New lowest price for this router according to camelcamelcamel.
CamelCamelCamel.
Evolution theory really exists
I know what you mean. There is only one version for AU which has 2 antennas
Some other countries (for example china ) have the new version which have 4 antennas
If you plan to run Merlin-WRT or other 3rd party firmware on it, the older version is better as it has 256MB flash and 512MB RAM.
The v2 version only has 128MB flash and 256MB RAM.
Also the v2 seems to be either a repackaged AX-55 or very similar to typically sold in the Chinese market. ax-55 performs worse in testing.
Here’s hoping the AX86U gets a significant discount now the pro is released.
What would be the difference between the model listed here and the ax86u. I don't have a nas but do have heavy internet usage and am thinking of going from 100/20 to 250/25 on hfc nbn
Internet speed is always going to be the bottleneck. This can support speed up to 1201Mbps on the 5Ghz band, while the internet you're considering is (up to) 256Mbps.
being on hfc, my internet is super unreliable so the RSP provided router has the advantage of 4g back up. however, the router itself is sort of crap which is why I want to replace it. is there anyway of getting 4g backup on this router? or, can i connect both this and my old rsp router at the same time and connect to the rsp router when my nbn drops out?
@Love a bargain: Having a quick google, this could be an option. As long as the 4g backup still works, I get the best of both worlds
@nk7: Yep that'd be my suggestion too. This is not a modem, so you'd need something else to plug into it anyway (except with certain NBN types such as FTTN I believe)
@moar bargains: Just had a look at the manual for the router, it says "Note: In bridge mode the phone and backup 4G will no longer work, and a factory reset is require to disable bridge mode…"
@nk7: But 4G backup would still work via your other modem wouldn't it? I.e. you will need another modem for your HFC connection into this, so that modem can handle the 4G backup too?
@moar bargains: I am considering buying the router from Amazon, trying and seeing if it works and if it doesn't, I will just return it.
@nk7: You have these options for 4G failover. In no particular order.
@Twix: For option 1, when using the router as an access point, would that mean any performance loss will occur compared to regular use?
@moar bargains: No, HFC doesnt need a typical modem, it has a NTD device provided by the ISP.
It is technically a modem, but its effectively just a single port, constantly in bridge mode.
@nk7: You need to HOUND your ISP to get the actual splitter on the pole looked at, at a minimum.
HFC is the most resilient connection type out there.
FTTP is faster, and arguably more reliable, but its more easily damaged if anyone is doing work (which is common in suburbia).
I had to get my streets splitter upgraded to a slightly lower resistance to get proper stability, now that we had 3 new houses added to the street.
I also had the master cable re-terminated on the pole.
Those appliance timers can be great for simulating dropouts if NBNco wont believe you to begin with. But I was getting at least 1 real dropout per day; which is totally unacceptable on HFC, and NBNCo agreed that was significant.
HFC and Unreliable should never be in the same sentence unless you're due maintenence (like any technology).
@MasterScythe: I definitely need to have nbn come out and have a look at whatever is out there because its not operating as it should but Telstra has been a nightmare to deal with and just keep telling me to try factory resets or to wait and see if it gets better, or they claim to not see anything from their end.
@nk7: Luckily churning ISP's is quick and simple.
Switch to someone who cares (Ive had great success with superloop, and Tangerine) then if you're for some reason in love with telstra, swap back after its fixed.
Also, if yours is unstable, knock on your neighbours doors and ask if theirs is too.
If so, plan a week to log a fault every day with them. The NBNCo system flags 'bundles" of tickets based on location.
If theirs is NOT; then you might need an independent cabler to come and fix the cable in-house.
You could always try reseating all the connections yourself, with some silicone paste to help prevent corrosion, but working on it yourself illegal, and we'd never condone that, would we.
@nk7: raise an official complaint and ask for reference number this will get someone Aus based to actually do something, otherwise it'll be offshore to some scripted cs person who has no clue, an official complaint actually makes them act and resolve the problem and try to make sure you are happy with the outcome
@nk7: HFC should be super reliable. I had HFC for 15 years almost bullet proof, then some connection problems which were fixed due to external wiring issues and now rock solid again. You need to raise tickets with your ISP to get it fixed.
Using this with the Merlin-WRT firmware. Good router for the price.
Make sure you don’t use Marlin-WRT, there’s something fishy about that firmware.
That firmware is fishy because it has magical abilities.
Any online soure discussing this issue?
It's a joke based on Merlin being a type of fish.
Got any more detail?
Bought the TP link archer AX10 from OW $95. Similar standpoints, supports onemesh however different setup than Asus. Asus has better mesh compatibility with its own devices.
come with no usb port, there's a lot of magical things you can't do, like 4G tethering via phone, print server, file downloader etc.
Asus is a better choice, for $30 more if you wish to add more functionalities.
Can anyone confirm if there is any drawback with using a lower tier router like this for purposes of ai mesh with a higher tier one like RT-AX86U?
Should work fine. If you have wired backhaul, it will be great.
Was debating it, but right now would be attempting with no wired back haul :(
Sorry, I have GT-AX6000 & this in wired backhaul AI mesh. This is sitting in garage for couple wifi clients which are only 2.4ghz and don't have good connection with my main router. So I don't care much on the speed but need a good reliable connection and it hasn't missed a bit.
If you have an existing Asus ai mesh compatible router than maybe. But really are you going to run an ethernet cable to connect between two routers? You might as well get a better router with a longer range
@vinni9284: If the house is wired, connecting 2 routers is the best. Even if you get an off the shelf mesh, having wired nodes is always better as you don't have one band using backhaul.
