ZenWiFi XD5 - Firmware

[jebnz]

Hello everyone.

Firstly a massive thank you to Merlin and the team for their amazing firmware!

Secondly I have just recieve the ZenWiFi XD5 as a present from my wife and would like to know if there is a version of merlin I could install ( I need DNS director! hehe ) I did check the about page and couldn't find anything but maybe one of you legends would know something I do not.

If not I have a RT-AC86U which is already installed with merlin and I could add the ZenWiFi XD5 as nodes to it? Would that work?

Please let me know

Thank you

 

[L&LD]

Welcome to the forums @jebnz.

[FAQ] READ ME FIRST before posting a question

Model support Q: Will you support the RT-xxxxxx that was just announced? A: See detailed answer in post #3. Q: Will you support router XYZ from this non-Asus manufacturer? A: No. Asuswrt-Merlin only targets Asus-supported models, due to both technical and legal reasons. Q: I'm having...

www.snbforums.com

If you have a stable and fully updated RT-AC86U, you should be able to add AiMesh nodes to it. Only testing in your specific environment will let you know if it works or not.

 

[Morris]

Asus recommends that the most sophisticated router be the AI Mesh router. This is because the AI Mesh router's settings are propagated to the nodes. The WiFi 6 settings don't exist on the RT-AC86U. I suspect your XD5 will use defaults for them and that might be OK. You will find out.

Morris

 

[jebnz]

Welcome to the forums @jebnz.

[FAQ] READ ME FIRST before posting a question

Model support Q: Will you support the RT-xxxxxx that was just announced? A: See detailed answer in post #3. Q: Will you support router XYZ from this non-Asus manufacturer? A: No. Asuswrt-Merlin only targets Asus-supported models, due to both technical and legal reasons. Q: I'm having...

www.snbforums.com

If you have a stable and fully updated RT-AC86U, you should be able to add AiMesh nodes to it. Only testing in your specific environment will let you know if it works or not.

Thanks. I managed to get all 3 nodes to connect to the RT router through a wired backhaul because the wireless didn't seem to work when adding the nodes.

I have turned off the wireless on the RT router and now only using the nodes wireless for the 6ghz connections because the RT router only supports 5.

Seems to be working fine. Thank you

 

[jebnz]

Asus recommends that the most sophisticated router be the AI Mesh router. This is because the AI Mesh router's settings are propagated to the nodes. The WiFi 6 settings don't exist on the RT-AC86U. I suspect your XD5 will use defaults for them and that might be OK. You will find out.

Morris

I connected the nodes to the RT router successfully using ethernet then I turned off the RT wireless and only use the 6ghz from the nodes using ethernet backhaul. Seems to be working fine.

Thank you.

 

[azuza]

Hi everyone,

I've noticed the site flashrouters.com is selling an ASUS ZenWifi XD5 with a modified Merlin firmware. I've purchased from flashrouters before. But is their XD5 legit?

AzuzA

 

[L&LD]

Selling anything with modified RMerlin firmware isn't legit to begin with.

I wouldn't purchase from there.

 

[RMerlin]

Selling anything with modified RMerlin firmware isn't legit to begin with.

Nothing illegal in selling an Asus router that runs Asuswrt-Merlin.

 

[Twiglets]

A mis-communication I think.

I read the sentence refering to 'Modified RMerlin firmware' as 'hacked' and hence understand the 'isn't legit' comment.

I have looked at the 'flashrouters.com' site and they 'appear' to install the firmware from RMerlins site or talk you through doing it yourself for a fee !!!

Personally, I would do the firmware upgrade myself, following the instructions RMerlin has given.
Cost is Free due to RMerlins generosity & hard work.

The instructions are clear and work !!!

 

[azuza]

I wasn't aware that Merlin can be flashed on XD5. That's all.

Did everyone else here flash Merlin on their own XD5?

I bought XD4 a year or two ago. So I'm bit bummed I can't flash on those.

 

[Tech9]

I've noticed the site flashrouters.com is selling an ASUS ZenWifi XD5 with a modified Merlin firmware.

Where exactly on this page does it say Asus ZenWiFi XD5 runs modified Asuswrt-Merlin firmware??

 

[Makaveli]

Nothing illegal in selling an Asus router that runs Asuswrt-Merlin.

Agreed sold my AX88U with merlin on it and told him he can go back to stock if he wants.

 

[azuza]

Where exactly on this page does it say Asus ZenWiFi XD5 runs modified Asuswrt-Merlin firmware??

Click the SPECS tab.

 

[Ripshod]

Click the SPECS tab.

I see Asus-WRT, but not AsusWRT-Merlin.

 

[RMerlin]

Click the SPECS tab.

Asuswrt != Asuswrt-Merlin.

 

[azuza]

I wonder if it does NordLynx or Express Lightway

 

[Tech9]

Click the SPECS tab.

Stock Asus firmware.

I wonder if it does NordLynx or Express Lightway

No.

 

[morden]

I am currently using AX86u with latest Merlin firmware and have ZenWiFi XD5 with latest stock firmware AiMeshed. Have been using this setup for several months now with no issues. The XD5 runs really well with the AX86u in my opinion. I would definitely add several more XD5s to the AiMesh should the need ever arise.

 

[ollimoe]

Hmmm ... I thought the XD 5 is an AX3000 V1 in a different housing? And AX3000 should be the same HW as the AX58U - at least according to the Merlin download repository. BUT: The FW file extensions are different and therefore could not be uploaded per the corresponding Merlin files ... any other ideas/suggestions?

 

[Just Plain Dave]

Sorry to revive an old thread, but has there ever been a Merlin firmware that works with the ASUS XD5 ? From the above it is a little vague. TIA