Why leaving ASUS routers untested

[kal001]

I have watched your charts comparing networking products many times, but I really miss one manufaturer: ASUS. Why ASUS is missing? I found that especialy WL-500?? series are really popular, but you almost don't test Asus stuff. Is there any reason? Or these Asus boxes are so popular only in Europe?

For example I would apreciate detailed comparison of these Asus boxes with latest D-link great and fast products, but It is imposible here....

Thank you for your response?

 

[jdabbs]

Asus hasn't released anything to stand out from the pack. Their 11n lineup consists of 4 routers and a combo modem/router:

WL-500W: Comparable to Linksys's entry-level WRT150N.
RT-N11: Ultra-low budget router. Amlogic CPU and 1T2R radio.
RT-N13: Comparable to Belkin's entry-level F5D8233-4.
RT-N15: Same CPU/radio as the N13, but the switch is gigabit.

You can tell a company takes networking seriously when they don't spell wireless correctly.

 

[kal001]

I completelly disagree with you. As you can se, technically the same, Linksys WRT-54GL (just smaller RAM + ROM) was benchmarked:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/26843/51/

And ASUS was not. As usual. So I suspect, there is another reason - for example ASUS dont cooperate with smallnetbuilder... I don know.

I know comparing WL-500gP with DIR-655 si something like apples to oranges, but both of them have their pros and cons. D-link has the best cost-performance ratio with great peformance at all a fastest specifications (1Gb LAN, Wireless N). On the other hand ASUS has usefull USB ports and bulletproof firmware, which can be upgraded to many alternative firmwares and the box cant be bricked.

Both of them cant wake-on computer in LAN, but I can Easilly modify ASUS to do that, using alternative firmware. It uses Linux, so I can ssh on it and use ether-wake or do it from web interface. So I can't buy DIR-655 which amazed me, because it has lack of abilities I need. And no alternative firmware can help, because D-link uses proprietary VxWorks ( example).

So technically, they are different, but with 10M line to internet, there is no diffference between 1Gb and 100Mb router. There can be difference in stability, signal strenght and so on. I was thinking to replace my rock stable ASUS WL-500gP with something faster, but I have no Idea, how does it stands comparing with other products, so it can be really wrong decision...

 

[thiggins]

With limited time and resources, we can't test everything. We generally concentrate on products with wide U.S. availability because that is where we are located.

We did review ASUS products back around 2004 (the reviews are still up, just search for them) and had a good working relationship with them. At the time, they were trying to decide whether to make a push into the U.S. networking market. But when they decided not to, the people were reassigned and we lost touch.

The reviewed products are not in the charts, however, because the products reviewed are no longer available.

So there is no sinister motive behind the absence of ASUS reviews.

 

[kal001]

With limited time and resources, we can't test everything. We generally concentrate on products with wide U.S. availability because that is where we are located.

OMG.... ASUS is not present on the US market? Sounds unbelievable to me located in central Europe. Those boxes are so much popular here, so I could not understand, why you ignore them. now it's clear. Thanks.

 

[thiggins]

OMG.... ASUS is not present on the US market? Sounds unbelievable to me located in central Europe. Those boxes are so much popular here, so I could not understand, why you ignore them. now it's clear. Thanks.

I didn't mean to give the impression that ASUS networking products are not available in the U.S. They from etailers. They just are not a major force in the networking market.

 

[kal001]

They just are not a major force in the networking market.

What does it mean major force? Maybe my questions seems a little bit silly, but English is not my native language and I have no idea about American market.

They from etailers.

I guess you mean retailers, because I dont know the word "etailer". In addition that sentence does not have the verb at all, so I really dont understand. :-(

Does your explanation mean ASUS boxes are sold only in some US states? Or Asus products are a little bit outdated? Or these products are availabel only in some kind of shops?


Ok.... Ok.... As I understand, you are trying to tell me, there is nothing like ASUS-USA. Asus uses third party companies to deliver its products to US market. Am I right? This is the way how I should translate it?

If that is true, I tell you: "same situation here". But then, I would not understand, why you dont test it's products, because as a custommer, I don't care who sell me the box, Asus or its partner, it does not matter for me....

As you can se. I'm confused.

 

[thiggins]

Sorry for my sloppy typing. "Etailers" are online stores. "Major force" means that they have small market share.

As I noted in my first reply, we have limited time and resources so can't test everything.

 

[kal001]

Thank you so much. Now, everything is clear, I think.

 

[YeOldeStonecat]

They just are not a major force in the networking market.

I agree. As a small business network consultant for quite a few years now, I come across most of the brands of products out there at one time or another. Sure I decide which brands of product I install on my clients when I do a ground up build/new deploy/major overhaul, but many clients already have existing infrastructure for their network...so I work with a lot of brands.

I love Asus as a brand...for motherboards, they're my favorite brand when I build my own PCs. But networking hardware...they're nearly non-existent in the US market. I can think of only 1x client that I have...which had an Asus wireless product on their network. Their network products haven't really caught on over here.

 

[Madwand]

While Buffalo was on a forced hiatus in North America, the Asus WL-520gU was a very popular, affordable choice / alternative to the standard WRT54GL as a DD-WRT compatible standard-g router. Their "premium" router also filled the bill for those looking for more RAM for heavier loads while sticking it out with standard-g because they didn't want to adopt draft#n.

The WL-520gU is still a good buy on sale for the cost-conscious standard-g market.

 

[vwgtiron]

trendnet for the win

I completelly disagree with you. As you can se, technically the same, Linksys WRT-54GL (just smaller RAM + ROM) was benchmarked:

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/content/view/26843/51/

And ASUS was not. As usual. So I suspect, there is another reason - for example ASUS dont cooperate with smallnetbuilder... I don know.

I know comparing WL-500gP with DIR-655 si something like apples to oranges, but both of them have their pros and cons. D-link has the best cost-performance ratio with great peformance at all a fastest specifications (1Gb LAN, Wireless N). On the other hand ASUS has usefull USB ports and bulletproof firmware, which can be upgraded to many alternative firmwares and the box cant be bricked.

Both of them cant wake-on computer in LAN, but I can Easilly modify ASUS to do that, using alternative firmware. It uses Linux, so I can ssh on it and use ether-wake or do it from web interface. So I can't buy DIR-655 which amazed me, because it has lack of abilities I need. And no alternative firmware can help, because D-link uses proprietary VxWorks ( example).

So technically, they are different, but with 10M line to internet, there is no diffference between 1Gb and 100Mb router. There can be difference in stability, signal strenght and so on. I was thinking to replace my rock stable ASUS WL-500gP with something faster, but I have no Idea, how does it stands comparing with other products, so it can be really wrong decision...

I would have to say when comparing the dir-655 the direct compare would be the trendnet tew-633gr to me this is a better bang for buck with higher download throughput. Just saying not trolling