Asus rtax86u1/8/2024 The interface looks daunting at first with its myriad of tabs and options, but it is quite easy to use once you start exploring it. The router management system is classic ASUS. This can be handy especially if the router you are replacing also supports AiMesh as it lets you create a mesh network without having to buy a new mesh networking system. I covered DFS in greater detail in an older article here.Īnother key feature is AiMesh which allows the RT-AX86U to form mesh networks with other compatible ASUS routers. Since these channels are less congested, users can get better Wi-Fi performance by using them. When enabled in the router’s management system, it gives the RT-AX86U the ability to tap into wireless channels that are typically reserved for use by government services. One feature of this router that bears mentioning is support for DFS (dynamic frequency selection). The Intel AX201 wireless card that’s found in many new notebooks “only” support speeds of up to 2,400Mbps. This sounds very exciting – 4Gbps over the air! – but bear in mind that most client devices still can’t take full advantage of these speeds yet. It supports Wi-Fi 6 and speeds of up to 861Mbps on its 2.4GHz network and 4,840Mbps on its 5GHz network. The RT-AX86U is a dual-band AX5700-class router. You'll need an ONT that supports this too to make full use of it. Finally, there’s an additional Ethernet WAN port that supports high-speed fibre of up to 2.5Gbps. One of the LAN port is designated as the Gaming port and it gets priority over the rest. There are your usual single Gigabit Ethernet WAN port and four Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. Furthermore, there’s a button by the side of the router that turns them off immediately should you find them too bothersome.īehind the router, you’ll find two USB-A ports that support USB 3.2 Gen 1 (up to 5Gbps) and a varied selection of Ethernet ports. Their incessant blinking can be annoying especially if you place them in the bedroom but they are absolutely invaluable for troubleshooting your connection. On the front is a row of LED status indicators for both Wi-Fi networks and all the individual Ethernet ports. I measure it at just a smidge under 32cm but this shouldn’t be an issue if you are setting it somewhere in the open – which you should, by the way, if you want the best possible performance. The only problem is that it’s quite tall – blame the three sizeable external antennas. Furthermore, I don’t think a shelf or cabinet is the right place to be positioning your router especially if you want the best performance and coverage.Īs I said, the RT-AX86U has, by today’s standards, a small footprint. Why don’t more router brands have standing designs? I get it that their height can make them harder to place but surely that’s preferably the amount of space modern routers take up with their insane girth. First, let’s talk about the way it looks. No matter, we’ll get into the router’s gaming features later. Yes, much like its ZenBooks, ASUS wants to add confusion to its router lineup too. Instead, it’s a dual-band AX5700-class Wi-Fi 6 with features designed for gaming and gamers. However, and quite confusingly, the new RT-AX86U that we have here isn’t a ROG-branded device. But that’s how the market is today, there’s a gaming version of everything you can think.ĪSUS has been making gaming versions of its normal devices for a long time and it even has an entire division dedicated to doing just that – you might have heard of it, it’s called ROG. Furthermore, it’s not as if you can’t play games with a “regular” router. Unlike gaming notebooks which have discrete graphics that are crucial to running games, gaming routers often have wonderful but difficult to verify features that claim to give you a leg-up on your enemies. Ĭall me cynical but my BS radar goes into overdrive whenever I’m presented with a gaming router. Having disregarded the AX86U initially, based on cost mainly, I might go that way having done a bit of reading.Note: This review was first published on. Re coverage: one of the problems I have is that the interior walls in our house are made from blocks with a high carbon content and that coupled with foil backed plasterboard used in the ceilings makes it akin to living in a block of faraday cages! If I stand upstairs about 8ft above my current router the signal strength is around -75dbm which makes for a slow and erratic connection. I had considered picking up a used item from eBay and after checking it worked pulling it apart to improve the cooling interfaces but when I saw the prices they bring I abandoned that idea. It was this issue that has put me off the AC86U up to now. I've read your posts on working and repairing on faulty AC86Us with great interest and admiration (as someone with over 50 years experience in the electronics field as a hobby and job).
0 Comments
Leave a Reply.AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |