ASUS RT-AC88U having issues connecting on 2.4GHz

[PapaWangsta]

Hello every1 , I was googling and stumbled this great forum. This is a great forums just like the xda-developers's forums. That said, I'm having a minor issues. I'm NOT sure whether this is normal or NOT. I just got this router, ASUS RT-AC88U.

Two questions:

1. Issues that I'm having with 2.4GHz band. Once when the devices connected to 2.4GHz then suddenly will automatically switches to 5GHz. My question is, is this normal or is a defected router? I've gone factory reset this router already.

2. How's Merlin's router firmware comparing to the OEM's firmware? Is it stable for daily use? Also it is easy to go back to the OEM's firmware if anything goes wrong?

Thanks,

 

[L&LD]

1. Use different ssid's. Only setup the network (2.4 or 5) on each device that you want it to use.
2. Better/Best. Extremely stable and highly recommended to get the most from your router. As easy as switching between stock firmware is.

http://www.snbforums.com/threads/asuswrt-merlin-custom-firmware-for-asus-routers.7846/

The primary goals of this project are to fix bugs, add a few basic features and tweaks to the original firmware. This firmware will try to remain as close as possible to the original firmware. If you are looking for a slew of advanced features, then this project is not for you. Look at TomatoUSB or DD-WRT, two excellent products that might suit your needs better.

If however you prefer something as close as possible to the manufacturer's firmware, then this is for you

 

[PapaWangsta]

1. Use different ssid's. Only setup the network (2.4 or 5) on each device that you want it to use.
2. Better/Best. Extremely stable and highly recommended to get the most from your router. As easy as switching between stock firmware is.

http://www.snbforums.com/threads/asuswrt-merlin-custom-firmware-for-asus-routers.7846/

Thanks for your reply @L&LD.
Getting back to my question 1, is it normal when automatically switching from 2.4GHz to 5GHz band? Also, which band is best for the phones and tablets.

 

[PapaWangsta]

Same ssids and passwords for both band? @L&LD said : 1. Use different ssid's.

Thanks for reply @Sanna1967.
Yes, 2.4 & 5 have different SSID's. However same passwords. Could it be automatically switching to a more powerful or stronger networks?

 

[RMerlin]

Thanks for reply @Sanna1967.
Yes, 2.4 & 5 have different SSID's. However same passwords. Could it be automatically switching to a more powerful or stronger networks?

That depends on the clients - they're the ones who ultimately decide where to connect. Some clients are configurable and you can tell it if they should priorize the 5 GHz band over the 2.4 GHz band, others aren't as configurable.

 

[PapaWangsta]

Hello @RMerlin, Thanks for your reply.

1.Most of my devices are android phones/tablets. Do those will automatically be switching from 2.4 to 5 by itself? However, I did configure allow smart network switch. Do you think because of that?

2. Do you think is worth it to switch to Asus RT-AC5300 over AC88U? Also, do U write firmware for AC5300?

 

[L&LD]

http://www.snbforums.com/threads/alpha-mu-mimo-early-preview-of-380-59.31006/

That is exactly what smart network switch will do.

 

[PapaWangsta]

@L&LD, Thanks for your reply.

Looks like there's noting to be worry about then. I thought my router went bad.

Speaking of router,do think AC5300 better than AC88U? I have so many devices at home not sure whether to get AC5300 or not. BTW, does @RMerlin supports AC5300? So far I din't see it.

 

[pete y testing]

Speaking of router,do think AC5300 better than AC88U?

they are the same thing with a few different features depending on what you want or need feature wise

the rt-ac88u is dual band wireless AC and has 8 lan giga ethernet ports two of which can be used for link bonding if you have a nas or server that is also capable of link bonding

the rt-ac5300 is a tri band router eg 1 x 2.4 gig and 2 x 5 gig transmissions but only has 4 giga ethernet ports

now i dont know many that even needs a tri band wireless Ac router yet as most dont have 40 plus wireless AC clients yet and its when you get to that sort of population of wireless Ac clients that the tri band will come into its own

so if you want to spend a lot on your next router and are happy to wait on getting any 2156M wireless adapters to use with it my siggestion is go with the asus rt-ac88u

merlin has his firmware available for almost all the AC router range from asus

 

[PapaWangsta]

@pete y testing, thanks for your reply.
That settles it. AC5300 is what I need. Just ordered and is on the way to as I type.

 

[pete y testing]

AC5300 is what I need.

so how many wireless AC clients do you have ? as i was pointing you to the more preferred and featured and cheaper rt-ac88u and you already have it right

the 5300 is going to bring you nothing new

 

[PapaWangsta]

so how many wireless AC clients do you have ? as i was pointing you to the more preferred and featured and cheaper rt-ac88u and you already have it right

the 5300 is going to bring you nothing new

Thanks for your reply @pete y testing.
Oh wow, I didn't know I have that many items. At least over 25 to 30 if not more. Some are not even connected yet. Mostly we do streaming videos to TVs & streaming security cameras.

