[Maylyn's Review] ASUS RT-AC87U

[Dellboy]

Hi JK,

The problem with 87u for me is not the usual dc that happen for most ios users. Rather - device continue to be connected to the router but internet connectivity is totally lost. I'lI be watching something on Youtube and then suddenly the whole streaming stopped when I am still connected to wifi. I then immediately fired up some apps (eg chrome, facebook, email) to test connectivity and indeed all return the "no connectivity" error msg. To rectify this problem - I'll have to manually disconnect and reconnect the device to the wifi network

Devices affected
Note3 and Tab S - both on Android 4.4.2

This problem is only isolated to the 5ghz band. Problem occurs even when device is active. Also I have set the network rotation interval to 0 and BF to off.

I tried but could not reproduce the problem .... it seems intermittent. For 4950 I'lI get this sometime once or twice a day..

This prob have been in the last few build... there are users who have continued to face the same problem that I faced with 4950. Please help resolve this in the next build.... thanks JK

Edit: while posting this message - problem with no connectivity happened again.. urgh!

JK, this is the same issue with my notebooks (3 ThinkPads T440P with Intel 7260 - latest drivers installed). Wireless is connected but the Internet drops. I can still ping router and go into the router admin page and it does not report any abnormalities. Wireless icon on Win7 shows no Internet connection, just for a few moments and reconnects. This causes my constant connection with Exchange and stock price ticker to drop.

EDIT: to add, this same configurations used with AC66U has not issue, especially with the latest Intel drivers.

 

[ho_kuku]

Hi folks, this is not good. I'm on 4950 and connections are still dropping intermittently. No clear pattern of drops and BF is off. I've two notebooks with Intel 7260 and latest drivers. Every now and then, wireless icon shows exclamation mark and my Exchange and Bloomberg connections drop. Any advice?

Exclamation mark means limited connectivity .... doesn't mean dc. In limited connectivity you are effectively still connected to the wifi network... but lost internet connection.

I have the same problem with my andriod device... dun think prob is unique with intel 7260.

 

[ASUS@SG]

Hi JK,

The problem with 87u for me is not the usual dc that happen for most ios users. Rather - device continue to be connected to the router but internet connectivity is totally lost. I'lI be watching something on Youtube and then suddenly the whole streaming stopped when I am still connected to wifi. I then immediately fired up some apps (eg chrome, facebook, email) to test connectivity and indeed all return the "no connectivity" error msg. To rectify this problem - I'll have to manually disconnect and reconnect the device to the wifi network

Devices affected
Note3 and Tab S - both on Android 4.4.2

This problem is only isolated to the 5ghz band. Problem occurs even when device is active. Also I have set the network rotation interval to 0 and BF to off.

I tried but could not reproduce the problem .... it seems intermittent. For 4950 I'lI get this sometime once or twice a day..

This prob have been in the last few build... there are users who have continued to face the same problem that I faced with 4950. Please help resolve this in the next build.... thanks JK

Edit: while posting this message - problem with no connectivity happened again.. urgh!

Dear ho_kuku,

May I know why did you set key rotation to 0? default - 3600

What is your 5Ghz Control Channel for router.

Best regard,
JK

 

[Dellboy]

Dear ho_kuku,

May I know why did you set key rotation to 0? default - 3600

What is your 5Ghz Control Channel for router.

Best regard,
JK

JK, even though you didn't ask but I would still offer the information, in big big hope that you will notice and address my issues.

5GHz - Control Channel used to be 149, now 153 (more stable). Extension - Auto. In AC66U, I found that 149 is stable in the same set up. No one around uses AC routers.

 

[Jong99]

I am using IOS 8.3 official build without any problem on wireless.

Definitely not the case here. Sleeping iPad Air 2 will disconnect within an hour with BF on. Will stay connected "forever" with it off. Although it's much more subjective, with BF ON Internet connectivity also feels "troubled" - web pages sometimes fail to load or load in a stop-start manner, as though packets are being lost. AirPlay occasionally disconnects. BF off is FAR preferable.

Ps. I have not turned off key rotation. Shouldn't have to of course.

 

[thiamhui]

Dear ho_kuku,

May I know why did you set key rotation to 0? default - 3600

What is your 5Ghz Control Channel for router.

Best regard,
JK

Just to share, I have been getting the same problem on almost every version of FW before 3950 and after 2769. My affected device is iPhone 6 Plus with iOS 8.2.

I usually get into this problem when I'm chatting on Whatsapp. I can see that the delivery and seen by report will get slower and slower until it just stopped. WiFi is still connected and the phone will just wait and wait...

My Control Channel is set to AUTO.

 

[Jong99]

JK,

I would suggest Asus need to do some serious testing on the reset/firmware upgrade process for this router. They then need to give some very clear instructions on how to upgrade with guaranteed success.

