Seems to be a good deal on an entry level WiFi 6 router if anyone's thinking of upgrading.
Edit 30/3: Available again, no code required this time.
ASUS RT-AX55 AX1800 Wi-Fi 6 Router $149 Delivered @ Mwave
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LWD Stevens on 12/03/2021 - 22:04 mwave.com.au (528 clicks)
Last edited 30/03/2021 - 15:45 by 2 other users
Last edited 30/03/2021 - 15:45 by 2 other users
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Just like AX3600, there is WIfi 6 specs cheating with this one, except this one is even worse than AX3600 in terms of cheating (or fooling non-tech savvy customers with WiFi 6 tag). Also, no merlin firmware support on this Asus router, unlike the other more sought after Asus routers.
2x2 setup with 20/40/80 MHz bandwidth. That means you get ZERO WiFi 6 bandwidth benefit and you are counting on a working MU-MIMO (but seriously MU-MIMO with 2x2?) and OFDMA (sounds good in theory for WiFi 6, but do you know how to validate and test it? It is a pain for the pros to validate it, so good luck validating it yourself; more importantly, how many devices you actually have that supports OFDMA?). If you have Intel AX200 (WiFi 6 client) or better, that 80 MHz channel bandwidth means you are only able to get half the max speed possible.
WiFi 6 router in this price range… clearly, you need to be careful and read the specs properly. Sure, you could argue in a medium size or large size home, you are not really going to get anywhere near top speed at 5GHz band anyway… but just realise this router isn't a proper WiFi 6 router, it simply implements some WiFi 6 features.
Interesting… Which Wifi 6 routers would you recommend that actually live up to the specs?
Personally, I wouldn't recommend any WiFi 6 router right now. I would at least wait for WiFi 6E routers and see if most of the incompatibility mess (leading to subpar performance) has cleared up and whether that extra 6 GHz band (6E is tri-band, so 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz bands) is as good as advertised. Also, have router makers / chipset makers finally got proper OFDMA going, or we are still having beta quality code in some, if not most of the WiFi 6 routers.
If you must get one right now, make sure it supports 160 MHz channel width (because currently only Intel AX200, and AX210 based cards are cheap enough WiFi 6 cards and you want to run them with 160 MHz channel width mode, not 80 MHz). 4x4 with 160Mhz channel width is preferred, but those routers aren't cheap. Right now, though, for most of us, most client devices are lagging behind. Both current Android flagship (Snapdragon 865) and iPhone 12 series are WiFi 6 with 80 MHz channel width support only. The next mid year CPU refresh coming up (Snapdragon 865+) has WiFi 6E (and that should have 160 MHz, as well as 6 GHz support) so the next iPhone and next year's Android flagship should be 6E ready.
Price for price then, are you better off getting an ac router over one like this?
No, that's not what this is about. With most ac routers, in the same price range, you are not going to find anything that supports 160Mhz channel width either. The main point is a lot of marketing terms are used by router makers use and those can confuse / misled people.
It still comes down to the actual specs, CPU inside etc… You don't want to buy a WiFi 6 router that actually performs like a Wireless AC router with a few WiFi 6 features which you are not able to take advantage (OFDMA, for example, not only you need a sufficient number of smart devices, most smart globes and sockets are using dirt cheap Wireless N 1x1 chipset, there is no chance they will switch to WiFi 6 chipset with working OFDMA any time soon).
If you know that this is really basically a slightly improved wireless AC router with a rather average CPU (2x2, 80Mhz channel width - so it cannot beat a flagship 4x4 160Mhz channel width wireless AC router) and you prefer to take a pragmatic approach (don't over-provision and plan for the future too far ahead), then you could still consider it. Just realise that there is no free lunch (you get what you paid for) and no, true WiFi 6 routers are not going to be cheaper than Wireless AC ones.
Xiaomi AX3600 and AX6000, well, those two are tricky. Both appeared to overclocked the CPU and with firmware hacks to do more than what the chipset maker designed the CPU for. That's being nice. If I am being blunt, each is using inferior CPU but hack it to tick more boxes. Problem is, if you want one with the correct CPU (and those do offer more features), they cost 2x more.
