New apartment and old AC66U router

[shareout]

I know there is another thread, but its regarding mesh and did not want to hijack his thread.

But I am moving to a new apartment in June and I am almost forced to using WiFi instead of LAN for my desktop unless I drill holes (Which will be expensive when I move, and probably ugly)

I currently have a AC66U and tried to use a d-link in my current apartment as a WiFi card, but had dropouts probably due to high network congestion, which is one of the reasons I am looking at AX

I have considered PowerLine as the apartment was modernized within the last 5 years, so wires should be good, but would rather upgrade my old router with something better, currently looking at Ubiquiti Unifi NanoHD As it seems I am moving ½ a year too early for AX? My current plan is to buy a D-Link DWA-192 and hope that works ok with my current router and wait until AX is more mainstream, but I fear I will be hit with network congestion this place as well as its a big concrete building with lots of other apartments.

I cant really figure out how far the draft is and if things missing can be fixed with firmware updates, since Intel came out with the WiFi 6 AX200 I am hoping this is the case as I don't see them making mass market products based on unfix-able draft specifications.

Do you think if just drag a LAN wire and wait for 1-2 month (After moving in mid June) I will be able to buy a proper AX router or do you suggest something else.

Attached a picture of the apartment
I live in Denmark, so not all products available in US might be possible to purchase here.

 

[L&LD]

Anytime that a physical Ethernet cable run is an option, that is what I would recommend.

AX routers will be hitting their stride in 2020, buying anything today without a real need doesn't seem prudent. The 'draft' side of things is actually pretty far along, almost finalized, but that doesn't mean the hardware is yet.

If having the cable run across the new apartment for 8+ months be a little too much, continue using the RT-AC66U you currently have.

A big step up from that would the RT-AC86U, and you may be able to sell it close to what you paid for it when the AX final routers become available (if you can wait for a sale on the '86U).

Your best bet is to not do anything until you've moved into the new apartment and had a chance to see the issues, if any, you'll actually be facing with the equipment you already own.

In the meantime, you can prepare for this move for your older Asus router by flashing john9527's LTS RMerlin fork on it and then doing a full M&M Config too to ensure that the freshly installed firmware and the router will be in a good/known state.

See my signature for links to the M&M Config and for further information.

 

[shareout]

Anytime that a physical Ethernet cable run is an option, that is what I would recommend.

AX routers will be hitting their stride in 2020, buying anything today without a real need doesn't seem prudent. The 'draft' side of things is actually pretty far along, almost finalized, but that doesn't mean the hardware is yet.

If having the cable run across the new apartment for 8+ months be a little too much, continue using the RT-AC66U you currently have.

A big step up from that would the RT-AC86U, and you may be able to sell it close to what you paid for it when the AX final routers become available (if you can wait for a sale on the '86U).

Your best bet is to not do anything until you've moved into the new apartment and had a chance to see the issues, if any, you'll actually be facing with the equipment you already own.

In the meantime, you can prepare for this move for your older Asus router by flashing john9527's LTS RMerlin fork on it and then doing a full M&M Config too to ensure that the freshly installed firmware and the router will be in a good/known state.

See my signature for links to the M&M Config and for further information.

I don't want to run a lan cable for so long without mounting it probably as I have a robot vacuum that wont be able to run while its just laying around.
I already installed merlin on it, but I am not sure I have revision B of it, if that matters, but seems I cant use DFS channels, not sure how big a gain that gives though.

Also any particular reason your recommending the Asus over the Unifi? I would presume the range wont be better on the new Asus as the antennas seem very similar to my current one and I have heard through friends who use Unifi that range is excellent on those?

Also there is a used RT-AC86U for sale for less than a new ASUS RT-AC68U, I guess that would be a better buy?

 

[L&LD]

I don't want to run a lan cable for so long without mounting it probably as I have a robot vacuum that wont be able to run while its just laying around.
I already installed merlin on it, but I am not sure I have revision B of it, if that matters, but seems I cant use DFS channels, not sure how big a gain that gives though.

Also any particular reason your recommending the Asus over the Unifi? I would presume the range wont be better on the new Asus as the antennas seem very similar to my current one and I have heard through friends who use Unifi that range is excellent on those?

Also there is a used RT-AC86U for sale for less than a new ASUS RT-AC68U, I guess that would be a better buy?

I recommend the RT-AC86U over the Unifi because I haven't used or even seen a Unifi unit.

Look in my signature for the RT-AC3100 report... the RT-AC86U is better. And the RT-AC3100 is better than the RT-AC68U which was in turn better than the RT-AC66U too.

What firmware do you have installed exactly? I think that it will be almost a year old now, if it is the RMerlin one.

