Review

I think this is the best backpack router. For me, it’s really a mobile infrastructure node. I’m going to keep buying it whenever I need to replace one because of loss, damage, theft, and I’ll be following all future versions too. Long live the project. I’ll recommend it to everyone I can.

I’m planning to use the Photonicat 2 as a dedicated backpack infra-node: a portable unit that handles connectivity, routing, VPN segments, access to the services I need, and a basic admin interface all in one place. I want to separate my work, admin, guest, and toxic/untrusted environments, keep Debian as the host and working environment, and let OpenWrt own the network stack and access-control policies. So for me this is not a one-off “toy” purchase. It’s a core mobile node that the rest of my setup will be built around.

It already has everything I need. I even installed a 2 TB NVMe drive in it.
What I’d really like to see in future versions is USB-C. The current one is mainly focused on PD charging. It would be great to have a proper, convenient data workflow with a Mac as well.

I’m going to write about my experience and my thoughts as I go. Some things will be very basic, some more advanced. Some things worked, some I still haven’t fully figured out. It’s basically a personal notebook, plus a way to support the router’s visibility and make it easier for newcomers to understand and get started.

Vladimir

Thank you so much for your support and for sharing your detailed experience with Photonicat 2! We’re thrilled to hear that it has become a core part of your mobile setup and that it meets your needs. Your feedback, especially regarding USB-C for data workflow, is very valuable — we’ll definitely consider it in future versions to further improve convenience and functionality.

We truly appreciate your enthusiasm and recommendations, and we look forward to continuing to deliver even better products and experiences.