[Maylyn's Review] ASUS RT-AC87U

[Fuzzywuz]

It is important to realise that AC3200 is almost equivalent ot buying one 2.4GHz AP, and another 2 X 5GHz AP. I can fix up a TP ling router working as an AP for <$30. Why do I need to pay $400 to fix up 3AP? And with ASUS appearing as an when she likes and with a take it or leave it attitude.

 

[Fuzzywuz]

I'm refering to RT-AC3200 supplied by ASUS

 

[renfred89]

It is important to realise that AC3200 is almost equivalent ot buying one 2.4GHz AP, and another 2 X 5GHz AP. I can fix up a TP ling router working as an AP for <$30. Why do I need to pay $400 to fix up 3AP? And with ASUS appearing as an when she likes and with a take it or leave it attitude.

I'm refering to RT-AC3200 supplied by ASUS

Does your cheapo tplink offer smart connect features? Can you condense 3 APs into one compact size? can your tplink provide AiProtection equivalent? If you can provide all these features in less than 400, then your post is making sense..

This is not a formal asus support forum, and therefore asus@sg can afford to come in as and when she wants.

 

[dfran1]

Somehow my iPhone 6+ doesn't like this latest beta. But 2.4Ghz seem better.
Although it doesn't disconnect on 5Ghz, it doesn't have a quality connection. It take long time to connect to whatapp and also to send or receive pictures.
Counting on IOS 8.4 within an hour time, hope it will overcome this issue.

Hi,
just some questions, if IOS 8.4 does not cure your problem
the reason why I ask is my wife that complains to me has not and I asked her last night and she uses an iPad air 2, and she told me it was great, and I asked her specifically if she noticed any slowness or stuttering or stoping or anything and she said no. That was iOS 8.3 to on 5GHz.

questions
1. do you use any guest network?
2. do you use any USB ports (other than a fan)

I do not now and found if I enabled the 2.4GHz guest (I never used the 5GHz guest) I have issues with 2.4GHz band.

I could post the rest of my settings that I changed elsewhere, maybe that is also fixing issues?
anyway let us know after you update to IOS 8.4

Fuzzywuz please use the EDIT button on your posts instead of making 3 or more posts in a row.
just so you know you can still edit them and DELETE the others. Thank You
Cheers all!!
Lets hear if IOS 8.4 fixes your problems......

 

[lawkoh]

Hi,
just some questions, if IOS 8.4 does not cure your problem
the reason why I ask is my wife that complains to me has not and I asked her last night and she uses an iPad air 2, and she told me it was great, and I asked her specifically if she noticed any slowness or stuttering or stoping or anything and she said no. That was iOS 8.3 to on 5GHz.

questions
1. do you use any guest network?
2. do you use any USB ports (other than a fan)

I do not now and found if I enabled the 2.4GHz guest (I never used the 5GHz guest) I have issues with 2.4GHz band.

I could post the rest of my settings that I changed elsewhere, maybe that is also fixing issues?
anyway let us know after you update to IOS 8.4

Fuzzywuz please use the EDIT button on your posts instead of making 3 or more posts in a row.
just so you know you can still edit them and DELETE the others. Thank You
Cheers all!!
Lets hear if IOS 8.4 fixes your problems......

Done with 8.4. It doesn't mention anything about fixing wifi problem.
I have done some test before and after I upgrade to 8.4 just to feel if there is any difference.

After the upgrade:
Initially, I don't feel anything. But after I did the "forget the SSID" and connect back to the same 5Ghz SSID, I feel a Big difference!
I can really feel the speed of the WiFi which I never experience before!
Very noticeable!
However, it didn't last too long which I decided to reboot the router and "forget SSID" again.. Still monitoring.

If 8.4 doesn't fix any WiFi problem, at least this could be a good reset or reboot of the whole phone. Hope It help too.

My only connection to the USB is the cooling fan.
Yes, I do have Guest network for both bandwidth, will try to disable them.

By the way, your wife testing was on iPad 2 5Ghz as my issue is on iPhone 6+.5ghz
Her gauge standard might be different from yours too?

 

[lawkoh]

Forgot to mention, router WiFi log shown:
Tx @330m and RX @263m
The number looks good after iOS 8.4??
I am getting a decent speed test result too.

 

[dfran1]

Forgot to mention, router WiFi log shown:
Tx @330m and RX @263m
The number looks good after iOS 8.4??
I am getting a decent speed test result too.

Hi,
As I posted a page or two back Apple was quietly undoing what they tried on 8.0-8.3.
They did not want to admit to anything like that, as stated in my article I posted for you all.
There should be huge fixes now in iOS 8.4 onward.

yes please try to disable guest networks also, I know it was an issue for me also. thats why I posted my settings for all.

keep us updated.


