Panda Wireless Express Router

This device has NO means to shutting off the internet router feature. it will distribute false DHCP information causing all devices to use it as a router when it should not but just exist on the network. Absolute garbage in limited setup options, Amazon tech support is absolutely terrible as they can only read you steps provided.

Works and sounds great. Easy to configure and is a great replacement for the outdated Airport Express units the Apple chose to drop!

This is a really compact wireless router that will easily fit in your laptop bag, backpack, or even pocket. Runs on 5V USB, so you can power it from your laptop without needing a separate power supply. Unfortunately it's the older USB Micro and not the modern more common USB-C. The device itself is pretty straightforward to initially setup if you're familiar with configuring routers. You figure out it's default static IP, plug your computers Ethernet port into the router, assign your computer a static IP in the same range, and login with the default PW. As far as settings go, it's VERY limited. You basically can change the device's lan IP, wifi SSID/PW, and device PW. You can also use it as a wifi repeater by entering the main AP's ssid and credentials. There is no other options really, no port forwarding, QoS, client access control, etc. It's just the very basics. This may be fine for some people who just need the bare minimum functionality, or just want a tiny wifi router to take with them on the go. It has some Apple media player functions, but I don't use Apple devices so I can't comment on that. Personally I think this would have been really cool if they just added a couple more configuration options, and a SIM card slot so this could be used as a portable 4G modem/AP. Overall it's not bad, it is only wireless N so don't expect blazing wifi speeds. It does work decently for the very basic functions it provides.

I was unable to get this to work as a wifi repeater and the instructions are very limited. I can’t speak to the other uses because I was unable to get this to work for my purposes. It could be my router, but unfortunately this only works as a paper weight for me. Perhaps it’s user error.

I don't have any apple anything. I did not get this for that. I had to first hard wire connect to my home router so I could access the settings and set it to repeater mode where it detects the wifi in your home and takes that signal and radiates that signal for a distance around itself and handles connections to that signal. It detected the wireless connections and asked me which one, I clicked on the one and it asked me for the password. Easy peasy. Then it rebooted, I disconnected the ethernet cord and I needed to reconnect the tablet I was using to it then it was off and running just plugged into power. My phone acts as a hot spot so I can directly connect to my phone if it is getting signal- putting a middle man in there gets redundant without any benefit. Where it WOULD be of value is if the device didn't have wireless capabilities but DID have a LAN jack. You could connect the device via cable to the Panda, and have the panda receive signal to pass on via WIFI or the Ethernet cable. I'm not sure of the safety of it used on a public network. I have a router like this, a GLi one that has the ability to configure it to a VPN, so I have it configured that way so it automatically does that. This one doesn't have that though I imagine there is a degree of protection being behind a passworded area. If you need to extend your wireless this would do that well. I'm considering when I work at my chicken pens and want internet, this is delightfully small enough that I could take this out there and place it at the edge of the coverage area from the house, plugged into some kind of a small power brick/supply for cell phone/tablets (I don't have power at the chicken pens...I do have some solar panels though that can do cells....and the cell phone/tablet power bricks). That would work for as long as I wanted to spend at the pens. Also it would work in my garage to extend the signal through the garage. Can't tell you about any of the Apple related features. Don't use that brand, don't care about that brand, don't have a clue about that brand.

It was fairly easy to set up. I wanted to use it to provide Airplay 2 capabilities to two powered speakers in my living room. I connected everything, playing the music from my phone via the airplay. It has a horrible hissing noise. I won't be using this product any further.

Doesn't populate Airplay mode for me. Without Airplay mode this device introduces latency. Feels very cheaply made.

This is a very basic router, there are basically no configuration options except for changing your password. And it's only 2.4ghz (not 5.0). However, there are some advantages to this little guy. I've used it in 3 ways: First, as a travel router. It's small and powered by USB, so I can plug into my laptop, take to another location, and set up a quick hotspot for my kids tablets and other devices. Second, this works at home as a secondary router, providing a signal to the garage and porch. And third, I attached a hard drive to it and it's basically a music and movie server, so various household devices can access various media. I couldn't imagine using this as a full time router for the home, but it definitely serves other purposes.