[Maylyn's Review] ASUS RT-AC87U

[htngwilliam]

Guys, any good alternatives and replacement from other brands? I am sure u don't want to try another Asus?

 

[ArcticCheetah]

ISP bandwidth?
If you are getting Wireless AC just wait for a little while more WAVE 2 routers are going to release and drop the pricing.

 

[renfred89]

I thought latest firmware is out? I didn't want to update first. Scare later from bad to worst

3885 is far better than all other previous firmware. If u dont try, u are wasting ur own money.. hahas.

I would try netgear next if u would to ask me. Linksys wrt1900ac and ea6900 are two gd models in my opinion, if u r not obsessed in numbers produced by tests..

 

[trichard]

When you all experience 5G no internet but full bar.... is it all devices at the same time or just individual devices while the rest still working.?

 

[htngwilliam]

Anyone has any review about the latest driver? I dare not touch as of now because once screw up, my wife might kill me

 

[jnashville]

When you all experience 5G no internet but full bar.... is it all devices at the same time or just individual devices while the rest still working.?

all at the same time I think. normally we will just disconnect it , and connect again to the 5ghz or just connect to the 2.4ghz and connect back to the 5ghz

 

[trichard]

all at the same time I think. normally we will just disconnect it , and connect again to the 5ghz or just connect to the 2.4ghz and connect back to the 5ghz

Will the next time you hit the problem can confirm that ?

all the same time or just 1 device are different senerio...

 

[ahduck]

For me all my Windows PC device and Android works fine. Only my iPad2 internet keeps dropping. But weird thing is iPad2 is running 2.4ghz.

Two issues I'm facing below.
1. Teaming ports on lan 1 and 2 on one 'server' with dual intel lan PC, rdp session keeps hang /dc from wireless PC using 5ghz. Smooth when using only one lan port.
2. Dual Wan failover - Primary Wan (MR) seems normal (maybe because MR lease time is 7 days; max uptime for router is 4 days). Secondary (Starhub) intermittent no connection. Sometimes will renew sometimes wont. If lease Secondary Wan least time (4 hours) renewal fails, only rebooting the router when resume connection.

And of cos all the common flood of logs.
kernel: br0: received packet on eth1 with own address as source address
kernel: br0: received packet on vlan1 with own address as source address

 

[trichard]

For me all my Windows PC device and Android works fine. Only my iPad2 internet keeps dropping. But weird thing is iPad2 is running 2.4ghz.

Two issues I'm facing below.
1. Teaming ports on lan 1 and 2 on one 'server' with dual intel lan PC, rdp session keeps hang /dc from wireless PC using 5ghz. Smooth when using only one lan port.
2. Dual Wan failover - Primary Wan (MR) seems normal (maybe because MR lease time is 7 days; max uptime for router is 4 days). Secondary (Starhub) intermittent no connection. Sometimes will renew sometimes wont. If lease Secondary Wan least time (4 hours) renewal fails, only rebooting the router when resume connection.

And of cos all the common flood of logs.
kernel: br0: received packet on eth1 with own address as source address
kernel: br0: received packet on vlan1 with own address as source address

+ one user here no 5G issue ....

Seem like older generation devices don't work well on 2.4G ? .. for me my Printer Samsung 315W refuse to even connect on 2.4G.

And cool... you on Dual Wan ......

 

[legolaz]

Mine only happens to a max of 2 devices at a time. I have about 5 devices connected at a time.

 

[legolaz]

Any recommendations on an access point or a router that can be used as one? Nighthawk?

 

[ahduck]

+ one user here no 5G issue ....

Seem like older generation devices don't work well on 2.4G ? .. for me my Printer Samsung 315W refuse to even connect on 2.4G.

And cool... you on Dual Wan ......

I couldn't say mine doesn't have 5Ghz issues. I might be actively suppressing it with a Coolermaster laptop fan cooler. I also often encounter 5Ghz DC previously.
Take a look at the Temps with and without a cooler I posted recently.
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/90819642-post1024.html

Firmware might be buggy at this stage. But we couldn't rule out heat issues. (Just like PC CPU or GFX; once overheat, system will hang, blue screen, artifacts, unexpected shutdown etc.)

