Problem w/AC-86U Tethering

[NoelS]

I posted this on the Merli board thinking it was a Merlin specific issue. Got no replies, so maybe it's a general issue for the hardware, so moving it here, Anyone experience this issue?

I recently upgraded from an AC-68U to an AC-86U (AMAZING upgrade!). However, I'm having an issue with USB Tethering. I am in a remote area and keep an Android Phone "permanently" tethered for data. However, there is a difference in the AC-86U that makes this significantly less "automatic". When the router is turned on, the phone will never recognize the USB is connected unless/until I unplug/replug the USB cable. Even after fully connected (after the initial unplug/replug), if the router is turned off or loses power, the USB Port will not be recognized by the phone until another unplug/replug. This is NOT the case on the AC-68U. I would appreciate it if someone knows of a fix for this issue, or knows why the difference.

 

[RMerlin]

Try moving it to the other USB port.

 

[NoelS]

Thank you So Much for responding. I know that this may seem to be a small problem in the larger scheme.
I tried the other USB port as you suggested. Same behavior. Phone cannot "see" the USB port unless/until an unplug/replug.
I don't want to put the vendor/Asus through the expense of a swap if this is a problem common to all of these routers. Do you think I have a hardware problem?

 

[L&LD]

Thank you So Much for responding. I know that this may seem to be a small problem in the larger scheme.
I tried the other USB port as you suggested. Same behavior. Phone cannot "see" the USB port unless/until an unplug/replug.
I don't want to put the vendor/Asus through the expense of a swap if this is a problem common to all of these routers. Do you think I have a hardware problem?

It may be, or it may just be an incompatibility with the phone/router.

You may want to try an ac powered USB port hub and connect the phone and router together through that, as a test.

Did you notice that there is a new firmware available? You may want to flash that too as a test, but make sure to do a full reset to factory defaults afterward to get the router in a good/known state and giving it the best chance to work for you.

 

[NoelS]

Later Merlin? I'm on 384.10_2

 

[L&LD]

Later Merlin? I'm on 384.10_2

No, not yet. Unless you want to try the 384.11 Alpha 3 offering? For what it's worth, it is working stable for me with an RT-AC68U, RT-AC3100 and an RT-AC86U.

The Asus stock firmware just got bumped to the latest '713 level though (with the rest of their routers).