EDIT:
in Your IOS you can try to
settings
general
reset
reset network settings
you will loose all wifi networks but your network portion should be cleared, although I did that on one on my 6+'s and it did nothing for me. I had a bad iPhone, I went through 3 6+'s before I got one perfect.

EDIT2:
there is also a mac OS X update to 10.10.4, I just did that also!!
That stated network reliability fixes!!

 

[dfran1]

You May need to hard reboot your IOS device by
Holding the power and home buttons down at the same time and keep them pressed until you see the apple logo.

After the update, but let it settle for 5 minutes before you do this.

 

[poor_poor]

It is important to realise that AC3200 is almost equivalent ot buying one 2.4GHz AP, and another 2 X 5GHz AP. I can fix up a TP ling router working as an AP for <$30. Why do I need to pay $400 to fix up 3AP? And with ASUS appearing as an when she likes and with a take it or leave it attitude.

+1 for your nonsense post.

Are you working from a competitor? Have been reading your post and you seem to give lots of unreason nonsense like expecting beamforming to be alien technology. Now your nonsense is back again....

You claim to be an expert and dare to challenge member here with your knowledge.

Look at dfran1, rendfred89, thiamhui, asus@sg and other oversea member from smallnetbuilder. They have lots of knowledge, but they don't challenge anyone here. Please be nice.

I am leaving this thread, don't need to reply my post. Thank you

 

[dfran1]

I have updated all my IOS devices and mac's
I have also turned on beamforming on the 5GHz band, so ... my settings on the other page plus both beamforming settings on the 5GHz, 2 hours in , playing a movie on a samsung TV and streaming dish on the ipad air 2, downloaded 72 updates to an iphone 6, no problems SO FAR, but it is way too early to tell, I will keep this thread updated.

I have 4 devices on the 5GHz band I also changed the SSID on both bands to the same.
6 devices on 2.4GHz, lets see what happens in the next day or so...

I have noticed before turning on 5GHz beamforming, my iphone did not grab the wifi quickly at all (not like it used to with IOS 8.0-8.3), after I went into my weak spot and lost wifi, then tried to get back, it took a while, I don't like that, so I enabled beamforming on the 5GHz and it seems (very seems) better.

I power cycled the router after just to make sure.
Cheers all!!!

EDIT:
I am still flying this morning 12 hours in, no problems at all on the 5GHz with beamforming on, not even a hiccup!! I will keep you all updated!

 

[dfran1]

I am at my 24 hour mark.
I am streaming on my samsung TV to my nas a movie and ipad to my dish, both are on 5GHz band as my iphone 6+, all is still perfect!! With beamforming on!!

I have also set the SSID on both bands to the same, switching between the 2.4 and 5GHz seems clunky now on the IOS, so I think I know why apple tried to do that funky wifi method with IOS 8.0-8.3, that other method switched much better and smoother, but created havok. It does switch now but just takes time ~45 seconds, It does take a long time if at all to go from 2.4 to 5GHz, and that is with different SSID's or the same. But NO problems at all so far.

If no errors or anything occurs, you will most likely hear from me tomorrow.

Cheers All!!!!

EDIT: just played another movie and all is perfect, I am going to load this on my friends this weekend to make sure it's not me, or my router broke and fixed itself. I am afraid to make any changes now that it is just working, that is a change of words.

 

[thiamhui]

You May need to hard reboot your IOS device by
Holding the power and home buttons down at the same time and keep them pressed until you see the apple logo.

After the update, but let it settle for 5 minutes before you do this.

I am at my 24 hour mark.
I am streaming on my samsung TV to my nas a movie and ipad to my dish, both are on 5GHz band as my iphone 6+, all is still perfect!! With beamforming on!!

I have also set the SSID on both bands to the same, switching between the 2.4 and 5GHz seems clunky now on the IOS, so I think I know why apple tried to do that funky wifi method with IOS 8.0-8.3, that other method switched much better and smoother, but created havok. It does switch now but just takes time ~45 seconds, It does take a long time if at all to go from 2.4 to 5GHz, and that is with different SSID's or the same. But NO problems at all so far.

If no errors or anything occurs, you will most likely hear from me tomorrow.

Cheers All!!!!

EDIT: just played another movie and all is perfect, I am going to load this on my friends this weekend to make sure it's not me, or my router broke and fixed itself. I am afraid to make any changes now that it is just working, that is a change of words.

Finally managed to get rid of the WiFi DC issue on iOS 8.4 by performing the hard reboot. Will monitor for another night. If all goes well, will test out Beamforming next.

 

[jordanlah]

* Help: Parental Control - Time Scheduling Doesn't Work *

Hi All,

Need some help. Now that the kids are back in school - I wanted to schedule their internet access time.

