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The router that give you the most bang-for-your-buck.
Don't forget 1.25% cashback from Pricepal or Cashrewards
ASUS RT-AC68U AC1900 Router $176 @ Wireless1 eBay
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SBS?
BBC?
Most routers are compatible with NBN (Although a firmware upgrade may be required)
I have ADSL2 and a dual band N router (WNDR3700), my NetFlix runs ok on my TV but it is only N. My iPhone and laptop are AC but they run fine as it is. Is it worth upgrading?
Also 2pts/$ with Virgin Velocity program if you wanted points over the 1.25% cashback
From the eBay page:
****PLEASE NOTE: THIS PRODUCT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH 'FTTN' NBN CONNECTIONS****
Please note: This model does not have a built-in modemLearn whether you have FTTN or FTTP.
NBN?
What you mean to say is - RT-AC68U will not work with FTTN NBN. DSL-AC68U will work with FTTN NBN.
(Both models will work with FTTP/Fixed Wireless).
Is FTTP same as fixed wireless?
No ..
FTTP = Fibre Optic direct to the premises (wired)
FTTN = Uses existing copper landline from residence to a cabinet, which then converts to fibre.Note: NBN Fixed Wireless does not use the Wifi capability of your router. Hope that doesn't confuse too much :)
@noz: I know about FTTP & FTTN, but got confused with fixed line technology nbn. My friend just got a nbn and when i checked, there was 2 box, I thought it might be FTTP, but when i looked on nbn map, it showed fixed line technology. The speed was sh*t 9 megabit/s (wired connection) that's worse than adsl. My cable interest is atleast 30mb/s, so much for the nbn.
Edit: Sorry I meant to ask fixed line technology not
fixed wireless nbnIs FTTP Same as Fixed Line Technology NBN?
The hell is going on in these comments?
Almost any router works with NBN, the DSL-AC68U just has a DSL modem in it. It will also work with NBN since as i said, nearly everything does, but it's more expensive because it's specifically made for NON-nbn internet, hence DSL, as in ADSL and VDSLOh yeah i forgot the government is parading their dsl upgrade as nbn.
I admit that might be confusing to some consumers but outright stating "will not work with NBN" is just adding fuel to the fire.
Find out what kind of NBN you have and see if what you need is a router or a modem.
If you have FTTP you should have a big box nailed to a wall and they had to run some cable under your house or through your roof, you just need a router like the one in this listing.
If you FTTN then first of all, i'm sorry, and second they should have mentioned it in their letters to your area, you probably wont -need- a new router, but to take advantage of any speed improvements you should look for "VDSL modem routers"
Hopefully that helps with anyone confused with what they witnessed here today.I'm getting fttp. That means I just need a router (like an AirPort Extreme) not a modem and a router?
@flashi007: Yep. It also means your current router or modem-router will probably work with it if you're satisfied with how it works, but it may take some technical knowledge to set up since it probably won't have clear written instructions like a new store bought "nbn certified" router would have in the box.
Most fortunate are you. Eventually they are going to force everyone in my suburb to use crappy Telstra DOCSIS cable. I want fibre optic. There is nothing faster than the speed of light.
@Lief1250: thanks to all the posters above.
I can't wait to get rid of the modem/router my isp gave me. Another dumb question - if all I need is the router, where do my ISP login details go? I've always had to connect to a modem to plug them in to get internet
@Thaal Sinestro: To be fair to electricity, electrical signals do travel at speeds relative to c. Electron drift is slow, but if resistance is low a signal can be transmitted along copper at around 50% of the speed of light easy.
Light itself slows down when travelling through things denser than a vacuum so ping wise, electricity can hold it's own.
The problems with copper as a ISP line are distance, bandwidth and interference.
Edit:
I forgot to add that while electrical signals are slowed by the impedance of the conductor, light is slowed by the refractive index of the material it travels through so light traveling through glass is actually only moving at about 70% of c.Oh yeah i forgot the government is parading their dsl upgrade as nbn.
According to Malcom "halfwit" Turnbull no one could possibly need more than 12Mbits sir.
@flashi007: It'd depend on your model.
I'm getting NBN FTTP myself this week so I guess I'll find out first hand soon enough, but I used to enter my ISP credentials into my Apple Time Capsule (which has no modem) and set my second modem/router to just do passthrough of the connection with DHCP and everything else disabled.
You have nothing to be sorry about…unless you had something to do with the creation of FTTN?
To be clear, this deal is for the RT AC68U which does not have a modem in it. It is strictly a router.
The DSL-version is the DSL-AC68U.
