Buying Asus router just because of this. Supported device AC3200?

[kfp]

Thanks for the clarification, i thought it was an either or?

XStream is Broadcom (hardware architecture) specific while MIMO is vendor agnostic. They can coexist. MIMO requires the clients to support it while XStream doesn’t.

 

[umarmung]

What's flawed in their design?

I said original design and BCM4366 + MU-MIMO.

 

[terminator]

@RMerlin if you could only support 3 routers due to time constrains or the technological challenges you are seeing, which ones would they be?

 

[RMerlin]

I said original design and BCM4366 + MU-MIMO.

MU-MIMO is half-placebo, half-marketing. It shouldn't even be a criteria when choosing a new router.

@RMerlin if you could only support 3 routers due to time constrains or the technological challenges you are seeing, which ones would they be?

RT-AC68U because it's Asus' best product, RT-AC88U because it's what I'm currently using, and RT-AC86U because it has more up-to-date hardware and software than everything else out there.

 

[JaimeZX]

I wouldn't touch the RT-AC3100 (or its brother RT-AC88U) with a stick - too many complaints and their original design was flawed.

I bought a refurbished 3100 for $99. Worked for about a month, then started getting sketchy. Sent it in for repair; they fixed something and sent back to me for free. Been flawless ever since.

 

[doczenith1]

Note. If you suffer from WiFi issues on the Asus, try the usual fixes:

• disable MU-MIMO
• disable beamforming
  
• disable Nitro/Turbo-QAM
• disable airtime fairness
• set a static channel on both bands
• set static channel widths

I agree with all of these except the blanket disabling of beamforming. 802.11ac (5GHz band) Beamforming is actually a standard and is the only one I keep enabled. It is sometimes called explicit beamforming.

 

[terminator]

RT-AC68U because it's Asus' best product, RT-AC88U because it's what I'm currently using, and RT-AC86U because it has more up-to-date hardware and software than everything else out there.

Thanks!!

 

[Vexira]

What's flawed in their design?

Been using an RT-AC88U as my primary router here, of all the models I have available for me to use. It's been rock-stable, only issue so far is my Zenpad's crappy Mediatek disliking band C channels - resolved by switching to channel 36.

The only flaw I see in the 88u is the ancient kernel and the fact that only four switch ports aren't broadcom but in fact realteck which is a pia for certain things.
And the lack of full cone Nat support or an option to use it.

Other wise the 88u has been extremely solid for me so I agree with you.

 

[o-l-a-v]

One more thing to consider with AC3200: It most likely won't get support ASUS' AiMesh, due to some limitations with wireless drivers (I believe that was the reason why, will look for sources).
So it's already "behind" in features, like N66U and AC66U.

 

[kfp]

One more thing to consider with AC3200: It most likely won't get support ASUS' AiMesh, due to some limitations with wireless drivers

Ah, so that’s why the official firmwares for it are stuck on 382.

 

[AndreiV]

The AC3200 is now marked as End of Life on several UK/EU retailers.

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/asu...s-24-50ghz-80211-a-b-g-n-ac-4x-lan-usb-30-usb


http://cplonline.com.au/asus-tri-band-wireless-ac3200-gigabit-router.html

And it is not MU MIMO as some have said , it uses Broadcom's Tri-Band XStream technology instead of MU-MIMO .

 

[kfp]

The AC3200 is now marked as End of Life on several UK/EU retailers.

https://www.scan.co.uk/products/asu...s-24-50ghz-80211-a-b-g-n-ac-4x-lan-usb-30-usb


http://cplonline.com.au/asus-tri-band-wireless-ac3200-gigabit-router.html

And it is not MU MIMO as some have said , it uses Broadcom's Tri-Band XStream technology instead of MU-MIMO .

You’re right about AC3200 not having MU-MIMO, I spoke too soon. Some of the regional sites advertise that it does and some have different marketing terms. Eg.

https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RTAC3200/

https://www.asus.com/Networking/RTAC3200/


Though XStream and MU-MIMO are not mutually exclusive features. This new Broadcom chip is 4x4 and has both:

https://www.broadcom.com/products/wireless/wireless-lan-infrastructure/bcm4366

 

[RMerlin]

People often confuse MIMO (which is inherent to 802.11ac) and MU-MIMO.

 

[unsynaps]

I'm not as confident in accepting that as you seem to be in asserting it; could you point us in the direction of your information source please? or would someone like @RMerlin please confirm? There's a lot of material/information to filter and absorb on a forum such as this.

Maybe search for yourself. Nice attitude.

 

[elorimer]

If the OP's interest in getting a new tri-band router is in having a dedicated band for streaming, one alternative is to repurpose an older router as an AP, yes?

 

[heysoundude]

Maybe search for yourself. Nice attitude.

I was going to just sit here and silently take these, but no, damnit.
At the risk of further enflaming some member/commenters on this thread:
People should cite their assertions to further the conversation; share your knowledge. That permits people who self-admittedly know less to learn more; they came here seeking information.
Be the rising tide that lifts all boats. this is what an online forum is about; surely there are some rules or terms you have violated, as I may have as well in my first sentence of this reply.
In an effort to elevate signal above noise, I place myself at the mercy of the moderators.

 

[agilani]

There is something called civility and graciousness. If one asks for help, one does not then turn around and insult the person who responds and happens to provide a solid and correct answer. Any basic search would have netted the same results.

nuf said

 

[kfp]

People should cite their assertions to further the conversation; share your knowledge.

It’s quite alright to ask for sources, it was perhaps the way you asked it that provoked people. No one owes you one. Perhaps it was not your intention but obviously some perceived that as too much attitude. My immediate reaction was the same, but thought I’d just give you the sauce and move the discussion along.

I'm not as confident in accepting that as you seem to be in asserting it

Second, not every reply on this forum requires a source. If you’re not satisfied with how the conclusion was made then ask nicely.

Lastly, it’s stuff like this that made people bring out their pitchforks:

In an effort to elevate signal above noise, I place myself at the mercy of the moderators.

Answers without citations are noise? You’re sacrificing yourself to improve the quality of the discourse? Come on.

 

[terminator]

Thanks everyone. I ended up getting a 86u. I know it isn't tri-band that I was going for initially but the other positives bent me more towards it. I have set it up so the streaming TVs and a few others have AC 5ghz band and others have 2.4ghz band. It seems to be working awesome so far for the last 3 days without the video buffering issues.

 

[bsdsource]

I'm not as confident in accepting that as you seem to be in asserting it; could you point us in the direction of your information source please? or would someone like @RMerlin please confirm? There's a lot of material/information to filter and absorb on a forum such as this.

This is one of the most ridiculous responses I've seen on this forum in a while. The information kfp provided it accurate and good advise.

I wouldn't touch the RT-AC3100 (or its brother RT-AC88U) with a stick - too many complaints and their original design was flawed

I have an RT-AC3100 and it's rock solid as well. I'm curious as to what design flaw you are referring to.