RT-AC68P (with upgraded CPU, NOT R or U)

[graymattr]

I went to buy an RT-AC68R at Best Buy today, and instead found they had the RT-AC68P (with a dual core 1GHz CPU) for 20 bucks more. I have seen this called the RT-AC68 v2 elsewhere on the web). I have started playing with it and successfully flashed Merlin's latest build to it. I have, however, been unsuccessful getting Shibby's Tomato firmware installed. I've tried both the recovery web UI and tftp methods (I'm on a Mac with no Windows machines around), with no luck.

2 questions:

1. Does anyone know if this version of the AC68 should work with Shibby?
2. If so, does anyone have any suggestions for me to try to get Shibby working. Does the dd-wrt first method still work? Any links to updated documentation is appreciated; I'm finding conflicting steps online.

Many thanks!

 

[hggomes]

I have reply to you on IRC but you have runned out, not really sure what P version changes are, it's BCM4709 but i'm not sure about the radios.

If possible show us syslogd info.

Can you please dump and upload your CFE to tinyurl.com?

IMO Tomato Shibby (ARM) is not working as it should and it's too slow on reboots.

 

[graymattr]

Sorry for dropping off. Kids started going wild.

I've not pulled CFE before, mind pointing me to where it is stored? I assume I can pull it from the command line...? I could not tell from your comment if you need syslogd info in additionto CFE, or if it is included with CFE. Sorry for noobish questions; thanks for the help!

 

[hggomes]

No problem, thank you also for keep us up

You can dump it via command line:

cat /dev/mtd0 > /tmp/sda/pen/original_cfe.bin
(change your path where the pendrive is mounted on)

or

dd if=/dev/mtd0 of=/tmp/sda/pen/original_cfe.bin
(change your path where the pendrive is mounted on)

Use df command to see where is mounted your pendrive path.

About syslog, copy all text in:

http://192.168.1.1/Main_LogStatus_Content.asp

 

[graymattr]

Sent info via PM. Thanks so much!

 

[hggomes]

I cleaned some msgs, you can send now

 

[hggomes]

Based on syslog and bootloader (same original PA5003), RT-AC68P it's an exact copy of RT-AC68U, the unique difference is the CPU, BCM4708 (U) now is BCM4709 (P).

http://paste.debian.net/128628/

Bootloader version is v1.0.2.5, already added to collection.

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=17793

Thank you once again.

 

[KenAF]

Can we tell whether there is any difference in transmit power as compared to the previous model?

 

[hggomes]

Its exactly the same router, no range improovements over U version.

 

[graymattr]

Cool, so this should work with Tomato and dd-wrt rt-ac68u builds then?

Thanks!

 

[bbb0777]

So...it's exactly the same, except the CPU is rated/defaulted to 1Ghz vs. 800mhz?

 

[RMerlin]

if it's really what was internally known as RT-AC68_V2 at Asus, then it probably also has new amps.

In any case, firmware-wise it's indeed identical to the RT-AC68U/R, as there is no build profile for RT-AC68P in the source code.

 

[john9527]

Its exactly the same router, no range improovments over U version.

Maybe not....the country/rev is Q2/40, which if it's the same as the 68U should raise the maximum power levels without any CFE changes to 24 dBm (251mW) on 2.4GHz, and 25 dBm (316mW) on 5GHz.

 

[graymattr]

What is the best way to get Tomato installed from a Mac (without the Asus firmware utility)? TFTP while in recovery?

 

[hggomes]

It seems original PA on RT-AC68U V2 is called 5023, RT-AC68P has a different PA called PA 5003.

# PAtype.
0: RT-AC68U
1: RT-AC87U
5023: RT-AC68U V2 with original PA 5023
85402: RT-AC68U V2 with new PA 85402 => Skyworks chip on 5GHZ (www.skyworksinc.com/uploads/documents/SKY85402_11_202120F.pdf)

 

[KenAF]

Maybe not....the country/rev is Q2/40, which if it's the same as the 68U should raise the maximum power levels without any CFE changes to 24 dBm (251mW) on 2.4GHz, and 25 dBm (316mW) on 5GHz.

Thanks. I suspect the same (that Asus increased power levels to match the latest FCC standards, just as they did on the 87U), but I would like confirmation before I upgrade from a N66U.

 

[Raiu]

So, I wonder does the usb 3 still have issues or did they fix that.

 

[LoneWolf]

So....one could infer from this that the RT-AC68P would have better performance than the 68U/R, all other things being equal?

If so, for almost everyone, this might be a great cost alternative to purchasing the RT-AC87. As MU-MIMO isn't really a usable feature right now, and some of the 87's features (adaptive QoS, AiProtection) are being backported to the AC-68 (which has a fairly mature firmware aside from new features) this sounds like it could have real potential.

 

[RMerlin]

Would be interesting seeing a RT-AC68P pc board, to see what was changed layout-wise.

 

[ablatt]

Will be interesting to see if the change in power amps on the P vs. U versions makes a difference in everyday usage.

Anybody compare the two yet?