RT-AC68U dropped link speeds

[tWreCK]

Hey y'all,

Have a AC68U router running FW 3.0.0.4.376_1663 and a laptop with an intel wireless-ac 7260 adaptor. At first when I installed the adaptor the link speed was 866Mbps but lately I'm only getting 400Mbps max. When I hover the mouse pointer above the SSID on the wireless taskbar icon it says radio type: 802.11n not ac? I ran the netsh command and ac didn't show up under radio types there either. I've tried several different router firmwares both earlier and the latest as well as a couple of the Merlin builds. Same result > 400Mbps. I've tried different settings in the adaptor drivers but that's a no go too. I even swapped the adaptor for another 7260 I had lying around but it still only connects at 400Mbps. InSSIDer shows I'm the only one in the area on 5GHz.

Here are a few pics:

Adaptor settings are as follows -->

802.11n Channel Width for 2.4GHz > Auto
802.11n Channel Width for 5.2GHz > Auto
AdHoc Channel 802.11b/g > 1
AdHoc QoS Mode > WMM Enabled
ARP offload for WoWLAN > Enabled
Bluetooth(R) AMP > Disabled
FAT Channel Intolerant > Disabled
GTK rekeying for WoWLAN > Enabled
HT Mode > VHT
Mixed Mode Protection > CTS-to-self Enabled
NS offload for WoWLAN > Enabled
Preferred band > Prefer 5.2GHz band
Roaming Agressiveness > Lowest
Sleep on WoWLAN Disconnect > Disabled
Throughput Booster > Disabled
Transmit Power > Highest
U-APSD support > Disabled
Wake on Magic Packet > Enabled
Wake on Pattern Match > Enabled
Wireless Mode > 802.11a/b/g

Not sure what else I can do? Any help appreciated......

 

[RMerlin]

Don't rely on the popup, as not all versions of Windows can recognize 802.11ac. Checking the link rate while standing right next to the router would be the best way to know for sure.

Double check that the replacement adapter you installed is indeed the AC version. Intel also sells an N version of the 7260, and quite a few reseller mis-labeled them, leading some buyers to get the wrong version.

Otherwise, the router settings look good to me. Can't say for the NIC settings, I'm not at home right now to compare with my own laptop.

 

[tWreCK]

I double checked the adaptors and both of them are wireless-ac 7260 (model#: 7260HMV).

Standing right next to the router windows (netsh) and intel pro-set both report the rate @ 400Mbps. Unfortunately I don't have access to another pc with an AC client adaptor so I'm unable to rule out the router as the cause. The way I see it it's either a windows issue/the adaptor/drivers or router. Perhaps a combination of several? As I mentioned earlier - link rate was @ 866Mbps up until a few weeks ago.....

I've opened support tickets with Intel and ASUS but have yet to hear back from them.

 

[Redyak]

Yesterday the samen happened to me.
Around 23:00 my internet connection dropped and went very slow.
Although connected to the modem internet was perfect.
Disconnecting the modem i managed to get into my AC68U after flashing 2 Merlin version and 1 Original Asus Firmware i got it up and running again.
But where i always had a connection on the 5GHz with a linkspeed of 780-867 i am now stuck at max 400.
What i found out is that the 20 Mhz gives 173 mbps 40 mhz gives 400mbps 80 mhz gives 173mbps. Auto all gives 400mbps.

I got a real AC7260 adaptor and workes for 6 months now.
An macbook air with AC reports the same only connection to 20 or 40 Mhz.

What happend to my 80Mhz and how can i establisch it is a hardware failure?

 

[phunixx]

Same here, true AC7260 wifi card and AC68u in Europe-Belgium.
Updated to the last asus firmware with the new bootloader and the 80 mhz channel seems broken. Befor i had speeds up to 800 next to the router and is now capped at 400

 

[Redyak]

There is another thread. It looks like a bad firmware from ASUS. Which is now only for US TW. So europe router got a problem

 

[tWreCK]

OK - if it's a FW issue why doesn't it help to flash it back to an older version? I have tried various older FW versions as well as Merlin's builds but that hasn't helped. I find it hard to believe that FW can cause irreversible damage but maybe it can? I'm not even running the latest ASUS FW anymore but it's still capped @ 400Mbps......

 

[RMerlin]

The 3602 firmware on the RT-AC68U does a bootloader update, which is permanent. You will have to either manually downgrade the bootloader (a risky operation), or wait for Asus to release a new update.

Asus told me that they were urgently working on this issue.

 

[tWreCK]

I see.....i guess we play the waiting game. At least the router 's working - could be worse

 

[phunixx]

At least asus is aware of this frackup lol...
Hope they fix it soon !!!!

 

[tWreCK]

UPDATE! Check this thread for a resolution to the 5GHz problems -->

http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showthread.php?t=20578