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ASUS RT-AC68U Router (Not Modem) $189 @ MSY (Plus $20 EFTPOS Card from Asus)

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Was just looking around on MSY for a keyboard/mouse and the homepage came up with this cashback banner, so thought I'd share :)
There are some cheaper on eBay but are OEM versions of T-Mobile, so you might not be able to flash them to other firmwares. Not an expert in that field so won't be able to answer technical questions. Just sharing a good deal.

Pretty solid router at a very good price. I have been using one since 2 years, with NBN FTTP.

This will not work by itself with FTTN or other connections, you will need a modem.

Redeem from http://www.asuspromotion.net/anz/aimesh-cashback/
Stock available at most stores at time of posting.

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  • +2

    For those curious, flashing the tmobile versions was pretty straight forward - there are comprehensive instructions online.
    The only problem I had was getting into recovery which required you to continue holding down reset during the file upload (will make sense if you try)

    Otherwise this is a kick-ass router, and works wonders on my FTTH connection (78 mbps @~ 15m through a floor and 3 walls on my max 92 mbps connection)

    • Only 78mbs out of 92mbs is not something worth paying for. You might want to check if your computer connection because nowadays wireless should be providing above 100mbs bandwidth.

      • +4

        Through a floor and 3 walls…. speaking from someone who has that problem, it's a big problem.

  • +1 on being a solid router, I've been using it on FTTP connection with lots of devices for the past three years without any dramas.

  • Noob question: will this router work with NBN HFC?
    Or do I need combined modem/router version Asus DSL-AC68U?

    • +1

      You'll need the modem that your ISP supplied but you should be able to put your modem into "Bridge mode" to hand off the router functionality to the router itself. I have HFC at home and bridged it to a Nighthawk R7000P (picked up from last MSY deal) and it works perfect - the improvement in wifi performance in particular is insane.

      Edit: looks like NBN themselves supply a cable modem. https://www.whistleout.com.au/Broadband/Guides/nbn-hfc-every…

      By the sounds of it you should be able to get away with just connecting this router straight into that NBN HFC connection box.

      • yep, on coax use the suppliers modem so you get tech support and add your own wireless router.

        optus gave me a sagem router which didn’t work as well as my old tp-link, so now the sagem is back in its box and i’m using the tp-link.

        you need to retain providers modem for tech support, but after that it’s just and ethernet connection into your router.

        • Thx all. Appears it will work.

          Setup as:
          Coax cable in to the nbn box provided. NBN gave me an Arris.
          NBN box network cable out connected to router network WAN port in.

        • @trendisyourfriend: if you have a NBN cable modem box can yout connect the nighthawk r700p direct to it using your WAN port?

          Answer = Yes

          Wall socket -> NBN Connection box -> Router WAN socket.

          Done.

        • Yeah that would be the case for non-NBN HFC connections, such as both of ours by the sounds. But it looks like for NBN HFC, they supply the modem instead of the ISP, who will just supply a router: https://www.nbnco.com.au/learn-about-the-nbn/network-technol…

          The output from it is just a standard ethernet port so should be able to just hook your own router into that and be on your way. But of course like you said, you'd want to keep the router the ISP supplied for tech support.

        • @winteragain:
          thx all

          great answers and much quicker than asking msy.com.au "support" haha

        • @trendisyourfriend:

          Good luck to you with this router.
          I'm using it now with my HFC connection and getting 93/36 all around the house. (single level, 5 bedrooms)

      • MitchyD1989, if you have a NBN cable modem box can you connect the nighthawk r700p direct to it using the WAN port?

        • I don't have NBN so can't check this, sorry. Others here have said it will work for you though.

        • Yes, no configuration required, just plug it straight in. I'm using the R7000 with the NBN-supplied Arris modem.

    • I have HFC with this modem (TM-AC1900) and I did setup as stand alone router and all my devices are connected to this.
      So, from the Wall socket -> NBN HFC Connection box -> Telstra Router -> Asus Router.

