ASUS RT-AC87 Firmware - Official Releases

[zabolots]

Not all, but a very large portion of the time I hear about complaints with 5GHz wireless, I hear "My iPad/iPhone/Mac does this..."

It's really rare that I see anybody mention (I'm not sure if it's lack of knowledge, or what) the issues Apple has had with wireless over the recent iterations of iOS/MacOS.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/gordonkelly/2015/04/09/apple-ios-8-3-wifried/

https://medium.com/@mariociabarra/wifried-ios-8-wifi-performance-issues-3029a164ce94

I'm not saying there isn't a Quantenna issue, or an improvement that could be made --however, I think that adequate testing at this point over 5GHz requires not using Apple hardware to do the testing. This at least eliminates one possible point of failure that people attribute to the RT-AC87 that might be the fault of other hardware.

My wife & I are Android users (Galaxy S5 & Moto X 2014), my kids are Apple freaks (iphone 5c & iPad 3rd Gen). While the Android devices have occasional issues (they're the only 5Ghz clients we have) the iOS products are practically unusable with the RT-AC87. The connection icon stays but there is no connectivity. Sometimes resetting WiFi on the iOS device will clear it up for a bit, sometimes not. So it appears that iOS is having issues for me even on 2.4GHz.

In short, my kids hate me for buying this router and are begging me to return it. I'm getting close to caving in.

 

[Allograft]

I am using lots of apple products on an 87u with latest official f/w of 5134. No issues on either band. I do have to do a reboot daily in order to stay in communication with printer (HP 8600) but otherwise works fine with 1 Phone 6 on 8.4.1, 2 iPhone 5s's on 8.4.1, 1 iPhone 4s on iOS 7, 2 MacBook Pros with retina on 10.10.5, 2 MacBook Airs on Mavericks, one iPad Air 2 on 8.4.1, one iPad mini with retina display on 8.2, a Windows 7 box, a Windows xP box, a Galaxy Tab S 8.4 on Lollipop, and a decrepit Vista box. Gotta new Dell 2in1 to updat for onWin 10, so we'll how that does. Same SSID for both 2.4 and 5 but mostly factory settings. I do have MAC filtering on too. Whitelisted only

 

[Zirescu]

My wife & I are Android users (Galaxy S5 & Moto X 2014), my kids are Apple freaks (iphone 5c & iPad 3rd Gen). While the Android devices have occasional issues (they're the only 5Ghz clients we have) the iOS products are practically unusable with the RT-AC87. The connection icon stays but there is no connectivity. Sometimes resetting WiFi on the iOS device will clear it up for a bit, sometimes not. So it appears that iOS is having issues for me even on 2.4GHz.

In short, my kids hate me for buying this router and are begging me to return it. I'm getting close to caving in.

When you moved to the 87U did you use the same SSID as your previous router? If this is the case, I'd recommend either using a new SSID or forgetting them on the devices and setting it up again. I had issues with drops outs, etc when I reused the SSID from my previous Linksys when I moved to Asus and not setting up the network settings again on the iOS devices.

 

[sfx2000]

In short, my kids hate me for buying this router and are begging me to return it. I'm getting close to caving in.

If things are getting to the point where your primary users are complaining, then perhaps you should...

There are other Routers/AP's that work just fine with all clients...

 

[mucci]

I am using lots of apple products on an 87u with latest official f/w of 5134. No issues on either band. I do have to do a reboot daily in order to stay in communication with printer (HP 8600) but otherwise works fine with 1 Phone 6 on 8.4.1, 2 iPhone 5s's on 8.4.1, 1 iPhone 4s on iOS 7, 2 MacBook Pros with retina on 10.10.5, 2 MacBook Airs on Mavericks, one iPad Air 2 on 8.4.1, one iPad mini with retina display on 8.2, a Windows 7 box, a Windows xP box, a Galaxy Tab S 8.4 on Lollipop, and a decrepit Vista box. Gotta new Dell 2in1 to updat for onWin 10, so we'll how that does. Same SSID for both 2.4 and 5 but mostly factory settings. I do have MAC filtering on too. Whitelisted only

I have the same problem with my printer (HP 4500)!