However, I seem to be unable to get the ac87 time scheduling to work. Whenever I add a device (the client name and mac address) - that device has NO internet access no matter what schedule I enable in the time management chart.

I tried it with different device, same results. I add device, edit the time schedule (which by the way doesn't work like "click and drag" in the tutorial video) - and no matter what schedule I put - the device has NO internet access after being added.

Appreciate if anyone has gotten it to work to give any assistance.


Firmware: 378_6065
(Hard Reset, tried with different devices...)

 

[dfran1]

Hi All,

However, I seem to be unable to get the ac87 time scheduling to work. Whenever I add a
Firmware: 378_6065
(Hard Reset, tried with different devices...)

Hi,
I would try the latest beta
6687 Found here, posted by Asus

I do not use that at all maybe someone else would chime in, but try this beta and when you flash do it this way

1.. Put RT-AC87U in the recovery mode by following these steps:
- turn off the router
- While pressing the "WPS" button at back; turn on the router and keep holding this button for 2 seconds after the router is on and then leave it.
- Quickly press the "RESET" button at back and keep pressing till the power blue led starting blinking slowly.

3. You may not need this step. Change your LAN or WiFi adapter in Windows to a static IP 192.168.1.2 and Gateway 192.168.1.1 if not identified.

4. Go to your browser and navigate to 192.168.1.1 (unless you change it)

5. You should be in the recovery firmware page.
- Press the clear (or reset, I forgot what it says) Nvram button like 3 times giving 10 seconds in-between
- Browse the firmware you downloaded and press upload button.

6. You should wait and do not turn the router off till it restarts itself automatically. The page could looks hanged but it take a minute or less to finish the upload and then wait till the page says "Firmware update is successful completed". There is a percentage level bar at bottom-left of the web page. (Wait ~3 minutes or more for 2.4GHz and 5GHz light to light up

7. configure from scratch (like a new unit)

Try this and see? Post back and someone else should be able to help.

Here is a link to some other ways or advice

 

[sentinelvdx]

Hi All,

Need some help. Now that the kids are back in school - I wanted to schedule their internet access time.

However, I seem to be unable to get the ac87 time scheduling to work. Whenever I add a device (the client name and mac address) - that device has NO internet access no matter what schedule I enable in the time management chart.

I tried it with different device, same results. I add device, edit the time schedule (which by the way doesn't work like "click and drag" in the tutorial video) - and no matter what schedule I put - the device has NO internet access after being added.

Appreciate if anyone has gotten it to work to give any assistance.


Firmware: 378_6065
(Hard Reset, tried with different devices...)

Did you check with _6687? It was fixed there (at least works on mine)

 

[jordanlah]

Did you check with _6687? It was fixed there (at least works on mine)

Ok after a few hours of reading various forums I finally found the answer. I dunno to laugh or cry. It was the BROWSER. I use Google Chrome and the Admin screen for the time scheduling just isn't compatible.

Switching to IE worked. Hope this saves some people hours of frustrations.

 

[Fuzzywuz]

Does your cheapo tplink offer smart connect features? Can you condense 3 APs into one compact size? can your tplink provide AiProtection equivalent? If you can provide all these features in less than 400, then your post is making sense..

This is not a formal asus support forum, and therefore asus@sg can afford to come in as and when she wants.

Most important to us is range. I do not see any improvement in this compared to starhub provided Dlink or the economical TPlink router configured at an AP. What I need IS RANGE.

 

[Fuzzywuz]

+1 for your nonsense post.

Are you working from a competitor? Have been reading your post and you seem to give lots of unreason nonsense like expecting beamforming to be alien technology. Now your nonsense is back again....

You claim to be an expert and dare to challenge member here with your knowledge.

Look at dfran1, rendfred89, thiamhui, asus@sg and other oversea member from smallnetbuilder. They have lots of knowledge, but they don't challenge anyone here. Please be nice.

I am leaving this thread, don't need to reply my post. Thank you

So now you accuse me of challenging. Just trying to find the answer here. ASUS claim improved range with AC3200. I don't see this. ASUS is misrepresenting here.

 

[renfred89]

So now you accuse me of challenging. Just trying to find the answer here. ASUS claim improved range with AC3200. I don't see this. ASUS is misrepresenting here. It is a criminal offense.

wah wah wah... my toes are laughing..

Most important to us is range. I do not see any improvement in this compared to starhub provided Dlink or the economical TPlink router configured at an AP. What I need IS RANGE.

well, then i should say the competitors are performing equally well as asus.. LOL.

take it as we are incompetent to help you, perhaps you can find some radar or something to boost your range bah..

 

[ov2rey]

So now you accuse me of challenging. Just trying to find the answer here. ASUS claim improved range with AC3200. I don't see this. ASUS is misrepresenting here. It is a criminal offense.

+1 for your bull s h ! T