ASUS RT-AX86U (AX5700) Dual Band WiFi 6 Extendable Gaming Router, 2.5G Port, Mobile Game Mode, Port Forwarding, Subscription-free Network Security, Instant Guard, VPN, AiMesh Compatible

I am thrilled with the performance of the RT-AX86U. During simple installation the new AX86U stock firmware was immediately updated to the latest stock version. I configured with basically the same settings as my older AC68U with the exception of the Wifi settings which left AX support and auto frequency selection and 160Mhz channel support turned ON or enabled. To ensure worry free maximum compatibility with my older AC clients I have temporarily turned the Asus Smart connect feature OFF and set encryption for WPA2 with AES instead of the default of WPA3 even though WPA3 is suppose to be fully backward compatible. I will enable it when I own some newer Wifi 6/WPA3 clients (such as the new PS5). I also turn WPA OFF since I never use it.The overall speed, reliability and range to my older AC clients has excelled using the new AX86U. I no longer get range related Wifi issues in the 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz band that I sometimes had before with the AC68U and previous generation routers. The signal strength and data throughput speed has increased substantially at farther ranges (three large rooms away on both levels) to my notebook computer to the point where the there is practically no detectable difference using Speedtest.net between a direct wired Ethernet (using a CAT 8 cable to the notebook and from the router to the modem) and wireless performance on a 100Mbs Internet service (I get about 10ms latency and over 107Mbs download/11Mbs upload on both). On my other 200Mbs service that I use it also maxes out and exceeds the advertised download/upload throughput. The range for both 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz covers an entire 2 level 2K sq. ft. home with thick plaster and some concrete walling. I don't use the USB ports for external storage so I can't comment on their performance. At this point I can highly recommend the AX86U to anyone upgrading from most of the older Asus AC routers with the exceptions being owners of AC routers that are using the newer BCM (Broadcom) 1.8Ghz chipsets and newer Wifi radios. The owners of those newer models of Asus AC routers who use mostly AC clients may not see as much benefit to an AX86U upgrade.I still would recommend the AX86U for its enhanced gaming features with a specific LAN gaming port, extra 2.5GbE Ethernet port (configurable as LAN/ main WAN or as part of a Dual WAN with the main WAN port) and USB 3.x compatible ports. You wouldn't have known this at first glance but the AX86U features 1 internal antenna in addition to it's 3 visible external antennas. It seems this AX86 is a more mature and stable AX/Wifi 6 solution for Asus enthusiasts. There is so much more that I haven't covered here such as the enhanced gaming features, security and antivirus features, etc.. I have just scratched the surface of what this router can do. The AX86U is the most feature enhanced Asus router I have owned to date. Unless you are waiting for the next models of Asus routers supporting Wifi 6E (Wifi 6 with 6Ghz band support) this is definitely a Wifi 6 router to consider. A week after my first purchase I have purchased several more Asus AX86U routers for business use and those are also showing exceptional performance and reliability.

1. Setup is a breeze and he easiest, If your previous is a ASUS router, Save the config file and load it, into the this router and all your connected devices are up and running.. you change the settings to whatever you want too.. after, No need to go and change network password on 100 devices. Everything from your older.. Including all the registered devices.. network Ip, parental control.. etc (saves a ton of time)2. Those who are having trouble connection issue/disconnecting with this RT-AX86U router after IOS 14.2 updates and >, For Apple Devices like Iphone 7 or > models and IpadAir2 or > models.. Please change the following, Under WIFI SSID's from your Device.. Press the circled "i" next to each SSID you are trying to connect too or connected too.. and Turn the "Private Address" option "ON", Should fix the the connection issue.. But this not an issue on other apple devices other than Iphones7/> and IpadsAirt2/>3. Apple started using different MAC address for each SSID you connect too starting from update OS14.1 and > .. If you have a MAC filter turned on your router to connect to your network you may have to register each MAC Address ID generated by your apple device for each SSID (2.4 and 5.0GHz) and If you have multiple "WiFi(SSID) names" or multiple Spots you may also need to add all different MAC ID generated by your apple device connecting to each SSID's from your Device.. To find each Unique MAC address, Press the circled "i" next to each SSID you are trying to connect too.. and Turn the "Private Address" option "ON" and you will see, a unique MAC Address.. Add that MAC address to your MAC Filter to allow the device to connect to each SSID, should fix your apple device connection issue.. Remember "Apple" is well secured, but painful to introduce this new feature.4. Overall the router is strong and good, Some old devices may have hard time connecting too WP3 and WIFI6 enabled.. I would say open up your "Guest" Next work and down grade from WPA3 to WPA2 or down grade from WIFI6 down, with restrictions.. Should resolve the internet connectivity issues.5. But some devices can still support "WIFI6" and work stable and should not have no issues.. If you are gamer, ensure to upgrade your WiFi card to support WiFi 6 on that device.. Otherwise this router will block you left and right, When you apply mods and port forwarding with your friends, But for normal browsing and streaming from paid/subscription sources, this router should work seamlessly without any issues.6. Parental Control timing has some serious bug.. MAC ID filtering is not supported on "IPV6", Since IPV6 use a very long "MAC ID", MAC ID Filter only works on "IPV4" setup... Need an software update to fix it.. You can only restrict devices by MAC ID address on IPV4 setup..When setting up Parental Control, Found a Series bug defined the hours in the software, Which has 25 hours a day/2 entries for 12:00am (24:00 hours and 00:00 hours both same). Which causes the software to choke and fail, Has some serious bug/headache issues.. "ASUS" please fix this, This causes the parental control/restriction to NOT work correctly, due to 24:00 hour and 00:00 entries being the same, confusing the software time management to fail miserably.. The work around is to have "2 entries" for each device.. one entry for example "Device A" should have time restriction from 20:00 to 24:00 (Midnight) and the same "Device A" should have 2nd entry from 00:00 to 06:00 for the parental control to may be work properly, Sometime it works correctly, still unstable and in testing... It is a serious bug.. (The drop down options for each device entry is confusing with "disable", "block" and "time", Please provide help.. Recent new firmware update, allows 15 minute increments, which is nice finally they added this feature, but could not able to test it, Due to two 24 hour entries in the time bug.. earlier software options, did not allow 15 mins increments now it does.7. Since Apple devices keep changing their MAC addresses randomly by SSID.. Not just this router, any router in the market will be challenged, to restrict web sites and time restrictions, instant messaging and Internet usage for Kids, due to multiple MAC ID's for each SSID's.. Use an external parental control app and control it using Master "Apple Id".8. Good Area Coverage, So far works great, no issues.. All features and there are lot of apps offered by ASUS.. Still I am exploring.. No comment, Until I Use or Master their free apps offered on the app stores..9. Great and Good options like Old but robust NAS SERVER, MEDIA SERVER, USB, Printer, VPN etc and new dedicated 2.5GBps LAN PORT, Dedicated RJ-45 Game Port,options.. like most of the features in their previous predecessor models.. Hope the future updates will bring more stability to some of the unstable software bugs.. Overall the router is stable and good performing device. Little expensive for a Broadcom 1.8Ghz BCM4908 Chip.. Others offer a snapdragon 865 processor for $100.. May not have a good UI interface.. but WIFI6 and other basic features..10. Registering this device on ASUS Website.. Seems to be a little challenging as well, When you browser for Router models on ASUS website.. you see all different routers are under "Network" Category... But when registering, You will NOT find it under "NETWORK" Category, But Instead you will find it under "WIFI" Category.