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Asus RT-AC68U Router $169.60 Delivered (Plus $20 EFTPOS Card via Redemption) @ Shopping Express eBay

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Asus RT-AC68U Router $169.60 Delivered (Plus $20 EFTPOS Card via Redemption) @ Shopping Express eBay
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1bug on 17/12/2017 - 15:18 ebay.com.au (1210 clicks)
Last edited 21/12/2017 - 11:31 by 1 other user
POWERUP

UPDATE #1: Original deal @ Sydneytec eBay was expired as "out of stock" and has been replaced by a similar deal @ Shopping Express eBay.
UPDATE #2: 20% off with code POWERUP now active (previous 16% off at Checkout REMOVED)

Original Deal Link: https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-Asus-RT-AC68U-Dual-Band-Wireless-AC1900-Gigabit-Router/351370222418
Current eBay price: $197.87 less 10% off at Checkout = $178.08 less 5% off eBay code = $169.18

New Deal @ Shopping Express eBay
Current eBay price: $212.00 less 20% off eBay code POWERUP = $169.60
Price after $20 Asus Cashback = $149.60
Quantity (at time of posting): 7 available / 13 sold

Current eBay price: $212.00 less 16% off at Checkout = $178.08 less 5% off eBay code = $169.18
Price after $20 Asus Cashback = $149.18
Quantity (at time of posting): More than 10 available / 340 sold

Best price for Australian stock and includes 3 year Warranty.
Slightly cheaper than the previous $170.05 deal.
Next cheapest is $208.99 + Delivery

RT-AC68U product details

NOTE: RT-AC68U is a dedicated Router model (it does not include a built-in Modem — the equivalent model with ADSL/VDSL Modem is the DSL-AC68U).

Plus 1.0% Cashback via Cashrewards

Original ASUS Christmas EFTPOS Card Post

Original P5OZZIE 5% off Sitewide at eBay Deal Post

Original 20% off Selected Tech Sellers on eBay Deal Post

Computing ASUS Wireless Router

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eBay Australia
eBay Australia
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Sydneytec
Sydneytec

closed Comments

  • lancedefrance on 17/12/2017 - 15:36

    Any recommendations on which firmware to use on this? merlin, Tomato, etc?

    • fryandlaurie on 17/12/2017 - 15:44

      merlin all the way

      • lancedefrance on 17/12/2017 - 15:49

        can you please share why? I am a noob when it comes to this so curious to find out what is it I get when I remove the asus stock firmware and load this instead. Thanks

        • fryandlaurie on 17/12/2017 - 16:19
          +1

          List of extra features are listed here.

          If any of those appeal to you I'd use Merlin. If you will not be utilising them then stock is perfectly fine.

        • nobarginsarehere on 17/12/2017 - 20:37

          Merlin is built from the same Open Source firmware that ASUS release

          WRT will give you more options, but Merlin is easier

          Either way, I'd skip this and get a Ubiquiti, see my comment below

  • thangcuoi on 17/12/2017 - 16:05
    -1

    Serious question. Why are people spending hundreds of dollars on a router when a $30 Xiaomi router can do the same job?

    https://m.gearbest.com/wireless-routers/pp_620039.html

    • p1 ama on 17/12/2017 - 16:18
      +6

      They're really not in the same league.

      The Xiaomi router is a single band (2.4GHz) 300Mbps router which is likely to have more interference, slower speeds and less reliable connectivity than this unit, which is a dual band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) 1300Mbps router. The additional cache will improve web performance if you have multiple users regularly accessing similar sites and the ability to install a custom firmware allows you to do cool stuff like set up QoS, static IPs…etc.

      You're right - at the end of the day, the Xiaomi does the same job, but it's like saying why people spend hundreds of thousands on a Mercedes/BMW, when a Camry does the same job, or why people spend over 20x the price on flying first-class when you get there at the same time in economy…etc.

      • fryandlaurie on 17/12/2017 - 16:20
        +6

        The Xiaomi router also would be sending data back to China if using the stock firmware.

      • thangcuoi on 17/12/2017 - 19:05

        What about the Xiaomi MIR3? It has dual band and OpenWRT support. About AUD$45 delivered.

        http://www.dx.com/p/xiaomi-mir3-dual-band-4-antenna-3-wan-ro…

        I understand that some router offers more premium features and some of us make good use of them. Realistically, 99% of people use their modem/router to get online. It's setup and sit in a corner, never to be look at again unless something goes wrong.