I used a pair of these under AI mesh, worked amazingly and full speed for my 1000/50 FTP connection via ethernet.. (up to 930/46), however I switched over to a TUF3000 and a RT-Ax55 for Aimesh.. to the get the AI protection pro features and parental controls..
These are a cheap way of expanding your Ai mesh..
Same here
I'm moving to a place that has FTTP and I'm getting a 1000/50 plan. To be honest, my Desktop will be wired and hopefully the TV will be too via MoCA when I can find an adapter which really only leaves my laptop which I don't use at home a great deal and then my phone which doesn't even have WiFi 6. It doesn't really sound worth it to get a WiFi 6 router but if they're the same price, it kinda feels like it makes more sense to get the one with the newer standard. At the very least it should have better resale value down the line.
It will be hard to get 1000/50 with Wireless AC or WiFi 6 (even if you have a top notch WiFi 6 router with 4x4 160Mhz channel support). The main issue is the big speed drop for 5GHz band as devices are further away from the router. Since your desktop is wired (so LAN connection to the router), that will get 1000/50. WiFi with a single router setup will be tough to get 1000/50 unless you live in a small apartment.
I am not sure whether WiFi 6E mesh based solution will provide improved speed over current mesh solution (in theory, it has a better chance). The tri-band nature of 6E could potentially mean the new 6GHz band could be used as the backplane (unless the mesh makers are willing to implement quad bands). Won't be cheap though…
I wouldn't consider 2nd hand router resale value. Unless you get a router model that's widely sought after (generally with good custom firmware option), it won't retain value well. If you really cannot wait and want a WiFi 6 router now, try to do some research. While I don't recommend going for cheap WiFi 6 2x2/80Mhz channel width routers, given the low price, you are not going to lose that much in the long run (and if you don't have Intel 9560 (ac), AX200 (ax/6), or AX210 (ax/6E), then you don't have anything that uses 160Mhz channel width).
Honestly, I can't wait in the sense that I need a router of any sort now as this will be the first time I haven't been in a sharehouse where the person I'm sharing with already had one. I don't expect (or even need, really) the full gigabit over WiFi. I was more getting it for the upload speed and the fact that the plan's on promo at the moment so it's the same price as the 100/40 plan. That all sounds like I don't need WiFi 6 which I really don't. So I guess the question is: If you've already got a router, there's no reason to upgrade just yet unless you go all out but if you just need A router, should you go for the WiFi 6 option even though it's not completely there yet?
No, you shouldnt. Because as stated; using those "features" is likely to cause more issues than it solves; thanks to incompatibility.
Getting a "rock solid" ac access point is better than a hacked-together wifi6 router.
netsurfer what is your personal current pick for cheap entry AC routers?
Ive been relying on the Archer series for the sub $100 3x3 mimo things…@MasterScythe: There's this one from D-Link that's $99. https://www.scorptec.com.au/product/networking/modems-&-rout… Seems to be a fairly decent deal if a little bit made of cheap materials but given it's something that will probably sit in a corner and not be moved about much, I reckon that's probably not going to cause too much of an issue.
There's a review of it from CNet here: https://www.cnet.com/reviews/d-link-ac1750-wi-fi-router-revi…
I reckon I'm probably going to get that one instead and upgrade to WiFi 6 when I actually have devices that can use it and internet that can take advantage of it. As I mentioned, I'm going to be on 1000/50 but the only devices that are actually going to be making most use of that connection (my Desktop and NAS) are both going to be wired in anyway.
Should i bother getting this router if im on NBN50 (HFC)?
What features is your current router lacking, that you hope to improve?
This cost is PLUS Delivery cost which is $10.95 AusPost or 12.95 for Startrack courier.
It is showing up as 149 plus shipping of 10.95 AusPost or 12.95 for Startrack courier. Am i missing something?
Trying to decide between this Asus or the Xiaomi AX3600 and AX6000.