EA-N66 Wireless Ethernet Adapter

[omniphonix]

Did you find out how to fix the problem?

I got excactly the same "symptoms" - it drives me crazy since it works with other equipmtent.

I am having the same problem with my setup. I get <80kBps (that's only 640kbps) file transfer operations between Win7 PCs on my LAN (server wired to switch connected to RT-AC66U and client wired to switch connected to EA-66N). I have steady blue LEDs on the 66N which indicate a strong signal and I am on my 5GHz SSID.

Another funny issue is that my AC66U reports the 66N client has an Rx/Tx rate of 6/450 in Mbps. I have no idea why the receive rate is reported so low for the 66N when my other 5GHz N devices do not have this problem. I do have a Realtek onboard NIC in both machines. I updated the driver to v7.069 for Win7 from 3/26/2013 as the Asus support site suggested, but that did not seem to work (then again I didn't reboot after driver install but device manager did show the new driver). I am wondering if I need to do the same on the server driver that connects directly to the AC66U. I am also wondering if there is some driver setting in the Advanced tab that I need to modify.

As previously suggested in this thread, I also disabled QoS on my AC66U which also did not resolve the LAN performance issue. Another thing to note, I have a WD TV Live also connected to the switch that uses the 66N to bridge back to the rest of my LAN. The WD TV Live does not seem to have any performance issues as I am able to stream HD video from the same server where my Win7 client has the performance issue. There is no way I could stream HD video over a <640kbps connection.

I opened a ticket with Asus support. Hopefully they can help but I have not had much luck with manufacturer support teams in the past on these kinds of strange issues.

 

[RMerlin]

Another funny issue is that my AC66U reports the 66N client has an Rx/Tx rate of 6/450 in Mbps.

Power management I suspect. No need to be at full link rate when there is no real traffic happening. Check the speed again while transferring a large file.

 

[CoderDude]

Bridge and Range Extender at same time

Can the EA-N66 act as both a bridge and range extender at the same time? Could I plug a PC into the ethernet port for network access, while also extending the wireless signal to the far side of my house?

I have two problems with my current setup. The wireless adapter in my desktop PC is slow, and the wireless signal at the far end of my house is weak. Would be great if I could solve both problems at once with the EA-N66.

 

[Pericynthion]

Can the EA-N66 act as both a bridge and range extender at the same time? Could I plug a PC into the ethernet port for network access, while also extending the wireless signal to the far side of my house?

Unfortunately, no - in my testing, as soon as you plug something into the ethernet port, it stops being a bridge and becomes an adapter.

In my setup I have the EA-N66 extending the 5Gghz radio to the remote end of the house, and then I have a Trendnet TEW-680MB acting as a wireless bridge for my ethernet devices. That way I get the best 5GHz extension (check out the review on SNB) for all wireless devices, and then I just bridge the physical devices onto this extended wireless signal.

So far the only product I found that can be both a wired bridge AND a wireless extender at the same time is the Netgear WN2500RP (some people may know of others), but I have never tested it personally.

 

[dsring]

Can the EA-N66 act as both a bridge and range extender at the same time? Could I plug a PC into the ethernet port for network access, while also extending the wireless signal to the far side of my house?

I have two problems with my current setup. The wireless adapter in my desktop PC is slow, and the wireless signal at the far end of my house is weak. Would be great if I could solve both problems at once with the EA-N66.

Yes. I have the EA-N66. It can be used as a wireless bridge, and at the same time to extend your wireless network. The ethernet port does function when the EA-N66 is used to extend your wireless network.

 

[kk22]

Is the LAN transfer speeds between Windows machines mentioned earlier in the thread resolved yet?

I'm shopping now for a wireless bridge and have the RT-N66u, so my natural fist pick is the EA-N66, but if there are still problems, maybe I'll get the Trendnet TEW-680MB instead.

 

[Dr Strangelove]

ASUS EA-N66 Firmware version 1.0.1.8g

Update: 2013.08.02

1. Optimized stability of connection in AP/Repeater mode.
2. Fixed wireless professional settings.
3. Fixed the P-AP SSID can now accept special symbol, such as "4. Set HT_BSSCoexistence to 0 when 20MHz/40MHz is selected.
5. Adjusted dnsmasq related issue.

Router: Linksys E4200v1 with Tomato fw.

Default IP address: 10.0.1.1 and NOT 10.0.0.1 as stated (wasted an hour on that)

Set my EA-N66 up as an extension of my 1Gb Ethernet LAN at the other end of the house, using Access Point(AP) mode with 40MHz 2.4GHz.

In the same room approx 3m from the AP I get 125Mbit on a 2 stream 300Mbit notebook using 40MHz 2.4GHz

The EA-N66 gives good options for 1-13 channels set upper/lower and 20/40MHz

If I set the EA-N66 up with 5GHz I get approx 130Mbit throughput on the same 300Mbit 2 stream notebook.

I was not able to set the 5GHz channel(s) as it seems to favour auto with no option for anything else. The pull-down does show the 5GHz channels, but it just reverts to auto no matter what channel you select.

In Access Point(AP) mode, you can only have 2.4GHz OR 5GHz and not both at the same time. :-(

Summary - Gives me the best access to my NAS I'll probably ever get from my notebook without buying a 3 stream 2.4/5GHz WiFi card. Supports all my Android phones/devices with good signal.

The EA-N66 is VERY expensive for what you get, but if it does the job...

