[Maylyn's Review] ASUS RT-AC66U Dark Knight Rises

[salivaman]

not sure the dish inside, but outside the plastic abit convex.

the direction of the "point" is w/o ASUS logo.



standard shipping.

purchased on 13/7. reached on 19/7

why not add on $0.36 then qualify for the free shipping?

 

[bhockk]

Just got my WL-ANT157. Replaced the middle antenna. Works like a charm, signal strength increased and no more dead zones.

 

[chunlianghere]

why not add on $0.36 then qualify for the free shipping?

i brought 3. so i guess tat free shipping apply only in US, not international.

 

[maylyn]

RMerlin 3.0.0.4.372.31

RMerlin 3.0.0.4.372.31 is out

Grab it while it's hot like the minions

Howdy folks,

A new build of Asuswrt-Merlin is now available for download. This build saw the core code merged with the recent final 372 release from Asus (I was previously using a very early version of the 372 code branch).

This update includes the AiCloud security fixes - upgrading to this version ASAP is STRONGLY recommended if you use AiCloud.

The RT-N66U is still using the older (but stable) wireless driver from build 270. That means it will be compatible with Intel devices, however it will lack HW accelerated PPP support and the Xbox optimization option.

Not much else in the changelog versus 372.30, partly due to lack of time, but also because the merge with the final 372 code was far more complex than previous merges (a typical merge takes me an evening, this one took about three days). I want to ensure that I have a stable base FW with 372 before going forward.

One notable addition to the Experimental build is support for the Yandex.DNS service. This is a DNS-based filtering service that Asus is integrating into the firmware. You can find the settings on the Parental Control section.

Speaking of which, the Parental Control time slot management is currently broken under Internet Explorer 10. The issue seems to lie within the third party Javascript code used by Asus for this calendar, and a bit over my head to fix. Until Asus fixes it you will have to use a different browser for managing Parental Control.

That's about it. As usual, see the changelog for the details. Enjoy!

Download ~> My Files

 

[alvinaloy]

Saw this ad in the HWZ's marketplace; Brand new AC66U selling for $180.

ASUS ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router - Ad#257357 - HardwareZone.com.sg

I wanted to buy but the email exchange with him made me hesitate... Should I do it? Anyway want to buy together with me (minimum 2 per order)?

Me:

Hi,
I'm interested in the Asus RT-AC66U wireless router. Is it brand new in a seal box? Do you have any stock? It is at $180? Apologies, but I'm curious as to how you managed to get it at such a low price.
Thanks

Dealer:

Dear Chia (That's not my surname nor any part of my name),
We are pleased to welcome you to our distinct company and appreciate you for your inquiry on our product.
We sell ASUS ASUS RT-AC66U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1750 Gigabit Router‏ at
the rate of $180.00 SGD per unit and a minimum sample order of 2units. We are on promo.
We will deliver it to your destination within 1 business day via courier
services and the charges for the post is subject to providing your full
delivery address.
All our product comes with full international warranty and company return policy.
Friend, we treasure long term business transaction with your company and
believe we can make it up together with trust and understanding.
We will be waiting to read from you.
Regards

Me:

Hi,
I think it would have been easier if you replied to what I had asked rather than providing a template reply. I have no idea how you knew my surname is Chia.
I would rather prefer to collect the router myself. Is it possible?
Why is this router so cheap; it retails for over $300 in Singapore?
Cheers

Dealer:

It is cheap because we are on promo.

It will be shipped to your door step.

Me:

Hi,
Which country do you guys operate out from? Do you have a company website? What are the approximate charges for the delivery? Any other options for the delivery (cheaper options)? So according to what you have previously emailed, I must buy 2; cannot buy simply 1. Is that right?
Thanks

Dealer:

Shipment is Free to any address in Singapore.
The minimum order is two(2).

 

[dragonballs]

Just got my WL-ANT157. Replaced the middle antenna. Works like a charm, signal strength increased and no more dead zones.

nice. I put 3 just to test results.

double my connection range. increased throughput as well
everywhere in my house is now 5 bars with excellent connection.

behind my router is a wall so it is ok to put 3. if your router in centre of the house, this is not recommended.

 

[PPkiller]

nice. I put 3 just to test results.

double my connection range. increased throughput as well
everywhere in my house is now 5 bars with excellent connection.

behind my router is a wall so it is ok to put 3. if your router in centre of the house, this is not recommended.

wah op!

