ASUS RT-AXU88 Pro Install and Setup Questions

[Listedguru2]

I have recently ordered an ASUS RT-AXU88 PRO and it should be here in a week or so. This is my first ASUS router so I'm looking for advice on the most dummy proof way to setup this router. Is this all done via app these and is that the recommended way for install and setup? Also I believe it's ok to use the same network name and password as my previous router to keep things simple? Any issues with me setting up separate 2.4ghz and 5ghz networks? I think I remember reading if doing so it's best to turn off Smart Connect (I think that's what it's called)? Basically I want to set this up properly but I have no need for any fancy extra settings (at least I don't think I do). I don't run a VPN here and honestly I'm not sure what all the fancy features ASUS offers on this router?

 

[bbunge]

The easy way, for some, is to use the app. You will get basic settings and the router will just work.

The better way is to use a PC connected to the router with Ethernet. Once you get the updates, the user name/password and SSID and passphrase set up you can go on to configure other settings. To begin with, using the default WIFI settings, including Dual Band SmartConnect, is best. The default LAN subnet will be 192.168.50.0/24. Using the same SSID and passphrase is OK but if the old network used WPA2-Personal use that on the new router to begin with.

Try the router with the default/basic settings. Take a backup of the settings in case down the road you change someting that dosen't work.

 

[Listedguru2]

The easy way, for some, is to use the app. You will get basic settings and the router will just work.

The better way is to use a PC connected to the router with Ethernet. Once you get the updates, the user name/password and SSID and passphrase set up you can go on to configure other settings. To begin with, using the default WIFI settings, including Dual Band SmartConnect, is best. The default LAN subnet will be 192.168.50.0/24. Using the same SSID and passphrase is OK but if the old network used WPA2-Personal use that on the new router to begin with.

Try the router with the default/basic settings. Take a backup of the settings in case down the road you change someting that dosen't work.

Thanks for the reply. It looks like my current router is using WPA2 so I will use that to begin with like you suggested. At what point do I change that over to WPA3? Also you mention to use SmartConnect to begin with so I can stop using that at some point? Also whats the best way to take a backup of the settings once I have it set up? Sorry for all the questions I just want to get this right

 

[Tech9]

Sorry for all the questions

The more you use people around here as Google search assistants the less answers you'll get.

Straight from Asus about setting up your new Asus router:

[Wireless Router] How to use the QIS (Quick Internet Setup) to set up Router ? (Web GUI) | Official Support | ASUS Global

[Wireless Router] How to set up ASUS Wi-Fi router via ASUS Router App? (QIS, Quick Internet Setup) | Official Support | ASUS Global

Get the router and ask questions in case you encounter issues with it. May attempt finding the answers yourself as well. SNB Forums is a great knowledge database and most likely someone else already asked similar to your questions and got the answers. You have the time to do so.

 

[Kingp1n]

Thanks for the reply. It looks like my current router is using WPA2 so I will use that to begin with like you suggested. At what point do I change that over to WPA3? Also you mention to use SmartConnect to begin with so I can stop using that at some point? Also whats the best way to take a backup of the settings once I have it set up? Sorry for all the questions I just want to get this right

You can setup as WPA3 on initial setup but if you notice any issues (i.e devices not connecting), you can always change it back to WPA2.

As far as SmartConnect...you'll get different viewpoints on this. I don't personally use it as like certain devices connecting to the 2.4ghz (IoT devices) band and others (streaming devices) only to the 5ghz band. If you don't really care than you may try SmartConnect. Again you can always change it at anytime.

As far as backup ...I would take screenshots or pictures of all your settings or log some settings under a notepad/word document.

Best of luck and report back on how everything is running!

 

[OzarkEdge]

I have recently ordered an ASUS RT-AXU88 PRO and it should be here in a week or so. This is my first ASUS router so I'm looking for advice on the most dummy proof way to setup this router. Is this all done via app these and is that the recommended way for install and setup?

My preference (what I do):
o download and extract current firmware to a PC;
o wire the PC to the router LAN;
o browse to the router's default LAN IP address, 192.168.50.1;
o perform the Quick Internet Setup (QIS) routine, skipping WAN setup and don't care on the exact details;
o upload the current firmware;
o Restore/Initialize (Hard Reset) that firmware to its default settings;
o browse to the router's default LAN IP address, 192.168.50.1;
o perform the Quick Internet Setup (QIS) routine for real this time, manually configuring the WAN for your ISP (still not wired), and then proceed to configure the non-default settings for a basic configuration according to my configuration notes.

I prefer using the router webUI and avoid wireless and app admin for various reasons and for best experience... there are alternate approaches to admin that you will learn to use when they may serve you in the moment. Just be patient, Apply your changes before leaving a tab (or leave and return to abort changes and start over), allow the router ample time to process (monitor/learn the LEDs), WAIT for the browser to refresh, and make notes on your progress for reference later when you may need to recall what you have done and to guide any troubeshooting.

