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ASUS RT-N12E Wireless Router $15 (Was $30) + $8.95 Shipping @ Mwave

500

This costs next to nothing for a 2.4ghz B/G/N router with four ethernet ports. It is the cheapest price on StaticIce by nearly half, with a lot of others charging ~$50.

Shipping quoted to me was $8.95 eParcel / Registered Post, or $12.95 for StarTrack Nationwide Delivery.

The ASUS specs page has more info than the product listing.

Asus RT-N12E Wireless N300 Router - 4 LAN Ports - 2x 5 dBi antennas
SKU# AB56211, Model# RT-N12E
Online Only. Limit 1 Per Customer. Ends 13/08/2014 or While Stock Lasts

It also seems to run DD-WRT according to this DD-WRT article (which appears to supersede the general incompatibility list), which means you could use this in repeater projects or other hobby builds. Thanks to dy4me for picking up on this.

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closed Comments

  • Shipping?

    • $8.95 eParcel / Registered Post, or $12.95 for StarTrack Nationwide Delivery

  • +3

    This is the RT-N12E not RT-N12. DD-WRT works with the RT-N12. The 'E' version on the net seems to indicate that its not DD-WRT compatible. I would love to be proven wrong on this one.

    • Thanks for the correction. I've updated the deal, and its a real shame.

    • Yes, this router has a different chip than the others with the similar model number, so the others are compatible but DD WRT can't be put on this chip.

    • Good pickup. Although only ASUS RT-N66U is worth to buy at bare minimum for a decent/optimum Wireless performance

      Would like to see that to come down to $50

      • I'm quite happy with the RT-N56U, FWIW. Definitely can't be beat in terms of bang for buck.

  • what is the benefit of DD WRT?

    • +2

      DD-WRT is a customisable firmware for the router. Could be highly useful to some :)

    • *edit -beaten

    • +1

      Point is a bit moot now given dy4me spotted this isn't compatible.

      All the same, DD-WRT is a third-party firmware for routers. A lot of people put it on because its more extensible than what the manufacturers install at the factory. It unlocks things like advanced QOS, bridging, better IP address reservations, control of radio output power, overclocking, etc.

    • +4

      Primarily it adds some useful features, like wireless bridge, but also it is very stable, and I am pretty sure no back doors that plague some routers.

      It is not for noobs though as it requires installing software that can brick your router, but if you are interested and want more from your hardware, I recommend and use it on a tplink wr1043nd.

  • I think you need to add the shipping to the title.

  • So am assuming this can't be used as a wireless bridge to give the devices in the family room network / internet access?

    • with DD WRT support it should

  • Nice deal but I am now replacing my Routers with ones that have gigabyte ports. But for those who don't need that, this may be good

  • Still can't beat the MSY $19 WD N750 deal. It was compatible with OpenWRT as well.

    • +5

      Don't think anything will ever beat getting paid $15 for a D-Link DIR-865L Cloud Gigabit Router!

      https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/102502

      • this ^^^

        also the days of 4 port 10/100 2.4ghz routers is coming to an end

        too old hat to bother with at any price

        also remember the wdc n900 for $29

        7 port gbe 2.4 and 5ghz n300 3x3 + usb

      • God damn it how did I missed that one!

  • Are you sure these are 5dBi in Australia?

    Edit: mwave seems to think so

  • No DD-WRT - No deal!

  • This is a pretty underpowered router, but as a cheap access point or 2.4GHz 802.11n WLAN extender it is great. Personally have the RT-12 (running dd-wrt), but if you just want it as an extender and don't care about dd-wrt, the standard firmware is fine.

    You could also use it in place of a USB wifi adapter, if you're computer has an Ethernet port, and you don't mind the size of the router or having to use a power brick. Handy for occasionally having friends over or locating equipment temporarily.

    • so this version can do repeater / extender function with any wifi router out of the box?
      I'm thinking of putting one in my bedroom, its the further room away from the wifi modem. it it really works

  • Silly question (I'm so out of the loop), but this is not a modem router is it?

