Asus TUF-AX3000 Assassin mode

[porky_88]

Asus TUF-AX3000 - Local/China Pros and Cons

Just update TUF-AX3000 to 384.9923 but no assassin creed mode.
it is suppose to enable 4T4R on 5G as reported by china users.

Dig a bit more and this is what I found
If you enable ssh on TUF-AX3000, under SSH console
1) "nvram get territory_code" , it shows AA/01 which is asia model
2) if you do a "nvram set territory_code=CN/01" and then "nvram commit". you will see assassin mode. but once you enable it, it reboots and reverts back to AA/01 for territory code

Question: How do i permanently change territority code to CN/01? Anyway to edit the CFE? I edited the CFE for AC68U and N66U. But I from what I read, Asus's new models CFE are all encrypted.

So imho china imported TUF-Ax3000 are way better than local warranty one.

Addon:
After further digging, I have managed to change terrtory_code to CN/01(pls do not ask me how. if interested pls start with koolshare.cn, the koolshare modified firmware and the CFEtoolbox included)
Enabling assassin mode, turns on 4T4R and gives a huge boost to the transmitting power. But country code is set to CN and limits the frequency bands available.

IMHO, it is not worth the trouble to get TUF-AX3000. AX82U (if SG is available as wireless regions) is better. China AX82U ones can be had for much less the S$229 for the local TUF-AX3000.
If anyone has a china RT-AX82U, can you confirm if SG is available as a option in the wireless region)

 

[porky_88]

Country code broadcast issues!

Locally (SG) units are set to Asia region by default. and there is no option to select SG as an option.

the problem is
1) when set to Asia region, country code being broadcast on both 2.4G and 5G is US. which means channel 13 cannot be selected. I do not know if locally sold TUF-AX3000 is IMDA certified. If so, IMDA allows the equipment to setup by default to broadcast wrong country code??!! I should write in to IMDA to highlight issue. Then maybe Asus will do something about it.
2) There is no way to disable the country code broadcast! wl0_country_reg=d and wl1_country_reg=h are set and cannot be disabled. (well at least I have not found a way)

I do not know if RT-AX58U and RT-AX82U (locally sold units) have Singapore as an option under wireless region. If they do they are better options for local compliance.

If anyone has a china inported RT-AX82U, can you confirm if Singapore is available as a option in the wireless region)

 

[xiaofan]

I have the China version of Asus RT-AX82U.

I just opened the box and did a quick setup so it is behind the main SingTel router with Double NAT because I can not let the internet down with other family members using the internet.

And you are right Singapore is not an option in the settings, only Asia, China, Europe, Region GD, Region TC, Korea, The United States and Australia. Default is of course China for the China version.

 

[porky_88]

I have the China version of Asus RT-AX82U.

I just opened the box and did a quick setup so it is behind the main SingTel router with Double NAT because I can not let the internet down with other family members using the internet.

And you are right Singapore is not an option in the settings, only Asia, China, Europe, Region GD, Region TC, Korea, The United States and Australia. Default is of course China for the China version.

then i am 99.99% sure local AX82U also no singapore as region settiing. Set to Asia, country code is broadcast as US!. suck thumb...

 

[BananaRain]

Actually when u switch to assassin mode, it is refer to australia region already.

 

[porky_88]

Actually when u switch to assassin mode, it is refer to australia region already.

actually NO...
assassin mode is a asus "hack" around regulation modes and enabling 4T4R functionality.

1) assassin mode is only for china TUF-AX3000, ie CN/01 region
2) Once you switch to assassin mode, it shows Australia in wireless setting BUT it is still broadcasting CN as wireless country code.

in non china model ie local. assassin mode is not available and when you select region as australia, it actually broadcast AU.
I have experimented with both territory_code as AA/01 and CN/01. I have to say that the hardware used in TUF-AX3000 which is identical to RT-AX3000, RT-AX58U and very very similar to RT-AX82U is very good for the price. But asus is having a very challenging time doing that price vs features/functionaries balancing. I am only interested in asus wireless routers as a PURE AP. If wireless is crap nothing else matters

I have dumped the NVRAM setting under the different region settings. you can ssh in do a "nvram show" it will do a dump of the settings and see for yourself.

 

[BananaRain]

i see. Coz mine is china unit this time, so i didnt dump those things to check.

i only did the check on the web source code, it shows
$('#assassin_mode_enable').iphoneSwitch(assassinMode_enable,
function() {
variable.location_code = 'XX';
apply('reboot');
return true;
},
function() {
variable.location_code = 'CN';
apply('reboot');
return true;
}
);

australia is using XX

and i did experiment to switch the region to Australia directly without the assassin mode, it is able to get 4t4r activated as well.

im currrently using original china model + assassin mode + australia region
Checked my ccode and territory still shows CN though.
i see my 5g wifi channels got more than enough channels to use leh...urs got issue meh?
Currently 2.4G = 27dbm, 5g = 26dbm.

did u tried to set ccode to australia one to see if it gives what u want ? cuz australia wifi channel quite similiar to singapore one.

last time i did similiar things like urs to my previous local set AX11000, changed territory to CN and set region to australia. signal got stronger but speed so so only.