Also I believe it's ok to use the same network name and password as my previous router to keep things simple?

Yes, OK. But if troubleshooting a difficult wireless client, consider forgetting its prior connection and reconnecting it to clear out any lingering gremlins... different client network drivers can behave differently.

Any issues with me setting up separate 2.4ghz and 5ghz networks? I think I remember reading if doing so it's best to turn off Smart Connect (I think that's what it's called)?

Upgrading to a new network is opportunity to improve how you configure and use your network... to move forward... new gear often does things differently/better than old gear. Keep an open mind... if you do not need to manually steer clients to a specific band and/or you now have VLAN WLANs for aggregating/isolating guest/IoT/special clients differently than you did before, then try using Smart Connect with same SSIDs. You may find that it works for your clients and is a more elegant user experience. If not, simply disable Smart Connect and set different SSIDs. Same applies for other/old/legacy settings/habits... use the default settings unless you know otherwise.

Basically I want to set this up properly but I have no need for any fancy extra settings (at least I don't think I do). I don't run a VPN here and honestly I'm not sure what all the fancy features ASUS offers on this router?

I also use a basic configuration... to limit dependencies, security exposure, and admin overhead... to keep it as simple, safe, and reliable as I can.

Know that ASUS has been re-engineering ASUSWRT for years starting with AiMesh in 2017, and now VLANs (software/self-defined networking... SDN). This stuff gets pushed out half-baked and can fall short... try not to over use it before they get it fully working. Configure a few VLAN WLANs and hold for now... the next release is going to change the SDN bits.

OE

 

[TheLyppardMan]

If you have any difficulty accessing your router to begin with, there is a useful ASUS utility called "Device Discovery". It looks like this when you run it:

Also, with this router, you can either start the initial setup via a wired connection or connect to the initial open Wi-Fi network that the router provides (which it then terminates when you have named and set up your Wi-Fi networks using the startup wizard). It's something like ASUS_00.

The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi generally works best if you set the channel bandwidth to 20 MHz and the 5 GHz bandwidth to 20/40/80 MHz. This is how I currently have mine set up:

Once you have the basics set up, you can then save the configuration, so that if you mess things up, you can recover your settings.

One other decision you might want to consider is whether you want to continue using the default ASUS firmware or the Merlin equivalent, which is based on the ASUS firmware, but has extra features. I don't use many of those myself, but I do find the one that backs up the router settings according to a user-specified schedule to be useful and also the one that automatically updates the firmware after a user-specified delay (to give users the chance to report any identified bugs). These are available as Add-ons when running Merlin firmware. I hope this helps, if only a little bit.

 

[Kitsap]

I have recently ordered an ASUS RT-AXU88 PRO and it should be here in a week or so. This is my first ASUS router so I'm looking for advice on the most dummy proof way to setup this router. Is this all done via app these and is that the recommended way for install and setup? Also I believe it's ok to use the same network name and password as my previous router to keep things simple? Any issues with me setting up separate 2.4ghz and 5ghz networks? I think I remember reading if doing so it's best to turn off Smart Connect (I think that's what it's called)? Basically I want to set this up properly but I have no need for any fancy extra settings (at least I don't think I do). I don't run a VPN here and honestly I'm not sure what all the fancy features ASUS offers on this router?

Recommend you get your router model number correct. There is no such thing as a RT-AXU88 Pro. The correct model number is RT-AX88U Pro.

Recommend you stay with the stock ASUS firmware for a while after initial configuration. The firmware should update to the most recent during the configuration process. For this specific model router, the available RMerlin firmware is based on one generation old ASUS code. Do your research carefully before going to RMerlin firmware at this time. RMerlin firmware based on the most recent ASUS code should be available sometime down the road. No ETA so it could be a while.

 

[Listedguru2]

If you have any difficulty accessing your router to begin with, there is a useful ASUS utility called "Device Discovery". It looks like this when you run it:
View attachment 63291
Also, with this router, you can either start the initial setup via a wired connection or connect to the initial open Wi-Fi network that the router provides (which it then terminates when you have named and set up your Wi-Fi networks using the startup wizard). It's something like ASUS_00.

The 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi generally works best if you set the channel bandwidth to 20 MHz and the 5 GHz bandwidth to 20/40/80 MHz. This is how I currently have mine set up:
View attachment 63292
View attachment 63293

Once you have the basics set up, you can then save the configuration, so that if you mess things up, you can recover your settings.

One other decision you might want to consider is whether you want to continue using the default ASUS firmware or the Merlin equivalent, which is based on the ASUS firmware, but has extra features. I don't use many of those myself, but I do find the one that backs up the router settings according to a user-specified schedule to be useful and also the one that automatically updates the firmware after a user-specified delay (to give users the chance to report any identified bugs). These are available as Add-ons when running Merlin firmware. I hope this helps, if only a little bit.

