ASUS RT-AX86U AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router
ASUS RT-AX86U AX5700 Dual Band WiFi 6 Gaming Router
Pros:
– High-speed WiFi 6 technology for fast internet speeds
– Dual-band capability for optimized performance
– Designed specifically for gaming with features like Game Boost and VPN Fusion
– AI-based network optimization for improved performance
– MU-MIMO technology for efficient data transfer to multiple devices
– Robust parental controls for managing internet access for children
Cons:
– Expensive compared to other routers on the market
– Large and bulky design may not fit well in smaller spaces
– Some users have reported issues with firmware updates causing problems with network stability
– Advanced features may be overwhelming for users who just need basic internet connectivity
Anonymous –
Pros: It’s very easy to set up, they come with a 3 steps guide. Easy follow on instruction. One click application from the Mobile apps that allow you to prioritize your usage between work from home, Learn from home, media streaming is brilliant. Overall Review: A perfect router for a 3000+ 3 Storey Single Detach. Strong signal cover thru the house. I placed the router in the living room which located on the first floor. Coverage included front and back yard and also the basement. It’s WiFi 6, ready for PS5 lol.
Anonymous –
Overall Review: I bought this router to replace a system that was struggling to manage all the Wi-FI Smart home connections. Since WOW!!! I now enjoy a stable connection to all my Wi-fi devices in addition to a connection speed that is equal to wired devices. 500 Mbps. With my wifi 6 card on my computer, I have 2.4 Gbps of reception
Coy H. –
Pros: – Easy setup – AX/Wifi 6 – WPA3 – VPN Server – IPS – DDNS – IPv6 – Regular Firmware Updates Cons: – None Overall Review: I’m a network engineer and I am a big fan of Asus routers, this is my 3rd and replaces my RT-AC68r. I started years ago with a RT-N66, which I handed down to my parents and still recieves firmware updates. That is the biggest feature that keeps me using Asus, regular updates that fix security vulnerabilities (and sometimes adds features). I think Asus routers are the best consumer grade routers on the market for that reason alone. So many features bulit in. A neat feature this model has is Alexa and IFTT support (wish they’d add Google Assistant support). I also really like having the openVPN server, this model adds IPSEC but I haven’t tried it yet. Would be nice if they added IPSEC site-to-site support. IPS features are nice. I also use AiCloud for NAS. Guest network that blocks intranet access and can set bandwidth limiter is also really nice feature.
Coy H. –
Pros: – Easy setup – AX/Wifi 6 – WPA3 – VPN Server – IPS – DDNS – IPv6 – Regular Firmware Updates Cons: – None Overall Review: I’m a network engineer and I am a big fan of Asus routers, this is my 3rd and replaces my RT-AC68r. I started years ago with a RT-N66, which I handed down to my parents and still recieves firmware updates. That is the biggest feature that keeps me using Asus, regular updates that fix security vulnerabilities (and sometimes adds features). I think Asus routers are the best consumer grade routers on the market for that reason alone. So many features bulit in. A neat feature this model has is Alexa and IFTT support (wish they’d add Google Assistant support). I also really like having the openVPN server, this model adds IPSEC but I haven’t tried it yet. Would be nice if they added IPSEC site-to-site support. IPS features are nice. I also use AiCloud for NAS. Guest network that blocks intranet access and can set bandwidth limiter is also really nice feature.
Anonymous –
Added this RT-AX86U to my existing RT-AX88U to create an AiMesh system. ASUS AiMesh is now on version 2.0 and it works much better than version 1. My AiMesh is configured with the RT-AX88U connecting to the cable modem and the RT-AX86U is a node using a wireless WiFi 6 backhaul. I know a wired backhaul would be better, but I am not able to run that cable. However, since my internet connection is only 200 down 10 up, I think the wireless backhaul is NOT being overloaded. I get the same speedtest benchmarks regardless if my laptop WiFi connection is to the RT-AX88U or to the RT-AX86U. IMHO the RT-AX86U is the best consumer grade wireless router available right now. For me, it’s only weak point is that it only has four LAN ports, but an inexpensive switch would fix that. Also, the ASUS-Merlin firmware has just become available for the RT-AX86U. Having that firmware installed makes both routers and AiMesh even better.
Anonymous –
Added this RT-AX86U to my existing RT-AX88U to create an AiMesh system. ASUS AiMesh is now on version 2.0 and it works much better than version 1. My AiMesh is configured with the RT-AX88U connecting to the cable modem and the RT-AX86U is a node using a wireless WiFi 6 backhaul. I know a wired backhaul would be better, but I am not able to run that cable. However, since my internet connection is only 200 down 10 up, I think the wireless backhaul is NOT being overloaded. I get the same speedtest benchmarks regardless if my laptop WiFi connection is to the RT-AX88U or to the RT-AX86U. IMHO the RT-AX86U is the best consumer grade wireless router available right now. For me, it’s only weak point is that it only has four LAN ports, but an inexpensive switch would fix that. Also, the ASUS-Merlin firmware has just become available for the RT-AX86U. Having that firmware installed makes both routers and AiMesh even better.
