RT-AC87R 5GHz wireless mode

[neil0311]

Looks like the 5GHz "Wireless Mode" UI is messed up as well. You should see the following options: "Auto" "Legacy" and "N + AC" but all I see is "Auto" and "N only".

If I set to "Auto" then I can only see a max rate of 54Mpbs and inSSIDer shows only one channel. If I set to "N only" then I can manually force 40MHz and two channels and I get "N" connections with a max rate of 600Mbps.

Anyone else see this behavior? I'm assuming this will be fixed...hopefully in the next firmware release.

 

[RMerlin]

Odd. Here I have it set to Auto, and my laptop link fluctuates between 650 and 866 Mbps (this is an Intel 7260AC).

Is it possible that you have a client that's connecting to it either using TKIP or 802.11g? That might force the router to downgrade speed to keep up with that client then.

 

[neil0311]

Odd. Here I have it set to Auto, and my laptop link fluctuates between 650 and 866 Mbps (this is an Intel 7260AC).

Is it possible that you have a client that's connecting to it either using TKIP or 802.11g? That might force the router to downgrade speed to keep up with that client then.

Nope. Using an 802.11n client (Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235) with AES. It has always worked flawlessly with the RT-N66U. I have a new 802.11ac client on the way, so if I don't return this thing first, I'll try it.

What options do you see when you look at the 5GHz wireless mode? Do you see the "Legacy" and "N+AC" modes...I don't.

 

[RMerlin]

Nope. Using an 802.11n client (Intel Centrino Advanced-N 6235) with AES. It has always worked flawlessly with the RT-N66U. I have a new 802.11ac client on the way, so if I don't return this thing first, I'll try it.

What options do you see when you look at the 5GHz wireless mode? Do you see the "Legacy" and "N+AC" modes...I don't.

I only see Auto and N-Only, and this is intentional. From the webui source code:

                if(based_modelid == "RT-AC87U"){
                        obj.options[0] = new Option("<#Auto#>", 0);
                        obj.options[1] = new Option("N only", 1);

                }else{
                        obj.options[0] = new Option("<#Auto#>", 0);
                        obj.options[1] = new Option("N + AC", 1);
                        obj.options[2] = new Option("Legacy", 2);
                }

Asus are probably not showing a Legacy mode because it's not supported by Quantenna. Remember that this is a different manufacturer, so it doesn't necessarily offer the same options as Broadcom does.

 

[neil0311]

Asus are probably not showing a Legacy mode because it's not supported by Quantenna. Remember that this is a different manufacturer, so it doesn't necessarily offer the same options as Broadcom does.

I was only going by the contextual help in the UI. If you hover over "Wireless Mode" and click when you see the question mark, it gives you a pop up with the supposed choices that are available. "Legacy" and "N+AC" are two of those choices that are shown in the help but are not in the UI.

One thing I can say absolutely....when I set the 5GHz network to "Auto" with "80 MHz" and channel selection set to "Auto"...all I get is a 54Mbps network with one channel (20 MHz) as reported by my client and by inSSIDer. A speed test confirms the 54Mbps connection.

If I manually force "N" and "40 MHz" then I can get a dual channel network that is essentially the same as what I get on the RT-N66U.

 

[RMerlin]

I was only going by the contextual help in the UI. If you hover over "Wireless Mode" and click when you see the question mark, it gives you a pop up with the supposed choices that are available. "Legacy" and "N+AC" are two of those choices that are shown in the help but are not in the UI.

Look like they forgot to update the popup help I guess.

One thing I can say absolutely....when I set the 5GHz network to "Auto" with "80 MHz" and channel selection set to "Auto"...all I get is a 54Mbps network with one channel (20 MHz) as reported by my client and by inSSIDer. A speed test confirms the 54Mbps connection.

If I manually force "N" and "40 MHz" then I can get a dual channel network that is essentially the same as what I get on the RT-N66U.

Try manually setting the channel to see if it helps. I have no problem here with mine also left on Auto, but something in your environment could be triggering the problem.

I assume you are running FW 376_1779? The routers shipped with a pre-release version, so updating to the final release is important.

 

[neil0311]

I assume you are running FW 376_1779? The routers shipped with a pre-release version, so updating to the final release is important.

Yes, running that version.