Having said that, the RT AC68U can be used for connecting TO DSL (as in setting up the modem username/password settings in this router) if you have modem hardware connected to it (and set to pass through).
Source: I have the RTAC68U doing just this.
i have FTTP NBN, works fine.
wont work with FTTN.
Why wouldn't it work with FTTN?
Its just a router.
If you have a VDSL modem, plug this into it, and you are good to go.
Good price for a fantastic router… recommend anyone getting this have a look at the Merlin firmware
Works fine with FTTP NBN.
Does that firmware increase range as well?
ThanksYeah I hear ppl go on about that firmware - what's so good about it?
Performance is the same, it just gives you more configuration options. DNSMasq for example which means you can use a SmartDNS service and not send all your DNS lookups to them among other uses. Also, it gives you the ability to run thousands of *nix apps like torrent clients on the router.
@dazweeja Just a question re connecting external hdds to the usb 3 port of RT-AC68U.
Does stock firmwware support hdd spin down when the hdd is in idle mode? or do I need to install Merlin to get this feature?I haven't run stock for more than a year (and on an older router) so can't say for sure but I believe it was an extra feature added to Merlin:
https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin/wiki/Disk-Spindown-w…
Thanks, I actually bought a Unitek hdd dock that works well with the router. The dock has a inbuilt power saving feature that spin down the hdds for me after 30min of inactivity.
Still not sure if I should flash the routher to Merlin fw though.
To be fair, the stock firmware and UI is very good.
App is great too
No, it's not! With the last firmware, I only had 5GHz working; more than half of my Wi-Fi devices couldn't connect stably. PPPoE hasn't worked for months. It seems every other firmware update breaks something.
At any rate, I agree UI looks good.I've had this router for more than two years.
I do every firmware upgrade (even the occasional beta version), and it's never broken anything…
@BradH13: Oh, really? Either you skipped several updates or your network setup is so bloody simple that you don't use 95% of features that are there, but don't always work, especially after firmware update(s).
Here's evidence of one very recent firmware that screwed everyone who updated:
https://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx?id=20160228031529455&bo…@MadTacoWarrior: I must have missed that release because I never had any 2.4GHz connection problems with NAT Acceleration off (internet is much more responsive with that option off if you're on a 100mbit plan), so sorry about that - but still. This is a damn good router with damn good firmware.
can't update to Merlin because Asus has put an stop in its latest firmware to upgrade to third party firmware. It's something to do with FCC certification and Asus is working on it.
How's the range on this? Family is always complaining about not getting a strong enough signal from the lounge room. Approx 20m away, through 3-4 brick walls. Any better recommendations?
Convert your house to open plan?
The range is pretty great but 20m and brick walls is quite a hurdle.
This router does have external antennas and i have heard of people drastically improving signal quality by using larger replacement antenna
A guy in the amazon reviews recommended these but i haven't looked around for australian vendors carrying themI have this router and love it. I get a great signal in my garage, which is about 3m below and 30-35m from this router. I recommended it to a friend who had poor wifi penetration from his current modem/router connection to the bedrooms in the upstairs of his house, which is double brick, this router solved that problem. YMMV
my garage, which is about 3m below and 30-35m from this router
Bruce Wayne?
Don't tell Malcolm Turnbull this. He will ask you to move to a new house.
Grab an ethernet over powerline kit and run it from your router to your loungeroom.
I know i should be asking in whirlpool, but can anyone recommend a good wireless cable modem? I'm thinking upstream my modem might give me better wireless speed in my house when me, the wife and both kids are am online at once (just call me parent of the year! )
(For optus, if that makes a difference?)Buy this and run your current cable modem in bridge mode.
I've got a tp-link archer D9 and the wifi range on it is very good - best of any router I've had.
As @Flyerone suggests, run your cable modem in bridge mode to it (or the Asus in this deal). I have no experience with the wifi of the asus here, so not sure if it as good, better or worse. You just need to google to compare and decide.
Me too, I'm a Archer D9 user on Fiber to the Home NBN and it's blazing fast throughout all areas of the house. Strong 150mbps wireless AC on my phone in my garage, my router is upstairs in a study.
TBH any high end router in the $200+ range will generally give great results, so long as it's got good external antennas.
You can also look into a Unifi AP AC Lite (which is an access point not full blown router) which is typically used in business/enterprise scenarios, but good for home use as well.
cable modem router is not sold in any retail market. They are only provided through ISP (I guess), but what you would need is a router such as this one, and put the original modem router on bridge mode. I have an Optus cable internet so I got this ASUS RT-AC68U from last ebay deal.
thanks for your comment. have you noticed a noticeable difference/improvement on your wifi connectability/speed?
