dlandiss is correct, there is no one ultimate setup. However, there is still a 'best practices' method that is a good starting point for all further configurations.
Look at the links in my signature for more in-depth information, but for an overview, the following is what will get you going in the right direction.
- Whether you will use RMerlin's firmware or not, flash the version of the firmware you will use and then proceed to do a full reset of the router, even if you haven't previously used it at all (i.e it is 'brand new, out of the box').
- When resetting to factory defaults with the GUI, make sure to tick the box that says 'initialize settings...' that is right beside it.
- If that checkbox is not available in your firmware version, then after doing a factory reset via the GUI;
- Also, perform the 'format jffs partition on next boot' and proceed to reboot the router 3 times in the next 15 minutes or so (with 5 to 10 minutes between reboots to allow the router to configure itself as needed).
- Now, we can manually and minimally configure the router to secure it and connect to our ISP. This means that we do not use a saved configuration file to 'restore' any previous settings.
- This also means that we accept the defaults for most settings too, especially if using an RMerlin firmware, or we have any doubt as to what the consequences might be.
With the above completed (it is less than 1/2 hour of 'work'), we will change the following defaults:
With the above completed, you will have the fastest, most stable and most reliable network possible.
- Disable Universal Beamforming on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Disable Airtime Fairness on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Set Preamble type to Short on the 2.4GHz band in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Set the Time Zone and DST Time Zone changes settings for our locale.
- Change the Memory Management: Regularly flush caches (default: Yes), to No (RMerlin Tools/Other Settings page).
- Change the Control Channels for both bands away from 'Auto' after testing which Control channel works best (2.4GHz use 1, 6 or 11 'only').
- With a new router or a fully reset one such as the above steps outline, I recommend a new SSID for each band too.
- Or, alternately, 'forget' the network on each client device that will be used in this network and then re-associate them. Some clients may need to have a 'reset networks' command and reboot too with this method. It is much easier to just use a new SSID.
Of course, we can do much more with our Asus + RMerlin powered routers. Once the above is proven to be stable in your network, the additional features such as AiProtection, Parental Controls, etc. can be added as needed.
Don't forget the most powerful features of these routers: the excellent scripts available for them. My signature below contains some of the most popular ones I am currently using. For the additional 'cost' of a spare USB drive.
Hope this is enough to get you started.
Indeed it is, and I will add that link to a page of hints & tips that I have compiling. Thank you.
Pretty much the most perfect description of a setup ive ever read on here and exactly how i do it. Plus run freahjr qos script. Happy campet heredlandiss is correct, there is no one ultimate setup. However, there is still a 'best practices' method that is a good starting point for all further configurations.
Look at the links in my signature for more in-depth information, but for an overview, the following is what will get you going in the right direction.
- Whether you will use RMerlin's firmware or not, flash the version of the firmware you will use and then proceed to do a full reset of the router, even if you haven't previously used it at all (i.e it is 'brand new, out of the box').
- When resetting to factory defaults with the GUI, make sure to tick the box that says 'initialize settings...' that is right beside it.
- If that checkbox is not available in your firmware version, then after doing a factory reset via the GUI;
- Also, perform the 'format jffs partition on next boot' and proceed to reboot the router 3 times in the next 15 minutes or so (with 5 to 10 minutes between reboots to allow the router to configure itself as needed).
- Now, we can manually and minimally configure the router to secure it and connect to our ISP. This means that we do not use a saved configuration file to 'restore' any previous settings.
- This also means that we accept the defaults for most settings too, especially if using an RMerlin firmware, or we have any doubt as to what the consequences might be.
With the above completed (it is less than 1/2 hour of 'work'), we will change the following defaults:
With the above completed, you will have the fastest, most stable and most reliable network possible.
- Disable Universal/Implicit Beamforming on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Disable Airtime Fairness on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Disable MU-MIMO on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Set Preamble type to Short on the 2.4GHz band in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Set the Time Zone and DST Time Zone changes settings for our locale.
- Change the Memory Management: Regularly flush caches (default: Yes), to No (RMerlin Tools/Other Settings page).
- Change the Control Channels for both bands away from 'Auto' after testing which Control channel works best (2.4GHz use 1, 6 or 11 'only').
- With a new router or a fully reset one such as the above steps outline, I recommend a new SSID for each band too.
- Or, alternately, 'forget' the network on each client device that will be used in this network and then re-associate them. Some clients may need to have a 'reset networks' command and reboot too with this method. It is much easier to just use a new SSID.
