Setup and Customization

Reyee would much rather you use the brand's mobile app to set up and use the RG-E5 router instead of the browser-based admin panel. I do understand why given the app can be a more user-friendly approach for the target customers here. However, as we will see below, the incomplete nature of the Reyee website also extends to the app and it's also one of the more intrusive to even install! I heavily recommend going with the browser method instead by going to 192.168.110.1 (or whatever IP has been assigned to the WAN port if you are piggybacking off another router). Alternatively, you will see that the router has generated a WiFi network titled @Reyee-sXXXX where the last four digits vary based on the unit itself. In my case it was @Reyee-sE74C. This is an open network that will automatically lead you to the set up page, including the type of internet connection, which is automatically selected, and then allowing you to set up the WiFi network credentials as well as basic admin items as seen above. The mediocre English translations don't leave much doubt as to the origins of this product either.


You can also choose to add another router as a satellite unit at this point or do so any time thereafter. The so-called Wizard walks you through the steps in doing so but it was irrelevant in this case given I only have the one router here. At this point the setup was completed and immediately came a pop-up notification about there being a firmware update available for the device. This took far longer than I anticipated at nearly 25 minutes, although I will say I am not sure of the exact time because there is no notification about the process being completed. The router reboots and you have to monitor your WiFi connection to see whether it is working or not—the control panel remains on the "Upgrading" stage until you refresh it thereafter.


The good thing is the actual admin panel is detailed yet easy to use. There are redundant items found in a few different places, which is fine because the home page is effectively a collection of shortcuts and quick display items anyway, and my PC recognized the established WiFi 6 network without a hitch. The green accents also make this feel better on the eyes and everything is laid out logically for a good user experience.

Seen above is a video going over the various options you get with the Reyee RG-E5 admin panel. There are sections which make it obvious the product is Asian in nature, especially with the preset VPN selections from east and southeast Asia, but you are able to configure your own settings at each point. Indeed, I was pleased to see more options here than what the likes of NETGEAR offer with the much more expensive Orbi platform, and there are no features hidden behind a subscription paywall either. I don't expect most consumers to go through and use everything on offer here and yet it's there for those who wish to, being one more reason to go with the browser admin panel rather than the app which doesn't have everything.


Let's talk about that app now, shall we? The QR code on the box takes you to this page which in turn alerts you to the app installer available for both Android and iOS devices. Installation is easy enough but then the very first time you open the app it tells you the app collects personal information and may use it with Reyee's partners. That's nice of them! Then there's the part where you can't "bind network" to the router, that is to say get the internet connection from the modem/router/gateway to the RG-E5 and have the app recognize it, without creating a user account first. If things could not get worse, you have to go through a mandatory Rujie Cloud registration that itself asks for even more of your information. There's so many red flags popping up here from a privacy standpoint. If you do not register an account or use a temporary email address, then you will be greeted with annoying pop-ups telling you there are only 30 days left of this trial experience.

The funny thing is that the app was working as expected, and there is even a detailed 37 page manual on using the app because it's not as well designed as the web browser admin panel, until it stopped working. That new firmware update broke things to where the app no longer was able to add the router successfully and I could only go through a frustrating cycle of the app saying it was "binded" only to see it was not actually so. The screenshots used in the second GIF still give you an idea of what to expect with the app if it works again. It's obvious that Reyee does not have a good software team given the state of its website and the app having basic bugs such as not recognizing the device after updating firmware. Between this and the plausible data mining going on, I can only recommend using the web browser method that I have confirmed does not send any data to unwanted places.