Asus TUF AX3000 (V1 and V2), RT-AX58U (V1 and V2), RT-AX3000, RT-AX3000P, RT-AX57, RT-AX56U, RT-AX55, RT-AX53U, RT-AX1800HP, RT-AX1800U

[porky_88]

confirmed! TUF-AX3000 assassin mode only for china region only.
local ones does not have the mode.
If anyone knows how to change region code from AA/01 to CN/01 please PM me.
also if anyone wants to swap my almost new local TUF-AX3000 with 3 years warranty for your used TUF-AX3000 china imported one. pls PM me as well

 

[xiaofan]

confirmed! TUF-AX3000 assassin mode only for china region only.
local ones does not have the mode.
If anyone knows how to change region code from AA/01 to CN/01 please PM me.
also if anyone wants to swap my almost new local TUF-AX3000 with 3 years warranty for your used TUF-AX3000 china imported one. pls PM me as well

Updates in this thread:
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...-4/asus-tuf-ax3000-assassin-mode-6422415.html

It is possible to use local version of TUF AX3000 in assassin mode to achieve 4T4R (similar to RT-AX82U) as per the above thread but you probably need to have some hacks.

 

[xiaofan]

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...inic-4/asus-rt-ax86u-rt-ax82u-6315347-46.html

I have posted some test results of my China version of RT-AX82U performance data, with the default region settings the wireless coverage performance is so-so, once it is set to Australia region, the performance is great, I can finally cover my 4-room 106sqm HDB flat with decent 5GHz signal.

So if you have local version of RT-AX82U, TUF AX3000 and RT-AX58U and you have a bit of wireless coverage issue, you may try to change the region to Australia to boost the coverage. But if no issue, then no need to do this.

Another thing, for the China version of Asus routers (including RT-AX86U, RT-AX82U and TUF AX3000), there is still the Singtel VLAN profile and you can manually the VLAN (so as to use LAN Port 4 if you do not have Singtel TV) as well if you are Singtel ONT user. The issue of buying the cheaper China version is of course you lose the important 3 year local warranty. So it is up to individual to decide. Most of the people should probably pay a bit more for the local version.

 

[xiaofan]

https://www.hachi.tech/valueclub-christmas-sale-networking-asus

Challenger Asus Christmas offer.
RT-AX82U at S$339
RT-AX58U at S$229
TUF AX3000 at S$229

 

[spiritual84]

Using TUF AX3000 160Mhz wide band with Oneplus 8 Pro

Think my phone only has 2x2 mimo antennas so still can't fully utilize the 4x4, but anyway my 1Gbps internet speed is probably going to be the bottleneck at this rate

 

[porky_88]

the results are quite bad for a 2x2 AX client with 160MHz bandwidth. i get better results on ac clients with ac wave 2 wireless AP, normally get 900+ for iphone 11 &12 which are 2x2 ax client using 80MHz bandwidth.

FYI TUF-AX3000 is only 2T4R unless it's a china set with assassin mode enabled. You can check the wireless log to check if NSS3 and NSS4 is enabled for 80MHz and 160MHz.

 

[xiaofan]

the results are quite bad for a 2x2 AX client with 160MHz bandwidth. i get better results on ac clients with ac wave 2 wireless AP, normally get 900+ for iphone 11 &12 which are 2x2 ax client using 80MHz bandwidth.

FYI TUF-AX3000 is only 2T4R unless it's a china set with assassin mode enabled. You can check the wireless log to check if NSS3 and NSS4 is enabled for 80MHz and 160MHz.

Nice speed.

For 2*2 AX or AC clients, TUF AX3000 is very much the same as RT-AX82U.

My RT-AX82U SpeedTest results.

1) 2*2 AX 160MHz Client using Huawei AX3 Pro in the study room as a repeater to relay the wireless signal from the Asus RT-AX82U in the living room, then tested with the new Mac Mini M1 connected to the RT-AX3 Pro LAN port.

If just using the Mac Mini M1, then speed is only 500Mbps+ due to the distance. I believe it is only 2*2 AX 80MHz.

