ASUS RT-N66U - my review

[ladysman]

Does both 2.4GHz and 5GHz work using the firmware you stated? How is the wireless range? Just as good as the stock? Are you able to change the TX power above 40mw?

I'm curious as well although I didn't think 5ghz was working.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

I've found a potentially serious flaw with the current firmware version 3.0.0.3.90.

Even with "Enable Web Access from WAN" set to 'Disabled' the router is still advertising the Admin Panel from port 80 through the external IP address. The router should not be advertising this port outside of the local LAN, or to to IP addresses outside of the local subnet. I have tried unsuccessfully to disable this.

I wanted to give everyone a heads up, and to make sure that they have set a secure password set (i.e. not 'admin'), as currently if you are running this router anyone can attempt to break in via the port 80 admin panel.

If you have this router running, please confirm that you are encountering the same flaw by attempting to access your router by using your external IP.

How are you confirming that? If you're trying to connect to your WAN IP from INSIDE your network..that's just how the router is handling "loopback".

Or are you actually trying to connect to the WAN IP from somewhere across the internet?

 

[Greg_Elite]

Is this currently the best N900 router? IHO.

 

[okeygrak]

Resolution

How are you confirming that? If you're trying to connect to your WAN IP from INSIDE your network..that's just how the router is handling "loopback".

Or are you actually trying to connect to the WAN IP from somewhere across the internet?

I have found a workaround to the issue. By going to the Firewall Settings, ENABLING Access Router from WAN, applying, and then disabling the setting following by APPLY a second time.

After performing this, followed by a reboot, my router no longer broadcasts the admin panel over port 80. Not sure what triggered this bug, but I'll be sure to keep a look out for it again in the future. Hopefully it doesn't show up again and is handled in the next firmware update.

I suggest that if you are using this router, to at least test if this issue pops up. Not the most ideal security situation.

 

[Greg_Elite]

I already made Asus aware of it. Dev team is verifying the issue as we type.

 

[sfx2000]

I already made Asus aware of it. Dev team is verifying the issue as we type.

@Greg_Elite - if you're an Asus employee or contractor, you should disclose...

You seem to be very active on the Asus product threads... I think the collective appreciates your contributions, but it's sensible to understand where they're coming from and take them in the right context.

 

[Greg_Elite]

I don't work for Asus LOL. I just reported it.

 

[eksern]

Port forwarding in RT-N66U

Earlier after I had updated to the latest firmware 3.0.0.3.90 I reported that port forwarding still was not working. However this is not completly true as it works if one try to access the router completly from a outside network.

The other day when I tried to access the router from my work computer I found that port forwarding now was working and that I could access all forwaded services.

However if one try to test port forwarding from the inside local network using the wan ip adress and port number then that is still not working. I have reported this back to ASUS and hopefully this will be solved in the next firmware update.

I am using a MacBook Pro mid 2010 with this router and using the 5GHz band. I then get 200 Mbit/s uplink/downlink over the WIFI on my local network. This test was done with iperf3 running on my mac mini which is directly connected to the router (wired). If I switch to 2.4GHz then I only get 90 Mbit/s uplink/downlink.

I think that Macbooks on 5 GHZ are working perfectly and one of the preferred clients for this router. This routers hardware is outstanding as wireless router and very stable. No hangups, reboots etc. All of these other problem are minor and would eventually be solved with fimware updates.

Then when it comes to the latest discussion about quality and different brands. I have over the years owned a number of routers even the earlier RT-N56U. DLink DIR-825, Apple Airport Extreme, Netgear, Linksys and all of them have had it bads but also some good. Currently I think that this router is the best and that one need to have some patience with it as it perhaps was out on the market a little to early. However I have confidence in that all of this will be sorted out.

 

[Greg_Elite]

Does it have the best range of any previous wireless router you have owned?

 

[eksern]

I must admit that I have not done any range checks. The distance to my router is about 10 meters so it is not that far away.

But my wife and daughter is using it from other rooms in the apartment and they have so far not complained. They usally do when something is not working. With all of these other routers there has been problem with losing signal etc. But it is perhaps to early to tell.