 

[bodean]

Can we clean up this form and keep posts to when an official firmware is released? Thanks

 

[mucci]

Can we clean up this form and keep posts to when an official firmware is released? Thanks

You do not use neither the original firmware. What are you complaining about? Follow the specific forum for your firmware.

 

[Veldkornet]

Perhaps we should make a general 87U discussion/rant thread

 

[Allograft]

I have the same problem with my printer (HP 4500)!

Here's hoping that daily chore gets rectified at home point, eh?

 

[LoneWolf]

My wife & I are Android users (Galaxy S5 & Moto X 2014), my kids are Apple freaks (iphone 5c & iPad 3rd Gen). While the Android devices have occasional issues (they're the only 5Ghz clients we have) the iOS products are practically unusable with the RT-AC87. The connection icon stays but there is no connectivity. Sometimes resetting WiFi on the iOS device will clear it up for a bit, sometimes not. So it appears that iOS is having issues for me even on 2.4GHz.

In short, my kids hate me for buying this router and are begging me to return it. I'm getting close to caving in.

We have an iPhone 5c (her) and an iPhone 6 (me) here. I'm running 7449 firmware and have not had issues, and I'd know if I did, because we have different carriers (work pays for mine) and I have horrible cell reception in the house. I just have two SSIDs (one for 2.4, one for 5) and keep the iPhones on 2.4GHz, the rest of our devices on 5GHz (laptops are Intel N-adapters, but the bridge for her office is a 4-port switch with 2x2 AC; it has never had issues). I no longer play with betas; like others, I'm sick and tired of having to hard-reset devices to reload them, something that would *never* fly in the SMB/enterprise world (one of several reasons why my AC87 is now just an AP, not my router).

I'll have to test the 5GHz again with our iOS devices, but I haven't had reason to. Not trying to be an apologist; the longer one looks at this, the more one thinks that Quantenna will lose out to QCA and Broadcom as they are now announcing MU-MIMO devices, and that by the time Quantenna gets it right, they'll have been eclipsed by the bigger fish.

Note: I also am old-school in that I don't hook up printers via wireless, or storage via USB. I've done enough networking to hold solidly to the belief that wired is the best for printing (and have seen HP printers that were unpredictable over wireless for clients), and that Ethernet is the best for storage and printing (as opposed to a USB port on a router, which once again is less predictable). Some of these beliefs may be benefiting me compared to the configurations of others.

 

[Mr.Smith]

Just got answer from my hardware dealer, at least amazon germany is taking back the Asus RT-AC87U and giving a full refund no matter of the purchase date. I was complaining about the unstable 5 ghz band and the questionable mu-mimo capabilities that are still advertised but not available. I also admitted that there seems to be hardware issues with Quantenna thats causes these problems and they´re trying to fix for more than a year without any success.

On one hand i like the Asus RT-AC87U because of it´s nice web gui and the fast processor. On the other hand particularly the 5 ghz band issues are very annoying and an absolute blocker.

I think i will give Asus another one or two (beta) releases and if nothing changes return the router.

 

[Allograft]

Wow, would love to know if anyone has similar luck with Tiger Direct in the USA

 

[mucci]

Wow, would love to know if anyone has similar luck with Tiger Direct in the USA

I do not understanding!

 

[Allograft]

the guy right who posted above me said that he got a full refund through Amazon Germany. I had tried several months back with Tiger Direct, where I got mine from, and they said no way. It's better for me though since 5134.

 

[Adam Kingsley]

the guy right who posted above me said that he got a full refund through Amazon Germany. I had tried several months back with Tiger Direct, where I got mine from, and they said no way. It's better for me though since 5134.

Germany has different laws that benefit the buyer. Usually you can get any electronic device replaced within 1 year no questions asked. And can return it within a certain time no questions asked. Quite nice actually.

I lived in Munich for some time, bought a mouse which buttons started to stick after 9 months. Took it to the store and left with a brand new mouse within minutes.

