RT-AX88U FCC Docs all posted.

[maxbraketorque]

B&H has the RT-AX88U up for pre-order, $350 with expected availability Oct 26, 2018.

Not horrible pricing. I wonder if Amazon will have a slightly lower price.

 

[Sinner]

Asus updated their product page, confirming the CPU as being quad-core:

https://www.asus.com/Networking/RT-AX88U/specifications/

what are your thoughts on the quad core aspect? I remember reading someplace you tweaked the vpn to use like 2nd core 1st then 1st 2nd etc.. is there any real benefit to 4 cores other than vpn? unless im mistaken the os was single threaded mostly?

 

[RMerlin]

what are your thoughts on the quad core aspect? I remember reading someplace you tweaked the vpn to use like 2nd core 1st then 1st 2nd etc.. is there any real benefit to 4 cores other than vpn? unless im mistaken the os was single threaded mostly?

It might get useful in a situation where you use many features at once (i.e. a VPN, USB sharing, the DPI engine, etc...)

How well tuned for quad cores the firmware is however, I don't know. So far it seems to be mostly limited to two cores max.

 

[Balance]

The RT-AX88U product page is now also online: https://www.asus.com/Networking/RT-AX88U/

Centralpoint also lists a product code (90IG04F0-MM3G00) and EAN (4718017128759), they expect the router on Friday October 12, 2018.

 

[follower]

How many AX devices do you guys have? Where is 802.11ad?

 

[Grisu]

Buy buy buy - not for using it but for playing (with router itself not games)!

Manual quick start: https://dlcdnets.asus.com/pub/ASUS/wireless/RT-AX88U/WEU13245_RT-AX88U_QSG_PRINT.pdf
Firmware
Version 3.0.0.4.384.4730 2018/09/2064.16 MBytesASUS RT-AX88U Firmware version 3.0.0.4.384.4730
Initial release

 

[RMerlin]

Where is 802.11ad?

802.11ad is useless for 90% of people. It's just a souped up Bluetooth basically, with line-of-sight range.

 

[Sinner]

802.11ad is useless for 90% of people. It's just a souped up Bluetooth basically, with line-of-sight range.

its prolly been 10yrs now but I recall IBM working on a similar tech targeting for high speed audio/video transfers I think for like tv's dvd players etc.. high speed short range would actually be perfect for that stuff.. no more wires.

 

[RMerlin]

its prolly been 10yrs now but I recall IBM working on a similar tech targeting for high speed audio/video transfers I think for like tv's dvd players etc.. high speed short range would actually be perfect for that stuff.. no more wires.

It still remain problematic since it's line-of-sight. A single shelf between your TV and your DVD player would interfere with 802.11ad.

The only reasonable use I can see for these would be a laptop dock, or maybe a replacement for Bluetooth for a computer. But in either cases, a router would be useless, since the router wouldn't sit right next to your computer to achieve the connection.

I can't think of a single usage scenario for a router supporting 802.11ad.

 

[Balance]

• ASUS RT-AX88U AX6000 router performance preview

Not entirely fair: They connected the RT-AX88U to another RT-AX88U (4x4 802.11ax) while they connected the other routers to a MacBook Pro (3x3 802.11ac).

I have reached higher results with my RT-AC68U + PCE-AC68 combo, around 850 Mb/s both up and down. I suspect testing was not under optimal settings.

Can't wait to see the first tests with the upcoming PCE-AX88 and Intel Wireless-AX 22260 (or 22560).

 

[RMerlin]

Not entirely fair: They connected the RT-AX88U to another RT-AX88U (4x4 802.11ax) while they connected the other routers to a MacBook Pro (3x3 802.11ac).

Their methodology leaves to be desired indeed. In addition to the fact that to really shine, 802.11ax requires multiple clients.

 

[Balance]

Also listed for $350 at Newegg.

Update 11:28: The Dutch webshop Alternate lists it as pre-order for €369 in The Netherlands.

 

[Grisu]

The Austrian Alternate shop even for €329: https://www.alternate.at/html/product/1487475
while the German for € 389 (usually cheaper!!!): https://www.alternate.de/html/product/1487475
They running crazy ...
Should I get one? But I'd like upstanding versions like 68U/86U much more as they need less space!

 

[drabisan]

294£ sounds tempting!
But no delivery date so I need to ask if they have price guarantee.

 

[Pierino]

Everyone should rush out and get one right away.
Then all come back here and complain about Asus using you as testers to iron out bugs in the software. Lol

 

[Balance]

I made a thread to track prices of the RT-AX88U:

• [Asus RT-AX88U] Delivery times & prices

 

[Odkrys]

ax88u use kernel 4.1.51.
Is this good or bad for merlin firmware ?

 

[wpte]

There's also an unboxing video from Asus including a little benchmark:

Looks impressive, but, let's wait for the independent benchmarks as well

I'm mainly looking at this router because my RT-AC87U can't keep up with PPPoE fibre and IP-TV. Somehow it causes too much CPU load, unlike when my old provider just gave me DHCP over fibre.

 

[RMerlin]

ax88u use kernel 4.1.51.
Is this good or bad for merlin firmware ?

Kernel version is irrelevant to me. RT-AC86U was on 4.1.21 for reference.

 

[jsmiddleton4]

"kernel version is irrelevant to me. "

Does that mean you will be supporting this router then?