Release Asuswrt-Merlin 386.1 is now available

[skeal]

hmmm. A bit weird and scary and disapointing. Is it specific to that router or just a 1 off?

I have been thinking of upgrading my AC68U, but it still seems more reliable and stable than these newer routers?

I'm not the guy to ask, as I've had 3 Asus routers sent for repair or retired. My AC3100 just gave up for some reason one day, this is my 2nd AX88U hoping the third is the charm...lol

 

[RMerlin]

hello, I switched to version 386.1 without problem. however, I have the channel for 5ghz which changes even though I have set it to manual. I set it to 100, and after 2 days it changes to 48. On the previous version (384.19) I stayed 120 days without changing the channel. which channels support 160mhz?

DFS channels will be forcibly vacated if any radar activity is detected. Working as intended.

 

[RMerlin]

@RMerlin you nailed it, everytime I reset my AX88U to factory defaults I lose a bit more function. Got a hold of Asus and they gave me an RMA, my warranty expires end of this March. Caught it just in time. I'm shipping today. Thanks again. Lost all 2.4G wifi last night it never came back. I'm glad I had the old AC68U, put it into primary router service, running fine. I can work and still watch TV...that's all I need for now.

Since it's not your first problematic router, I would recommend getting an entry level UPS to protect it. You don't need much runtime, just something that will condition power in case you might be having power issues leading your routers to an early death.

 

[skeal]

Since it's not your first problematic router, I would recommend getting an entry level UPS to protect it. You don't need much runtime, just something that will condition power in case you might be having power issues leading your routers to an early death.

Great idea! I thought of it late last night too and, ordered a cheap entry level UPS. I have many UPS systems around the house. Thanks again.

 

[anotherengineer]

Since it's not your first problematic router, I would recommend getting an entry level UPS to protect it. You don't need much runtime, just something that will condition power in case you might be having power issues leading your routers to an early death.

ahhh This is something I do have as my NAS, cable modem, router and switch are all plugged into it. Maybe that's why my 68U is still going strong.

 

[joe68000]

On my RT-AC5300, I did a dirty update from 384.19_0 to 386.1_0 and the UI is no longer functioning. I get the login page, but after I enter my creds, it just hangs.

When I ssh in - everything looks fine and the router appears to be otherwise functioning correctly. I've used amtm scMerlin to restart httpd a few times, with no luck. Any connections to 80 or 8443 eventually timeout. Any idea what I need to update?

In the log all I see is the following when I restart httpd.

Feb  7 15:44:11 RT-AC5300 rc_service: httpd 27618:notify_rc restart_httpd
Feb  7 15:44:11 RT-AC5300 custom_script: Running /jffs/scripts/service-event (args: restart httpd)
Feb  7 15:44:12 RT-AC5300 RT-AC5300: start https:8443
Feb  7 15:44:12 RT-AC5300 RT-AC5300: start httpd:80
Feb  7 15:44:14 RT-AC5300 httpd: Succeed to init SSL certificate...8443
Feb  7 15:44:14 RT-AC5300 httpd: Succeed to init SSL certificate...80

 

[hancox]

Did a dirty update from 384.19_0 to 386.1_0 and the UI is no longer functioning. I get the login page, but after I enter my creds, it just hangs.

When I ssh in - everything looks fine and the router appears to be otherwise functioning correctly. I've used amtm scMerlin to restart httpd a few times, with no luck. Any connections to 80 or 8443 eventually timeout. Any idea what I need to update?

In the log all I see is the following when I restart httpd.

Feb  7 15:44:11 RT-AC5300 rc_service: httpd 27618:notify_rc restart_httpd
Feb  7 15:44:11 RT-AC5300 custom_script: Running /jffs/scripts/service-event (args: restart httpd)
Feb  7 15:44:12 RT-AC5300 RT-AC5300: start https:8443
Feb  7 15:44:12 RT-AC5300 RT-AC5300: start httpd:80
Feb  7 15:44:14 RT-AC5300 httpd: Succeed to init SSL certificate...8443
Feb  7 15:44:14 RT-AC5300 httpd: Succeed to init SSL certificate...80
[\code]

Point 4. Wait it out.

Release - Asuswrt-Merlin 386.1 is now available

Feb 12th: 386.1_2 is now available: 386.1_2 (12-Feb-2021) - NEW: Added snmp support to the RT-AX86U. - UPDATED: inadyn to 2.8.1. - UPDATED: nano to 5.5. - CHANGED: Use local OUI database instead of remote one hosted on Asus's server (allows queries to work even when...

www.snbforums.com

 

[joe68000]

Point 4. Wait it out.

Release - Asuswrt-Merlin 386.1 is now available

Feb 12th: 386.1_2 is now available: 386.1_2 (12-Feb-2021) - NEW: Added snmp support to the RT-AX86U. - UPDATED: inadyn to 2.8.1. - UPDATED: nano to 5.5. - CHANGED: Use local OUI database instead of remote one hosted on Asus's server (allows queries to work even when...

www.snbforums.com

OK, thanks, sorry I missed that.

 

[skeal]

ahhh This is something I do have as my NAS, cable modem, router and switch are all plugged into it. Maybe that's why my 68U is still going strong.

My AC68U is solid as a rock, no complaints.

 

[ATLga]

OK, thanks, sorry I missed that.

You and a thousand others by the looks of this thread...

 

[brummygit]

May not be a bug when you use DFS channels. Much better to not use those channels that can be used by RADAR.

Except that the default 80Mhz width that is pretty much default now uses channels 36-48 so when your neighbour generates a stronger signal than your own to some of your devices you have no real choice.

DFS channels will be forcibly vacated if any radar activity is detected. Working as intended.