The LTS fork of the RMerlin firmware from john9527 is however very current. And, it may even give you better range than the firmware you have now (depending on what version you install; the original drivers may be better for you).

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/fork-asuswrt-merlin-374-43-lts-releases-v38e4.18914/

I'm not sure why you want to rush buying something now for a change that will happen in two or three months from now?

I'm not much of a used parts buyer. If it is significantly cheaper, it may be a good buy. But what if the unit is damaged or defective? The money saved won't help too much then.

 

[shareout]

I recommend the RT-AC86U over the Unifi because I haven't used or even seen a Unifi unit.

Look in my signature for the RT-AC3100 report... the RT-AC86U is better. And the RT-AC3100 is better than the RT-AC68U which was in turn better than the RT-AC66U too.

What firmware do you have installed exactly? I think that it will be almost a year old now, if it is the RMerlin one.

The LTS fork of the RMerlin firmware from john9527 is however very current. And, it may even give you better range than the firmware you have now (depending on what version you install; the original drivers may be better for you).

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/fork-asuswrt-merlin-374-43-lts-releases-v38e4.18914/

I'm not sure why you want to rush buying something now for a change that will happen in two or three months from now?

I'm not much of a used parts buyer. If it is significantly cheaper, it may be a good buy. But what if the unit is damaged or defective? The money saved won't help too much then.

I will try the newest firmware, mine is somewhat old where the version I had was the last version for my device

But I just like to plan ahead so I don't have to live without internet for long but guess its hard at the moment

About the used router, in my mind not much can be wrong with a router as long as it works, but I might be wrong about that but half the price seems good

 

[L&LD]

I will try the newest firmware, mine is somewhat old where the version I had was the last version for my device

But I just like to plan ahead so I don't have to live without internet for long but guess its hard at the moment

About the used router, in my mind not much can be wrong with a router as long as it works, but I might be wrong about that but half the price seems good

What you want to be aware of with the used router is that there have been a few documented hardware issues with the RT-AC86U. If you happen to get a good one, great! If not, you have paid a 50% 'tax' towards a new router for no benefit.

You may not realize it 'works' or not until a few hours, days or even a couple of weeks after using it.

There is nothing that stops us from being without internet for too long. Except money. I am suggesting you save yours and see what the issues and network environment will actually be in your new apartment before spending any. If you move in around 3 months and you find your current equipment isn't enough for you. A purchase at that time is more prudent than a purchase today when you really have no need yet.

In the meantime, upgrading your current router to today's standards and setting it up to a good/known state will go a long way to making you ready for your future move. It will do this by letting you fairly evalutate your RT-AC66U at that time in your new residence and you should be fairly confident that it will be the best performance it can possibly give. Then, when or if, you buy a new router, you will know exactly what benefits it provides by simply comparing the network performance against your current router.

 

[shareout]

What you want to be aware of with the used router is that there have been a few documented hardware issues with the RT-AC86U. If you happen to get a good one, great! If not, you have paid a 50% 'tax' towards a new router for no benefit.

You may not realize it 'works' or not until a few hours, days or even a couple of weeks after using it.

There is nothing that stops us from being without internet for too long. Except money. I am suggesting you save yours and see what the issues and network environment will actually be in your new apartment before spending any. If you move in around 3 months and you find your current equipment isn't enough for you. A purchase at that time is more prudent than a purchase today when you really have no need yet.

In the meantime, upgrading your current router to today's standards and setting it up to a good/known state will go a long way to making you ready for your future move. It will do this by letting you fairly evalutate your RT-AC66U at that time in your new residence and you should be fairly confident that it will be the best performance it can possibly give. Then, when or if, you buy a new router, you will know exactly what benefits it provides by simply comparing the network performance against your current router.

I wrote wrongly, its a Asus RT-AC87U he is selling used, but not sure how big a difference that makes.

But I will wait until I am moved, then I just need to figure out if I am buying a ASUS PCE-AC68 or DWA-192, I guess the ASUS PCE-AC88 don't make much sense with my current router. I have put up some price watching for deals on those 2 to see if they go on sale before I move

 

[L&LD]

I wrote wrongly, its a Asus RT-AC87U he is selling used, but not sure how big a difference that makes.

But I will wait until I am moved, then I just need to figure out if I am buying a ASUS PCE-AC68 or DWA-192, I guess the ASUS PCE-AC88 don't make much sense with my current router. I have put up some price watching for deals on those 2 to see if they go on sale before I move

The RT-AC87U can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your network environment/device specifics. I would not recommend that model.

Again; wait until you move. There may be no reason to change anything.

In 2020, a few short months away (especially after your move), there will be much better reasons to upgrade network hardware then.