RT-AC88U alternative

[Grisu]

Just (at least little) different hardware and a one man show cant support firmware for few single users, it makes much sense to limit it to most sold models with hardware strong enough to support all those additional features.

 

[undertherain]

Just (at least little) different hardware and a one man show cant support firmware for few single users, it makes much sense to limit it to most sold models with hardware strong enough to support all those additional features.

Of course, I understand, I'm a developer as well...
So the cheapest Merlin compatible is the RT-AC66U_B1, right?
How is WiFi coverage compared to my RT-AC88U?
So I get an idea...

 

[Grisu]

Wifi will be about the same for all routers with AC. Limited by power regulations. Maybe with Mu-MiMo nearby better ones could be little faster, but forget it.
66U_B1 is very old 68U hardware not supposed to be supported much longer, better take a much newer 86U.

 

[Val D.]

Wifi will be about the same for all routers with AC.

Wrong...
There is no comparison in WiFi performance between first RT-AC66U and current RT-AC86U, for example. Even with the same Tx power, every newer generation radio modules is offering better sensitivity and better throughput. Newer routers using BCM4365E (3x3) and BCM4366E (4x4) radios are better than previous generations.

RT-AC86U (up ~30%) > RT-AC68U (up ~30%) > RT-AC66U (version A1)

RT-AC66U B1 router is equivalent to RT-AC68U, as mentioned above.

RT-AX88U is marketed as direct replacement of RT-AC88U.
RT-AC86U is marketed as direct replacement of RT-AC68U.

Both RT-AC86U and RT-AX88U offer better WiFi throughput on same distances compared to older hardware RT-AC88U.

 

[Val D.]

So the cheapest Merlin compatible is the RT-AC66U_B1, right?
How is WiFi coverage compared to my RT-AC88U?

Most likely weaker. Better go for RT-AC86U, it's currently the best price/performance ratio ASUS router.

 

[Grisu]

believe it if you are happy then ... and come on and show again and again your test sites where they say how much better it is (under laboratory conditions).

I had many EU-region models (2x RT-AC86U, 4x RT-AC68U, 2xDSL-AC68U) and seen no considerable differences with different older 68U and newer 86U Asus routers on >20 different Wifi clients mixed old and newest.
Even opposite with no region setting (possible on 68U) and so stronger WiFi power (not maxing out only about 300mW) I had much better coverage and speeds compared to 86U!

Maybe different in US with strong ch. 149+, not here in EU on lower channels and with concrete, brick and even stone houses everywhere and almost no 5GHz in neighbour rooms!
And you will have to search getting 1Gb/s speeds allover here, most would be happy to get near 300Mb/s!

We are speakeing about Milan in the north of Italy and home of Inter and AC Milan!

 

[Val D.]

believe it if you are happy then ...

I know it, I've seen it, it is documented in specifications, tests are done here on SNB by users to confirm it.

You have recently discovered that wireless N actually works on 5GHz band, for example, so your experience is a bit questionable. It's time to understand, that Tx power actually doesn't help the throughput. You may have 10W WiFi router and see the signal from a mile away, but your clients are still 20mW and they won't be able to establish the connection. What matters most is what's the lowest usable signal level for the radio module to work with. And this is where the newer radios are better. It's not the Tx power, it's not the channel, it's not the location US vs EU. You seem to forget all the time that WiFi is a 2-way communication.

And you will have to search getting 1Gb/s speeds allover here, most would be happy to get near 300Mb/s!

Of course you'll be happy with about 300Mbps throughput over WiFi. The common WiFi clients are 1x1 AC (up to 433Mbps link speed, ~200Mbps throughput) and 2x2 AC (up to 867Mbps link speed, ~400Mbps throughput). In average conditions 2x2 AC client will get about 300Mbps. What is so difficult to understand and what is so strange about it?

not here in EU on lower channels

I use lower channels only. Better throughput than higher channels in my location. How is it possible - see above.

 

[Grisu]

No cant be, I watched and compared only download speeds to clients and those are only related to router tx-power level.
Only upload will be related to client tx-power levels.
With 68U 300mW I could got to the street 50m and still got 5Mb/s while 86U ended just outside the house <10m with no connection at all after closing the door!
Really strange that I could use my clients outside though they didnt send strong enough for the router to get their signal - think about this. Maybe he doesnt need more because of better external antennas compared to clients and better S/N ratio?

