RT-AC2900 supported by Merlin firmware?

[Geraner]

Hi,

I’m planning to upgrade a friends ASUS RT-AC2900 with the Merlin firmware,
This model is not mentioned under supported models in the homepage. But when reading in this forum, it looks like the RT-AC2900 is technically a RT-AC86U, just with another name.

So the RT-AC86U Merlin firmware should work on the RT-AC2900. Is that correct?
I just want to double check before installing it.

Regards
Geraner

 

[Gary_Dexter]

Yes it is… model is a GT-AC2900, NOT RT

 

[Geraner]

Yes it is… model is a GT-AC2900, NOT RT

View attachment 62591

Are you sure? When I search on the Internet for pictures of the GT-AC2900, I’m getting pictures of a Rog Gaming router that doesn’t look like the RT-AC86U. Design wise n the RT-AC2900 and the RT-AC86U are exactly the same.
Also, the firmware both in your screenshot are the same version, so uploading the wrong one might brick the router. Just want to be 100% sure before performing an update.

 

[Gary_Dexter]

There is no rt-ac2900 model.

There’s the rt-ac86u, which has a wireless spec of ac2900 (I.e 2917Mbps Wi-Fi speeds rounded down).

Or, there’s the ROG gt-ac2900 which is the same spec as the 86u but ROG branded.

 

[XIII]

There is no rt-ac2900 model.

Are you sure?

ASUS mentions such model in this document:

https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/wireless/RT-AC2900/E14027_RT-AC2900_manual.pdf

 

[Viktor Jaep]

There is no rt-ac2900 model.

So what is this: https://www.asus.com/dk/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-gaming-routers/rt-ac2900/

Only on the DK side of the house... nothing on the US side. Seems to be a bit of an illusive unicorn.

 

[Gary_Dexter]

It’s an 86u with different branding

 

[Geraner]

Yes in Sweden they sold this version. I also think it’s just a renaming of the RT-AC86U.

https://www.inet.se/produkt/5406945/asus-rt-ac2900-aimesh

So with other words, the Merlin firmware for the RT-AC86U should work without any problem on the RT-AC2900?

 

[Tech9]

Yes, it’s exactly the same router with different branding.

 

[dlandiss]

it looks like the RT-AC2900 is technically a RT-AC86U, just with another name.

That is correct. Here is the label on the back of mine.