The speed test seems to show better speed, although I have not seen any major difference but signal strength and speed is good outside the home and garage. I will give it a few more weeks and see if there is any real improvements apart from signal strength.
Buy a groupon voucher, you can save extra $15
eBay - $85 for $100 to Spend on Anything Online
https://www.groupon.com.au/deals/ebay-auHave a look "The Fine Print": Not to be used in conjunction with any other eBay or PayPal coupon/voucher.
Not too sure whether or not it works.
Don't think you can use this, can only use 1 voucher per checkout…
This WILL NOT work with the NBN…because we don't have the NBN in my area :(
I have news for you, vote for me in the upcoming election and I'll grant your wish
(* wish may or may not be granted in the next decade. This message was brought to you by Ozbargain Liberal Party)
I recently purchased a new Asus modem to replace my poorly performing old $50 billion modem router, and have been very pleased with it's speed, reliability, and ability to handle torrents. It was was a make down from this one though, with only 2 antennae and cost ~$120 from UMart. If you don't need extended Wireless coverage it would be a better buy. Asus modems (except for the cheap $50 model) all have a lot of Ram which prevents overflows when running torrents.
Dial up?
Can anyone recommend a router for around the $100 mark? Or should I just bite the bullet and get this one?
Just get this. Its amazing.
You could consider the AC52U for around $120-$130
This is a brilliant router. I bought one a week ago for $238…. Absolutely gutted… I've a billion buyer for years but this is way way better
I love this router!
There is also a cashback on this router as well ($20).
http://www.asuspromotion.net/au/router-cashback/Nope, it's excluded from that.
How is the wireless coverage compare with TPLink D9? I know D9 is a modem/router.
Should I get this or keep using my airport extreme? Someone tell me what to do!
Mate you have an AirPort Extreme and you're looking to change? Why?? The extreme is a very gifted router in itself.
I don't know - I am getting swept up in ozbargains love for the asus and nighthawk
Thats cute :)
But trust me on this one - your AirPort Extreme is one the same league as this router, if not better. Cheers.
Almost pulled the trigger as I am sick of the simple and sluggish Netgear interface. The Asus interface is a lot more powerful and logical (search asuswrt in YouTube). Then found out that RT-AC68U is NOT compatible with ADSL/VDSL (only DSL-AC68U is compatible). If you are using ADSL/VDSL, beware!
it's not that it is 'not compatible' - it's that you failed to read the specifications that the RT-AC68U is a router, not a modem router like the DSL-AC68U
you just need a modem
Buy a cheap tp-link adsl modem and bridge it to RT-AC68U. 100% compatible
Luckily snapped up an AC3200 R8 Nighthawk which came down to $205 a few months ago at OW. Paying almost the same for a AC1900 router.
If you buy this Router install Merlin Firmware.
The best!
What's the main attraction of installing the Merlin Firmware you found over vanilla? I was so happy with the performance of stock, I didn't bother with Merlin.
a lot of additional features
for me its the startup scripts i can put in /jffs/scripts/
i put all the iptables stuff hereDoesn't the stock firmware already have a firewall?
How is the performance comparing to netgear r7000?
I have read that AC68U has slightly higher throughput for wifi in testing but whether you'd notice it in the real world is doubtful. Other than that both are pretty similarly specced as far as cpu, ram and storage performance although they do use different hardware.
The router that give you the most bang-for-your-buck.
Um this isn't what I would call a "bang for buck" router at all … more like a premium router for those that want the best performance.
Are there any deals for the modem router version?
Check the CLICKMORE page for vendors and check - though having just done that I can (not unreservedly) say you can just check futu online, pc byte and wireless_1
Then use CLICKMORE at checkout to get 20% off
Thanks @diji1
This or the Nighthawk R7000 for a networking n00b?
Just want a better router for faster Wi-Fi speeds and for more stable gaming (PS4/handhelds/PC).
I hear a key difference between the Asus and the Nighthawk R7000 is a built-in VPN feature in the latter?
I heard it has problems with Macbook Pro for some reason as well in other threads here on Ozbargain?
Also, how is the Asus's firmware compared to Nighthawk's?
I have NBN FTTP.
Which one had the issues with the Macbook Pros? I have the same requirements as you.
The ASUS RT-AC68U.
Link to previous discussions on Ozbargain regarding problems with Macbook Pro/Apple devices with the Asus: https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/228047
Thanks mate I will look into it.
Does anyone know if thie is the C1 revision?
NBN?