Thanks for posting your settings. Curious whey you are using WPA2 unless it has to do with certain devices not connecting when using WPA3?

 

[TheLyppardMan]

Thanks for posting your settings. Curious whey you are using WPA2 unless it has to do with certain devices not connecting when using WPA3?

I think that was the case, but I can't remember which device(s) had problems connecting.

 

[ccleeland]

Recommend you stay with the stock ASUS firmware for a while after initial configuration. [...] Do your research carefully before going to RMerlin firmware at this time.

Could you give some a brief summary of the rationale for the advice of steering clear of merlin firmware on this device?

 

[Tech9]

advice of steering clear of merlin firmware on this device

When you get a new router better test it with original firmware first and then decide if you need something else. This router has 3006 stock Asuswrt and 3004 Asuswrt-Merlin. You get Asuswrt-Merlin additional features and lose stock Pro (user configurable VLAN, Guest Network Pro) features. For a new Asus router user my advice is the same - use stock Asuswrt, get familiar with the GUI, make sure it's working properly.

More advanced users can do whatever they want.

 

[Kitsap]

Could you give some a brief summary of the rationale for the advice of steering clear of merlin firmware on this device?

I could not have said it better than @Tech9 .

 

[ccleeland]

So the advice is really "be aware that the features in the two firmwares aren't identical, so understand what you want and need before moving to merlin."

 

[Tech9]

If something is still not clear:

- new device is tested with stock firmware
- new user has to get familiar with the GUI first
- Asus FAQ is about stock Asuswrt, may be needed
- there is no Asus Support with 3rd party firmware
- here is no official Asus App support in 3rd party firmware
- current 3rd party firmware for this specific device is a downgrade
- one of the last 3006 official releases was made minimum required
- Asus removed all 3004 firmware and don't allow downgrade in GUI

For the above reasons my advice to @Listedguru2 is to run stock Asuswrt.

 

[Listedguru2]

OP here - got my new ASUS AX88U Pro installed today but for some reason it doesn't seem like it updated the firmware. It came with version 3.0.0.4.388_23110 installed. It searched for new firmware and found version 3.0.06.102_33340 and I hit the upgrade button and it took a few minutes to do it's thing. It acted like it successfully installed it but when it still still it's on version 3004 (the one it came with) when I log back into the asusrouter interface. I tried to update it again but it's still saying the same thing. This is my first ASUS router so maybe I'm missing a step here or doing something wrong?

 

[bennor]

OP here - got my new ASUS AX88U Pro installed today but for some reason it doesn't seem like it updated the firmware. It came with version 3.0.0.4.388_23110 installed. It searched for new firmware and found version 3.0.06.102_33340 and I hit the upgrade button and it took a few minutes to do it's thing. It acted like it successfully installed it but when it still still it's on version 3004 (the one it came with) when I log back into the asusrouter interface. I tried to update it again but it's still saying the same thing. This is my first ASUS router so maybe I'm missing a step here or doing something wrong?

Standard troubleshooting steps if you haven't done them already:
Try a different web browser
Temporarily disable any browser addons/extensions
Try a different computer
Do not flash over WiFi
Use a computer connected directly, using Ethernet wire, to the same router
Perform a hard factory reset on the router, then do a basic QiS setup, to gain access to router GUI, then flash firmware
Temporarily disable any third party security or anti virus software on the computer being used to flash the router
Power cycle the router then try flashing again
Do not have anything else connected to the router other than one wired PC

 

[Kitsap]

Before you perform a hard factory reset, I would recommend you download the firmware from the ASUS web site and perform a manual firmware update.

https://account.asus.com/us/loginform.aspx

Use a computer connected to the router with an Ethernet cable. Do not use a Wi-Fi connection.

 

[Tech9]

Standard troubleshooting...

Sorry, but a new consumer user with brand new off the shelf device doesn't have to troubleshoot anything right off the bat. The device setup doesn't require specific knowledge, computer, cable, specific browser, file downloads or hard resets. Simple firmware update via Asus App or WebUI has to be working as described by the manufacturer without any special magic. If it doesn't - too bad. You guys just got used to perpetual beta tester status and start troubleshooting right away. A device causing trouble on day one has to go back so the manufacturer takes notes and doesn't make trouble next time.

 

[Listedguru2]

Before you perform a hard factory reset, I would recommend you download the firmware from the ASUS web site and perform a manual firmware update.

https://account.asus.com/us/loginform.aspx

Use a computer connected to the router with an Ethernet cable. Do not use a Wi-Fi connection.

So are you saying to download the firmware from the ASUS website onto a USB stick and then update from that or just download it via the internet from the ASUS website?