 

[zhehao]

Hi bros,

I just got a AC66U from a bro here who got it from M1.
Previously i was using N56U. However after connecting the router to ONT and setting it up, i am unable to connect the the internet.

I tried to ping google.com using the router's network tools and it is able to ping google but i am unable to surf any website at all.

Settings and config used:
Fibre Connection point-->ONT (Port1)-->AC66U WAN--> Wireless
Automatic with the following ISP Profile:
Mannual
Internet: VID 1075 PRIO 1
IPTV: VID 1099 PRIO 1
VOIP: VID 1095 PRIO 1
Using the latest firmware: 3.0.0.4.372

Using this method, i don't need to have the dlink RG inbetween ONT and router right?

Any bro can help me out here? Thanks so much!

Edit: After much googling, i found out that by disabling HW Accelerator, the internet works fine again. However then again having to disable HW Accelerator just to be able to use the internet on such a high end device isn't it weird?

Edit2: After upgrading to RMerlin's firmware, which is my preferred firmware now, i still cannot enable HW Accelerator. Once activated, internet will stop working as well.
In addition, i also noticed that the speed on the router degrades with time. From 150mbps, it drops to 100mbps. Once i restart the router, it goes back to 150mbps and then drops to 100mbps after a while.

Edit3: Seems like HW Acceleration does not work when VLAN Tagging is used. Since i am using VLAN Tagging (the one where i need to key in the Mac Address of my default router by starhub i suppose?), HW Acceleration is not gonna work. Only solution is to call Starhub to arrange direct ONT i guess?

Hoping Asus can help me out in this one. Thanks!

 

[cheesepies]

nice. I put 3 just to test results.

double my connection range. increased throughput as well
everywhere in my house is now 5 bars with excellent connection.

behind my router is a wall so it is ok to put 3. if your router in centre of the house, this is not recommended.

wow this is abit overkill lol. bro, your house how big ah ?

 

[yiptw89]

nice. I put 3 just to test results.

double my connection range. increased throughput as well
everywhere in my house is now 5 bars with excellent connection.

behind my router is a wall so it is ok to put 3. if your router in centre of the house, this is not recommended.

Why it is not recommended if the router is placed in centre of house?

 

[danxiaogui86]

Why it is not recommended if the router is placed in centre of house?

cause this antenna is a bidirectional not a omnidirectional.

 

[maylyn]

Hi bros,

I just got a AC66U from a bro here who got it from M1.
Previously i was using N56U. However after connecting the router to ONT and setting it up, i am unable to connect the the internet.

I tried to ping google.com using the router's network tools and it is able to ping google but i am unable to surf any website at all.

Settings and config used:
Fibre Connection point-->ONT (Port1)-->AC66U WAN--> Wireless
Automatic with the following ISP Profile:
Mannual
Internet: VID 1075 PRIO 1
IPTV: VID 1099 PRIO 1
VOIP: VID 1095 PRIO 1
Using the latest firmware: 3.0.0.4.372

Using this method, i don't need to have the dlink RG inbetween ONT and router right?

Any bro can help me out here? Thanks so much!

Edit: After much googling, i found out that by disabling HW Accelerator, the internet works fine again. However then again having to disable HW Accelerator just to be able to use the internet on such a high end device isn't it weird?

Edit2: After upgrading to RMerlin's firmware, which is my preferred firmware now, i still cannot enable HW Accelerator. Once activated, internet will stop working as well.
In addition, i also noticed that the speed on the router degrades with time. From 150mbps, it drops to 100mbps. Once i restart the router, it goes back to 150mbps and then drops to 100mbps after a while.

Edit3: Seems like HW Acceleration does not work when VLAN Tagging is used. Since i am using VLAN Tagging (the one where i need to key in the Mac Address of my default router by starhub i suppose?), HW Acceleration is not gonna work. Only solution is to call Starhub to arrange direct ONT i guess?

Hoping Asus can help me out in this one. Thanks!

Did you experienced any issues while using your previous ASUS RT-N56U before changing to the ASUS RT-AC66U?

Just use the exact settings on the RT-N56U (VLAN tagging values) on the ASUS RT-AC66U. I suspect you might have to use the clone mac address function in order to run.

