ASUS AX68U 5GHz Band Dropping / Disappearing

[Tech9]

I do care about correct information posted. There is a difference between knowing and guessing.

 

[OzarkEdge]

I do care about correct information posted. There is a difference between knowing and guessing.

I posted a link to the Asuswrt-Merlin Support Wiki in response to a specific question about how to install Asuswrt-Merlin. The relevant wiki information is correct. Go pester the wiki author if you feel it should include additional information about every transient firmware defect you suspect... show someone else how much you care.

OE

 

[Tech9]

You have posted a link to Asuswrt-Merlin AiMesh support page with information last edited on Aug 1, 2019. It's around 384.12 firmware version and perhaps it was accurate back then for AiMesh 1.0. When 386.7 came out I did report once again the issue (all 386 AiMesh 2.0 are affected) and the response is below (a good explanation from RMerlin why it eventually happens). Again, there is nothing personal here. Extra information saves time to people who ask specific questions. I understand you're trying to help, but some things you haven't seen because your routers run stock Asuswrt.

Release - Asuswrt-Merlin 386.7 is now available for all models

I wanted to work out why 386.7 was wonky on wifi. Noticed Australia had finally been added to the wifi country list. So I upgraded again and chose Australia and enabled dfs( don't usually do this) can say that for my ax86u now the wifi is similar to last release. What does the country setting...

www.snbforums.com

I see no problem providing more up-to-date information and I'm ready to describe the solution as well, if requested. AiMesh 2.0 in Asuswrt-Merlin does work, but needs a little extra setup steps. Peace!

 

[hancox]

Honestly, you're both right. AIMesh, in particular, is a bugfest, when it comes to node joining (and not just on Merlin). AC68U's sometimes fail to add at all, and can sometimes be fixed by adding via ethernet after a multi-reboot dance. This one above for AC86U's and others. One could try to keep up to date on these procedures, but you would be spending more time than Asus is, on fixing them, apparently.

 

[hancox]

...as to this thread, a lightning strike took out both my AX86U AND 68U. Given the replacement cost is so close, and this bug seems to persist, I'm probably going to go for an 86S, as a node, and wait for an 86 Pro, for the router. Asus can't get their act together, recently.

 

[Tech9]

AX86U main + AX86S node is a good choice. Both routers use the same firmware (updated at the same time) and have the same radios (less confusion for clients where to connect, chance for better roaming).

 

[hancox]

AX86U main + AX86S node is a good choice. Both routers use the same firmware (updated at the same time) and have the same radios (less confusion for clients where to connect, chance for better roaming).

Yep - same thought. The 86S wasn't available at time of purchasing the 68U, but the tea leaves seem to point to the 68U being an afterthought, if not on the way out.

 

[Tech9]

if not on the way out

Looking at the last firmware release feedback, very few will notice.

Release - ASUS RT-AX68U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386.49479 (2022/06/23)

ASUS RT-AX68U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.386.49479 2022/06/23 75.11 MBytes 1. Fixed OpenSSL CVE-2022-0778 2. Fixed CVE-2021-34174 3. Added more security measures to block malware. 4. Fixed Stored XSS vulnerability. Thanks to Milan Kyselica of IstroSec. 5. Fixed CVE-2022-23970, CVE-2022-23971...

www.snbforums.com

One only person actively advertises AX68U on SNB Forums and with no big success.

 

[hancox]

AX86U main + AX86S node is a good choice. Both routers use the same firmware (updated at the same time) and have the same radios (less confusion for clients where to connect, chance for better roaming).

Gah - i just found a mistake in my thinking. The 86 Pro won't be a radio match. Even the vanilla 86U is probably overkill for my setup, so I'll just look for a deal there.

 

[HouseMusicRules]

Hey, Asus released firmware 3.0.0.4.386.50427 on Oct 12, 22 for the AX68U. Anyone tried it yet? I'm wondering the the 5Ghz radio disconnecting issue is resolved.

 

[cuiver]

Hey, Asus released firmware 3.0.0.4.386.50427 on Oct 12, 22 for the AX68U. Anyone tried it yet? I'm wondering the the 5Ghz radio disconnecting issue is resolved.

Just updated, will let you know in a few weeks.

Previously on 3.0.0.4.386.49479 I only had the 5Ghz band disappearing once or twice every month, still a nuisance specially when it happened during work calls.

Lets hope it's fixed now, besides the release notes being quite small and no wireguard support (AX86S has the same SoC CPU so why upsell schemes ASUS?)... no beta firmwares and updates few and far between are in my view tarnishing this quite nice router.

 

[cuiver]

After a dirty flash with the firmware 3.0.0.4.386.50427 I noticed a bug that randomly showed one of the two cores being at 100% when there was no activity that justified it.

Also via http://192.168.50.1/ajax_coretmp.asp the SoC temperatures were the same as in idle state so this leads me to believe that there is an issue with the CPU core usage readouts in this release.

I then did a restore to factory defaults and so far that issue appears to be fixed. Will see in the next few days. Also, so far the 5Ghz network is rock stable (knock on wood).

 

[happytaz]

Been on 50427 for 7 days now and 5Ghz Wi-Fi has been solid. I dirty flashed from Merlin 386.7_2.

Previous stock firmware caused my 5Ghz radio to become unstable after a day or 2.

If anything changes, I'll update this post.

Edit:

5Ghz is still good after 2 weeks.

 

[MotR]

I have been running 50427 for four days, and 5 Ghz is stable until now. The first time an RT-AX68u Asus firmware is stable for me on 5 Ghz since the 42808 firmware.

 

[rubikwizard]

I too have been running 50427 for nearly 5 days without any 5GHz dropout. Previous version would only last an hour or two ... Hopefully it will stay stable ...

 

[MotR]

I have been running 50427 for four days, and 5 Ghz is stable until now. The first time an RT-AX68u Asus firmware is stable for me on 5 Ghz since the 42808 firmware.

UPDATE: One month later and 5 Ghz is still stable with firmware 50427.

 

[Tech9]

Good news at last, a year after the issue was reported. Thanks for sharing!

 

[HouseMusicRules]

Thanks for all the updates.

Going to upgrade this weekend from the May 2021 firmware release. Any other issues i should be aware of before I proceed?

 

[MotR]

Thanks for all the updates.

Going to upgrade this weekend from the May 2021 firmware release. Any other issues i should be aware of before I proceed?

I haven’t had any issue with the 50427 firmware. I use it in AP mode (have not tested the AX68 as AImesh node or in router mode with the latest firmware).

 

[Ironmonkey]

I haven’t had any issue with the 50427 firmware. I use it in AP mode (have not tested the AX68 as AImesh node or in router mode with the latest firmware).

I've hard reset the my AX68u and upgraded to the 50427 firmware as well, but the 5Ghz still feels kind of spotty to me. I'm using my AX68u in AP mode as well. Do you have Wifi 6 mode enabled?. how about wifi agile multiband? Wireless mode, control channel extension channel all auto? Group Key rotation interval still default 3600? Thx