BTW 802.11n is still the same on 2.4 and 5GHz, no differences in speed if you can use 40MHz bandwith, only more options to choose free channels if neccessary, so never been any advantage for me (you might have been in different situation I see).

My average condition is 2x2 AC client and 1-1.2Gb/s link speed and get about 700Mb/s throughput - you should think about your equipment and use 160MHz

 

[Val D.]

802.11n is still the same on 2.4 and 5GHz

Right... but you've never actually seen Wireless N on 5GHz, so better don't share your experience with it, please.

My average condition...

This technology arrived on time at your place. The average AC client in 2019 does not support 160MHz wide channel, though.

 

[undertherain]

Most likely weaker. Better go for RT-AC86U, it's currently the best price/performance ratio ASUS router.

I understand, of course, but it really costs too much.
On Amazon.it costs € 174, while the RT-AC66U_B1 € 90.
At this point I ask you: do the lower models I mentioned even if not compatible with Merlin still have software with the same usual ASUS interface as the higher models or something different?
At this point I might as well not put Merlin.
In conclusion, I need to be connected to the ground floor via a network cable that comes from the RT-AC88U on the first floor so as to have a more stable and powerful WiFi signal and to have all the devices on the 192.168.0.x network.
Do I get all this even with a cheap ASUS model like the RT-AC5x series?

 

[Val D.]

At this point I ask you: do the lower models I mentioned even if not compatible with Merlin still have software with the same usual ASUS interface as the higher models or something different?

Same WebUI look, but with more/less options according to the specific model.

If the price is an issue, then get the RT-AC66U B1 model. Most likely it will be supported for years by both ASUS and RMerlin due to the same hardware as RT-AC68U router, one of the most popular ASUS router models. It can be also used as part of ASUS AiMesh system. RT-AC5x series routers don't support AiMesh. The price of €90 is OK for RT-AC66U B1. It is a good and stable average performance AC router.

 

[undertherain]

Same WebUI look, but with more/less options according to the specific model.

If the price is an issue, then get the RT-AC66U B1 model. Most likely it will be supported for years by both ASUS and RMerlin due to the same hardware as RT-AC68U router, one of the most popular ASUS router models. It can be also used as part of ASUS AiMesh system. RT-AC5x series routers don't support AiMesh. The price of €90 is OK for RT-AC66U B1. It is a good and stable average performance AC router.

It's what I wanted to take, but then @Grisu wrote to me "66U_B1 is very old 68U hardware not supposed to be supported much longer, better take a lot newer 86U. "

 

[RMerlin]

"66U_B1 is very old 68U hardware not supposed to be supported much longer,

Considering that platform is Asus's main mid-range and probably one of their most popular, I suspect it will be supported for quite a while. They don't really have any newer replacement product in the 100-150$ market segment.

 

[Val D.]

It's what I wanted to take, but then @Grisu wrote to me "66U_B1 is very old 68U hardware not supposed to be supported much longer, better take a lot newer 86U. "

Tell @Grisu he is very old; get the RT-AC66U B1 router; send @RMerlin a bottle of whisky.

 

[undertherain]

Considering that platform is Asus's main mid-range and probably one of their most popular, I suspect it will be supported for quite a while. They don't really have any newer replacement product in the 100-150$ market segment.

Tell @Grisu he is very old; get the RT-AC66U B1 router; send @RMerlin a bottle of whisky.

I would say that I will soon take it on Amazon and try it.
If I'm not satisfied, then I can make the return as always.
I would have taken a superior model, but I really need it for the ground floor to better cover the WiFi signal for Xiaomi home automation and I.P. rooms. always Xiaomi.

 

[Grisu]

68U has been sold since 2013 mostly unchanged (minor revision updates like 66_b1 with same hardware and firmware in 66U housing) and reaching end of product life cycle maybe next year, while 86U has been published in 2017.
Original RT-AC66U has been introduced in EU in mid 2012 and not supported by Merlin anymore for over a year!
He did for good reasons, but same will happen to 68U too.
Do you setup a new PC with Win7 now or buy 7 years old phones?
I would not if I can get 86U for little more (some flash sales down to 150€).
Better upgrade existing 88U and use it downstairs than get even older second router.

