RT-AC3100

[kloxxe]

kloxxe: What is your current router.
For your setup, AC1900 sounds just fine.

The current router (an old linksys N) is dead, so I need a new one anyway. I got the EA6900 on sale, but I also have read very mixed reviews, lot of complains which made me concerned about keeping it.

The thing is, I have to choose between EA6900 and the RT-AC3100. All other AC1900 routers (Netgear, Asus, Dlink) are in the 200-250 CAD range, which is not much cheaper than the RT-AC3100, so I would go for the AC3100 anyway. The EA6900 is so much cheaper right now than it made me think, if it does the job, I might just keep it.

 

[Relik]

If the RT-AC3100 is set as an access point in the settings can the WAN port be used as another LAN port or is this only possible if it is using the Merlin firmware?

 

[kloxxe]

So the RT-AC3100 has arrived and I have already set it up. So far so good, but I don't see much improvement over the EA6900. I will wait 2-3 days until Teksavvy finally activates my 100mbps connection, then I will test both the AC3100 and the EA6900 connected to the same environment. (right know it's hard to say as I have changed the router's location, new cable modem, etc...)

The web interface is cool and very detailed indeed, but frankly the EA6900 does what I need, I'm not sure how much I would use the fancy features of the AC3100 after the initial heyday period.

One question for the gurus: how to setup up the antennas? I live in an apartment, so all clients are in the same level as the router. Shall I set the antennas at 45 degree as per the manual, or just pointing straight up?

(the second one seems more logical assuming the antenna's radiation pattern is perpendicular to the dipole antenna itself)

Also, what is considered a "good" signal? With WIFI Analyser running on my Samsung Galaxy Note Edge I measure ~-45-55dBm @ 2.4Ghz and -55-60dBm @ 5Ghz on the worst situated bedroom.... Is that ok?

Thanks,

Rudy

 

[kloxxe]

So I made some comparison test about signal strength between the EA6900 and the AC3100, by swapping the routers at the same location, same environment and monitoring the signal strength with Wifi Analyser at the worst covered spot in my condo.

There is no difference in radio signal strenght at all. Both unit provided -50dBm @ 2.4 Ghz, and -70dBm @ 5Ghz (both with +/- 3 dBm margin).

This was surprising, considering that the AC3100 has 4 antennas, each twice the size of the three EA6900 antennas...

Proving the point that size doesn't really matter.... ;-)

My 100mbps connection upgrade will be activated tomorrow, then I will do some throughput test too (only interested in sharing the internet connection, so if the EA9600 provides 100mbps throughput at that worst spot, the game is over and AC3100 goes back to BestBuy)

 

[sfx2000]

+/- 3 dBm margin

That's half/twice the power you know...

 

[kloxxe]

That's half/twice the power you know...

I know. What I have tried to say, the signal strength was not constant, it moved up and down in a +/- 3dBm range for both routers...

 

[kloxxe]

My 100mbps internet is finally on and I see no difference in throughput between the EA6900 and the RT-AC3100. I get the same 70-80mbps @ 2.4Ghz and 97-100mbps @ 5Ghz (I guess at 5Ghz the limiting factor is the internet connection, not the wireless interface)

Based on above, and because the EA6900 costs less than half than the RT-AC3100, I will return the RT-AC3100 to Bestbuy tomorrow.

The RT-AC3100 may be a better router, but in my application (sharing 100mbps internet connection in a 3 bedroom condo for 3 wired and up to 10 wireless clients) it has no advantage over the much cheaper EA9600. Granted it has some advanced traffic measurement, QoS, etc.. functions, but again the EA9600 does what I really need, so I don't feel paying the 220 CAD extra.

BTW, The ASUS RT-AC3100 is on boxing day sale until December 31st in BestBuy Canada at 319 CAD (231 USD). The Linksys EA6900 is on sale there, too at 149 CAD (108 USD).

 

[kloxxe]

I just copy it here from the RT-AC88U topic, so I don't mislead anyone with my earlier posts. In the end it seems I found some stuff may make me keep the AC3100:

- Whenever I activate Media Prioritization on the EA6900 (I want to give priority to my Chromecast over my kids gaming and downloading), the speed goes down by 10-20 mbps, even the Chromecast doesn't do anything. It seems the EA6900 reserves part of the bandwidth whether there is a need or not.

The RT-AC3100 Adaptive QoS seems to work much better, I have assigned high priority to the Chromecast and set the automatic settings to Media Streaming instead of gaming. The speed (measured by speedtest.net on one of the wired PC) was not affected.

- Another thing I actually found quiet useful. When I hover the mouse above the connection signal in Network Map/Client Status, it gives me the radio signal strength and the send/receive throughput. No need to play around with a phone and Wifi Analyser anymore...



- I kind of like the detailed traffic analysis, too (seeing where my bandwidth goes ), the EA6900 lacks any sort of option for that...

 

[Jimmie Guercioni]

Quick question, new here! I just purchased this router and was wondering should I install the Merlin Firmware after opening?
Thanks!!

 

[L&LD]

Quick question, new here! I just purchased this router and was wondering should I install the Merlin Firmware after opening?
Thanks!!

RMerlin, or one of the forks thereof, yes! (john9527's or hggomes).

If I could flash the firmware with the version(s) above before I had to turn it on, that would be even better.

