RT-AC87U questions

[alarsen77]

So I had an Asus RT-N66U that was running merlins firmware version 378.54_2. I was starting to get some range issues and also speed issues. We just got upgraded to RCN's 155/15 connection so the performance was quite there for my internet connection, I would get about 100 over wifi and only about 135 over wired, when directly out of the modem I was getting closer to 180-200.

So I decided to get an Asus RT-AC87U at best buy yesterday. I know they have the 5Ghz issue with them. I have merlins firmware version 378.55 on it and so far it seems to be working well. I also got the geek squad protection since I knew that there were some issues with the 5Ghz and they said if it keeps dropping signal they will replace it and if that model isn't available anymore they replace it with the newer model.

So my main question is did I make a mistake buying the RT-AC87U in hoping I might get lucky and have it work well for me? I can still return it to best buy. Or I can hang on to it and if I do end up having the issues with the 5Ghz that many say are inevitable, I can take advantage of the geek squad replacement when the RT-AC88U hits the shelves?

 

[VANT]

n66u have no problem with 500mbit , over wifi i have 450mbit/s max. 87u have much more power, so You have not problem with routers but IMO with config, etc, and 88u for sure not help.

 

[alarsen77]

I know the rat-n66u is capable of it but mine I think was starting to have issues so it was time for a replacement.

I'm just hoping the rat-ac87u wasn't a mistake. If we knew when the rat-ac88u would be out I may have waited if it was soon.


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[alarsen77]

So another question I have. My girlfriend has a Samsung Galaxy S6 and it is connected to the 5g connection, but when she doesn't use her phone for a little while and then picks it up to use it, it is not connected to wifi. It will take about 10-15 seconds after she unlocks the phone and then reconnect. It never used to do this with the RT-N66U what could be the reason for this?

 

[alarsen77]

Also does anyone know if Merlins 378.56 firmware when it goes to a final version will be based off the newest asus 3.0.0.4.378.9177 that has the new driver for the 5G chipset?

 

[RMerlin]

Also does anyone know if Merlins 378.56 firmware when it goes to a final version will be based off the newest asus 3.0.0.4.378.9177 that has the new driver for the 5G chipset?

Current beta is based on 9177. So far it seems good enough to be used, even tho it's still not perfect and QTN are still fiddling with it.

 

[alarsen77]

Current beta is based on 9177. So far it seems good enough to be used, even tho it's still not perfect and QTN are still fiddling with it.

Well it is good to hear that they are working on it and hopefully we will see a stable 5G connection soon. I love the router so far, I was able to get wireless speeds from my internet connection of 225mbps down and 18mbps up over wifi on 5G upstairs in my bedroom which is much better than my RT-N66U ever did. It's even crazier since my connection from RCN is only supposed to be 155/15 but I consistently get closer to 175-180/18-19

 

[alarsen77]

So I've woken up twice in the past week to no 5GHz band at all and having to reboot the router. I'm running Merlins 378.55 should I try the official asus 9177?

Also should I keep this router and hope it gets fixed or just wait for the rt-ac88u to come out and have Best Buy replace it under my geek squad protection? I could also just return this one still and get an rt-ac68p?



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[alarsen77]

I just noticed Merlins 378.56 is now available as a stable release. Just updated to that going to give it a try and see how it works out.

 

[Embattle]

My sister has a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and it doesn't do to well for some reason with WiFi, I suspect there is some sort of power saving at play although it could just be that I've come to the conclusion over time that Samsung phones should be avoid like rabies.

 

[DaveMishSr]

So I've woken up twice in the past week to no 5GHz band at all and having to reboot the router. I'm running Merlins 378.55 should I try the official asus 9177?

Also should I keep this router and hope it gets fixed or just wait for the rt-ac88u to come out and have Best Buy replace it under my geek squad protection? I could also just return this one still and get an rt-ac68p?



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Have you tried using JFFS & a cron job to have the router automatically reboot itself? It's easy and I have Merlin's instructions on how to easily set it up to reboot whenever you like, all by itself.

 

[DaveMishSr]

My sister has a Samsung Galaxy Note 3 and it doesn't do to well for some reason with WiFi, I suspect there is some sort of power saving at play although it could just be that I've come to the conclusion over time that Samsung phones should be avoid like rabies.

I have a Galaxy Note 2 and here is my workaround, simply forget the 5GHz SSID and only connect to the 2.4GHz SSID. No battery drain and it streams everything, including the RedZone Channel on Sundays.

 

[Embattle]

I do normally result to that after she moans enough.

 

[alarsen77]

Have you tried using JFFS & a cron job to have the router automatically reboot itself? It's easy and I have Merlin's instructions on how to easily set it up to reboot whenever you like, all by itself.

I have not tried that. So far on 378.56 I have been running smoothly with no issues. We will see how it continues, I also haven't noticed my gf having too many battery drain issues on wifi with her S6.

I also see in your signature that you are using active cooling? What are you using for cooling and have you noticed much difference at all?

 

[Gingernut]

I have not tried that. So far on 378.56 I have been running smoothly with no issues. We will see how it continues, I also haven't noticed my gf having too many battery drain issues on wifi with her S6.

I also see in your signature that you are using active cooling? What are you using for cooling and have you noticed much difference at all?

FWIW latest 378.56 has a schedule reboot option built into the gui so no need for reboot scripts any longer.

 

[DaveMishSr]

I have not tried that. So far on 378.56 I have been running smoothly with no issues. We will see how it continues, I also haven't noticed my gf having too many battery drain issues on wifi with her S6.

I also see in your signature that you are using active cooling? What are you using for cooling and have you noticed much difference at all?

My cooling rig is pictured as my avatar. Here are the cron job instructions (courtesy of RMerlin):

1) Enable JFFS + Format JFFS + Telnet on the Administration -> System page, then reboot.
2) Download the software called Putty (should be easy to find on Google)
3) Using Putty, connect using the Telnet protocol to your router's IP (probably 192.168.1.1) Username and password are the same as for the webui.
4) Type the following, one line at a time:

For scheduled reboot:

cat << EOF > /jffs/scripts/services-start
#!/bin/sh
/usr/sbin/cru a ScheduledReboot "15 5 * * * reboot"
EOF

Set 15 (minutes) and 5 (hour) to the desired reboot time, for a daily reboot. Those arguments are:
"min hour day month week command"
After this you will be back to the prompt. Now run this:

chmod a+rx /jffs/scripts/services-start
/jffs/scripts/services-start

That will set up the cron job. Every time you reboot the router, the reboot task will be re-established.
To remove the task:

rm /jffs/scripts/services-start
cru d ScheduledReboot

It's so easy I can do it!

 

[alarsen77]

So has anyone with one of AC87U/R , decided to jump ship and go with a netgear? I am looking at the X6 and X8 in best buy and wondering if I should give them a try. I have always loved my asus routers and would rather stick with them, but the AC87U/R seems like it is never going to 100% at least not for a while.

 

[Puppa]

Netgear has left me hanging with unsupported hardware so frequently. For example, the R7000v1, discontinued flagship after 3 scant months or so, replaced by R7000v2 with a dual core CPU. No more mainstream firmware after that. There are more examples, but that one's my most recent. Anything you see that's bad about ASUS, multiply it by 4 and that's Netgear. Even security updates are extremely slow from them--if they ever even come at all. At least ASUS keeps working on the firmware. They weren't the only manufacturer to get burned by the QSR1000 debacle.