Ac86u reset or go to 386 from merlin 384

[JS_racer]

Say, have a ac86u router that been setup for years. Having a few minor issues, asigning ip, renaming devices, things like that. It has not been reset in many many years.
I dont run any scripts, or anything , basic setup

Thoughts between keeping merlin 384.19 or moving to 386, thinking 386 5 over 7 , if there were some ac86u issues with 7??
Been out of the loop for many years since things kept chugging along.

Should I stay with merlin?? Vs stock Asus
Much appreciated, thank you for your time

 

[Tech9]

If you don't need or use any of the Asuswrt-Merlin extra features latest stock Asuswrt 386.48260 works very well on this router. This is the firmware I would recommend for your case. Moving from old 384 merlin you better reset the router and configure it manually after the update.

 

[JS_racer]

chickened out on asus oe. not sure why. had it downloaded and everything.
went merlin 386.5_2
hope that one is ok. and if I slot up 1 to the newest, probably won't need to start from scratch.

did the reset, wasn't bad at all. seems to be working ok. network settings are all stock, need to review those yet. reused my ssid for both bands and 2 guest networks.
(New lg washing machine Wi-Fi light would not light after some time, that's what got me resetting things. other quirks like renaming devices, things like that were a tic glitchy as well. definitely due for a refresh)

 

[Tech9]

You have options. Use whatever you feel comfortable with. In a long run though plan replacing this router. It won't get 388 code firmware update, perhaps few security updates only. Available now Asuswrt-Merlin is perhaps the last compatible with this router. It also has a history of hardware and software issues. The closest AX equivalent with expected longer support and better reliability is RT-AX86S. Look for deals around holidays.

Want to add new RT-AC86U to existing network as AIMesh node

I have a working RT-AC86U router and want to add a NIB 86U as an AIMesh node, but am a bit confused as to how to start, since I know the first thing I need to do is to get the new router firmware to update. Do I have to disconnect my Primary router and plug the new one's WAN port to my ISP...

www.snbforums.com

 

[JS_racer]

Well poop.... just lost the 2.4 band. Had to reboot the router to get it back.
Never had that problem on the old firmware...

Debating trying the asus latest firmware, or going back to the old and restore again..
Should pickup a replacement probably.. ax86u or something, not sure I need the GT-AX6000 or similar..
Seeing the S on sale for 180, x retail for 280

 

[Tech9]

Look around. AX86S is currently USD150 in Canada, AX86U is USD225, Zaku edition included. Black Friday deals.

 

[JS_racer]

Look around. AX86S is currently USD150 in Canada, AX86U is USD225, Zaku edition included. Black Friday deals.

pounded the stock asus version on top of merlin, and sent wifey out to get the ax86S for $180 plus %15 trade in for old stuff, found a router 4 routers ago in my junk, lol
return till the end of the year, so that's good, if I find something else. it will be good to have on hand, if it acts up again.

lost the 2.4 a second time, before reflashing, have 2 guest networks on the 2.4 as well. cameras, and other stuff I keep isolated. not sure if a camera can crash the channel, all 3 ssid for the 2.4 won't connect when it acts up. nothing has changed in that regard. also have switched plugs, sprinklers, stuff like that. washer and drier are new as well.

guessing it's just time, hope its hardware, and this will correct it. its been rock solid for many many years

 

[JS_racer]

seeing this a bunch of times .... not sure what it all means (on the asus firmware dirty over merlin, figure if i was going to set up a router again, might as well be a new one,)

Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: potentially unexpected fatal signal 6.
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: CPU: 1 PID: 8597 Comm: nt_center Tainted: P O 4.1.27 #2
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: Hardware name: Broadcom-v8A (DT)
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: task: ffffffc01daf5540 ti: ffffffc009250000 task.ti: ffffffc009250000
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: PC is at 0xf68188d0
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: LR is at 0xf6819c78
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: pc : [<00000000f68188d0>] lr : [<00000000f6819c78>] pstate: 200e0010
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: sp : 00000000ffb0f89c
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x12: 0000000000000000
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x11: 00000000ffb0fad8 x10: 0000000000000007
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x9 : 0000000000000002 x8 : 0000000000000001
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x7 : 000000000000010c x6 : 00000000f6928088
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x5 : 00000000f705a000 x4 : 0000000000000002
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x3 : 00000000f705a4c0 x2 : 0000000000000006
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x1 : 0000000000002195 x0 : 0000000000000000

 

[RMerlin]

Could be a corrupted database. Try running the following over SSH to delete the existing database:

killall nt_center && rm /jffs/.sys/nc/nt_db.db

 

[JS_racer]

Could be a corrupted database. Try running the following over SSH to delete the existing database:

killall nt_center && rm /jffs/.sys/nc/nt_db.db

thanks for the reply
tried ssh got
xxx@RT-AC86U:/tmp/home/root# killall nt_center && rm /jffs/.sys/nc/nt_db.db
rm: can't remove '/jffs/.sys/nc/nt_db.db': No such file or directory

never used the jffs I don't think.