If you like it cheaper get an used RT-AC68U for less than 70€ (e.g. on ebay-kleinanzeigen.de), very reliable router and good for your purposes to extend wifi, but not state of the art anymore.

Or why do you want to buy a router anyway?
Take a cheap Wifi-AC repeater to extend Wifi for 30-40€.

It all depends on your line speed, your purposes and needs downstairs and the money you want to spend for it!

In the header it's asked for an alternative to 88U (which for me means some kind of upgrade) and reuse of 88U ...

 

[undertherain]

68U has been sold since 2013 mostly unchanged (minor revision updates like 66_b1 with same hardware and firmware in 66U housing) and reaching end of product life cycle maybe next year, while 86U has been published in 2017.
Original RT-AC66U has been introduced in EU in mid 2012 and not supported by Merlin anymore for over a year!
He did for good reasons, but same will happen to 68U too.
Do you setup a new PC with Win7 now or buy 7 years old phones?
I would not if I can get 86U for little more (some flash sales down to 150€).
Better upgrade existing 88U and use it downstairs than get even older second router.

If you like it cheaper get an used RT-AC68U for less than 70€ (e.g. on ebay-kleinanzeigen.de), very reliable router and good for your purposes to extend wifi, but not state of the art anymore.

Or why do you want to buy a router anyway?
Take a cheap Wifi-AC repeater to extend Wifi for 30-40€.

It all depends on your line speed, your purposes and needs downstairs and the money you want to spend for it!

In the header it's asked for an alternative to 88U (which for me means some kind of upgrade) and reuse of 88U ...

You are right.
Now I'll explain to you what I want to do: on the first floor router provider (192.168.1.1) with RT-AC88U in cascade (192.168.0.1).
From the RT-AC88U a 25+ meter ethernet cable leaves the ground floor and enters a wired room of the home alarm (Risco brand) ((WiFi cannot reach it decently).
Now ... I want to reuse this cable by cutting it into a wall socket where it passes, putting 2 male RJ45 at the two ends.
Then I connect the RJ45 of the cable that comes from above the new router or the one I will take, and in another port I connect the RJ45 of the part of the cable that goes to the camera.
The new device that I have to buy must therefore have at least 2 RJ45 to get in and out with the cable and good WiFi coverage because it will have to cover the garden well (Xiaomi rooms and sensors for home automation with MiHome) and it must always be THE SAME NETWORK 192.168.0 .x or I will have problems with some devices that have IP fixed that I can't change (alarm ...).
As a router since I have the RT-AC88U + Merlin I don't want to use anything else, I find myself too well, zero configuration problems, opening doors, etc. (problems I had with the provider's modem, it all started here).
Now that I have explained everything well, what do you advise me to do?
Thank you, you are and you are all very kind!

 

[consorts]

i have the ac3100 which is the 88 less 4 ethernet ports.

unless you need a 1.8ghz cpu with better openvpn support
i see no reason why you'd want a better router than the 88.

if your 88's radios seem to grow stale, just reboot it
more often, like make a cron job to reboot it weekly.

in my case, i have a fringe distance 2.4Ghz roku on my network
and when i see it's connection wink on and off to my router
i know i'm going to have to reboot within the next 24-48 hours.

 

[undertherain]

i have the ac3100 which is the 88 less 4 ethernet ports.

unless you need a 1.8ghz cpu with better openvpn support
i see no reason why you'd want a better router than the 88.

if your 88's radios seem to grow stale, just reboot it
more often, like make a cron job to reboot it weekly.

in my case, i have a fringe distance 2.4Ghz roku on my network
and when i see it's connection wink on and off to my router
i know i'm going to have to reboot within the next 24-48 hours.

Read my post above.
What do you suggest me?
Thanks!

 

[Val D.]

because it will have to cover the garden well

It's hard to suggest something when we don't know where exactly this AP is going to be located, how far this garden is and how large it is. As you said above, better get the RT-AC66U B1 router from Amazon, see if it works for you, send it back if it doesn't. Then we celebrate the success or go back to drawing board to explore other options. APs with 2 x LAN ports are available, but most require PoE (Power over Ethernet) and make things a bit more complicated (additional power supply + PoE injector adapter needed).