2) 2*2 AC 160MHz client with a Dell laptop with Intel AC-9560 Wifi card.

 

[porky_88]

your results are inline with expected ax speed...

for the majority of users in SG with 1Gbps FTTH connection, 2x2 ax 80MHz clients will be able to saturate the connection. 160MHz ax is irreverent in this context. 4X4 for mu-mimo.

Also speedtest results are better for testing internet connectivity.
personally, iperf3 works better for testing connection speeds.

Found out a weird case with the TuF-AX3000 iperf3 testing thou.

if i do iperf3 from a wifi client throught the TUF-AX3000 to a host on my lan, the speed is pretty much as expected max 9xx+, average 8xx+

But if i start TUF-AX3000 as a iperf3 host (you can ssh into tuf-ax3000 and iperf3 -s to start the host mode) and a ax client connected to the tuf, max speed is only 6xx+ max.... weird!! very strange!!!

If I start a lan iperf3 client to tuf-ax3000 as a iperf3 host, then speed is pretty much wirespeed 93x+ max. vice versa for the reverse direction.

 

[xiaofan]

Yes I use iperf3 as well for tests within the home network.

I will try as well to see if I get similar results as you. I suspect iperf3 implementation in the Asus is not as good. Or maybe the tri-core Arm Cortex A7 in the Asus can not handle well the Wireless task and iperf3 task well enough.

The stronger quad core A53 CPU in the RT-AX86U made me eyeing on the AX86U for quite some time. But in the end I feel that I do not need the CPU power. So in the end I bought the RT-AX82U.

 

[porky_88]

imho.. RT-AX86U is ideal as an all-in-one device, router, usb nas, switch, wireless ap.

from a 5G wireless AP point of view, RT-AX86U no diff to RT-AX82U especially given that the 5G broadcom processor and FEs are all the same. Also, i had the benefit of configuring a singtel AX86U and even when you select Australia as the region, 5G wireless max power is only 22dbm(if i rememeber correctly). So from a wireless AP point of view quite pointless to buy expensive Asus router. Much better to buy cheap imported asus router from China!! The Australia region wireless power boost only works for China CN/01 units.
https://koolshare.cn/thread-184369-1-1.html

"
▼各个机型澳大利亚地区无线功率表

机型 2.4G 5G/5G-1 5G-2
RT-AC86U 25 dBm / 316.2 mw 25 dBm / 316.2 mw /
GT-AC5300 24 dBm / 251.2 mw 24 dBm / 251.2 mw 24dBm / 251.2 mw
RT-AX88U 26 dBm / 398.1 mw 26 dBm / 398.1 mw /
GT-AX11000 24 dBm / 251.2 mw 24 dBm / 251.2 mw 24dBm / 251.2 mw
RT-AX86U 26 dBm / 398.1 mw 26 dBm / 398.1 mw /
RT-AX92U 25 dBm / 316.2 mw 25 dBm / 316.2 mw 25dBm / 316.2 mw
TUF-AX3000 27 dBm / 501.2 mw 26 dBm / 398.1 mw /
RT-AX82U 27 dBm / 501.2 mw 26 dBm / 398.1 mw /
ZenWiFi AX6600 27 dBm / 501.2 mw 25 dBm / 316.2 mw 25 dBm / 316.2 mw
ZenWiFi_XT4 25 dBm / 316.2 mw 26 dBm / 398.1 mw /
RT-AX56U_V2 24.5 dBm / 281.8 mw 25 dBm / 316.2 mw /
"

I am still waiting for my AX3600 units to arrive. from my research, if i can keep it at 30dbm tx power and enable all 5G SG channels, the TUF-AX3000 will be repurposed for only ax 160MHz device use which I currently do not have. lol.....

 

[xiaofan]

imho.. RT-AX86U is ideal as an all-in-one device, router, usb nas, switch, wireless ap.

from a 5G wireless AP point of view, RT-AX86U no diff to RT-AX82U especially given that the 5G broadcom processor and FEs are all the same.