Of course, we can do much more with our Asus + RMerlin powered routers. Once the above is proven to be stable in your network, the additional features such as AiProtection, Parental Controls, etc. can be added as needed.
Don't forget the most powerful features of these routers: the excellent scripts available for them. My signature below contains some of the most popular ones I am currently using. For the additional 'cost' of a spare USB drive.
Hope this is enough to get you started.
With the above completed (it is less than 1/2 hour of 'work'), we will change the following defaults:
- Disable Universal/Implicit Beamforming on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Disable Airtime Fairness on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Disable MU-MIMO on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Set Preamble type to Short on the 2.4GHz band in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Set the Time Zone and DST Time Zone changes settings for our locale.
- Change the Memory Management: Regularly flush caches (default: Yes), to No (RMerlin Tools/Other Settings page).
- Change the Control Channels for both bands away from 'Auto' after testing which Control channel works best (2.4GHz use 1, 6 or 11 'only').
- With a new router or a fully reset one such as the above steps outline, I recommend a new SSID for each band too.
- Or, alternately, 'forget' the network on each client device that will be used in this network and then re-associate them. Some clients may need to have a 'reset networks' command and reboot too with this method. It is much easier to just use a new SSID.
You really don’t need to be all that familiat with networking to follow the guide. The steps listed have been found to put either the least demands on the router or have been found to give the most reliable outcome without affecting performance to any appreciable degree (or more likely both). As to terms such as beamforming, Airtime Fairness or MU-MIMO etc, you could look them up with Google (and then let me know what they mean). And other steps, such as changing the wireless control channels from auto to whichever channels work best ie no interference from other radio sources, are fairly straightforward to understand. I can appreciate it might look a bit daunting if you haven’t gone through it before, but a thorough understanding - even a mediocre understanding - of networking or routers is not at all necessary.
Short version. Majority of those features require both router and client to support them. Most dont and causes problems for at least those devices or network issues in general including but not limited to constact disconnects and wifi performance drops.
Whoops up to late and not enough coffee.
dlandiss is correct, there is no one ultimate setup. However, there is still a 'best practices' method that is a good starting point for all further configurations.
Look at the links in my signature for more in-depth information, but for an overview, the following is what will get you going in the right direction.
- Whether you will use RMerlin's firmware or not, flash the version of the firmware you will use and then proceed to do a full reset of the router, even if you haven't previously used it at all (i.e it is 'brand new, out of the box').
- When resetting to factory defaults with the GUI, make sure to tick the box that says 'initialize settings...' that is right beside it.
- If that checkbox is not available in your firmware version, then after doing a factory reset via the GUI;
- Also, perform the 'format jffs partition on next boot' and proceed to reboot the router 3 times in the next 15 minutes or so (with 5 to 10 minutes between reboots to allow the router to configure itself as needed).
- Now, we can manually and minimally configure the router to secure it and connect to our ISP. This means that we do not use a saved configuration file to 'restore' any previous settings.
- This also means that we accept the defaults for most settings too, especially if using an RMerlin firmware, or we have any doubt as to what the consequences might be.
With the above completed (it is less than 1/2 hour of 'work'), we will change the following defaults:
With the above completed, you will have the fastest, most stable and most reliable network possible.
- Disable Universal/Implicit Beamforming on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Disable Airtime Fairness on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Disable MU-MIMO on both bands in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Set Preamble type to Short on the 2.4GHz band in the Wireless/Professional pages.
- Set the Time Zone and DST Time Zone changes settings for our locale.
- Change the Memory Management: Regularly flush caches (default: Yes), to No (RMerlin Tools/Other Settings page).
- Change the Control Channels for both bands away from 'Auto' after testing which Control channel works best (2.4GHz use 1, 6 or 11 'only').
- With a new router or a fully reset one such as the above steps outline, I recommend a new SSID for each band too.
- Or, alternately, 'forget' the network on each client device that will be used in this network and then re-associate them. Some clients may need to have a 'reset networks' command and reboot too with this method. It is much easier to just use a new SSID.
Of course, we can do much more with our Asus + RMerlin powered routers. Once the above is proven to be stable in your network, the additional features such as AiProtection, Parental Controls, etc. can be added as needed.
Don't forget the most powerful features of these routers: the excellent scripts available for them. My signature below contains some of the most popular ones I am currently using. For the additional 'cost' of a spare USB drive.
Hope this is enough to get you started.
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