 

[Jimmie Guercioni]

RMerlin, or one of the forks thereof, yes! (john9527's or hggomes).

If I could flash the firmware with the version(s) above before I had to turn it on, that would be even better.

Thanks for your help!

 

[KAwifi]

I,

I have buy about 1 months The RT-AC87R and after lot of issues like 5ghz lost connection on my Apple mbpro and Apple TV 3, i return the 87r to store and command a new RT-AC3100. I hope this one will be a better and stable router. I have always use the latest Asus firmeware and please give me some news about Rmerlin with RT-AC3100!! I have see Asus release a new firmeware last week and i want to know if Rmerlin is based on the latest Asus firmeware with all the fonctionnality like MU MIMO.

Tanks and sorry for my english!!!

 

[EnjoiWifi]

I picked up an RT-AC3100 last week hoping that it would boost my wifi coverage and speed. I was using an ISP-provided Hitron CGN3 modem/router unit that was less than impressive. It is now in bridge mode. The house is ~3900 sqft (including basement), with router in the basement, toward the front of the house (cable and cat5 demarcation point). The result? Well, areas of the house where I could only muster a sketchy 2.4Ghz connection are now pretty solid (-50 to -60dBm). These same areas, which were beyond the 5 GHz coverage of the old router, now see mediocre/poor 5 GHz connectivity (-65dBm or less).

I am running the 2.4GHz in N only wireless mode, auto 20/40MHz channel width. The 5 GHz is running mixed AC,N wireless mode, with auto 20/40/80 channel width. I manually selected my channels to avoid overlap. Obviously the link speed varies by device, but I am seeing typically between 65mbps (wireless N, 2.4GHz connected device) up to 450mbps (wireless AC, 5 GHz connected device)...and everything in between. I was hoping to see more of a speed boost, especially in the 2.4GHz range.

So now I am considering returning the RT-AC3100 and picking up an RT-AC87R (AC2400) in hopes that I will see the same coverage/speed improvement at a lower price point ($100 cheaper). I really like the RT-AC3100, but the price:wow ratio is too heavily weighted toward price.

 

[RMerlin]

So now I am considering returning the RT-AC3100 and picking up an RT-AC87R (AC2400) in hopes that I will see the same coverage/speed improvement at a lower price point ($100 cheaper). I really like the RT-AC3100, but the price:wow ratio is too heavily weighted toward price.

The RT-AC87U is a vastly different beast. I recommend you make sure you test it before giving up on the RT-AC3100, which is a far better router in multiple ways. If price is the issue, the RT-AC68U is a safer bet.

 

[EnjoiWifi]

I ended up returning the RT-AC3100. Having only owned Linksys and D-Link products in the past (and my current ISP-provided Hitron modem/router), I really did appreciate the interface of the Asus router. I really wanted it to work out, but the slight increase in performance couldn't justify the hefty price tag. Perhaps performance will improve with future firmware releases. If so, I can always consider re-purchasing.

Thanks to the advice posted above, I did a little more homework on the RT-AC87U and decided to take a pass on that router too. However, I really want to try another Asus router. So, I bought the "safer bet" router: RT-AC68U. Although it's a bit older and it's only an AC1900 router, it appears to have unanimous favorable reviews. I'll set it up shortly and see how it compares to its AC3100 sibling.

 

[manilla]

alpha version 1681 is available now, but it looks like just for AC3100!

RT-AC3100 MU-MIMO alpha firmware9.0.0.4.380.1681

 

[whatsupdude]

Thinking about getting this instead of my current tp-link archer c2600. So far I've had nothing but bad luck with routers.

First I've had the mess that is the asus ac87u, which caused nothing but problems with that horrible quantenna 5ghz chipset. Then I bought the archer c2600, which seems like a good router, but I have constant disconnects on my lan ports, also 5ghz is limited to the channels up to 48 and it has far less features than the ac87u had.

Would the ac3100 be a better fit? From what I've read the 5ghz works properly now, because it's all broadcom? Anything else that's shady about it?

 

[bodean]

Any word when a new beta or official FW will come out? Latest is 3.0.0.4.380.1354 I see. ASUS use to push firmwares quite often, especially on new products....

 

[L&LD]

Any word when a new beta or official FW will come out? Latest is 3.0.0.4.380.1354 I see. ASUS use to push firmwares quite often, especially on new products....

What exactly needs fixing on your RT-AC3100 that you are looking for new firmware?

Did you ask for the alpha firmware directly from Asus?

 

[buggs1a]

Hi. I've ready every message in this thread. I'm maybe getting the Asus RT-AC3100 tomorrow.
I need some help.
I have now the netgear r7000. It freezes all the time so I'm replacing it. When it works it's not bad but only for 2.4ghz. 5ghz don't work in my home unless I'm in the same room as the router and I need help to figure out why and how to fix. The linksys wrt1900acs is the same with 5ghz.

Its weird. I get 2.6ghz 72mb maybe on any device unless I'm in the same room. Speed test.net app on phones show about 50/12 and my connection is 150/12. Rarely has it shown 170mb but it has.

My phone's or consoles don't see 5ghz 99.9% of the time unless I'm in the same room as the router. I don't get it.

Now I also only get 100mb Ethernet connection to my Ethernet devices unless I connect directly to router. Cat5 cables go from router to another room to wall faceplate. Then I connect to the wall faceplate in my room. Is the faceplate the problem?

Thanks so much.