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How to set up the GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal router
Short answer: plug the GL.iNet GL-SFT1200 Opal into any USB power source or its own power supply, connect to its Wi-Fi (2.4 GHz or 5 GHz) using the default password printed in the manual (goodlife), open the browser and type the router address that starts with 192.168, choose your language and create an admin password. After that, update the firmware, then go to Wireless to set the transmit power and WPA3 encryption.
I bought this little router on Amazon and got it in a few hours. It is a small travel router, so all your devices can connect to one private network wherever you are. Here is the setup from the box.
What comes in the box and the ports
The Opal is very small and comes with a power supply. On the device you have:
- USB-C power: you can plug it into any USB hub you have, or use the power supply that comes with it.
- A USB port: you could hook up a printer, or a phone as a backup connection.
- LAN port "1": if you want to use it with a cable, this is where it goes.
Once it has power you don't have to do anything else on the device; the rest of the setup is done from your phone or computer.
First-time setup step by step
- Power up the router.
- On your computer or phone, open Wi-Fi and pick one of the two networks named after the router: one is 5 GHz and the other is 2.4 GHz.
- Use the default Wi-Fi password, goodlife. It is printed in the instructions that come with it, next to the power cable diagram.
- Open the browser and type the router address shown in the manual (it starts with 192.168).
- Select your language.
- Create a new admin password and click Apply.
Right after logging in, the router offered a firmware upgrade. It is a good thing that it upgrades on the fly, so if there is any bug it gets fixed right away. Be patient: the admin panel is kind of slow, and even a basic setting takes a while to apply.
Why I chose it: you can lower the Wi-Fi power
The main reason I bought this router is that you can change the radio power. Under Wireless you can choose max power, medium power or low power for each band. I also have an Amplifi router that cost about $400; it looks great and has a screen, but you cannot reduce the power, and it only supports WPA2, not WPA3.
For security, I prefer the least amount of power going to the neighbors. Someone with a lot of time on his hands can use Wireshark or something else to try to get into your network. Lower power also means you don't create interference for anybody else and they don't interfere with you. Ideally, use a small access point in each room or floor, with just the power you need, and turn the Wi-Fi off at night or when you are not at home or the office.
It is also very economical: I paid around $30.
Enable WPA3 and other settings
In the wireless settings I set the 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz radios to low power, and checked the encryption. Here you can pick WPA3, and you can also enable or disable each Wi-Fi network, which I could not do on my other router. There is also a 5 GHz guest network, which I don't need because I'm the only one using it.
For the internet, I connected it by cable and it got its IP from my main MikroTik router. If you want to use it as a repeater, you select the other network's SSID, type its password, and that's it.
Extras: VPN, Tor, AdGuard Home and more
For so little money there are a lot of options:
- VPN: OpenVPN client and an OpenVPN server where you can create the configuration.
- Tor, if you need extra privacy.
- Plugins: I installed AdGuard Home to try to get rid of ads, and the installation succeeded.
- Dynamic DNS and GL.iNet cloud.
- Failover and load balance for multiple internet connections.
- Hardware acceleration mode; inside there is a small Linux.
I didn't see a simple access point mode; if you use it as a bridge you will most likely lose options like the ad blocker.
Speed test results
On my gigabit connection I got about 200 down and 300 up. With the Amplifi I get better rates, almost 700 up and down. Still, it is good enough for small stuff, like my cell phone and another computer, and I had full signal. I also ran a ping test while downloading: the delay grew under heavy load. When I raised the power to max, I started losing packets and the latency got worse, so in my area low power worked best.
Frequently asked questions
What is the default Wi-Fi password of the GL.iNet Opal GL-SFT1200?
In the video the default Wi-Fi password printed in the instructions is goodlife. You use it to connect for the first time, then you can change it.
How do I power the GL-SFT1200?
Through its USB-C port, either from any USB hub or with the power supply that comes in the box.
Can I lower the Wi-Fi transmit power?
Yes. Under Wireless you can choose max, medium or low power for each band. In my test, low power actually gave better latency than max.
Does the Opal support WPA3 and VPN?
Yes. You can select WPA3 encryption in the wireless settings, and it has an OpenVPN client and server, plus Tor and plugins like AdGuard Home.