        It seems like such a scam for businesses and manufacturers to not offer the basic (dual band, wireless n/ac) for $50.

        • p1 ama on 17/12/2017 - 21:18
          +1

          It seems like such a scam for businesses and manufacturers to not offer the basic (dual band, wireless n/ac) for $50.

          They do, there are plenty of el cheapo wireless routers that aren't very good and will "do the job" so to speak.

          https://www.pccasegear.com/products/40389/edimax-ac750-dual-…

          https://www.pccasegear.com/products/39326/tp-link-archer-c20…

          Not sure why you think it's a scam - nobody is cheating you, it's a free market, you're free to buy a $300 router or a $50 one.

        • thangcuoi on 18/12/2017 - 13:03

          @p1 ama:

          I don't remember seeing anything in that price range when I went into Dicksmith, Officeworks or JB Hifi, where people who know nothing about tech shop for tech.

          Just me $0.02.

          I purchased a Xiaomi MIR3 in preparation for when NBN arrive on my street. Will find out how they realistic perform then.

        • p1 ama on 18/12/2017 - 13:04

          @thangcuoi: Don't get what you're complaining about. People who know nothing about tech will just use the wireless router their ISP gave them.

        • thangcuoi on 19/12/2017 - 11:37

          @p1 ama:

          Good point. I have always used my own modem so I forgot that some ISP offer free modem.

    • DogGunn on 17/12/2017 - 18:06

      Can't even handle IPv6.

    • Dalgona456 on 17/12/2017 - 19:39

      We need to think about all those dropout rates and its signal strength. The numbers on the spec sheet doesnt always guarantee its performance and thats why we pay extra.

    • DoyA on 18/12/2017 - 01:32

      Was going to get one of these before using the huawei one supplied by TPG..The supplied one turns out to be good enough for me..

  • kulprit on 17/12/2017 - 16:28
    +1

    If you happen to have an amex deal still at Harvey Norman, the new 86u can be bargained down to around $350.

    Then $100 cash back from amex (with extra spend like Netflix gift card), and $30 from Asus makes it $220. Decided for me $70 was worth it mainly to get an item that wasn't released 5 years ago. Although I have read this is still an amazing router.

    • D3m3ntia on 17/12/2017 - 17:50

      Actually, closer to $232 if you're going to have to buy other stuff as well.

      • kulprit on 17/12/2017 - 18:13

        I pay netflix every month at full price already. Didn't hurt adding to the balance rather than using the credit card.

  • bigguy7 on 17/12/2017 - 18:05
    +1

    Looks like it sold out while I was looking at it

    • 1bug on 17/12/2017 - 18:50

      Strange.
      There were 2 Sydneytec eBay listings and both had "More than 10 available" when I created this deal.
      Only 7 units were sold after the deal was published, so it looks like they pulled the deal early (marked both listings as "out of stock").

      This is the 2nd listing…
      https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-AU-Asus-RT-AC68U-Dual-Band-W…

  • lancedefrance on 17/12/2017 - 19:05

    Thanks OP, one question would this make my surfing faster? what improvements would I (average internet user) and my housemates notice when I replace the wifi router with this one?

    • 1bug on 17/12/2017 - 20:29

      It would depend on the features of your current Wi-Fi router (whether it supports dual band, wireless AC, Gigabit ethernet, IPv6, etc), and the number of devices it serves (computers, mobiles, tablets, TVs, etc). What model is your current router?

      • lancedefrance on 18/12/2017 - 18:14

        I am using Billion 7800N for a DSL connection with TPG.

        • 1bug on 18/12/2017 - 21:48
          +1

          The 7800N is a good modem/router but it's getting dated (circa 2009 with last firmware update on 02/01/2013). I used to have a 7404VNPX but it started dropping the ADSL connection, so I retired it years ago.

          In terms of Wi-Fi performance, the 7800N is a single band (2.4GHz) wireless N (up to 300 Mbps) router, compared to the RT-AC68U which supports dual-band (2.4GHz & 5GHz with 5GHz being better suited to video streaming) with speeds up to 1900 Mbps (N at 600 + AC at 1300 Mbps).

