RT-AX58U - increase in speed even for AC-only client

[K-2SO]

That's because the AX58U 5 GHz radio is 4x4

Asus specs error then. Not surprised. Found the right info - BCM43684, 4x4:2. Puzzle solved.

AX200 adaptor shows a 2.4Gbps connection rate.

For AX it's clear. MBP doesn't have AX though. This is what caught my attention above.

 

[eldridchapman]

Asus specs error then. Not surprised. Found the right info - BCM43684, 4x4:2. Puzzle solved.



For AX it's clear. MBP doesn't have AX though. This is what caught my attention above.

You took it from http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/List_of_802.11ax_Hardware right? Under the AX58U row, it says the BCM43684 is a 2x2 radio, is that a typo?

So basically Asus "hide" a 4x4 radio in the AX58/AX3000 and marketed it as 2x2 to avoid cannibalising higher end AX routers?

ASUS RT-AX58U
FCC ID: MSQ-RTAXJ300 wireless router abgn+ac+ax

2x2:2 x 2x2:2 CoO:

Broadcom
BCM6750
1.5 GHz
3 cores 256 MiB 512 MiB Broadcom
BCM6750
2x2:2, bgn+ax
Ant. conn: U.FL Broadcom
BCM43684
2x2:2, an+ac+ax
Ant. conn: U.FL Broadcom
BCM6750 1GbE
4 LAN
1 WAN USB 3.0 1 USB
2019-08-23

 

[K-2SO]

So basically Asus "hide" a 4x4 radio in the AX58/AX3000 and marketed it as 2x2 to avoid cannibalising higher end AX routers?

I don’t think so. I’ve seen other errors on Asus page.

 

[K-2SO]

You took it from http://en.techinfodepot.shoutwiki.com/wiki/List_of_802.11ax_Hardware right?

No. Saved copy of Wikidevi.
Sorry for double posting. Using a phone ATM. Multiple quote is a pain on a phone.

 

[thiggins]

So basically Asus "hide" a 4x4 radio in the AX58/AX3000 and marketed it as 2x2 to avoid cannibalising higher end AX routers?

This is intentional, not a spec sheet error.

It's common practice to market a single hardware platform under different product names. But manfs usually cripple a feature, i.e. no USB port, no 160 MHz support.

In this case, ASUS is giving savvy buyers a gift. Similar to what Linksys did awhile ago, a few times. https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-features/32156-another-gift-from-linksys

 

[eldridchapman]

This is intentional, not a spec sheet error.

It's common practice to market a single hardware platform under different product names. But manfs usually cripple a feature, i.e. no USB port, no 160 MHz support.

In this case, ASUS is giving savvy buyers a gift. Similar to what Linksys did awhile ago, a few times. https://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wireless/wireless-features/32156-another-gift-from-linksys

Thanks! I've my doubts cleared and is certainly happy my AX58U performance is a bargain for what I paid for (compared to AX88U pricing).

 

[K-2SO]

In this case, ASUS is giving savvy buyers a gift.

Is the same board used in another router? Could be cost saving.
Nothing guarantees the savvy buyer it won't be disabled with future fw updates.

 

[thiggins]

Is the same board used in another router? Could be cost saving.
Nothing guarantees the savvy buyer it won't be disabled with future fw updates.

The RT-AX58U, RT-AX3000 and RT-AX82U all have the same FCC ID. Same hardware.

Sure, it's possible ASUS could limit the router to 2 streams @ 5 GHz. But that's not their style.

 

[thiggins]

Is the same board used in another router? Could be cost saving.
Nothing guarantees the savvy buyer it won't be disabled with future fw updates.

The RT-AX58U, RT-AX3000 and RT-AX82U all have the same FCC ID. Same hardware.

Sure, it's possible ASUS could limit the router to 2 streams @ 5 GHz. But that's not their style.

 

[K-2SO]

The RT-AX58U, RT-AX3000 and RT-AX82U

No much info on RT-AX82U. This one I see mentioned in AX5400 class.

 

[RMerlin]

I was curious about it, so I configured my RT-AX58U as a repeater, and connected it to my RT-AX88U. The RT-AX58U does indeed support four spatial streams, as seen here from the AX88U client list:

I don't have any 4 SS client to test directly connecting to it while in router mode however, so I can't confirm if it fully works at 4 streams while operating as a router or an AP. But if it does, that makes the RT-AX58U a really attractive option.

EDIT: this router is schizophrenic. It reported 4 streams earlier, it was able to connect to another router using four streams. And now that I switched it back into Router mode,, it now only reports 2 streams. I bet Asus used a 4 SS chip, and intended to limit it at 2 SS, but that limit isn't properly working...

 

[RMerlin]

So after doing more tests and discussing it with someone else, here is the working theory:

STA mode: can handle up to 4 streams @ 160 MHz (which would match my screenshot)
AP mode: can handle up to 4 streams @ 80 MHz, or 2 streams @ 160 MHz, and both are limited at 2400 Mbps max

This might be due to a limit in processing power for the chip (STA mode only has to handle one single connection, while AP mode might need to handle more simultaneously).

 

[RMerlin]

And I finally got an official answer.

The RT-AX58U has 2 transmit and 4 receive streams. This is also why in my screenshot it was 2400 Mbs/3600 Mbs.

 

[L&LD]

@RMerlin what would be the proper way to denote this in 4x4:4 format?

 

[RMerlin]

@RMerlin what would be the proper way to denote this in 4x4:4 format?

No idea.

 

[eldridchapman]

And I finally got an official answer.

The RT-AX58U has 2 transmit and 4 receive streams. This is also why in my screenshot it was 2400 Mbs/3600 Mbs.

Should it be 4 transmit and 2 receive stream? As the screenshot denote 2400 Rx and 3600 Tx

 

[thiggins]

There are 4 5 GHz streams and 2 2.4 GHz streams. Same design as NETGEAR RAX45/50.
The 2.4 GHz radio is part of the BCM6750 SoC, which contains the processor and switch.

 

[RMerlin]

Should it be 4 transmit and 2 receive stream? As the screenshot denote 2400 Rx and 3600 Tx

The screenshot is from the RT-AX88U, so it's at the other end of the connection.

 

[RMerlin]

here are 4 5 GHz streams and 2 2.4 GHz streams.

However, the 5 GHz band is limited to two transmit streams, according to someone at Asus.

 

[Deleted member 22229]

Using Merlin firmware shows 5 GHz at 2 streams for all my devices.