 

[darksamus]

Will test it today

I will be getting this router two days early. I will try the new firmware and shibby's tomato firmware and report back. I will compare it to my current Asus RT-N16 running Toastman's tomato firmware.

 

[njweb]

I got my RT-N66U last night.
I just unpacked it this morning.
Using the English language that mine defaulted to, I was able to configure wifi and then update the firmware directly via the GUI (no special tricks or steps needed).
I am using Win 7 32bit on the desktop and Firefox 8.0.1 if that helps.

The only thing is that during the firmware upgrade (which said to wait about 3 minutes), at some point (I was not watching it every second) the progress bar disappeared and it just sat there on a blank screen (http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_FirmwareUpgrade_Content.asp).
I opened a new browser window (leaving the other one open in case the upgrade was not quite done yet) and I was able to access the internet (posting this from that browser window).

The build quality seems amazing - it is a heavy router, LAN and WAN ports looks solid with metal edges / accents.

Last night, in preparation for a comparison, I reran all the LAN Speed Tests on my Amped R10000 (last did them in December).
I paid $5 for LST 2.0.x since 1.0.x did not seem to be playing too well with my 64 bit laptop (spinning icon). I thought the potential process hanging could be affecting the throughput results since my middle of the house location was getting a great signal but low throughput).
Ironically, after using 2.0.x, it just looks like there is some interference in that room as even moving the wifi client an inch or two made a huge difference and the results were also fluctuating. Whereas in a further location one floor down I was getting the same decent throughput.

I will run some initial speed tests with my RT-N66U today and post some feedback.

It loaded fine after the firmware upgrade.

1. I noticed that DoS protection is turned off by default. I assume it adds processing overhead and was deemed not to be used by the typical SOHO user?


2. As Geraner reported as well, both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wifi transmit power can not be set above 40mW.
The GUI returns a message saying: "This value could not exceed 40".
I assume this is not the real setting since that is low...

Hopefully my measurements (compared to those taken with the R10000 last night) will give me a sense of how strong the wifi signal is along with actual throughput at each location.


I am going to set bandwidth to 20/40MHz instead of selecting one.
I will first set it to 20 MHz for testing purposes since that is what the Amped was set to and I am trying to keep the conditions as controlled as possible.

 

[delair2]

I got my RT-N66U last night.
I just unpacked it this morning.
Using the English language that mine defaulted to, I was able to configure wifi and then update the firmware directly via the GUI (no special tricks or steps needed).
I am using Win 7 32bit on the desktop and Firefox 8.0.1 if that helps.

The only thing is that during the firmware upgrade (which said to wait about 3 minutes), at some point (I was not watching it every second) the progress bar disappeared and it just sat there on a blank screen (http://192.168.1.1/Advanced_FirmwareUpgrade_Content.asp).
I opened a new browser window (leaving the other one open in case the upgrade was not quite done yet) and I was able to access the internet (posting this from that browser window).

The build quality seems amazing - it is a heavy router, LAN and WAN ports looks solid with metal edges / accents.

Last night, in preparation for a comparison, I reran all the LAN Speed Tests on my Amped R10000 (last did them in December).
I paid $5 for LST 2.0.x since 1.0.x did not seem to be playing too well with my 64 bit laptop (spinning icon). I thought the potential process hanging could be affecting the throughput results since my middle of the house location was getting a great signal but low throughput).
Ironically, after using 2.0.x, it just looks like there is some interference in that room as even moving the wifi client an inch or two made a huge difference and the results were also fluctuating. Whereas in a further location one floor down I was getting the same decent throughput.

I will run some initial speed tests with my RT-N66U today and post some feedback.

It loaded fine after the firmware upgrade.

1. I noticed that DoS protection is turned off by default. I assume it adds processing overhead and was deemed not to be used by the typical SOHO user?


2. As Geraner reported as well, both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz wifi transmit power can not be set above 40mW.
The GUI returns a message saying: "This value could not exceed 40".
I assume this is not the real setting since that is low...

Hopefully my measurements (compared to those taken with the R10000 last night) will give me a sense of how strong the wifi signal is along with actual throughput at each location.