 

[RMerlin]

thanks for the reply
tried ssh got
xxx@RT-AC86U:/tmp/home/root# killall nt_center && rm /jffs/.sys/nc/nt_db.db
rm: can't remove '/jffs/.sys/nc/nt_db.db': No such file or directory

never used the jffs I don't think.

JFFS is used by the firmware to store a lot of settings and system databases.

 

[Tech9]

sent wifey out to get the ax86S

The right decision. I wouldn't trust older production year AC86U router.

 

[drinkingbird]

seeing this a bunch of times .... not sure what it all means (on the asus firmware dirty over merlin, figure if i was going to set up a router again, might as well be a new one,)

Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: potentially unexpected fatal signal 6.
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: CPU: 1 PID: 8597 Comm: nt_center Tainted: P O 4.1.27 #2
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: Hardware name: Broadcom-v8A (DT)
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: task: ffffffc01daf5540 ti: ffffffc009250000 task.ti: ffffffc009250000
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: PC is at 0xf68188d0
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: LR is at 0xf6819c78
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: pc : [<00000000f68188d0>] lr : [<00000000f6819c78>] pstate: 200e0010
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: sp : 00000000ffb0f89c
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x12: 0000000000000000
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x11: 00000000ffb0fad8 x10: 0000000000000007
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x9 : 0000000000000002 x8 : 0000000000000001
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x7 : 000000000000010c x6 : 00000000f6928088
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x5 : 00000000f705a000 x4 : 0000000000000002
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x3 : 00000000f705a4c0 x2 : 0000000000000006
Nov 21 14:53:26 kernel: x1 : 0000000000002195 x0 : 0000000000000000

When you do the factory reset, you should do a minimal config then format jffs (assuming you're running merlin, which lets you format it). Looks like you may have some leftover stuff.

Generally you want to do this for a major code upgrade
Factory reset
minimal config just to get into router
upgrade firmware and reboot, let the CPUs settle
factory reset again
minimal config to get in
let CPUs settle down
select format jffs on next reboot
reboot
let it settle for a while then reconfigure everything manually

 

[JS_racer]

well, my 2.4 band crashed again today, so I'll unbox the new router

Any firmware recommendation for the new ax86s ?? merlin version 386, 388, ??
can I just install it over the top, or should I do the resets as well. this will be new out of the box,
thanks

 

[Tech9]

Any firmware recommendation for the new ax86s ??

If you don't need advanced VPN configurations or you don't plan running custom scripts - try the latest 388 Asuswrt and see how it goes for you. It has most of the Asuswrt-Merlin features + VPN Fusion + WireGuard support with GUI configuration. Some minor GUI bugs here and there, but stable.

 

[drinkingbird]

well, my 2.4 band crashed again today, so I'll unbox the new router

Any firmware recommendation for the new ax86s ?? merlin version 386, 388, ??
can I just install it over the top, or should I do the resets as well. this will be new out of the box,
thanks

You don't need to do the reset before upgrading but yes I'd do everything after.

 

[JS_racer]

ok, since I stayed with stock asus I couldn't format jffs
I did do the other reset, after a quick setup

thanks again for the help guys...
now to learn about dialing this thing in for wifi band tweaks. (Everything as is out of the box, 2 guest networks, then separate 2.4 and 5 bands, cheated and kept the same ssid/pw as used before)

 

[JS_racer]

Seeing 2.4 drop out but reconnect and a bazillion wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event events

Sigh... not sure i made any progress
Have like 8 wyze cameras , many of these are the mac from the events.only other network change was a washer/dryer about a month ago

I have an old n66 I could try to use for the cameras... (not exactly sure how.) So on hand have the new ax86s , old ac86u, and a n66,
also have a Beryl (GL-MT1300) I could use, thinking somehow its time to try to isolate things.. i just pulled the Bluetooth coms thing from my jura coffee maker
so cameras, washer/drier , ... thinking what to try to isolate.

 

[Tech9]

Have like 8 wyze cameras , many of these are the mac from the events.

Read below. Applies for other IoT devices as well:

DNS over TLS support

My Wyze doorbell camera will not connect to the internet if my router is setup to use DNS over TLS (DoT). Please add support to the Wyze doorbell camera for DoT

forums.wyze.com

 

[drinkingbird]

Seeing 2.4 drop out but reconnect and a bazillion wlceventd: wlceventd_proc_event events

Sigh... not sure i made any progress
Have like 8 wyze cameras , many of these are the mac from the events.only other network change was a washer/dryer about a month ago

I have an old n66 I could try to use for the cameras... (not exactly sure how.) So on hand have the new ax86s , old ac86u, and a n66,
also have a Beryl (GL-MT1300) I could use, thinking somehow its time to try to isolate things.. i just pulled the Bluetooth coms thing from my jura coffee maker
so cameras, washer/drier , ... thinking what to try to isolate.

You have two routers now where you're seeing 2.4ghz "drop". What does that mean - nothing can see the 2.4Ghz? Everything 2.4 gets disconnected? Or is it just certain devices.

This does not sound like a router issue unless you have really bad luck. Either you've got a lot of interference (hopefully you're not trying to use a 40mhz channel), you have some devices that are misbehaving, or you have something configured wrong.