You are aware of my problem with all the post-4608 betas. You have seen the logs. It was not my imagination! And it happened upgrading 2 AC87Us. I strongly suspect a lot of these weird problems (eg. Ho_kuku, who has symptoms that disappeared for most after 4825) are due to "corrupted" upgrades. And it isn't as simple as reminding people to "reset" - I did that probably 20-30 times when looking into my br0 problem.

 

[Jong99]

Just to share, I have been getting the same problem on almost every version of FW before 3950 and after 2769

Do you mean this? So you don't have it now with 4950?

 

[thiamhui]

Do you mean this? So you don't have it now with 4950?

Most likely is "yet to" surface with 4950...

 

[ho_kuku]

Dear ho_kuku,

May I know why did you set key rotation to 0? default - 3600

What is your 5Ghz Control Channel for router.

Best regard,
JK

Hi JK, Someone from this forum suggested that... can't remember who. But the purpose is to work around the problem with connectivity. It din work ... but I am just leaving it to 0.....

I set the wireless channel to AUTO for both wifi band

 

[ho_kuku]

JK,

I would suggest Asus need to do some serious testing on the reset/firmware upgrade process for this router. They then need to give some very clear instructions on how to upgrade with guaranteed success.

You are aware of my problem with all the post-4608 betas. You have seen the logs. It was not my imagination! And it happened upgrading 2 AC87Us. I strongly suspect a lot of these weird problems (eg. Ho_kuku, who has symptoms that disappeared for most after 4825) are due to "corrupted" upgrades. And it isn't as simple as reminding people to "reset" - I did that probably 20-30 times when looking into my br0 problem.

Hi Jong,

I did a manual reset - ie pressing and holding the reset button about 30 secs after upgrading the router. I powercyle my 87u too. Unplugged for a few mins before plugging in.

If there is more to resetting the device, pls let me know. thanks

 

[Jong99]

Hi Jong,

I did a manual reset - ie pressing and holding the reset button about 30 secs after upgrading the router. I powercyle my 87u too. Unplugged for a few mins before plugging in.

If there is more to resetting the device, pls let me know. thanks

I still don't understand it, which is why I think Asus need to look into it. I reset 2 AC87s A LOT and had a totally reproduceable weird problem with clear evidence in the log. It went away for me when I reinstalled the release version of 4950, with full reset before AND after, onto a router which already had the 4950 beta. Subsequently I confirmed the release version was bit-for-bit IDENTICAL to the beta!

So, I don't know. I would suggest trying what I did - reinstall the same firmware with resets before and after and manually input all settings from the WebGUI afterwards. You never know, it may fix it!

 

[Jong99]

Most likely is "yet to" surface with 4950...

I had the problem a lot with 3xxx firmware. I can't remember if it went away with 4608 or 4825, but I haven't seen it at all since, so I'm hopeful it's fixed (here!).

 

[petshopboys]

usually it doesn't require a reset, but considering the fact that 4950 contains an updated driver, its recommended to reset.

reboot is a must for all firmware upgrade.

I just checked and the firmware is 4608.
Where can I download 4950?
I cant seem to detect my 5g SSID and inside the webUI, the setting for 5G is there.
Btw, the slow speed is not the router problem cos direct ONT also achieve less than 250mbps for download

 

[Jong99]

I just checked and the firmware is 4608.
Where can I download 4950?

The Asus support portal - just search for "Asus Support".

 

[ho_kuku]

I still don't understand it, which is why I think Asus need to look into it. I reset 2 AC87s A LOT and had a totally reproduceable weird problem with clear evidence in the log. It went away for me when I reinstalled the release version of 4950, with full reset before AND after, onto a router which already had the 4950 beta. Subsequently I confirmed the release version was bit-for-bit IDENTICAL to the beta!

So, I don't know. I would suggest trying what I did - reinstall the same firmware with resets before and after and manually input all settings from the WebGUI afterwards. You never know, it may fix it!

Thanks Jong and Thiamhui, gotta give the reset a shot.....

 

[petshopboys]

I tried renaming the 5G SSID name to a totally different ones but my iphone 6 plus cannot detect the SSID. Is there any button I need to 'on' on the physical router itself?
Or the router is faulty?

 

[ho_kuku]

Thanks Jong and Thiamhui, gotta give the reset a shot.....

There is a very weird thing going on with my 87u. I had this funny problem with the 5ghz led lights not blinking with 4950. thought it is a normal thing.. but after resetting, upgrading and resetting again... that 5ghz led lights comes back on..... hmmm

Not sure if its related..... but I am quite sure it got something to do with the firmware upgrade process

 

[tuapuikia]

spoil market lor tuapuikia...

I have few ac87u, but need more for my mesh project.

 

[phayze]

RT-AC87U can controlled by mesh network?

I have few ac87u, but need more for my mesh project.