ASUS RT-AC5300

[RMerlin]

I think Asus and QTN probably pushed things a bit too hard on the 87U - most of the complaints are stability oriented, haven't heard of any issues with performance when it's not busy having issues - for many, it might work ok..

The performance is good. I saw a slight increase in range myself versus the RT-AC68U I was previously using, and 5 GHz throughput was nearly identical. Until last month I was still using the RT-AC87U as my main router, despite having 6-7 different ones to chose from. For me, it was the best of the bunch.

 

[sfx2000]

The performance is good. I saw a slight increase in range myself versus the RT-AC68U I was previously using, and 5 GHz throughput was nearly identical. Until last month I was still using the RT-AC87U as my main router, despite having 6-7 different ones to chose from. For me, it was the best of the bunch.

I think for many, the primary concern now is stability on the QTN/QSR1000 - the performance is there, just so many edge cases that drive that chip off the edge perhaps.

 

[madhatter01]

Look what I found! Its for sale! Yes out of stock, but its a start.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0167HG1V6/?tag=snbforums-20

 

[RMerlin]

Look what I found! Its for sale!

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0167HG1V6/?tag=snbforums-20

Temporarily out of stock.
Order now and we'll deliver when available.

 

[madhatter01]

Yes, but it will be out soon and you can order it. Already ordered mine.

 

[RMerlin]

Yes, but it will be out soon and you can order it. Already ordered mine.

Amazon is known for jumping the gun a bit early in some cases. It could still be weeks before the product becomes available for mass distribution.

 

[nagle3092]

Hopefully the 88 is right around the corner as well.

 

[PaperFriend]

I am having a hard time deciding which router will be the best for my setup in the future. Currently I am using one ac87 as a router and another ac87 as an access point.

My devices are:

iMac 5k
Surface pro
3 MacBook airs - kids when they are all home
5 iPhones
Withings scale
Nest 3rd generation
3 dropcam pros
3 iPads
Rachio sprinkler
Chamberlain garage
Ooma
Synology 710+ Network hard drive
Kindle paper white
2 Xbox ones
Ps4
5 Apple tv's
1 TIVO premiere pro
6 TIVO minis

5300 or 88?

 

[RMerlin]

I am having a hard time deciding which router will be the best for my setup in the future. Currently I am using one ac87 as a router and another ac87 as an access point.

My devices are:

iMac 5k
Surface pro
3 MacBook airs - kids when they are all home
5 iPhones
Withings scale
Nest 3rd generation
3 dropcam pros
3 iPads
Rachio sprinkler
Chamberlain garage
Ooma
Synology 710+ Network hard drive
Kindle paper white
2 Xbox ones
Ps4
5 Apple tv's
1 TIVO premiere pro
6 TIVO minis

5300 or 88?

I would first wait for the two to become available, and for reviews to appear. It's hard to make a decision without knowing the price, availability, general performance and stability, etc...

 

[DaveMishSr]

Look what I found! Its for sale! Yes out of stock, but its a start.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0167HG1V6/?tag=snbforums-20

NewEgg has the RT-5300 listed but is only auto-notifying registered users when it is available. Here's the link:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...STMATCH&Description=rt-ac5300&N=-1&isNodeId=1

 

[DaveMishSr]

I am having a hard time deciding which router will be the best for my setup in the future. Currently I am using one ac87 as a router and another ac87 as an access point.

My devices are:

iMac 5k
Surface pro
3 MacBook airs - kids when they are all home
5 iPhones
Withings scale
Nest 3rd generation
3 dropcam pros
3 iPads
Rachio sprinkler
Chamberlain garage
Ooma
Synology 710+ Network hard drive
Kindle paper white
2 Xbox ones
Ps4
5 Apple tv's
1 TIVO premiere pro
6 TIVO minis

5300 or 88?

