ASUS RT-AC3200 Observations

[tim]

Had my RT-AC3200 for a few days now. Just wanted to share some of my observations.

ASUSWRT RT-AC3200_3.0.0.4 Thu Apr 23 09:07:50 UTC 2015
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# nvram get bl_version
2.0.0.3
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# cat /proc/dmu/temperature
CPU temperature : 65C
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth1 phy_tempsense
58 (0x3a)
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth2 phy_tempsense
58 (0x3a)
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth3 phy_tempsense
63 (0x3f)
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# nvram get 0:ccode
E0
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# nvram get 1:ccode
E0
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# nvram get 2:ccode
E0
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth1 txpwr_target_max
Maximum Tx Power Target (chanspec:0xe02a):      14.50  14.50  14.50
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth2 txpwr_target_max
Maximum Tx Power Target (chanspec:0x1001):      12.50  12.50  12.50
xxxxxx@RT-AC3200:/tmp/home/root# wl -i eth3 txpwr_target_max
Maximum Tx Power Target (chanspec:0xe06a):      21.50  21.50  21.50

1) CFE is 2.0.0.3 (already posted in http://www.snbforums.com/threads/asus-routers-cfe-dumps-collection.17793/)
2) F/W is 3.0.0.4.378_5343. Later than any shown on the ASUS site. EDIT: just noticed 6091 Beta has been put up.
3) Label on box says hardware version R4.12, not gonna open router to verify if this matches the real hardware.
4) Country code is E0? Was expecting EU or GB
5) 2.4G radio is killed by using USB3 (Reducing USB 3.0 interference Disabled). Disappointing.

Despite some minor issues, I think it is a powerful platform with great potential.

 

[CiASpook]

Got my RT-AC3200 today. Where did you find the 6091 beta?

 

[tim]

https://www.asus.com/uk/Networking/RTAC3200/HelpDesk_Download/

 

[tim]

Damn I don't believe it, looks like 5G-2 radio has stopped working

I had devices connected to it no problem but now not able to connect.
Did a power cycle, can briefly connect then it disappears.

WiFi Analyzer on phone and HUDL2 only show the 5G-1 radio even though the 5G-2 is enabled in the router GUI.

Could this be a F/W bug or do I have broken hardware?

EDIT: Ok maybe it's DFS. How can I see DFS events plz? thanks

 

[RMerlin]

EDIT: Ok maybe it's DFS. How can I see DFS events plz? thanks

I don't know if Asus has enabled logging for them, but check the router's System Log just in case. Could be events logged either by acsd or bsd.

 

[tim]

Got nothing from:

dmesg | grep -e "acsd" /tmp/syslog.log
dmesg | grep -e "bsd" /tmp/syslog.log

assuming I have done that correctly.

I noticed 2 things when I lose access to 5G-2:
1) "wl -i eth3 txpwr_target_max" shows 20, 20, 20. It is usually 21.5, 21.5, 21.5
2) 5G-2 channel width drops from 80Mhz to 20Mhz

Is this normal behavior for DFS? Just want to determine if I have a fault or not.

Thanks.

 

[tim]

Another question: Why are the 2.4G and 5G-1 showing such low max power (see first post).

14.5dBm on the 2.4G band is 28mW. The legal EIRP limit in the UK is 100mW.
What's the typical gain from the supplied aerials? +2dbi? So maybe i'm getting 44mW (16.5dBm). Still low.

and 12.50dBm on the 5G-1 band is 17mW. The legal EIRP limit in the UK is 200mW. Why so low?

 

[speedbird747]

hi all - I'm looking for F/W is 3.0.0.4.378_5343 which was working fine until I upgraded to 3.0.0.4.378_6091 which has been awful for me - constant drop outs, slower performance than my BT Homehub 4. I need to get back to _5343 please help!!! can someone dump it to a file for me if their AC3200 has it installed. Would really appreciate it - its not on Asus website.

 

[tim]

I have 3.0.0.4.378_5343 but I don't know how to dump the F/W (only know how to dump the CFE).
Anyone got instructions? Will the F/W contain any of my private information?

 

[speedbird747]

thanks but don't worry about it now. Essentially I have resolved my issues now by setting Network Key Rotation Interval to 0. I had done this before but only on 1 channel. I needed to do it on the other 2 also! Now done - router working like a dream finally.