How bad are the AC86U 2.4Ghz issues?

[OzarkEdge]

Digging this up to ask if 2020 builds have any better feedback in terms of the problems being solved?

I've seen one recent post here about a 2020 Vietnam AC86U dying with LAN LED4 half-lit. But that's it... not much feedback here for the current year.

OE

 

[cooloutac]

Man I just ordered an ac86u to replace my ac66u_b1. Want better wifi signals to my back yard and front doorbell, and faster vpn speeds since I decided to use a vpn now. I ordered the ax58u and returned it since it didn't feel like a big enough upgrade and I read the ac86u has much better vpn speeds. I only have one ax device so figured the ax router wasn't worth it. It didn't seem like any improvement with 30 iot devices. in fact my ac66u_b1 felt even more stable lol. But now i'm thinking I should of kept it.

The ax58u had indeed way better range. My 5ghz devices went from 1-2 bar with the 66ub1 to full 4-5 bars with the ax58u. Speeds weren''t much different probably cause I only have a 100MB connection. I did have ai mesh issues, but on its own seemed to be fine. At least I think thats what the wireless dropouts were from. I didn't keep it long. I can tell you my ac66u_b1 is completely rock solid after 3 years. not a hiccup.

At first I was having vpn issues like an above poster mentioned. Kept getting inactivity timeouts and restarts, once in a while an auth fail. But Val was half correct in that it was indeed the vpn service that was the problem, but it had nothing to do with the ax58u hardware cause same thing happened on my ac66u_b1 till I switched vpn service. I returned the ax58u over it and blamed it when it wasn't the cause. I think vpns like nord and expressvpn are extra paranoid about multiple connections or have automated systems causing inactivity time outs. Like stores that block vpns, it probably means they are constantly being pillaged lmao. They kept telling me to change my password or said there was a bug in the firmware and that left a bad taste in my mouth.

But now I'm reading all these horror stories after I ordered the ac86u, and I ordered the dam thing on amazon! Should I just look at the manufacturer date and automatically return it if it says 2018 or doesn't smell new? lmao...

 

[OzarkEdge]

But now I'm reading all these horror stories after I ordered the ac86, and I ordered the dam thing on amazon! Should I just look at the manufacturer date and automatically return it if it say 2018 or doesn't smell new? lmao...

A new RT-AC86U will likely be made in 2020. Receive it and use it.

OE

 

[cooloutac]

A new RT-AC86U will likely be made in 2020. Receive it and use it.

OE

 

[cooloutac]

Just got my new ac86u from amazon, was indeed manufactured in 2020. so far its working good. the vpn speed on the router is just as fast as on the android and windows apps so I'm pleased with that. . getting 85-90 off my 100MB connection where the ax58u only gave me half that. disappointed in the range though, its not as good as the ax58u especially on the 5Ghz band. farther range then the ac66u_b1 though.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Just got my new ac86u from amazon, was indeed manufactured in 2020. so far its working good. the vpn speed on the router is just as fast as on the android and windows apps so I'm pleased with that. . getting 85-90 off my 100MB connection where the ax58u only gave me half that. disappointed in the range though, its not as good as the ax58u especially on the 5Ghz band. farther range then the ac66u_b1 though.

I wonder how AX58U and AC86U speed tests would compare at the same distance, for the same ac client, same channel?

OE

 

[cooloutac]

I wonder how AX58U and AC86U speed tests would compare at the same distance, for the same ac client, same channel?

OE

good question, not entirely sure since I returned the ax58u for the faster vpn speed on the ac86u. It feels as if the ac86u is slightly faster though at similar rssi for ac clients on 5G. but that's pure conjecture on my part.

I also notice the ac86u runs about 10 degrees celcius hotter then the ac66u_b1 and ax58u. It sits between 69-73 degrees with low activity. where the the former two routers sit at 58-63 degrees. also i feel like my ram is getting eaten away, not sure why. always had about over 30% memory free on the other two, usually about 65% used the most. But on the ac86u its crept up to 80% ram used. Is it possible for the logs to eat up ram? should I be concerned?

 

[OzarkEdge]

good question, not entirely sure since I returned the ax58u for the faster vpn speed on the ac86u. It feels as if the ac86u is slightly faster though at similar rssi for ac clients on 5G. but that's pure conjecture on my part.