Someone even tear open their unit over in SNB forums only to find out damage caused by heat.
ASUS RT-AC87 Firmware - Official Releases - Page 76 - SmallNetBuilder Forums

SmallNetBuilder Forums - View Single Post - ASUS RT-AC87 Firmware - Official Releases

Oh regarding the Dual Wan setup, gotta keep my cheapest $22 Starhub cable plan so to have Hubclub discounts. Which turns out the cable subscription is only abt $5.5/mth.
Also good to have a spare line just in case MR Fiber down and can be use for testing purposes.
MR 1Gbps plan is just too tempting...

 

[trichard]

I couldn't say mine doesn't have 5Ghz issues. I might be actively suppressing it with a Coolermaster laptop fan cooler. I also often encounter 5Ghz DC previously.
Take a look at the Temps with and without a cooler I posted recently.
http://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/90819642-post1024.html

Firmware might be buggy at this stage. But we couldn't rule out heat issues. (Just like PC CPU or GFX; once overheat, system will hang, blue screen, artifacts, unexpected shutdown etc.)

Someone even tear open their unit over in SNB forums only to find out damage caused by heat.
ASUS RT-AC87 Firmware - Official Releases - Page 76 - SmallNetBuilder Forums

SmallNetBuilder Forums - View Single Post - ASUS RT-AC87 Firmware - Official Releases

Oh regarding the Dual Wan setup, gotta keep my cheapest $22 Starhub cable plan so to have Hubclub discounts. Which turns out the cable subscription is only abt $5.5/mth.
Also good to have a spare line just in case MR Fiber down and can be use for testing purposes.
MR 1Gbps plan is just too tempting...

Oh !!........ for me the TX power for 2.4G I set to 10% while 5G is at 50% TX ...

It is much cooler at surface touch .... could be also the reason why I also have good 5G?

 

[ahduck]

Oh !!........ for me the TX power for 2.4G I set to 10% while 5G is at 50% TX ...

It is much cooler at surface touch .... could be also the reason why I also have good 5G?

I believe heat to be one of the contributing factors but it's just my guess. Reality overheating is also electronics's enemy. So with your low TX power without sacrificing signal range, could be one reason you have much more stable 5Ghz compared to others here.

Currently I'm at 2.4Ghz 50% - 5Ghz - 75%
Current Temperatures: CPU = 42 °C - 2.4Ghz = 51 °C - 5Ghz = 65 °C which is even lower then previously running both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz @ 100%

But one of my PC is in the bomb shelter thus I cannot reduce too much. If not I'll only get 3 bars of signal which my speed test suffers slightly.

 

[trichard]

I believe heat to be one of the contributing factors but it's just my guess. Reality overheating is also electronics's enemy. So with your low TX power without sacrificing signal range, could be one reason you have much more stable 5Ghz compared to others here.

Currently I'm at 2.4Ghz 50% - 5Ghz - 75%
Current Temperatures: CPU = 42 °C - 2.4Ghz = 51 °C - 5Ghz = 65 °C which is even lower then previously running both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz @ 100%

But one of my PC is in the bomb shelter thus I cannot reduce too much. If not I'll only get 3 bars of signal which my speed test suffers slightly.

Can share picture of you cool the unit ?

From the URL you share I think all of us should look how to cool the unit ..

Those have 5G issue might not have the problem more .

I am tuning down the Tx to 3 percent and 30 percent each ...

Higher frequency higher heat too...

 

[legolaz]

Never checked heat before but my room is almost always airconed.

 

[renfred89]

Never checked heat before but my room is almost always airconed.

Its not enough to have an aircon room. U need a fan to blow directly through the vents at the side. After abt 5mins, you'll realise the router will be cooler to touch..

 

[legolaz]

Its not enough to have an aircon room. U need a fan to blow directly through the vents at the side. After abt 5mins, you'll realise the router will be cooler to touch..

U tried? I am at challenger now. Was trying out which new router to buy that can act as a access point as well. I already made a mistake buying a wifi extender few days ago thinking it could act as an access point. Haha.

 

[renfred89]

U tried? I am at challenger now. Was trying out which new router to buy that can act as a access point as well. I already made a mistake buying a wifi extender few days ago thinking it could act as an access point. Haha.

Of cos i tried la.. u can try also.

 

[legolaz]

Ok. Am gonna buy a laptop cooler and see if it works. Thanks for the suggestion.