Also, i had the benefit of configuring a singtel AX86U and even when you select Australia as the region, 5G wireless max power is only 22dbm(if i rememeber correctly). So from a wireless AP point of view quite pointless to buy expensive Asus router. Much better to buy cheap imported asus router from China!! The Australia region wireless power boost only works for China CN/01 units.
https://koolshare.cn/thread-184369-1-1.html
...
I am still waiting for my AX3600 units to arrive. from my research, if i can keep it at 30dbm tx power and enable all 5G SG channels, the TUF-AX3000 will be repurposed for only ax 160MHz device use which I currently do not have. lol.....

Interesting. I was actually thinking of buying one of the following during 11.11 promotion from Taobao, all China version.

1) TUF AX3000 because of the assassin mode and cheapest price
2) RT-AX82U
3) RT-AX86U

In the end I chose to play safe and bought the AX82U.

The most important advantage of the RT-AX86U for me is the 2.5G LAN port as I am also looking at having a small 2.5G home network, for the computers and potentially NAS in the future.

 

[porky_88]

if anyone comes across this thread..... for asus routers buy china import units!
spoil throw.... almost half price compared to local units. and much higher tx power!

there is zero reason to buy local for tuf-ax3000. To use 160MHz, asus can only use channels 36-64. Even asus sg units, channels don't matter especially when ch 116 to 132 is not available. so 36-64 is the ONLY 160MHz channel available to asus. (pls correct me if I am wrong, I checked my local purchased tuf-ax3000 with region code AA/01 before hacking it to CN/01)

I have found a work around to disable CN country code broadcast on 5G for china import units.
on the ssh console do"
"wl -i eth6 down
wl -i eth6 spect 0
wl -i eth6 up"

it disables 802.11h loose mode which is the default. "wl -i eth6 spect" to check

the above will not survive a reboot and has to be perform every time upon reboot.

 

[xiaofan]

I think iperf3 for the Asus router may not be able to test properly the wireless connection speed.

I got similar results with my RT-AX82U with the same CPU as the TUF AX3000. Wired it is okay for iperf3. For wireless it can not handled the speed.

Tested using a Dell laptop using Intel AC-9560 2*2 AC 160MHz wireless card.

Wireless
c:\Utils\iperf3.9_64>iperf3.exe -c 192.168.50.1 -R
Connecting to host 192.168.50.1, port 5201
Reverse mode, remote host 192.168.50.1 is sending
[  5] local 192.168.50.68 port 55335 connected to 192.168.50.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  67.9 MBytes   569 Mbits/sec
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  73.4 MBytes   616 Mbits/sec
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  73.8 MBytes   619 Mbits/sec
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  73.3 MBytes   615 Mbits/sec
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  70.7 MBytes   593 Mbits/sec
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  73.6 MBytes   617 Mbits/sec
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  73.3 MBytes   616 Mbits/sec
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  73.7 MBytes   618 Mbits/sec
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  73.9 MBytes   620 Mbits/sec
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  73.7 MBytes   618 Mbits/sec
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   729 MBytes   611 Mbits/sec    0             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   727 MBytes   610 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.

c:\Utils\iperf3.9_64>iperf3.exe -c 192.168.50.1
Connecting to host 192.168.50.1, port 5201
[  5] local 192.168.50.68 port 55342 connected to 192.168.50.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec  34.8 MBytes   291 Mbits/sec
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec  51.5 MBytes   432 Mbits/sec
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec  50.8 MBytes   426 Mbits/sec
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec  49.8 MBytes   417 Mbits/sec
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec  47.9 MBytes   402 Mbits/sec
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec  49.2 MBytes   413 Mbits/sec
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec  51.4 MBytes   431 Mbits/sec
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec  51.4 MBytes   431 Mbits/sec
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec  31.9 MBytes   267 Mbits/sec
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec  45.9 MBytes   385 Mbits/sec
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   464 MBytes   390 Mbits/sec                  sender
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec   463 MBytes   388 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.