 

[pete y testing]

At least over 25 to 30

yes but how many are 5 gig and ac ? as its only when you have that many 5gig ac adapters will the dual 5 gig and band steering etc be of any real use

and as i said if you already have the rt-ac88u you prob would be just as well server by running a second wireless ac access point in another part of your house and share the wireless duties and load

 

[PapaWangsta]

yes but how many are 5 gig and ac ? as its only when you have that many 5gig ac adapters will the dual 5 gig and band steering etc be of any real use

and as i said if you already have the rt-ac88u you prob would be just as well server by running a second wireless ac access point in another part of your house and share the wireless duties and load

Thanks for your reply @pete y testing .

That really depends on how many people are in the house and whom is using it. Does the AC88U have the option opening up another access point? Wouldn't the 5300 serves better when lots of devices streaming at a same time since it has tri-band?

 

[pete y testing]

That really depends on how many people are in the house and whom is using it

and where they are in the house

Does the AC88U have the option opening up another access point?

no but the idea is to buy a second wireless access point and run it in another part of the house connected back to the 88u via ethernet

as an example see my floor plan in the link below


https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=7D5C...1a0742!812&parId=7d5cb240be1a0742!144&o=OneUp

i run my main router asus rt-ac88u in location A and then have ethernet run from location A to location D , at location D i run a second wireless router in ether AP mode or wan bypass mode

this way no matter where the clients are in the house they get the max sync rates available

whereas if i just run the 88u or ac5300 at location A i get losses up to 50% for 2.4 gig and 66% on 5 gig for clients around location D and E

the end result running a transmission at location A and a separate transmission at location D is that approx 1/2 the clients connect to each and all devices get close to max sync connection

if you run the ac5300 in location A you still get that 550% loss over 2.4 gig and 66% loss over 5 gig at location D and E but can set 1/2 the clients to one 5 gig transmission and 1/2 to the other


so if you see the logic , yes the 5300ac may be a bit better than the 88u with lots of clients but its far better to run a separate transmission and share the load and greater signal sync and connection for all clients

 

[PapaWangsta]

and where they are in the house



no but the idea is to buy a second wireless access point and run it in another part of the house connected back to the 88u via ethernet

as an example see my floor plan in the link below


https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=7D5C...1a0742!812&parId=7d5cb240be1a0742!144&o=OneUp

i run my main router asus rt-ac88u in location A and then have ethernet run from location A to location D , at location D i run a second wireless router in ether AP mode or wan bypass mode

this way no matter where the clients are in the house they get the max sync rates available

whereas if i just run the 88u or ac5300 at location A i get losses up to 50% for 2.4 gig and 66% on 5 gig for clients around location D and E

the end result running a transmission at location A and a separate transmission at location D is that approx 1/2 the clients connect to each and all devices get close to max sync connection

if you run the ac5300 in location A you still get that 550% loss over 2.4 gig and 66% loss over 5 gig at location D and E but can set 1/2 the clients to one 5 gig transmission and 1/2 to the other


so if you see the logic , yes the 5300ac may be a bit better than the 88u with lots of clients but its far better to run a separate transmission and share the load and greater signal sync and connection for all clients

Great info @pete y testing.
As of where r they located. This is a large 3 story house. It might be a little challenging to set up.

That's exactly on my mind have a second or 3rd router as a repeater. Quick question, as of repeater, does is it better go get another router act as repeater?

Oh shoot, what r u doing with all of those routers? R U doing any shady business or streaming porns. J/K.

 

[RMerlin]

merlin has his firmware available for almost all the AC router range from asus

Only the high-end, Broadcom-based models. They have many other models that I don't support: RT-AC51, RT-AC52, RT-AC53, RT-AC54, RT-AC55, RT-AC56S, RT-AC1200...

 

[RMerlin]

Hello @RMerlin, Thanks for your reply.

1.Most of my devices are android phones/tablets. Do those will automatically be switching from 2.4 to 5 by itself? However, I did configure allow smart network switch. Do you think because of that?

Enabling Smart Connect actually tells the router to move clients around, based on various parameters. That would be why you see them disconnect and immediately reconnect to a different band.

2. Do you think is worth it to switch to Asus RT-AC5300 over AC88U? Also, do U write firmware for AC5300?

Main difference is the AC5300 has 2 5 GHz radios to allow you to separate your devices between them, and the RT-AC88U has 8 LAN ports. Otherwise they are quite similar, with the same wifi SoC, same CPU performance, etc...

There might be some minor differences in overall performance due to antenna or amp design, but I doubt they're major. Check Tim's reviews of both devices in his database to compare them.

 

[PapaWangsta]

Only the high-end, Broadcom-based models. They have many other models that I don't support: RT-AC51, RT-AC52, RT-AC53, RT-AC54, RT-AC55, RT-AC56S, RT-AC1200...

@RMerlin, since I don't see AC5300, does that means you don't support it?

 

[pete y testing]

since I don't see AC5300, does that means you don't support it?

see

https://github.com/RMerl/asuswrt-merlin

At this time, the supported devices are:

• RT-AC56U
• RT-N66U
• RT-AC66U
• RT-AC68U (including revision C1)
• RT-AC68P
• RT-AC87U
• RT-AC3200
• RT-AC88U
• RT-AC3100
• RT-AC5300

NOTE: all the "R" versions (for example RT-N66R) are the same as their "U" counterparts, they are just different packages aimed at large retailers. The firmware is 100% compatible with both U and R versions of the routers. Same with the "W" variants that are simply white.