That's to the retailer too, not just the manufacturer.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Mr.Smith]

Not exactly. In fact it´s amazon (germany) and it´s absolutely buyer friendly service. If a product gets broken within the first 24 month you mostly get either a replacement or a full refund.

German law only says that any product that was bought online can be returned within the first 14 days without any costs. Afterwards you can send any broken device back to your retailer within 24 month and he is responsible to repair it. After 3 tries without success you are allowed to cancel the purchase and get a full refund.

Actually my plan was to wait for the next one or two betas but after reflecting the whole thing for a while it´s clear that something went wrong with Asus and Quantenna. I´ll return my ASUS RT-AC87 tomorrow...

//EDIT
I´m now looking forward for a Synology router, looks pretty nice
http://www.cnet.com/products/synology-rt1900ac/

 

[RMerlin]

Actually my plan was to wait for the next one or two betas but after reflecting the whole thing for a while it´s clear that something went wrong with Asus and Quantenna. I´ll return my ASUS RT-AC87 tomorrow...

//EDIT
I´m now looking forward for a Synology router, looks pretty nice
http://www.cnet.com/products/synology-rt1900ac/

You got burned by buying a router that had a somewhat experimental architecture, and now you want to go to another experimental device from a manufacturer that has no prior experience in developing and supporting a router? <head scratching>

If I were you, I'd look into a more traditional model from an established manufacturer. Netgear R7000, Asus RT-AC68U, etc... those are native Broadcom bcm470x products, used in numerous router models, so they're proven technology (as much as a 802.11ac chipset can be so at this point, that is).

 

[GhostriderZ85]

I just talked to asus USA CSR, explained my situation, then asked me if he can place me on hold, i said sure, waited for an hour, next thing i know i got transfered to canada customer service and talking to a rude CSR, he told me that i have to call USA customer service, i was like, WTH? i waited for an hour.

 

[Mr.Smith]

You got burned by buying a router that had a somewhat experimental architecture, and now you want to go to another experimental device from a manufacturer that has no prior experience in developing and supporting a router? <head scratching>

If I were you, I'd look into a more traditional model from an established manufacturer. Netgear R7000, Asus RT-AC68U, etc... those are native Broadcom bcm470x products, used in numerous router models, so they're proven technology (as much as a 802.11ac chipset can be so at this point, that is).

Of course you´re right, synology is a newcomer on the router market. But if the chipset is not too exotic and the first tests won´t complain about stability so far i´m going to give it a try. Particularly the GUI with its features just looks amazing.
Meanwhile i use a german "Fritz Box" Router that is absolutely rock solid but unfortunately not supports simultaneous dual band. That´s why i switched to the ASUS RT-AC87

 

[InspectHerGadget]

Not exactly. In fact it´s amazon (germany) and it´s absolutely buyer friendly service. If a product gets broken within the first 24 month you mostly get either a replacement or a full refund.

German law only says that any product that was bought online can be returned within the first 14 days without any costs. Afterwards you can send any broken device back to your retailer within 24 month and he is responsible to repair it. After 3 tries without success you are allowed to cancel the purchase and get a full refund.

Actually my plan was to wait for the next one or two betas but after reflecting the whole thing for a while it´s clear that something went wrong with Asus and Quantenna. I´ll return my ASUS RT-AC87 tomorrow...

//EDIT
I´m now looking forward for a Synology router, looks pretty nice
http://www.cnet.com/products/synology-rt1900ac/

I have quite a lot of faith in Synology. I have one of their routers and everything works, updates are handled flawlessly and no issues at all. The Linux based Synology NAS is a complex beast from a software point of view. Asus are primarily hardware manufacturers and while I have been reasonably happy with the AC87, there is no doubt that there have been a lot of issues with the UI and 5GHz band too. Whether it really is an issue or whether SNB people just expect a lot of hard to say. I certainly see quite a bit of switching off my 5GHz network on the AC87. Now whether this is the fault of Qualcomm or Asus I really don't know. I would guess Qualcomm as it would appear to be a driver issue.