The problem seems to be false RADAR detections (my old RT-AC68U doesn't get them in the same spot) which knock the router off channel, but because it is running a fixed channel I think there is no ACS process to move you back or to anywhere sensible, even when the original channel is cleared by DFS again. The net result on my setup on earlier firmware versions is that the 5Ghz signal keeps bouncing around from channel to channel disconnecting clients. On newer firmware it lands on channels 36-48 which my neighbours have filled to capacity with very strong signals.

EDIT: Quoted correct comment from @RMerlin

 

[K4TTO]

kernel: nf_conntrack: expectation table full

my console if full of that line, it comes when Im using Microsoft Edge, it loads really slow .
Opera works fine. what can I do?

 

[jpthsd]

Just upgraded direct from 384.18 to 386.10 (dirty upgrade), it seems to work well enough.

1st, upgraded my AC68U, an AiMesh node from 384.18 to 386.10 , rebooted successful, rejoined the AiMesh network and started servicing Wifi devices a-OK

2nd, upgraded my AC86U, an Router/AiMesh main node from 384.18 to 386.10, manually rebooted, back in operation mode version upgraded confirmed 386.10, Wifi devices all joined back to the Wifi network, also was a dirty upgrade.

So far so good...

Hopefully some benefit from AiMesh 2.0 might bring some stability, robustness...(saving quiet $$ with the existing AiMesh AC86U & AC68U) ...

I was tempting for couple days to upgrade to RT-AX86U but the current AiMesh network from by AC86U/AC68U quiet reliable to 35 wifi devices, 10 wired devices with 500/500 Mbps WAN without any sluggish! (Maybe wait another year until Asus releases AX86U-E for Wifi 6E to upgrade!!)

 

[SheikhSheikha]

Hello all,
RMerlin, thank you for your excellent work!

I have a question about VPN speeds and I wonder if anyone else here had similar experience.
I did not find similar issue when searching the forum.

I am using RT-AC86U router with ExpessVPN subscription. While running firmware 384.18 and 384.19,
I am getting download speeds through OpenVPN client around 220 - 240 Mbps.

But when I update firmware to 386.1 and with same ExpressVPN config, I suddenly get only around
130 - 140 Mbps download speeds. Everything looks normal, everything works great, but I have this
VPN speed drop which I cannot explain.
If I disconnect the router from VPN, I get 250 Mbps, which is my maximum speed from ISP.

Just for reference, when on 386.1 and connected to VPN, the CPU cores are not maxed out while
I measure internet speed and CPU temperature is around 86°C and I don't think that CPU throttling is the
cause for VPN speed drop.
Also wiping the router and reapplying saved settings did not change the measured VPN speed.
Speedtest results remain 130 - 140 Mbps no matter if I test from wired or wireless client, Windows or iOS,
computer or mobile device.
If I go back to 384.19 firmware, I immediately get the 220 - 240 Mbps VPN speedtest results.

OpenVPN advanced parameters I use are copied from ExpressVPN website and are meant for Merlin firmware:
fast-io
remote-random
pull
tls-client
verify-x509-name Server name-prefix
ns-cert-type server
route-method exe
route-delay 2
tun-mtu 1500
fragment 1300
mssfix 1200
keysize 256
sndbuf 524288
rcvbuf 524288

Could this be caused by OpenVPN 2.5.0 used in firmware 386.1 in combination with ExpressVPN?
Can anyone suggest what else could I try to get to my usual VPN speeds on 386.1 firmware?

Thank you.

Hi, I did a dirty upgrade but deleted the openvpn settings first. Than I flashed the new firmware twice and I formatted JFFS. After the reboot I waited 15 minutes and uploaded the vpn settings. With this I noticed no speed difference with the previous firmware version. I hope it works for you too.
If you are using Mac devices: remove the wifi connection from your devices and make new ones (this to avoid that undocumented "apple goodies" are not stored with your wifi connection.
(I use openvpn only as fallback as I prefer L2TP. If L2TP is good enough for you try that one.

 

[sbsnb]

ahhh This is something I do have as my NAS, cable modem, router and switch are all plugged into it. Maybe that's why my 68U is still going strong.

My first RT-AC88U was plugged into a Cyberpower CP1000PFCLCD. It even has power conditioning, but that didn't stop the 2.4 GHz radio from dying after about 40 days.

 

[Jeffrey Young]

kernel: nf_conntrack: expectation table full

my console if full of that line, it comes when Im using Microsoft Edge, it loads really slow .
Opera works fine. what can I do?

Have a read through this link

Solved - [SOLVED]Syslog Flooded With "nf_conntrack" Errors, RT-AX88U

Hello I am completely new here, and i am glad i found this forum and this great firmware. i had stock frimware 3977 before flashing to Merlin, 384.15. so going into the issue im having, basically the log is full of this : Mar 5 11:15:50 kernel: nf_conntrack: expectation table full Mar 5...

www.snbforums.com

 

[ToXic_DST]

rt-ac5300 missing Game mode in menu ?? after upgrade to 386.1

 

[Jeffrey Young]

rt-ac5300 missing Game mode in menu ?? after upgrade to 386.1

Not sure about the ac5300, but I see in the release notes for 386.2 alpha that missing game mode is fixed in the AC88U.

 

[Lotta Cox]

My first RT-AC88U was plugged into a Cyberpower CP1000PFCLCD. It even has power conditioning, but that didn't stop the 2.4 GHz radio from dying after about 40 days.

That UPS does not condition the power. It can lower or raise voltage when it reaches a certain point.
An "online UPS" AKA "double conversion UPS" power is constantly conditioned. Much more expensive.

 

[sbsnb]

That UPS does not condition the power. It can lower or raise voltage when it reaches a certain point.
An "online UPS" AKA "double conversion UPS" power is constantly conditioned. Much more expensive.

Yes, it's line interactive, not online.