Anonymous –
great wifi range speed. Have 1.2gps circuit at home, and can access the full speed via the 2.5g ethernet port. Asus-WRT firmware is great, and the merlin firmware that you can download makes this router even better! Several options, but even just using it as a basic wifi router, will deliver great results.
Anonymous –
great wifi range speed. Have 1.2gps circuit at home, and can access the full speed via the 2.5g ethernet port. Asus-WRT firmware is great, and the merlin firmware that you can download makes this router even better! Several options, but even just using it as a basic wifi router, will deliver great results.
Anonymous –
Pros: 2.5 Gb/s WAN port Exceptional software support Works well with older Asus routers to form mesh networks Cons: A little pricey at $250 With only one 5 GHz band, it needs a wired backhaul for efficient mesh networking. Overall Review: Used it to replace an RT-AC68U purchased in 2015. That unit still receives regular software updates and feature drops, BTW. Had no problem setting up the mesh network with my older router and it works as expected. I used the 2.5 Gb/s port for the WAN connection to the matching port on my Motorola MB8611 cable modem. That allows the 1 Gb/s WAN port to become a fifth LAN port. I’m very happy with my purchase.
Anonymous –
Pros: 2.5 Gb/s WAN port Exceptional software support Works well with older Asus routers to form mesh networks Cons: A little pricey at $250 With only one 5 GHz band, it needs a wired backhaul for efficient mesh networking. Overall Review: Used it to replace an RT-AC68U purchased in 2015. That unit still receives regular software updates and feature drops, BTW. Had no problem setting up the mesh network with my older router and it works as expected. I used the 2.5 Gb/s port for the WAN connection to the matching port on my Motorola MB8611 cable modem. That allows the 1 Gb/s WAN port to become a fifth LAN port. I’m very happy with my purchase.
#Purge –
Pros: I’m very impressed overall much faster than my old router. I also noticed it also reaches further. Cons: My only complaint is set up is a nightmare & tech support well let’s just say your better on your own. I’m very fortunate I figured out how to set up on my own. Overall Review: My overall opinion if you get past set up definitely worth it.
#Purge –
Pros: I’m very impressed overall much faster than my old router. I also noticed it also reaches further. Cons: My only complaint is set up is a nightmare & tech support well let’s just say your better on your own. I’m very fortunate I figured out how to set up on my own. Overall Review: My overall opinion if you get past set up definitely worth it.
Anonymous –
Great ASUS WiFi6 router, great coverage, great performance. I have it installed as part of a 3-way mesh covering a 3 story house of 4K soft serving 35 devices 18 wired, 17 wireless. I get over 750 Mbps on my wireless devices (WiFi6) from my Gbit service from Comcast. Color me Ok with that.
Anonymous –
Great ASUS WiFi6 router, great coverage, great performance. I have it installed as part of a 3-way mesh covering a 3 story house of 4K soft serving 35 devices 18 wired, 17 wireless. I get over 750 Mbps on my wireless devices (WiFi6) from my Gbit service from Comcast. Color me Ok with that.
RICHARD B. –
Pros: – Great interface, – Better coverage than RT-AX68U – Working well as AiMesh master in Access Point mode Cons: – Horrible wired setup experience in that input data was ignored. A friend and I also had the same experience with an RT-AX68U – Wasted hours figuring out a default WiFi parameter prevented an old iPad and old Dell laptop from connecting Overall Review: I bought an RT-AX68U (yes, that’s sixty eight) a few weeks ago knowing that it probably wouldn’t provide all the coverage I needed (4000 sq ft house with 150′ deep back yard) but I wanted to see how well it did to judge what I should buy for a second router, i.e. another 68U or an 86U. I had previous experience with an RT-ac51U so I knew I’d like the interface. The 68U setup sorta went well except a bunch of input data (e.g. SSIDs and PWs) was obviously ignored once I logged in. A friend had the same experience, too. The 68U worked well enough for the front half of the house but I obviously need more oomph in a second router if I wanted anything close to decent coverage in the backyard. I settled on the 86U running as the AiMesh master in access point mode. I had the same setup experience (ignored input data) but the real fun began when I tried to connect all my devices. An old iPad and an old Dell laptop would not connect to the mesh on 2.4 or 5 GHz even though they worked with the 68U. I spent hours trying to figure out the problem, eventually setting up the 68U and 86U as separate access points. Everything connected with the 68U but not the 86U so it wasn’t a mesh-only problem. Turns out the 86U had “Protected Management Frames” (never even heard of it before) enabled by default on the 86U. Once it was disabled, all was well, including after re-enabling the AiMesh. Why any router would be shipped with such a default setting is beyond me. Many people would just return the thing as defective. The 86U User Guide was no help and I was also very annoyed at the time that ASUS did not even have a User Guide for the 68U on their website.