 

[BananaRain]

Just update TUF-AX3000 to 384.9923 but no assassin creed mode.
it is suppose to enable 4T4R on 5G as reported by china users.

Dig a bit more and this is what I found
If you enable ssh on TUF-AX3000, under SSH console
1) "nvram get territory_code" , it shows AA/01 which is asia model
2) if you do a "nvram set territory_code=CN/01" and then "nvram commit". you will see assassin mode. but once you enable it, it reboots and reverts back to AA/01 for territory code

Question: How do i permanently change territority code to CN/01? Anyway to edit the CFE? I edited the CFE for AC68U and N66U. But I from what I read, Asus's new models CFE are all encrypted.

So imho china imported TUF-Ax3000 are way better than local warranty one.

Addon:
After further digging, I have managed to change terrtory_code to CN/01(pls do not ask me how. if interested pls start with koolshare.cn, the koolshare modified firmware and the CFEtoolbox included)
Enabling assassin mode, turns on 4T4R and gives a huge boost to the transmitting power. But country code is set to CN and limits the frequency bands available.

IMHO, it is not worth the trouble to get TUF-AX3000. AX82U (if SG is available as wireless regions) is better. China AX82U ones can be had for much less the S$229 for the local TUF-AX3000.
If anyone has a china RT-AX82U, can you confirm if SG is available as a option in the wireless region)

wireless region sets follows the territory that u put.
AA/01 then have SG, CN/01 dont have, but if u really want, u can force it in SSH, i tried force Asia territory model with Australia wireless region before.
thats what i found out from my previous AX11000, not sure why ur newer AX3000 dont have these already.

P/s actually no point go for SG wireless region (21 or 22 dbm) , Asia wireless region gave the 23.x dbm + best speed balance, australia give 24dbm + lower speed due to more noise for local AX11000

 

[porky_88]

my aim is not actually to set a certain wireless country code but rather to disable country code broadcast especially if it's broadcasting the wrong one!
I have a few macs at home and it actually scans the wireless environment and actually picks up the wrong country code. If it picks up the wrong country code like CN then the macs don't connect to any of the wireless on channel 100-144!

for my TUF-AX3000
1) if territory_code is set to AA/01 (this a Singapore unit by the way and AA/01 was stock), and Asia is selected as the wireless region, country code always defaults to US upon reboot. editing nvram does not work as CFE overwrites this upon reboot. I have not found a way to make editing nvram stick.
2) if territory_code is set to CN/01 (changing this was a pain in the ass as changing nvram does not work and CFE has to be edited and CFE is encrypted!), and assasin mode is enabled, wireless country code broadcast is always CN. Again I have not found a way to make nvram changes stick. CFE always checks a overwrites.
3) Singapore is never available as an wireless region option in TUF-AX3000 for both AA/01 or CN/01. editing nvram to SG also does not work! If anyone has a way pls let me know.

Also Australia wireless country code is not XX, it's AU. To the best of my knowledge Asus uses XX in china models and GUI shows Australia, technically it a hack as it is not in compliance with china's wireless regulation.

im currrently using original china model + assassin mode + australia region
Currently 2.4G = 27dbm, 5g = 26dbm.

got a question: How do you see the wireless transmit power?

Currently using the unit as CN/01 with assassin mode and with transmit power at balance(50%) it is already very strong. Need to find the command to see actual transmit power.

 

[xiaofan]

Related report for Linksys EA8100.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...nksys-routers-wi-fi-region-issue-5892363.html

Affected user is indeed also using Mac.

Since I am also sing the Mac Mini M1 now and I have the China version of RT-AX82U which has similar to the TUF-AX3000, I will check this out as well.

Is it possible to test iPhone and iPad as well? I only have one Mac Mini M1. My previous Mac Mini 2011 was dead in early 2019.

 

[porky_88]

Related report for Linksys EA8100.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...nksys-routers-wi-fi-region-issue-5892363.html

Affected user is indeed also using Mac.

Since I am also sing the Mac Mini M1 now and I have the China version of RT-AX82U which has similar to the TUF-AX3000, I will check this out as well.

Is it possible to test iPhone and iPad as well? I only have one Mac Mini M1. My previous Mac Mini 2011 was dead in early 2019.

in my experience, ipad, iphones and new macs not affected by this wireless scanning behaviour. unfortunately I have few pre 2015-2016 macs and they connect to wireless in 100-144 channels. Only mitigating solution was to set my SG broadcasting APs to beacon at much more frequent intervals

Do monitor and feedback.

 

[mrkiasu]

I wont want to stand too close to your router for too long.