          Given you're still on ADSL, then the RT-AC68U probably won't make your surfing any faster.
          However, if you start having stability issues/dropouts, or move to the NBN (especially higher speeds), or change your usage habits (do a lot of video streaming or connect more devices to your network), then the RT-AC68U would definitely handle the workload better.

        • lancedefrance on 19/12/2017 - 19:12

          @1bug:

          Thanks so much for the great response, while I dont have stability issues I will end up getting this once its back in stock or if a future deal comes up as I do intend on upgrading to NBN when its rolled out in my area (2018).

          While I dont do a lot of streaming I would like to know if it does affect torrenting speed. My guess is that it may improve it but I understand variability to do with number of seeds and swarm size etc.

          By the way can I configure a VPN client within this router (sorry not sure if this is the right lingo) so that I dont need a vpn client on each of my devices, they all connect to the router and the router establishes a vpn tunnel to the vpn provider? Do you know?

        • 1bug on 19/12/2017 - 21:03

          @lancedefrance:

          I haven't used VPN at the router level, but RT-AC68U supports both VPN Server and VPN Client features (PPTP client, L2TP client, OpenVPN client). If you want more advanced VPN features (like specifying selected devices to use VPN), then you'd have to install the Merlin firmware.

        • lancedefrance on 19/12/2017 - 21:30
          +1

          @1bug:

          Thanks so much will do a bit more reading lol

  • nobarginsarehere on 17/12/2017 - 20:35
    +1

    I've had one of these routers, they are good but…

    IMHO get a Ubiquiti Edge Router X with one of their Wireless units (the UniFi AP Lite, Pro or HD depending on your requirements)

    If you get the Edge Router X w/ a UniFi AP Lite it would be around the same price, same performance and a better product

    • khued on 17/12/2017 - 21:14

      got any links to buy said router and WiFi access point?

    • ozdesi on 17/12/2017 - 23:13

      if price and performance are same then how is the product better?

  • 1bug on 17/12/2017 - 21:03
    +2

    UPDATE: Original deal @ Sydneytec eBay was expired as "out of stock" and has been replaced by a similar deal @ Shopping Express eBay.

    New Deal @ Shopping Express eBay
    Current eBay price: $212.00 less 16% off at Checkout = $178.08 less 5% off eBay code = $169.18
    Price after $20 Asus Cashback = $149.18
    Quantity (at time of posting): More than 10 available / 340 sold

  • TrevBargn on 18/12/2017 - 07:32
    +1

    A NBN noob question. For HFC NBN do I get the plain router or the one with a ADSL/VDSL modem?

    • D3m3ntia on 18/12/2017 - 08:20
      +3

      NBN will supply you with a modem which you need to plug into a router's WAN port. This one will do nicely

    • klownz on 18/12/2017 - 08:30
      +1

      Using this with the setup described by D3m3ntia NBN HFC and its working great. Recommend the merlin firmware too as above (you get extra monitoring tools / features).

  • TrevBargn on 18/12/2017 - 10:20

    Thank you D3m3ntia and klownz for the help above!

  • Dontreadthis on 21/12/2017 - 10:33
    +3

    UPDATE: FURTHER DISCOUNT 16% + 20%[POWERUP] = $142.46 - $20 Cash Back = $122.46!!

    • 1bug on 21/12/2017 - 11:35

      Thanks.
      It looks like they have now removed the previous 16% off at Checkout deal, so new price is $169.60 (plus $20 cashback).

      • Dontreadthis on 21/12/2017 - 11:41

        I hope they honor my order.

        • 1bug on 21/12/2017 - 11:47

          Hopefully they will. Let us know how it goes.

    • herbo on 21/12/2017 - 12:47

      I got in early too. $122.46, great price, hope they follow through with it

  • 1bug on 21/12/2017 - 11:28

    UPDATE #2: 20% off with code POWERUP now active (previous 16% off at Checkout REMOVED)

    New Deal @ Shopping Express eBay
    Current eBay price: $212.00 less 20% off eBay code POWERUP = $169.60
    Price after $20 Asus Cashback = $149.60
    Quantity (at time of posting): 7 available / 13 sold

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