      The reason for me to use Telstra Router is that VoIP only works when its connected to Telstra router and Telstra router is connected to NBN Connection box. I tried to the other way around but no luck.
      (port configuring, etc all no luck) Only downside on this configuration is that I'm not able to use DDNS to remotely connect to my home desktop. so I just use something else (teamviewer, etc)

      Anyway, you can buy this and hook this up with NBN connection box straight, it works perfectly fine.

      • Assuming you have DHCP enabled on both, if you give the Asus Router a static IP on the Telstra box and your home desktop a static IP on the Asus router, you should be able to set up a port forwarding rule on the Telstra box to forward the relevant port to the Asus router, and do the same on the Asus router to your desktop.

        But I would have thought that you could just disable DHCP on the Asus router and give it a static IP in the Tesltra router's internal subnet. It should pass DHCP requests from the client through to the Telstra router. There might be other reasons why you want to use the router functions on the Asus router though. Also, I could be wrong about this working ;)

  • It took a while for my gift card to arrive from the last time they were running this promotion (December 2017).

    • standard operating procedure for these types of promotions methinks

  • +1

    Slightly cheaper for $182.40 Delivered @ Sydneytec eBay w/PRAISE. You will still be eligible for the $20 cashback as seen in the description.

    • PC Byte also doing for about $183 and also eligible for the $20 cash back. In case stock runs out.

    • Out of stock at Stdneytec

  • Remember the last time they did the cashback
    They sent out the emails but did not blind CC the mailing list.
    So everyone could see everyone elses emails rofl
    The replies were pretty funny

  • I checked on eBay and found this, but don't know eligible for cashback.
    https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/New-OEM-Asus-RT-AC68U-AC1900-Dua… bu

    • +1

      maybe not, the power adapter from the photo doesn't look right.
      you can try it, it is $20 cheaper then MSY anyway.

    • That eBay model is not eligible for AU cashback. It's a grey import.

      From the product Description:

      "This is an OEM version Asus RT-AC68U Dual Band Wireless Gigabit Router with US power supply + AU adapter, please refer to the gallery photos for more detail".

  • need\want a bargain for Asus DSL-AC3100 modem :)

    • +1

      $388.75 Sydneytec $505 before ebay 20% praise coupon, shopback 5% cashback using shopback app before midnight. Possibly extra $10 cashback also if you are newly signed up and you update shopback details and make a purchase that allows a cashback more than $10(last one may not apply if using app, havent tried)
      Hope it helps.

      • I missed the $459 - 20% deal a week ago.
        Also ASUS cashback is on the router and not the modem.
        Thanks for this also btw.

  • Hi,

    Would anyone know (using HFC) by bridging this with a TPG modem would it kill the home phone?

    • With NBN HFC, the modem is supplied by NBN (aka: NBN Connection Box or Arris Modem), and the TPG modem/router connects to the NBN modem:
      http://www.tpg.com.au/support/setup-nbn-hfc/modem-wiring-sup…

      Bridging a modem/router turns that device into a modem only. Bridging doesn't really apply to HFC because the NBN modem is already a separate device. The TPG modem/router acts as a Router, Switch (for ethernet LAN ports), Wi-Fi access point and VoIP service (for phone). If using home phone, then you have to keep using the TPG modem/router.

      However, if the Wi-Fi in the TPG modem/router is less than adequate, then you can add an RT-AC68U Router (or any other router) as a wireless Access Point to boost the Wi-Fi performance.

      • Thanks 1bug. Ugh, might not work as well as just an access point?

        I think my main problem is too many WiFi connections & the crappy TPG router can’t handle it

        • You'll get the best out of the RT-AC68U if it's acting as the main router and Wi-Fi server.

          However, in your case, you can still get some benefit by turning off the Wi-Fi in the TPG router and offloading all Wi-Fi to the RT-AC68U access point.

        • +1

          @1bug:

          Hmmmm wonder if it’s a $190 benefit :/

          Thanks 1bug :)

        • +1

          @Bluemetal:

          Agreed, in this case it wouldn't be worth the $190 outlay.

          If your TPG router plays up, try to get a better router from TPG.

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