[Maylyn's Review] ASUS EA-AC87

[Brave7012M3]

Issues with EA AC87 ?

Hello,

I am currently using 2 units of the EA87 and just upgraded to Singtel 500mbps .
I am currently facing issue where the download speed is poor in comparison to the upload speed.

Download 225 / Upload 500.

In normal case, it should be the other way round .

Anyone any idea what is the problem with this and how to fix this ?

 

[Doc Octopus]

no news for the adapter? firmware beta or official?

 

[HardCORE]

Compatibility problem with Apple Macbooks

I've been using the EA-AC87 for about 1 month now in Access Point mode.

It has a serious problem of dead connections with my Apple Macbook Pro 2015 running OS X Yosemite.

The EA-AC87 AP works great for about 2 days. After that, the Macbook shows that the WiFi is connected with good signal strength, but the connection is dead - it doesn't work. If I reconnect the WiFi from the Macbook, it works for a few minutes then stops working. Other non-Apple WiFi devices connected to the same AP are working okay.

The only fix is to reboot the EA-AC87. After that the Macbook connection works fine again (for another 2 days or so).

There are many similar complaints on other forums about the 5GHz problems with the RT-AC87 which uses the same Quantenna chipset. The RT-AC87 has had many firmware updates which might have fixed the problem, but the EA-AC87 has no new firmware update yet.

This problem is extremely irritating and I wish there was a firmware update that fixed this.

 

[ASUS@SG]

I've been using the EA-AC87 for about 1 month now in Access Point mode.

It has a serious problem of dead connections with my Apple Macbook Pro 2015 running OS X Yosemite.

The EA-AC87 AP works great for about 2 days. After that, the Macbook shows that the WiFi is connected with good signal strength, but the connection is dead - it doesn't work. If I reconnect the WiFi from the Macbook, it works for a few minutes then stops working. Other non-Apple WiFi devices connected to the same AP are working okay.

The only fix is to reboot the EA-AC87. After that the Macbook connection works fine again (for another 2 days or so).

There are many similar complaints on other forums about the 5GHz problems with the RT-AC87 which uses the same Quantenna chipset. The RT-AC87 has had many firmware updates which might have fixed the problem, but the EA-AC87 has no new firmware update yet.

This problem is extremely irritating and I wish there was a firmware update that fixed this.

Dear HardCORE,

I am checking for new firmware and i will get back to you asap.

Best regard,
JK

 

[HardCORE]

Dear HardCORE,

I am checking for new firmware and i will get back to you asap.

Best regard,
JK

Thanks! Hoping to hear some good news!

I've read online that Apple devices might have problems with some APs when 802.11h is turned on. I've figured out a way to disable 802.11h on the EA-AC87 (through telnet) and am testing if it is a workaround for the problem.

 

[ASUS@SG]

Thanks! Hoping to hear some good news!

I've read online that Apple devices might have problems with some APs when 802.11h is turned on. I've figured out a way to disable 802.11h on the EA-AC87 (through telnet) and am testing if it is a workaround for the problem.

Dear HardCORE,

Which build are you using?

10.10.4? or 10.10.5 beta

Best regard,
JK

 

[HardCORE]

Dear HardCORE,

Which build are you using?

10.10.4? or 10.10.5 beta

Best regard,
JK

Do you mean OS X? I am using Yosemite 10.10.4.
The firmware on my EA-AC87 is 3.0.0.4.374_2814.

 

[HardCORE]

Dear HardCORE,

Which build are you using?

10.10.4? or 10.10.5 beta

Best regard,
JK

Hi, do you any update on the new firmware? It seems I spoke too soon and I might still have the dead connection problem even after disabling 802.11h on the AP. Rebooting the AP fixes it for a while.

 

[renfred89]

Hi, do you any update on the new firmware? It seems I spoke too soon and I might still have the dead connection problem even after disabling 802.11h on the AP. Rebooting the AP fixes it for a while.

I am just guessing, perhaps the new sdk for quantenna chipset for ac87u might also be available for ac87..

Since both are using the same chipset, there's a high possibility that what's existing on ac87u will also be on ac87..

So your problem is one of the infamous problems..

 

[Dolphin1977]

using ea-ac87 or 2nd ac87u as briding mode in my bedroom can improve my wifi speed more??


ac87u ---->5ghz---->pce-ac66---->PC speedtest i get around 340-350

 

[HardCORE]

I am just guessing, perhaps the new sdk for quantenna chipset for ac87u might also be available for ac87..

Since both are using the same chipset, there's a high possibility that what's existing on ac87u will also be on ac87..

So your problem is one of the infamous problems..

Yes I think it's the same problem. I'm now testing disabling 802.11h and beam forming. It can be done through telnet (no UI in the admin page to do this). Disabling beam forming seems to help. Testing 24 hours and it is okay so far.

Update: It's been 2 weeks+ and the fix above has worked.

 

[HardCORE]

BTW, if you want to disable 802.11h and/or beam forming through the telnet interface, these are the commands:

#disable 802.11h
call_qcsapi -u -q set_option wifi0 802_11h 0
#disable beamforming
/scripts/bfoff
#restart wifi to take effect
/sbin/restart_wireless &

 

[tifosi]

Hi can anyone guide me on how to reset this AP? I simply can't get pass the password prompt. Yes I am able to connect to it.

And can anyone be so kind to direct me to a website where I can dload the firmware -cos I am thinking of flashing it.

Thanks very much

 

[renfred89]

Hi can anyone guide me on how to reset this AP? I simply can't get pass the password prompt. Yes I am able to connect to it.

And can anyone be so kind to direct me to a website where I can dload the firmware -cos I am thinking of flashing it.

Thanks very much

Hi friend! You can save up alot of delay if u just type asus singapore in your search bar. From there, enter asus singapore support side and download the firmware there. It's that simple..

There's a reset button on the device itself, push it for 10 seconds and release it.

Don't like this leh.. you must help us to help you mah..

 

[ho_kailiang]

will this work with router RT-AC68?

 

[renfred89]

will this work with router RT-AC68?

definitely as an access point. if as a media bridge, the ea-ac87 will down-speed to a 3x3 streams to accommodate ac68u..

 

[Ah-Pin-Kor]

will this work with router RT-AC68?

Yes it will

 

[ho_kailiang]

definitely as an access point. if as a media bridge, the ea-ac87 will down-speed to a 3x3 streams to accommodate ac68u..

Yes it will

Thanks. I planning to use ea-ac87 as a media bridge

 

[kelton]

Dear HardCORE,

Which build are you using?

10.10.4? or 10.10.5 beta

Best regard,
JK

hi asus@sg

any update on firmware?
thanks

 

[meemoo]

hi asus@sg,

yes, wanted to know as well on any new firmware coming?

Now only using this as a AP and having disconnection issues. Whatsapp on my iphone also unstable..... Use back the old 56 no issues......