Wired
c:\Utils\iperf3.9_64>iperf3.exe -c 192.168.50.1 -R
Connecting to host 192.168.50.1, port 5201
Reverse mode, remote host 192.168.50.1 is sending
[  5] local 192.168.50.202 port 62770 connected to 192.168.50.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec   114 MBytes   955 Mbits/sec
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec   113 MBytes   948 Mbits/sec
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec   112 MBytes   937 Mbits/sec
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec   113 MBytes   948 Mbits/sec
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec   113 MBytes   949 Mbits/sec
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec   113 MBytes   949 Mbits/sec
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec   113 MBytes   949 Mbits/sec
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec   113 MBytes   948 Mbits/sec
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec   112 MBytes   938 Mbits/sec
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec   112 MBytes   942 Mbits/sec
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate         Retr
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.10 GBytes   948 Mbits/sec  273             sender
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.10 GBytes   946 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.

c:\Utils\iperf3.9_64>iperf3.exe -c 192.168.50.1
Connecting to host 192.168.50.1, port 5201
[  5] local 192.168.50.202 port 62777 connected to 192.168.50.1 port 5201
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-1.00   sec   105 MBytes   881 Mbits/sec
[  5]   1.00-2.00   sec   102 MBytes   859 Mbits/sec
[  5]   2.00-3.00   sec   111 MBytes   930 Mbits/sec
[  5]   3.00-4.00   sec   112 MBytes   942 Mbits/sec
[  5]   4.00-5.00   sec   112 MBytes   942 Mbits/sec
[  5]   5.00-6.00   sec   112 MBytes   942 Mbits/sec
[  5]   6.00-7.00   sec   112 MBytes   941 Mbits/sec
[  5]   7.00-8.00   sec   110 MBytes   924 Mbits/sec
[  5]   8.00-9.00   sec   109 MBytes   910 Mbits/sec
[  5]   9.00-10.00  sec   109 MBytes   918 Mbits/sec
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
[ ID] Interval           Transfer     Bitrate
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.07 GBytes   919 Mbits/sec                  sender
[  5]   0.00-10.00  sec  1.07 GBytes   919 Mbits/sec                  receiver

iperf Done.

Wireless with Ookla CLI version: Singtel SpeedTest server is slow but ViewQuest Test server is much faster
c:\Utils\ookla-speedtest-1.0.0-win64>speedtest.exe

   Speedtest by Ookla

     Server: Singtel - Singapore (id = 13623)
        ISP: Singtel Fiber
    Latency:     3.11 ms   (0.50 ms jitter)
   Download:   468.63 Mbps (data used: 715.1 MB)
     Upload:   790.73 Mbps (data used: 807.9 MB)
Packet Loss:     0.0%
 Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/6c98d36b-9929-4940-aeda-f730e6822ad1

c:\Utils\ookla-speedtest-1.0.0-win64>speedtest.exe -s 2054

   Speedtest by Ookla

     Server: Viewqwest Pte Ltd - Singapore (id = 2054)
        ISP: Singtel Fiber
    Latency:     4.55 ms   (0.30 ms jitter)
   Download:   905.19 Mbps (data used: 1.0 GB)
     Upload:   856.78 Mbps (data used: 1.2 GB)
Packet Loss:     0.0%
 Result URL: https://www.speedtest.net/result/c/aab0bf53-7d5d-446f-bc51-9a8f30ad4449

 

[xiaofan]

I have found a work around to disable CN country code broadcast on 5G for china import units.
on the ssh console do"
"wl -i eth6 down
wl -i eth6 spect 0
wl -i eth6 up"

it disables 802.11h loose mode which is the default. "wl -i eth6 spect" to check

the above will not survive a reboot and has to be perform every time upon reboot.

Yes this works perfectly for my China version of RT-AX82U. Since I seldom reboot my router, this is pretty good.

/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth6 down (takes a bit of time, 5GHz wifi will down, but I run it as an AP and the connection will be kept)
/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth6 spect 0
/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth6 up (takes a bit of time, 5GHz wifi will be up)
/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth6 spect
Off

 

[xiaofan]

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/international-country-specific-firmware.63348/

From RMerlin
****
Available Wifi channels and allowed power levels will vary between countries. This is encoded in the router's software bootloader.