Yes, you will need to use Dlink RG for VOIP as ASUS routers don't have RJ11 port, or the easiest way is just call Starhub to make arrangements to untag all services so you can just plug your telephone (ONT telephone port 1) and the ASUS RT-AC66U (ONT-LAN1 ~ router WAN) directly to the ONT without having to input VLAN settings.

HW acceleration is only disabled for RMerlin's firmware only for ASUS RT-N66U, ASUS RT-AC66U when IPv6 is running not VLAN tagging.

As for ASUS RT-AC56U HW acceleration is enabled even IPv6 is running

Sysinfo page was reporting IPv6 as reason for CTF to be disabled - since 372 that is only true for ARM devices.

Which RMerlin firmware are you actually using? 3.0.0.4.372.30.2? 3.0.0.4.372.31.0?

3.0.0.4.372.31:
- NEW: Merged with 372_1393 code from Asus. Notes:
* Beamforming support for RT-AC66U/RT-AC56U
* RT-N66U driver still downgraded to build 270 (which
means no HW acceleration for PPP, but more reliable
connectivity on the 5 GHz band)
* Minidlna was updated to 1.1.0
* AiCloud security hole fixed
* Parental Control ui still broken under IE10 (use Fx or Chrome
for now)

- NEW: YandexDNS. Asus is currently implementing support in the
firmware for this DNS-based filter. This can be
found under Parental Control. See Яндекс.DNS
for more info (go go Google translate!).
(Experimental builds only)
- NEW: User-provided client config files (ccd) for OpenVPN server.
See the OpenVPN and Custom Config sections of the firmware's
documentation for more info.
- CHANGED: Connections list under System Log will now progressively
display the result while the router is still
resolving IPs (if that option was enabled).
- CHANGED: OpenVPN client password hidden by default (and added
checkbox to display it similar to what Asus added
to the System page)

3.0.0.4.372.30_2:
(note: since people always thought adding a "b" meant "beta'
rather than revision "b", I am switching to Asus's new
numbering scheme, hence "30_2" for this revised 372.30.)

- FIXED: NAT loopback (invalid iptable rules was silently accepted
by iptables)
- FIXED: Removed empty Yandex tab
- FIXED: Entware setup script missing from all builds
- FIXED: pptpd failing to start (was missing from build)
- FIXED: OpenVPN server not starting if using a static key
- FIXED: Disks plugged to USB 2.0 port weren't getting mounted
(RT-AC56U)
- FIXED: Sysinfo page was reporting IPv6 as reason for
CTF to be disabled - since 372 that is only true
for ARM devices.
- FIXED: OpenVPN Server in TAP mode + DHCP wasn't routing
properly (DHCP was overruling the default GW)

 

[salivaman]

WL-ANT157

for those interested

http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/g...directional-antenna-4320282.html#post78342295

 

[HuatKway]

anyidea where in SLS sells the antenna? I went most major shops, none see this product before. and someone in this thread mentioned buying it in SLS....

 

[daniel_83]

anyidea where in SLS sells the antenna? I went most major shops, none see this product before. and someone in this thread mentioned buying it in SLS....

according to the Asus representative above, he/she posted that this item is not available in SG

so I bought 2x a few minutes ago from Amazon

Hope can solve my poor reception issue

Currently my linksys e4200 is placed in the living room TV console

The middle room has only 1~2 bars of signal
Main bedroom almost zero connection

didnt expect a $200+ router cannot cover a small area (and didnt expect walls to be so good at diluting wifi signals)

 

[daniel_83]

How does the AI RADAR work?

Cant find any settings in the QIS

 

[benzene55]

How does the AI RADAR work?

Cant find any settings in the QIS

Ai Radar is automatic backend implementation, nothing you can set.

 

[daniel_83]

Just bought 1 ac66u and completed setting up.

Change the transmission power from default of 80 to max of 200.

Now even the furthest part corner of my home has decent connection liao

Issit ok to use trx max of 200?

 

[benzene55]

Just bought 1 ac66u and completed setting up.

Change the transmission power from default of 80 to max of 200.

Now even the furthest part corner of my home has decent connection liao

Issit ok to use trx max of 200?

my own findings indicate that increasing transmission power =/= increase range/wifi throughput.

I've been using 100 since N66U days

 

[chunlianghere]

Just bought 1 ac66u and completed setting up.

Change the transmission power from default of 80 to max of 200.

Now even the furthest part corner of my home has decent connection liao

Issit ok to use trx max of 200?

since the start of use, i already set to 200