I am going to set bandwidth to 20/40MHz instead of selecting one.
I will first set it to 20 MHz for testing purposes since that is what the Amped was set to and I am trying to keep the conditions as controlled as possible.

Hello: Sounds like you are having some fun! Where did you find the N66U for sale? Were you one of the lucky ones to get the first few from Amazon Newegg which are apparently now out of stock?

Also, would you be able to estimate the obstructed/non-obstructed distance of your testing locations from the router when you can ?

 

[darksamus]

Hello: Sounds like you are having some fun! Where did you find the N66U for sale? Were you one of the lucky ones to get the first few from Amazon Newegg which are apparently now out of stock?

Also, would you be able to estimate the obstructed/non-obstructed distance of your testing locations from the router when you can ?

you can get it at excaliburpc.

 

[delair2]

you can get it at excaliburpc.

Thank you. Looks like Amazon has a few now so just grabbed one with no shipping ( Hopefully I'm not getting one of those initial broken ver 3.0.0.3.72 routers that was returned...)

 

[njweb]

Thank you. Looks like Amazon has a few now so just grabbed one with no shipping ( Hopefully I'm not getting one of those initial broken ver 3.0.0.3.72 routers that was returned...)

I saw it on newegg that Friday but could not make my mind up.
I ended up ordering the following week from one of the other merchants offering it (searched google shopping) since newegg had not received their second batch yet and since amazon had raised the price and had a 2 - 4 week delay anyway.

So you got one from amazon direct (not another seller using amazon) today? Good for you! I see they came to their senses and lowered the price back to 179.99

 

[delair2]

I saw it on newegg that Friday but could not make my mind up.
I ended up ordering the following week from one of the other merchants offering it (searched google shopping) since newegg had not received their second batch yet and since amazon had raised the price and had a 2 - 4 week delay anyway.

So you got one from amazon direct (not another seller using amazon) today? Good for you! I see they came to their senses and lowered the price back to 179.99

Yes. Interesting. Amazon has it listed from a 3rd party for $183.83 + $6.44 shipping--but if you look just below under more buying choices $179.99 with Prime ( which is what I bought).

BTW, I am assuming the N66U supports IPv6 ( reportedly due to start June of this year) but I don't see that listed on the ASUS product page. Can you confirm with your product's documentation?

 

[njweb]

I am extremely pleased with the RT-N66U so far (working from home part of today and got a chance to hook it up and test it during lunch).

I will post more details and test results tonight hopefully (signal strength and throughput).
To summarize in the meantime:
The RT-N66U is much better than my E4200 at long range wifi and, depending on the test location (bedroom, living room or family room) was either slightly better, the same or ever so slightly worse than my Amped R10000 which I had been very happy with (till now).

I don't know what the "40mW" setting actually equates to, but let's just say this thing is amazing.
It even appears to have fixed a Netflix missing cover art issue with my Smart TV that my Blu-Ray player did not have.
I don't know if one setting on the Amped is off or something else was wrong with it (it worked fine in every other way), but I am a very happy camper as they say.

I will say that the Asus runs warm (i.e. the Amped is cool but also only single band with less features) but NOT hot.
So long as it stays stable (as Geraner's experiences indicate), I will definitely be keeping the RT-N66U!!!
The dual band, upgradable antennae (doubt most users will ever need to do so) gigabit LAN and WAN, IPv6 and multiple other features (USB connectivity etc.) combined with very solid build quality, great looks, and great wifi performance make it a no brainer if you ask me.
It is not cheap, but given the E4200v2 is $20 more and the Zyxel NBG5715 was nothing special, the RT-N66U IMHO is a relative bargain for what it offers.

 

[phila]

RT-N66U Tomato Shibby Build
Average: 97/47Mbit/s

How did you upgrade ? I tried the tomato-K26USB-1.28.RT-N5x-MIPSR2-083V-Mega-VPN.trx image, but the stock firmware reports that its an invalid image file.

Thanks!

 

[darksamus]

How did you upgrade ? I tried the tomato-K26USB-1.28.RT-N5x-MIPSR2-083V-Mega-VPN.trx image, but the stock firmware reports that its an invalid image file.

Thanks!

I think you have to put it in recovery mode and use their utliz. software to upload it.