Problem with Wi-Fi using new RT-AX86U Pro router

[TheLyppardMan]

I've only had my new router for a few days, but I've already noticed a problem with data speeds over Wi-Fi.

This is the second time this has happened in as many days. I noticed it because the daily backups to my Synology NAS using Macrium Reflect X was taking much longer that usual. The typical upload speeds on my laptop in the bedroom where the router is located is usually around 900+ Mb/s, but today it was around 190-250 Mb/s, so a backup that would normally complete in around 3 minutes, took around 14 minutes.

After this, I took some internet speeds tests using Ookla on my other laptop, in the room below the router and that showed that the internet data was also much slower as well. I then switched off the router and after it had restarted, I took a few more speed tests on Ookla and the speeds were back to what I would expect. I also ran another Macrium Reflect X backup to my NAS from the laptop in the bedroom and those speeds had returned to normal as well.

Here's the Ookla speed test results:

and this is the speed when running the Macrium backup to the NAS, immediately after restarting the router:

Incidentally, while the Wi-Fi was being slow, I ran an internet speed test from the router's GUI and that indicated normal speeds for my full fibre service (~500 Mb/s down and up).

Just to be clear, I followed the correct steps to configure the router after installing the Merlin firmware, including a GUI factory reset, a reset using the button on the router and then a WPS reset. I then configured everything from scratch and the only add-on I am running is MerlinAU (I have BackupMON installed as well, but it's not set to run automatically). Could this indicate a fault with the router or might there be an alternative explanation and if so, what could it be? Any thoughts and advice on this would be really appreciated.

 

[ApexRon]

I am thinking that your laptop is connecting to 5GHz but after a while it goes to just 2.4GHz. Here is how I have my Wireless setup:

 

[bennor]

Just to be clear, I followed the correct steps to configure the router after installing the Merlin firmware

Which Merlin firmware did you install? 3004.388.8_4 or the newer Alpha 3006.102_4?

If the laptop is connected via WiFi then check the WiFi settings on both the router and the laptop to ensure the laptop is connecting to the correct WiFi band. If Smart Connect is enabled, one troubleshooting step is to disable it, create two separate SSID's/passwords and test if the issue persists.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

I am thinking that your laptop is connecting to 5GHz but after a while it goes to just 2.4GHz. Here is how I have my Wireless setup:

That's not possible in my case, because I have the MAC filter on the 2.4 GHz band enabled, only allowing devices that can only use that band to use it and forcing everything else onto the 5 GHz band.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

Which Merlin firmware did you install? 3004.388.8_4 or the newer Alpha 3006.102_4?

If the laptop is connected via WiFi then check the WiFi settings on both the router and the laptop to ensure the laptop is connecting to the correct WiFi band. If Smart Connect is enabled, one troubleshooting step is to disable it, create two separate SSID's/passwords and test if the issue persists.

It's the 3004.388.8_4. Smart Connect is disabled. See also my other reply above.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

Also, I should mention that I have the 5 GHz band set to use channel 44, as that gives the best results in my location.

 

[bbunge]

That's not possible in my case, because I have the MAC filter on the 2.4 GHz band enabled, only allowing devices that can only use that band to use it and forcing everything else onto the 5 GHz band.

Not a great idea. Better to use the same SSID for both bands and use SmartConnect. If the 5 GHz goes wacko, radar hit, you can still keep working on the 2.4 GHz band.
I tested the Merlin firmware a week or so ago, both the stable and alpha, and experienced complaints from the family about slow internet.
I know there are folks who advocate separate SSID's but that is old school and these new routers can do the Dual Band SmartConnect quite well. You paid for the features, use them!

 

[TheLyppardMan]

Not a great idea. Better to use the same SSID for both bands and use SmartConnect. If the 5 GHz goes wacko, radar hit, you can still keep working on the 2.4 GHz band.
I tested the Merlin firmware a week or so ago, both the stable and alpha, and experienced complaints from the family about slow internet.
I know there are folks who advocate separate SSID's but that is old school and these new routers can do the Dual Band SmartConnect quite well. You paid for the features, use them!

I am using the same same SSID for both bands, which is why I had to use a MAC filter on the 2.4 GHz band in order to restrict that band to those devices that can't connect to 5 GHz Wi-Fi, plus my Android tablet. I have to use the same SSID's, because if I don't, my Tapo video doorbell (which only has 2.4 GHz capability) has problems streaming to my wall-mounted Android tablet and my tablet also needs to be on the same (2.4 GHz) band for the doorbell to stream properly.

 

[ApexRon]

I have Smart Connect, the same SSID, and my 2.4GHz devices have no issues. Those devices are a LG Washer, LG refrigerator, weather station, Canon printer, Leviton outlet, and Honeywell thermostat.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

I've set up a 15-minute automatic test at testmy.net so I can monitor the wi-fi over the next couple of days and see if it identifies any problems. That will save my having to keep checking.

 

[Crimliar]

In order to have more control over where devices here connect, my main 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands don't use SmartConnect and have their own SSIDs. The important clients are set so they can connect to either SSID, but will prefer the 5GHz SSID when it's available (common Win and Android settings). I then have a guest network set up with an SSID which is common between the two bands mostly for IOT stuff and things I've not got around to migrating yet.
*After migrating to "3006" I manually resetup the common SSID guest network, because being an absolute pedant, I wasn't entirely happy with how it had migrated - less than a minute in in the process.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

The data transfer speeds on Wi-Fi have nose-dived again:

 

[TheLyppardMan]

I think I might try the new alpha firmware to see if that is any better and if not, then maybe the latest official firmware. If still a problem, I'll have to try the ISP router again to see if that is any more stable.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

This is what the router speed test is currently reporting:

 

[TheLyppardMan]

I have a feeling that this might be being caused when Macrium Reflect X on my daughter's laptop is running it's daily backup. I'll try rescheduling it until late into the evening and set it to run at a lower priority to see if that resolves the issue.

 

[TheLyppardMan]

And now they have returned to normal:

 

[jerry6]

go for the latest Merlin Alpha ,it seems to work well better than the release FW Asus put out for my AX1100 pro . At worst you just go back to the old FW

 

[TheLyppardMan]

go for the latest Merlin Alpha ,it seems to work well better than the release FW Asus put out for my AX1100 pro . At worst you just go back to the old FW

Just ready your reply. I took the plunge earlier today. It seems to be working fine so far on my RT-AX86U Pro.

 

[jerry6]

Just ready your reply. I took the plunge earlier today. It seems to be working fine so far on my RT-AX86U Pro.

hope it continues to work well for you , in my experience even Merlin Alpha builds are more reliable than Asus release fw