Thanks. So, if I understand, 374.43_2 Merlin (and John's forked version) are the last Merlin builds that actually allow adjustment of the transmit power above 80mw. Ok.
What then is the last "official" ASUSWRT version of the F/W that allows such adjustment, if anyone knows?
And specifically, I was asking about the AC66/68/87 series of routers, but actually, I'm really only interested in the AC66's (either R or U, they are the same).
I've previously read the threads to which you provided links, and while they address the issue of end-user ability to adjust transmit power, the reason I also asked about "actual" transmit power is that I've read that even in versions of the F/W prior to 374.43 and below, that some of the F/W's released by ASUS in light of the Netgear complaints (about skirting the FCC testing requirements for transmit power) had already rendered even the visible adjustments in the GUI somewhat meaningless.
What I mean by that is that ASUS actually downgraded the transmit power, in particular for the AC66's at least twice, first in versions of the F/W well before 374.38 in response to the complaints to the FCC and the civil lawsuit filed by Netgear, and then again, in order to comply with the new FCC limitations on end-user consumer ability to change country codes and increase transmit power.
So while I understand that the 374.43 builds (and below) allow the user to input up to 200mw for both 2.4 and 5.0 radios, the GUI also states that this setting will automatically adjust itself "to meet regional regulations". So, even if you change the settings to beyond 80mw, at least in some of the versions of the F/W, in the U.S., it will have no practical effect...at least that's what I've gleaned from reading some of the other threads on this topic (and don't ask me to cite one now, because I haven't catalogued links and don't have time to go through the search function).
I suppose in part what I was thus asking, was not only which versions of F/W would allow the user to adjust the transmit power (or at least make it appear that transmit power is being adjusted), but which versions of the F/W will actually restore the ability of an AC66U to transmit at the power it was formerly transmitting at BEFORE the Netgear complaints were lodged and ASUS reacted to them?
The reason I ask is this: When I first bought my AC66U in or around February of 2014, I have no idea what firmware was initially installed at the factory, but I do know that when I pulled it out of the box, connected it, and began to test for wireless coverage, range and throughput, even in remote areas of my house, it was the single fastest router I'd ever experienced. Great range, great throughput, and lightning fast. And for the most part, the F/W was, right out of the box, rock-solid for simple file transfers, streaming and internet up and downloading. Nothing fancy, no FTP servers, no minidlna, no SMB, just browsing, watching downloaded media, and using simple network shares.
Then, I learned about Merlin's first builds here from this forum, and tried some of them out. They provided about the same stability for me, and the same utility, and the same speeds. But at some point, I loaded in a new firmware, can't recall whether it was "official" or Merlin's (based on an official build) and my range, throughput and speeds all dropped. I then tried a bunch of other F/W versions, both official and Merlin's, and while I *think* my speed, range and throughput is back to where it once was, I still have this nagging sensation that they are not, and that ASUS (and Merlin because he's using the official builds as his starting point), has slowed things down, if only to avoid the whole Netgear mess (and to avoid liability and a ban on sales), and now, in anticipation of attempting to comply with the new FCC rules.
So, in short, my question is: What was the last really good, fast, and most powerful F/W available (either Merlin or official from ASUS) that anyone has available to them that existed before ASUS scaled back the performance that used to exist in the AC66's?
I guess I should have been clearer about this, but there it is. Again, I'm not trying to get anyone to run afoul of FCC rules and regs, or any other law that I know of. I'm just trying to find out if anyone still has the earlier versions of the F/W, and if so, whether it's still available anywhere that one might be able to obtain it (and yes, I realize that ASUS has pulled all of the earlier versions of the F/W from their official site, so I realize it isn't being offered officially anywhere).
But thanks for the clarification as to 374.42_2. Much appreciated.