    For the last 10 years I've had DSL, phone cable from the wall plugged into my modem router, usb'd to my PC which gives it wired internet and the modem router also allows my phone and tablet to connect wirelessly throughout the house.

    I've since moved to a block of units with hotel like cable in each room. The Ethernet cable comes from the wall, straight to my PC and works fine as always.

    My issue, is management here are saying we are not allowed to connect this cable to a modem router because it causes issues on the buildings network (the modem part) but a regular wireless router is fine.

    Is this all I would need?

    Thanks heaps

    • +1

      this is what you need.. it has a wan port connect to that and it will share it out.
      hrmm actually not sure what you mean if management says you can't connect an Ethernet port to a modem/router coz u cant do that with an adsl modem/router anyway.

      if u can connect this etherent port to your pc and it works.. it will work with the router.. management may not like that though.

      • Thanks.

        Well I did plug the Ethernet cable from the wall into my existing modem router and it worked fine for my wireless devices, but property management chucked a fit saying the modem part was causing issues.

        Wasn't aware there were just wireless routers without the modem but now I know.

        Cheers :)

      • +3

        I have a feeling that the reason why building management are saying not to connect the jack from the wall to a modem router is because they're afraid that if you just plug the cable into a non-wan ethernet port on the modem router(because the WAN port would normally be connected to a phoneline) and DHCP is turned on, then having multiple DHCP servers(the modem router's and whatever existing DHCP server building management already have plugged into the cables) will cause havoc with the network.

        I believe plugging this particular router in will work in your building, as long as you plug it into the WAN port, that way even if you have DHCP server turned on, it'll only affect the normal ethernet ports, and leave the WAN port alone.

        • +1

          Thanks for taking the time to explain :)

        • @Phreakuency: you're welcome. I only know about the perils of this because someone plugged a random wireless router into an available network port at work once in order to share it via WIFI and caused all sorts of network issues with multiple dhcp servers trying to allocate IPs all over the place and causing conflicts. IT Helpdesk tracked it down to the rogue router and they weren't very happy with him after that hahaha. Think he got an official warning for that.

        • @Kenb0:
          If you set up the Modem Router to forward DHCP requests it'll work too, just not quite as plug and play as this..

        • +1

          @scubacoles: Oh definitely, but the chances of someone having the technical expertise to forward DHCP requests in this case would be pretty low I'd say. IT Helpdesk would just prefer to put a blanket ban on all cases like this rather than have to go through the rigamarole of explaining DHCP and forwarding of it on various models of router to random employees.

    • +1

      Yes, this is all you need. You plug the Ethernet jack into the blue Ethernet port labeled "Internet" and you're good to go.

      • Thanks :)

  • Can it used as wifi range extender?

    • Exactly what I was about to ask. My ADSL Modem Router is fine. I have a desktop PC in the lounge using a USB Wifi dongle and a few Ipads/Iphones. My sons room is on the other side of the house in contrast to the modem and struggles to get signal in there. Can I somehow use this router in the lounge so I can get a wifi signal in my sons room ?

    • It depends how you want to extend range.
      if you run physical cable between two routers then YES

      if you want to run in wireless repeater mode then NO , unless someone can get DD-WRT to work on ASUS RT-N12E
      other option
      http://www.asus.com/Networking/RTN12_D1/

      • is that the cheapest extender router out there?

      • PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE help me understand this.

        I want to create 1 wireless network that services the whole house. I have an ethernet port in every single room in the house, so the wiring is not an issue. But every single time I am not sure how I get two wireless networks to broadcast the same SSID, and actually function as one network.

        I would like a laptop to automatically switch to whichever router is giving it the strongest signla.

        • Just set each router up with manual channel number.. Job done.
          Oh and turn off DHCP on the second one and refer it to the original router (or modem).