27dbm and 26 dbm.

i see. Coz mine is china unit this time, so i didnt dump those things to check.

i only did the check on the web source code, it shows
$('#assassin_mode_enable').iphoneSwitch(assassinMode_enable,
function() {
variable.location_code = 'XX';
apply('reboot');
return true;
},
function() {
variable.location_code = 'CN';
apply('reboot');
return true;
}
);

australia is using XX

and i did experiment to switch the region to Australia directly without the assassin mode, it is able to get 4t4r activated as well.

im currrently using original china model + assassin mode + australia region
Checked my ccode and territory still shows CN though.
i see my 5g wifi channels got more than enough channels to use leh...urs got issue meh?
Currently 2.4G = 27dbm, 5g = 26dbm.

did u tried to set ccode to australia one to see if it gives what u want ? cuz australia wifi channel quite similiar to singapore one.

last time i did similiar things like urs to my previous local set AX11000, changed territory to CN and set region to australia. signal got stronger but speed so so only.

 

[porky_88]

I wont want to stand too close to your router for too long.

27dbm and 26 dbm.

errr.... the myth on wireless transmit power has been there since day one. And the ignorant ones keep popping up!
FYI 27dbm is about 500mW. 1000mW=1W. And this is non ionising radiation.
Telco basestation are transmitting at much much much higher power. If you scared you should be living in a faraday cage! lol

PS:
I do advice all to be good neighbours. unless your intention is to jam your neighbours wifi channels. Also higher tx power also induce higher noise either in the transmission. Best to find sweet spot. Lowest tx power needed to offer coverage for your living area.

TUF-AX3000 on assassin mode at full tx power (performance), i managed to get connected almost 800m away. And speedtest managed 100Mbps... hahahaha really power!

 

[BananaRain]

I wont want to stand too close to your router for too long.

27dbm and 26 dbm.

It is still weaker than mobile phone tx power. I think one should not even hold the phone for good if that is the concern.

 

[porky_88]

new firmware for tuf-ax3000 is out. 384.10177

https://www.asus.com/Networking-IoT-Servers/WiFi-Routers/ASUS-Gaming-Routers/TUF-Gaming-AX3000/HelpDesk_BIOS/

 

[BananaRain]

errr.... the myth on wireless transmit power has been there since day one. And the ignorant ones keep popping up!
FYI 27dbm is about 500mW. 1000mW=1W. And this is non ionising radiation.
Telco basestation are transmitting at much much much higher power. If you scared you should be living in a faraday cage! lol

PS:
I do advice all to be good neighbours. unless your intention is to jam your neighbours wifi channels. Also higher tx power also induce higher noise either in the transmission. Best to find sweet spot. Lowest tx power needed to offer coverage for your living area.

TUF-AX3000 on assassin mode at full tx power (performance), i managed to get connected almost 800m away. And speedtest managed 100Mbps... hahahaha really power!

Maybe my area not as good as u have, with that 26dbm, further place i can use is only outside my 4 rm flat corridor.

 

[BananaRain]

new firmware for tuf-ax3000 is out. 384.10177

https://www.asus.com/Networking-IoT-Servers/WiFi-Routers/ASUS-Gaming-Routers/TUF-Gaming-AX3000/HelpDesk_BIOS/

Nice, can explore again！

 

[porky_88]

It is still weaker than mobile phone tx power. I think one should not even hold the phone for good if that is the concern.

bro.. did you get the 27dbm and 26dbm reading from the device or is that the advertised tx strength for assassin mode?

really need a way to read tx power of asus devices.

 

[BananaRain]

my aim is not actually to set a certain wireless country code but rather to disable country code broadcast especially if it's broadcasting the wrong one!
I have a few macs at home and it actually scans the wireless environment and actually picks up the wrong country code. If it picks up the wrong country code like CN then the macs don't connect to any of the wireless on channel 100-144!

for my TUF-AX3000
1) if territory_code is set to AA/01 (this a Singapore unit by the way and AA/01 was stock), and Asia is selected as the wireless region, country code always defaults to US upon reboot. editing nvram does not work as CFE overwrites this upon reboot. I have not found a way to make editing nvram stick.
2) if territory_code is set to CN/01 (changing this was a pain in the ass as changing nvram does not work and CFE has to be edited and CFE is encrypted!), and assasin mode is enabled, wireless country code broadcast is always CN. Again I have not found a way to make nvram changes stick. CFE always checks a overwrites.
3) Singapore is never available as an wireless region option in TUF-AX3000 for both AA/01 or CN/01. editing nvram to SG also does not work! If anyone has a way pls let me know.

Also Australia wireless country code is not XX, it's AU. To the best of my knowledge Asus uses XX in china models and GUI shows Australia, technically it a hack as it is not in compliance with china's wireless regulation.


got a question: How do you see the wireless transmit power?

Currently using the unit as CN/01 with assassin mode and with transmit power at balance(50%) it is already very strong. Need to find the command to see actual transmit power.

Ya of course follow real country code it should be AU, just that in terms of newer asus model if u want to get it done in that mode nia, in case ppl go hardcode set to AU in ssh, older asus model still using AU thou. Since u have experience on those ac68u models.

To see actual tx power, u can download ROG plugin to see that.

 

[BananaRain]

bro.. did you get the 27dbm and 26dbm reading from the device or is that the advertised tx strength for assassin mode?

really need a way to read tx power of asus devices.

Other that ROG plugin, u also can use the wifiboost plugin to check.