@vinni9284: Why is there even a need for ai mesh. How big are peoples houses to require all the routers linked up. Just get one big router and call it a day
@MuddyClear: Depending on the home's infrastructure, walls, etc. If signal is hard then mesh can be beneficial to a certain degree
@vinni9284: Then pay to get an Ethernet port in the rooms that need it…
Unless it’s a rental situation
Running these two models as a mesh and it’s improved the whole house dramatically
Wired back haul?
Now maybe thinking it’s worth the effort
It is worth the effort unless you have line of sight between the APs and don't do any high bandwidth LAN over WiFi.
@Dsiee: Dang might have to then. Right now the router is downstairs and it is awesome for my media room and any devices down stairs. Getting >700mbps/50 but upstairs it’s sometimes only like 150/30 ish in the lounge.
just wire then through passthrough powerline, works great
@botchie: Yeah tried that but doesn’t work Very well in my particular use at my place for some reason even bypassing surge protection and dedicated gpo did nothing to really help.
@Jimothy Wongingtons: needs to go from power point to power point - not extension cords, or anything else like that. straight into the electricity
unless your place is very old and wiring is all over the place it should work just fine.
@botchie: the place is pretty old lol but yeah, the only thing I had was the exit node had an extension cord..maybe i should piss that off too. hmm
@Jimothy Wongingtons: my place is old too, i had it once through an extension cord and it was terrible - went to powepoint and it works great, it will depend on how it was hooked up by the sparky but if all powepoints are on the same line ( you would know this if you flip circuit breaker and they all go off) it works as good as cooper wires - even better - no ping loss or anything
@botchie: oh beautiful, sounds like the way to go.
edit: would the power sockets need to be on the same circuit though? pretty sure i have multiple because when the breaker goes off, not all areas of the home lose power
@nk7: not a sparky so not sure, I have myn all over the place but not sure if they are on the same or not.
just buy it from Amazon and test, if you are not happy return for free
i use TP-Link AV2000 Gigabit Passthrough Powerline Starter Kit, and they might be overkill as Im only on 250 mbs but you never know down the line :)
@botchie: just putting my experience here too with av2000
I was skeptical about powerline adapters at first but they do work with aimesh via wired backhaul really well.
If you have older asus routers or your layout doesn't work well with wireless then av2000 is quite cheap to get a stable wired (assuming the powerline is decent)
Wireless backhaul with two double brick walls between. It improved my network 20-100% more in all the weak zone areas.
I’m not a heavy LAN user though mainly WFH, streaming and surfing which suits me well.
Just a quick question, to setup the AI mesh, should the second router be connected to an NBN port too or does it just need to be powered on?
The second Asus router only needs power and uses a wireless signal to communicate with the first Asus router.
If I were to run these two in a mesh setup, would the one which isn't connected to the nbn port need to be connected via ethernet or can it work wireless?
They can be connected wirelessly but it would be suboptimal because it would increase the wireless traffic. (It's not tri-band so there is no dedicated channel for backhaul communications between the nodes.) It would be best if they can be connected via ethernet cable.
@Love a bargain: What is the best way to run a cable across the house? Up into the roof and then back down again?
@nk7: Sorry can't help you with that - through the roof is obviously an option but how practical it is depends on the house, where the nodes are going to be located, whether there are any conduits that you can run the cable through, etc.
@nk7: I prefer to keep my attic uncluttered, so I just run flat cable along wall corners. A couple of switches along the way.
Bought. Thanks OP
Does anyone have any insight into VoIP support with router like this?
As in will it do VOIP? It connected my VOIP service without any problems.
Which VOIP service do you use?
Just use it through Aussie Broadband, which is I suppose different to a dedicated VOIP provider I guess?
You can't connect a phone directly to it.
Purchase a IP phone handset or VoIP adapter to plug into the Asus.
is this router considered current? with performance and specs? and how likely is it to remain current?
had an asus ac87u and still annoyed how dirty they did that model..
Ac (wifi 5 - 2014) vs ax (wifi 6 - 2019)
Wifi 6e is the most current, but at that price point it is unbeatable I believe. Bought one in January so will price protect, thanks OP!
It certainly is bang for buck at that price. Range around my house is dramatically improved, it has smart switch for bandwidths. Plus the app is very good too
Good tip @ShouldIBuyIt will price protect for Jan price too, albeit 14 bux :D :D
Sorry of a noob question. Are you and @ShouldIBuyIt claiming the price difference back from Amazon or from a credit card?
I bought one in the January sale too, and since it's still in the return period, I'm wondering if I could ask Amazon for a partial refund of the price difference. (Yes, it's only $14 but this is OzB right.)
@Love a bargain: Place another order and return the new router on the old order. Less hassle then convincing for the price difference.
@ace310: Thanks but I prefer not to do that for the reasons I mentioned in another reply (https://www.ozbargain.com.au/comment/13386352/redir)
@Love a bargain: I bought this router for $169 on the last deal and amazon agreed to refund the difference.
Just hassle them a bit.
@Love a bargain: I suppose it depends on the person you get and the mood they're in.
I guess now your only options are claiming back via CC or returning the unopened one as mentioned.
@xhaz: And the size of your account history with them.
I suspect you have a bit more leverage if you're a $10k a year account rather than a few hundred…
@UncleRico: That's a good point too, although I don't spend $1000s per year.
Maybe I just got lucky.
Wifi 7 is out now btw
Not in Oz.
Weird, wikipedia says 2024
I think this is an older version.
The new one has 4 antennas.