 

[crudo20]

Hi all - I ordered this router but having a heck of a time keeping everything connected in repeater mode. I'm using this to connect to my e4200 router but had to change the IP addresses on the e4200 to 192.168.2.1xx so it wouldn't conflict with the RG from uverse. What I think is happening is that devices are constantly picking between the two routers and it's causing havoc. Any better ideas of how to 'extend' my network? Reading some of the other posts it seems like it could it be better to just set the ssid differently than the main e4200?

 

[Dr Strangelove]

ASUS EA-N66 Firmware version 1.0.1.8h

Update: 2013.10.03

ASUS EA-N66 Firmware version 1.0.1.8h

1. Optimized connection setting
2. Adjusted UI display

I didn't note any changes to the EA-N66 in 5GHz AP mode after upgrade.

The 5GHz channel can not be manually selected even when selected in the pull-down.

I had no joy in setting up my EA-N66 in extender mode using fw 1.0.1.8g (may have changed now)

My router is a Linksys E4200v1 with TomatoUSB fw.

It will work in extender mode with one client connected remotely via the EA-N66, but as soon as you have more clients, it appears they're all using the same MAC address... and we all know that'll end in tears.

I just gave up and went back to using my Linksys RE1000v1 for 2.4GHz range extension and just use the EA-N66 as a 5GHz AP on my 1Gbit Ethernet LAN.

Update - Had devices with statics ARPs on my TomatoUSB router and thus created a problem when seen from the other side of the EA-N66 in range extender mode.
Removed the static ARP and just used DHCP MAC address binding and the EA-N66 worked well as a 2.4GHz range extender.

 

[canuckle]

Moved to own thread ~

 

[tamalero]

sorry for reviving this thread, but I never found anywhere in the internet of this:

As anyone succeed in using a Ethernet Switch or Bridge in the EA-N66 in ethernet client (bridge) mode?
Can you connect more than 1 device? ( I wonder; since in Wireless extender you can plug one device via ethernet while expanding wireless)

Also, I found the EA-N66 doesnt go along very well with LG Smart TV wireless devices..
If the TV is connected.. the wifi of the EA-N66 will sink or even fail to connect.

 

[canuckle]

Mine is set up exactly like this, connected to an 8 port switch with 5 devices on the switch. Works flawlessly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[tamalero]

Mine is set up exactly like this, connected to an 8 port switch with 5 devices on the switch. Works flawlessly.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

thanks canuckle!

 

[canuckle]

You're very welcome!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[disenter]

Hey guys, sorry to revive this thread to, but I can't seem to find any fix. Maybe Mr Merlin can help? Or anyone else with same issues that's found a fix?

So, I have a RTAC66U on Merlins latest firmware, and its fine as far as I can see, but I got a EA-N66 to plug into my PS3, which is my media box, with an external drive etc. PS3 only has wireless G, so this seemed like a good solution to make transfers a lot faster, as well as potentially streaming etc.

For some reason, pulling files from the external USB connected to the ps3, over the wifi in 5ghz, or 2.4ghz modes, through the router, and to my pc (which is wired to the router's switch) nets me around 11-12mb/s, via ftp. I can live with that, its 5x faster than the ps3's wireless g.

BUT... the upload speed, sending TO the ps3 from my pc is 2-3mb/s!!

I have tried every setting i can on the router, and got to a point that i RA'd the EA-N66... Asus obliged and after some mucking around, have got a replacement from the original vendor at Asus' request.. But guess what, just updated its firmware, and same damn issue....

What am I doing wrong??? Surely it should be capable of the same speeds in both directions?

For anyone that has this exact setup, can they give me a step by step to get it to do what it should be doing???

Really ripping my hair out here...

 

[Aqualung]

Alright guys, I am trying to decide between this one, Netgear's WNCE4004, and Trendnet's TEW-800MB. I basically need to add WiFi capabilities to this, hence I need a so-called "media bridge." Any advice? I am currently doing the bridging via powerline, though my powerline setup is not very fast. (Would I be better off springing for a more performant powerline kit instead of going wireless?) Anyway, at this time I am open to anything that'll help connect my tuner to my router (except cat5e cable, that is ).

Comment: I see Tim has rated the WINCE4004 better than the EA-N66 overall, though I will be looking for better 5GHz upload performance, where he is recommending the EA-N66 over the WINCE4004...

 

[thiggins]

Alright guys, I am trying to decide between this one, Netgear's WNCE4004, and Trendnet's TEW-800MB. I basically need to add WiFi capabilities to this, hence I need a so-called "media bridge." Any advice? I am currently doing the bridging via powerline, though my powerline setup is not very fast. (Would I be better off springing for a more performant powerline kit instead of going wireless?) Anyway, at this time I am open to anything that'll help connect my tuner to my router (except cat5e cable, that is ).

What are you currently using for powerline and what performance are you getting?

 

[Aqualung]

What are you currently using for powerline and what performance are you getting?

Cisco's PLWK400. Getting 'bout 3MB/s reliably, which means that I am kinda borderline for uncompressed streaming. I'd frankly prefer to have a little more leeway.

 

[thiggins]

Cisco's PLWK400. Getting 'bout 3MB/s reliably, which means that I am kinda borderline for uncompressed streaming. I'd frankly prefer to have a little more leeway.

Give the TP-LINK TL-PA4010KIT a try. I was impressed.

 

[Aqualung]

Give the TP-LINK TL-PA4010KIT a try. I was impressed.

Thanks. As far as I can tell, you seem to have been impressed more with the PA6010 than the PA4010. Anyway, assuming that the difference in price is no issue, which one of the two would you go for: the TL-PA6010, or Asus' EA-N66? (I will be using the EA-N66 in conjunction with Netgear's R7000 router, if this makes a difference.)