The same firmware is used for every regions, the differences are handled dynamically by the firmware based on the region stored in the bootloader.
****

 

[xiaofan]

if anyone comes across this thread..... for asus routers buy china import units!
spoil throw.... almost half price compared to local units. and much higher tx power!

there is zero reason to buy local for tuf-ax3000. To use 160MHz, asus can only use channels 36-64. Even asus sg units, channels don't matter especially when ch 116 to 132 is not available. so 36-64 is the ONLY 160MHz channel available to asus. (pls correct me if I am wrong, I checked my local purchased tuf-ax3000 with region code AA/01 before hacking it to CN/01)

Looks like correct that CH36-64 are the channels for 160MHz support, at least for my China version of RT-AX82U.

/tmp/home/root# wl channels
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 

/tmp/home/root#wl -i eth6 channels
36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 149 153 157 161 165 

/tmp/home/root#wl -i eth6 chanspecs
36 (0xd024)
40 (0xd028)
44 (0xd02c)
48 (0xd030)
52 (0xd034)
56 (0xd038)
60 (0xd03c)
64 (0xd040)
149 (0xd095)
153 (0xd099)
157 (0xd09d)
161 (0xd0a1)
165 (0xd0a5)

40u (0xd926)
48u (0xd92e)
56u (0xd936)
64u (0xd93e)
153u (0xd997)
161u (0xd99f)

36l (0xd826)
44l (0xd82e)
52l (0xd836)
60l (0xd83e)
149l (0xd897)
157l (0xd89f)

36/80 (0xe02a)
52/80 (0xe03a)
149/80 (0xe09b)
40/80 (0xe12a)
56/80 (0xe13a)
153/80 (0xe19b)
44/80 (0xe22a)
60/80 (0xe23a)
157/80 (0xe29b)
48/80 (0xe32a)
64/80 (0xe33a)
161/80 (0xe39b)

36/160 (0xe832)
40/160 (0xe932)
44/160 (0xea32)
48/160 (0xeb32)
52/160 (0xec32)
56/160 (0xed32)
60/160 (0xee32)
64/160 (0xef32)

 

[xiaofan]

Xiaomi AX3600 vs TUF AX3000.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...tworking-clinic-4/aiot-ax3600-6241076-53.html

my recommendation goes to either China imported TUF-AX3000 or AX3600. Both cost about the same ~S$100-S$120. No point buying local for both of these.

Buy TUF-AX3000 if
1) you need 160MHz ax 4X4 (BUT mu-mino doesn't work in any form with current firmware even ac clients! tested personally)

Buy AX3600 if
1) you only have apple devices which only supports 80MHz ax bands. support 80MHz 4x4 concurrently with 160MHz 2x2
2) mu-mimo works as intended

Throughput is about the same for both. AX3600 has higher tx power (30dbm vs 26dbm) but both seems to work equally well even through multi walls.

Overall all I prefer AX3600
1) much easier to tweak. (will write ling post on this when free)
2) 80MHz 4x4 ax mu-mimo is all I need currently. 160MHz looks good on paper, to use it effectively is a different matter

The above recommendation is only for using as a wireless AP. I have no interest in these devices as edge gateways, QOS (why are people even using this on 1Gbps pipes??!!) or VPN endpoints.

 

[xiaofan]

https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1012132/
Asus FAQ: How to configure the Smart Connect on ASUSWRT?

For now I just disable 2.4GHz on my RT-AX82U, I use the other AP (Singtel Mesh Router) for the few legacy 2.4GHz device.

 

[xiaofan]

One of the good thing about Asus router is that it has SSH built-in so that you can view lots of things using the command line. Still the Common Firmware Environment (CFE) for new routers are encrypted so that it will limit what you can do.

 

[newcell]

RT-AX58U, 3.0.0.4.386_41700

With 160Mhz off, solved my 2.4Ghz issues. Before, having frequent random drop. Half baked 160.