        • @scubacoles:

          You sure that will work? I don't think it would. Because SSID needs to be unique…if you make them the same you basically fooling yourself, you might be connecting to the one upstairs but not downstairs because the name is the same you won't be able to tell except channels…

          That's not really it

          I have a dummy Wifi Access point with no DHCP connected via EOP to the main router and still has a different SSID so I can tell which one I'm connected to.

          There isn't a way to roam or pick the best signal one as this depends on the device

        • @neonlight:
          Agreed..
          The device will hold onto the signal of the network that is priority 1 in it's connection list if it can see signal at all.
          The only other way to do it is to use WDS, which will give you seamless transition to the best signal, but there's a whole lot of other negatives (difficulty of setup being the main one) to that.

          Personally I'd set up 2 SSID's, but if for whatever reason you want the same SSID, that's the way you do it.

        • +1

          @scubacoles:

          Ok I see what you mean. WDS is not worth the effort :P.

          IMO use 2 SSIDs, setup this cheap Asus as a dummy WAP with no DHCP. Perfect solution for 2 storey house with a EOP between the 2 routers…

    • +2

      Better to go with a Powerline ethernet option or find a router that can be flashed with DD-WRT and used as a Wireless Repeater Bridge.

      • I do have a Powerline kit that I don't use. Could I plug that in to the modem to the powerline kit, then the other one into the router from another room and use it as a wifi extender? will that make 2 wifi points though ?

        • +2

          Could I plug that in to the modem to the powerline kit, then the other one into the router from another room and use it as a wifi extender?

          Yes. Exactly.

          The other thing you should consider doing is turning off DHCP on this new device. It will then act like a "dumb" access point, rather than a router. This means that any device on your home network should be able to communicate.

    • +1

      You will run it as another AP I thought, but with a different SSID name.

      With DHCP disabled it will just extend the main router range

      • Turned off DHCP on the router. iPad couldnt connect to the wireless network. turned it on and it worked fine…

        • You need to forward the DHCP server from the Modem/Router or use a static IP on your devices if you run with no DHCP.

  • could i get two of these (i know limit of 1) and use one as my main router (im on wimax), and the second hardwired to it as an extender (both the LAN and Wifi)?

    • +1

      It could be used as an extender if it is wired.

      • Or if its too far and on the same electrical circuit, use ethernet over power in between

  • Thanks, got one all the same. I've been having to reboot my D-Link DIR-615 too many times.

    • I have the same problem with my
      tp link w-8960n … keeps dropping out. And after line syncs it does not automatically reconnect.. rebooting fixes it sometimes.

  • Is this online only? Sorry for a dumb question.

  • I had Asus N-11 wireless modem+router and always over heated.

  • Is this an upgrade from my billion 7404vgpx? I dont need voip anymore.
    If it's an upgrade, will I notice major difference? Note: I have no problem with the billion. It works flawlessly and transmits to 25+ meters through 8-10 internal walls.

    • It's more of a side-grade than upgrade.

    • Those billons are fantastic and that router has least cost routing for Voip. So even if you dont use voip, it'll come in handy. I think the billion is superior esp for its stability.

    • No, the wireless on this Asus is not the best….If you get ASUS RT-N66U or newer yes that's an upgrade.

      It's a side-grade because to cover blackspots at home for wifi as scubacoles suggested

      You could bridge to this Asus BUT you are not gaining anything if at all…

      • +1

        Thanks guys~

  • Is this any better/worse then the standard telstra technicolor gateway? I am finding the generic telstra modem limiting with not being able to modify dns settings.

    Worst case I guess I could use this as a wifi extender for the Telstra gateway modem with a long cat6 cable ethernet cable.

    • Most likely yes..
      Bridge the modem to the router and then you can use the router to set DNS settings

  • This Wireless router is certainly better than my old Belkin N150 lol, but since I already got a cheapie not sure if I should buy another for the sake of it….

    Already got dual band Billion 7404VGPX + Belkin N150 for extend.

    Unless I buy another EoP to hook up this one but I think i should give it a miss.

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