-Fi module was automatically restarted by the kernel. I could get the router working more reliably by forcing client devices to use the older 802.11a standard. Vilfo would still go radio silent after a few minutes of use, however. This may have been an issue specific to the review unit. I discussed the issue with the vilfo team, and they said they’d never experienced this issue before. It’s a bit worrying that they’re having this type of issues so close to release. You should expect to get a dual-frequency capable (2,4 GHz and 5 GHz simultaneously) with support for more simultaneous channels from a 430 USD router. The Vilfo is quite unimpressive as a Wi-Fi access point. The router would be better as a Ethernet-only device as it wouldn’t give people the impression that it’s usable as a Wi-Fi access point. You can get higher speeds and better support for more devices from any generic cheap Wi-Fi access point. An unmanaged Wi-Fi access point plugged into one the Vilfo’s LAN ports will get you higher speeds and better device compatibility for 100–150 USD. Continue to [Part 3: Not designed for security or privacy](https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/vilfo-review-p3-security/). #### Sources - [Devices with MT7612E](https://web.archive.org/web/20190508032841/https://wikidevi.com/w/index.php?title=Special:Ask&x=-3Cq-3E-20-3Cq-3E-5B-5BWI1-20chip1-20model%3A%3AMT7612E-5D-5D-3C-2Fq-3E-20-20OR-20-20-3Cq-3E-5B-5BWI2-20chip1-20model%3A%3AMT7612E-5D-5D-3C-2Fq-3E-20-3C-2Fq-3E%2F-3FEmbedded-20system-20type%3DType%2F-3FFCC-20ID%2F-3FCPU1-20model%3DCPU1%2F-3FCPU2-20model%3DCPU2%2F-3FWI1-20chip1-20model%3DWI1-20chip1%2F-3FWI1-20MIMO-20config%3DWI1-20MIMO%2F-3FWI2-20chip1-20model%3DWI2-20chip1%2F-3FWI2-20MIMO-20config%3DWI2-20MIMO%2F-3FSupported-20802dot11-20protocols%3DPHY-20modes%2F-3FEstimated-20year-20of-20release%3DEst.-20year&format=broadtable&limit=500&link=all&headers=show&searchlabel=%E2%80%A6%20further%20results&class=sortable%20wikitable%20smwtable&offset=&mainlabel=), 2018-03, WikiDevi - [MT7612E](https://www.mediatek.com/products/broadband-wifi/mt7612e?ref=ctrl.blog), 2013, Wi-Fi Products, MediaTek **Reviewed:** [VPN Router](https://www.vilfo.com/?ref=ctrl.blog) **Review rating:** 4 / 10