They are two different platforms, X-Stream vs Wave 2, and the RT-AC88U (X-Stream or 3x3) is AC3300 (or whatever) while the RT-5300 is 4x4 MU-MIMO. I always advocate waiting 6-12 months before jumping on a new router but I already have NewEgg notifying me when I can order the RT-5300.

 

[DaveMishSr]

The performance is good. I saw a slight increase in range myself versus the RT-AC68U I was previously using, and 5 GHz throughput was nearly identical. Until last month I was still using the RT-AC87U as my main router, despite having 6-7 different ones to chose from. For me, it was the best of the bunch.

I have had great performance with my AC87R and now this refurbished AC87U from NewEgg. It has not been an easy road by any means but now that I have great firmware from an even greater man, , and have kept my settings as simple as possible, the ac87x platform kicks butt. The 5GHz band is just as useful as the 2.4GHz band! That is the first router that I have ever been able to say that about.

 

[thiggins]

What are you hoping to get from either the RT-AC88U or RT-AC5300? Both are using Broadcom's brand-new MU-MIMO chipset that isn't finished baking yet.

None of the new crop of AC routers, either Broadcom or QCA based are going to provide significant range improvement. That's not what they're focused on and both face the same laws of physics regarding 5 GHz propagation.

 

[PaperFriend]

They are two different platforms, X-Stream vs Wave 2, and the RT-AC88U (X-Stream or 3x3) is AC3300 (or whatever) while the RT-5300 is 4x4 MU-MIMO. I always advocate waiting 6-12 months before jumping on a new router but I already have NewEgg notifying me when I can order the RT-5300.

I wish I could wait. I must like pain or torturing myself. It took forever for me to be able to use a second 87 as an access point. As soon as everything gets stable, it is time to upgrade to the next beta router

I am leaning towards the 5300 myself even though I don't have any 4x4 products (yet).

 

[thiggins]

I am leaning towards the 5300 myself even though I don't have any 4x4 products (yet).

You won't ever have any 4x4 devices unless you buy a second router and use it as a bridge.

MU-MIMO isn't enabled yet on the new Broadcom devices. And it will be awhile before you have the two MU-MIMO devices you need to take advantage of that feature. By then, other less expensive options will be available.

That said, it's your money.

 

[DaveMishSr]

You won't ever have any 4x4 devices unless you buy a second router and use it as a bridge.

MU-MIMO isn't enabled yet on the new Broadcom devices. And it will be awhile before you have the two MU-MIMO devices you need to take advantage of that feature. By then, other less expensive options will be available.

Would you be kind enough to elucidate? What do you recommend? Thanks.

 

[thiggins]

Would you be kind enough to elucidate? What do you recommend? Thanks.

Elucidate on what?
I continue to recommend AC1900 routers as the best bang for the buck. If you have a large area to cover or a lot of 5 GHz devices, add APs.

ONE BIG HONKIN' ROUTER DOESN'T CUT IT ANYMORE. Stop drinking the Wi-Fi marketing Kool-Aid.

 

[sfx2000]

Would you be kind enough to elucidate? What do you recommend? Thanks.

Just my two cents....

Going into the holiday season (big consumer electronics quarter), we'll see more AC enabled clients introduced in the tablet/handheld/media player space - and these will be recent client chipsets - now that we're seeing 2*2:2 11ac in most Q4-2015 products, and many might have latent MU capabilities (just not enabled)...

AC1900 - if one has an AC1900 class router now - best to wait a bit, don't rush out and buy - after the holidays, let's see what the market does - my guess is that AC2600* will define the top tier where AC3200/AC2400 is now, and the AC1900 class devices will come down in price...

I would definitely steer clear of any AC3200/AC2400 class routers at this point - AC1900 is still probably the best Price/Performance bet...

*AC5300/AC2600 is basically the same thing from a client perspective, just add one more 5GHz radio and associated $$$

 

[sfx2000]

I continue to recommend AC1900 routers as the best bang for the buck. If you have a large area to cover or a lot of 5 GHz devices, add APs.

I second that statement...

 

[madhatter01]

How long until it is really available do you think?