I also notice the ac86u runs about 10 degrees celcius hotter then the ac66u_b1 and ax58u. It sits between 69-73 degrees with low activity. where the the former two routers sit at 58-63 degrees. also i feel like my ram is getting eaten away, not sure why. always had about over 30% memory free on the other two, usually about 65% used the most. But on the ac86u its crept up to 80% ram used. Is it possible for the logs to eat up ram? should I be concerned?

I would not worry about memory unless you need it and don't have it.

Disable UPnP Media Server and Network Place (SAMBA) Share, if not being used.

OE

 

[Sachb]

This router has the best price/performance ratio on the market, this is a fact. Nothing else comes even close in this price range. Unfortunately, this very same router is the one with the worst Quality Control ever, both hardware and software. There are too many reported hardware related issues and even 2 years after the release there are too many software functions with issues, from working sometimes to not working at all.

BS, this is the most unstable router for Wifi, Wired speeds are good. The Netgear X4S beats the shirt out of the Asus AC86U. The Asus is only good if u prioritize features over performance. I just pulled up my cheap D-link DIR-882, and guess what, the wifi speeds seem to have improved.

 

[OzarkEdge]

BS, this is the most unstable router for Wifi, Wired speeds are good. The Netgear X4S beats the shirt out of the Asus AC86U. The Asus is only good if u prioritize features over performance. I just pulled up my cheap D-link DIR-882, and guess what, the wifi speeds seem to have improved.

If my router is defective, I replace it. Simple.

OE

 

[Sachb]

Here is a video comparing the Asus RT-86U to the Dlink DIR-882

 

[Tech9]

Here you go:

About 530Mbps over Wi-Fi, RT-AC86U to 2-stream Archer T3U adapter.

 

[Sachb]

Here you go:

View attachment 39641

About 530Mbps over Wi-Fi, RT-AC86U to 2-stream Archer T3U adapter.

What hardware version and year is yours?

And this is not a proof, this screenshot can be taken of you doing a speed test with an ethernet and claiming it to be with the Asus AC86U. Look at the one made available to you in the OP.

 

[Tech9]

What hardware version and year is yours?

All RT-AC86U are h/w 1.5 version. The one I have is perhaps 2018. It had failed components, restored to working order.

And this is not a proof

I have no intention to prove anything to you. I test routers for fun and put them back on the shelf when I'm done playing.

 

[Tech9]

doing a speed test with an ethernet

If no TrendMicro components involvement, Speedtest on Ethernet will hit 940Mbps on AC86U, very consistently.

 

[Sachb]

If no TrendMicro components involvement, Speedtest on Ethernet will hit 940Mbps on AC86U, very consistently.

I didn't even touch trend micro settings. It's disabled

 

[Tech9]

With your limited hardware and configuration knowledge I can't guess what your issue is. Wireless drivers come from the SoC manufacturer, not from Asus or Netgear. Routers built around the same SoC run the same drivers and have very similar performance. AC86U is very similar to Archer C2300 and both are excellent performers. AC68U is very similar to R7000 and both have about the same performance. Some clients may work better with some routers, but it doesn't mean the router is bad. I personally never test anything on a phone. Phone/tablet radios are tuned for power efficiency, not speed.

 

[Sachb]

With your limited hardware and configuration knowledge I can't guess what your issue is. Wireless drivers come from the SoC manufacturer, not from Asus, Netgear or D-Link. Routers built around the same SoC run the same drivers and have very similar performance. AC86U is very similar to Archer C2300 and both are excellent performers. AC68U is very similar to R7000 and both have about the same performance. Some clients may work better with some routers, but it doesn't mean the router is bad. I personally never test anything on a phone. Phone/tablet radios are tuned for power efficiency, not speed.

Then most probably I got a lemon. I bought this from a retail store new. Was properly packed with all the accesories, manual etc.

I've lost trust on Asus routers. Their laptops are amazing tho. Been using Asus laptops for year. Can't beat them for the price, but you can't speak the same for their routers. From their AC68U to that AC88U, all came with crippled WiFi. I have owned AC68U, AC88U and now the current one AC86U. Nothing beats the R7800, to date this is the best AC2600 router for raw speeds.

 

[Sachb]

If no TrendMicro components involvement, Speedtest on Ethernet will hit 940Mbps on AC86U, very consistently.

It may reach 940 with ethernet but on WiFi it doesn't make to even 500 Mbps. It would just drop the speed to 200

 

[Tech9]

It would just drop the speed to 200

When tested with a phone, perhaps with Asus power saving is correctly working. Cheap MediaTek SoC on DIR-882 doesn't care. This gives you the wrong impression the router is not performing well. In reality it may be doing a better job. You test with a wrong device.