RT-AC88U

[pete y testing]

1) Dual-Band Smart Connect (2.4GHz and 5GHz) With Smart Connect ACTIVE

turn smart connect off and have different ssid for 2.4 gig and 5 gig then connect the 5 gig devices to just the 5 gig ssid

 

[maxbraketorque]

To add another data point on H/W versions, I just picked up a RT-AC3100 at Best Buy. Manufacture date is 2017, and its H/W version A6. There were also A5's with 2017 manufacture date on the shelf too.

 

[Jaguar]

I received my replacement AC 3100 (previous one had a broken 5 ghz radio), but this one doesn't have any details of the hardware version. It says "2 RT-AC3100" followed by the Serial Number below it. How do I go about finding out the hardware version? @RMerlin

 

[maxbraketorque]

There should be a tag somewhere on the router.

 

[Jaguar]

There should be a tag somewhere on the router.

Nope, no tag anywhere. It just has a serial number and the associated barcode - really strange

 

[RMerlin]

Could be because it's a refurb, so the internal pcboard might not match the case used.

 

[Jaguar]

Could be because it's a refurb, so the internal pcboard might not match the case used.

Got it - other than opening up the router, no other way to determine hardware revision, I presume?

End of the day, it is what it is, not much that I can do about it.

 

[RMerlin]

Got it - other than opening up the router, no other way to determine hardware revision, I presume?

AFAIK, no.

 

[hotsauce2007]

I am thinking about sell my ac68u and get one of the RT-AC88U, does it really worth it?
I will use in the AIMESH solution

 

[maxbraketorque]

I am thinking about sell my ac68u and get one of the RT-AC88U, does it really worth it?
I will use in the AIMESH solution

RT-AC3100 provided a clear improvement in wireless speeds for me. Speeds were double or nearly double in both near and far field tests. Not everyone seems to see as good of an improvement as I did though. I kept my RT-AC68U as well. Its set up as an AP now with a wired connection to my AC3100, and that's working very nicely for covering my entire house with 5 GHz AC. However, I am looking forward to trying AIMESH. I am hoping that it will provide a little better control over whether devices connect to the 2.4 GHz network or the 5 GHz network.

 

[Antec800]

So the new a6 version are there any hardware changes at all, compared to the original rt3100?

 

[hotsauce2007]

RT-AC3100 provided a clear improvement in wireless speeds for me. Speeds were double or nearly double in both near and far field tests. Not everyone seems to see as good of an improvement as I did though. I kept my RT-AC68U as well. Its set up as an AP now with a wired connection to my AC3100, and that's working very nicely for covering my entire house with 5 GHz AC. However, I am looking forward to trying AIMESH. I am hoping that it will provide a little better control over whether devices connect to the 2.4 GHz network or the 5 GHz network.

okay, thanks for the full and honest feedback
I will get one asap
=]

 

[maxbraketorque]

okay, thanks for the full and honest feedback
I will get one asap
=]

I plan to buy an RT-AC86U in about three weeks and do a 3-way comparison between it, the AC3100, and the AC68U, so if you don't mind waiting until then, you'll have even more info on possible upgrades from the AC68U.

 

[hotsauce2007]

I plan to buy an RT-AC86U in about three weeks and do a 3-way comparison between it, the AC3100, and the AC68U, so if you don't mind waiting until then, you'll have even more info on possible upgrades from the AC68U.

oh nice, I will keep an eye on this tread , I was thinking about the 5300 ROG but the guys from the club said that there is a lot of problems with FW and hardware, so I will keep a little distance of it until it gets better

 

[OldJavaNerd]

Hi,

I'm having intermittent trouble getting my 5ghz devices like my phone and tablet to see 2.4ghz devices like cams, and TVs through their respective app. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. If I disable 5 ghz and use only 2.4 Ghz everyone sees each other just fine. No devices have connection issues, all can connect to the router/internet just fine. I do have smartconnect enabled at the moment. All devices connected at 5ghz can see each other through their respective apps just fine.

 

[pete y testing]

try setting channels on both 2.4 gig and 5 gig to a set ch and not auto

 

[OldJavaNerd]

Thanks, but when using the SmartConnect feature, the only choice I have for channel is auto. If I turn off SmarConnect, I only have 2.4G or 5G available, not both. However I can select channel then. Is there another way to do this? Keep SmartConnect, but set the channel? It said, that I was currently using in channel 10, 149. No idea what the 149 was, didn't think there were that many channels on the router.

 

[undertherain]

Does anyone know if the problems with the Merlin 382.x have been solved?
I mean malfunctions IP cameras, connected device list, identification of devices connected with the brand, etc....
For these reasons I had to put the Merlin 380.x back...

 

[MarkyPancake]

Only just started looking at this router as an upgrade from the AC68U.

What do people think between the 86U and 88U? Some of the 86U's specs are better than the more expensive 88U.

 

[avtella]

Go for the 86U, improved wireless chipset and CPU especially when it comes to VPN.