Asus Wi-Fi Routers 101: The Solid Rundown | Mod Tech

When you’ve got questions like “What’s the very best Asus router / Zenwifi mesh system?” — you’re studying the fitting put up. It contains every thing you’d must find out about Asus Wi-Fi {hardware}.

Amongst different issues, you’ll have the ability to determine what an Asus router can or can not do by way of its mannequin identify alone.

And that information will come in useful, particularly in case you’re explicit about your property networking wants. And it by no means hurts to see the performances of all Asus {hardware} in a single place.

Dong’s notice: I first printed this piece on September 3, 2021, and final up to date it on February 13, 2023, so as to add related, up-to-date info.

Asus Wi-Fi routers and mesh techniques: Widespread options and real-world efficiency

Most, if not all, Asus Wi-Fi routers, standing with its Wi-Fi 5 fashions, use the identical Linux-based open-source firmware referred to as Asuswrt. Consequently, all of them share what I name the core options.

In different phrases, you possibly can anticipate the identical internet consumer interface, the Asus Router cell app, and a sure set of frequent options and settings from an Asus router, it doesn’t matter what tier, Wi-Fi normal, or collection.

And that features router models of purpose-built mesh techniques, such because the ZenWiFi collection or the legacy Lyra Trio.

However earlier than we dive into that, let’s try the real-world efficiency of all Asus routers and purpose-built mesh techniques I’ve examined.

Asus Wi-Fi {hardware}: Actual-world efficiency

The efficiency charts on this part provides you with an outline of how completely different fashions of Asus Wi-Fi {hardware} fare when in comparison with their cousins inside the identical ecosystem.

There are two essential classes: standalone routers and Zenwifi purposed-built mesh techniques.

I examined these Wi-Fi machines utilizing every of their band individually. The scores are of the most recent firmware accessible on the time of the evaluations.

Wi-Fi efficiency of Asus Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E standalone routers

The charts beneath embrace Asus Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E routers, each common and gaming. Learn their evaluations to see how every of them fares in opposition to counterparts from different networking distributors.

Wi-Fi efficiency of Asus Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E mesh system (Zenwifi)

I check mesh techniques’ routers and satellites individually, all by way of wi-fi backing. Some are additionally examined with wired backhauling.

Asus Wi-Fi routers’ core options

All Asus routers — together with the router unit of the corporate’s dwelling mesh techniques — have to supply.

Usually, higher-end routers have higher help for these options since they’ve higher {hardware} specs, and some of the gadgets listed beneath should not (absolutely) accessible to sure fashions. In that case, I’ll level out the exceptions in line with my expertise.

Common setting restoration

You may interchangeably restore the backup settings of most Asus Wi-Fi 5 and Wi-Fi 6 routers.

Consequently, you received’t must program the brand new router from scratch in an improve or alternative. As a substitute, most of your community’s configurations — together with these of an AiMesh system — will migrate from the previous router to the brand new one.

This characteristic is a large elective time saver in case you have many settings, similar to IP reservation and port-forwarding entries.

Word, although, that it’s at all times higher to arrange the router from scratch to keep away from doable setting conflicts. However I’ve personally used this characteristic numerous instances amongst Asus standalone routers and hardly bumped into any points.

Tip: After the migration, modify relevant particular settings, such because the router mannequin identify, to verify they match the brand new router and carry out a deliberate backup and restore. This step will make the previous setting “native” to the brand new router.

Exceptions: I typically check this characteristic on all Asus routers through the overview course of, and, thus far, it didn’t work solely within the case of the RT-AX89X and Blue Cave. These two received’t settle for a backup file of every other mannequin.

A sturdy internet consumer interface

Asus is one of some networking distributors that stays true to the online interface and doesn’t coerce customers right into a cloud-based internet portal, which is superb for these caring about privateness.

(All Asus routers enable distant administration, which is turned off by default, by way of Dynamic DNS talked about beneath.)

The interface permits entry to a router’s tons of settings and options — some are listed beneath. Savvy networking fans will love that although it may be overwhelming for novice customers.

Dynamic DNS

Dynamic DNS (DDNS) is a comparatively frequent characteristic of all dwelling routers. It’s wonderful for these eager to dial dwelling remotely by way of different superior options, together with distant entry or VPNs.

What units Asus’s Dynamic DNS aside is that the networking vendor additionally contains a completely free DDNS area — you received’t must get a third-party one. On high of that, this area additionally comes included with an SSL certificates.

That mentioned, in case you want DDNS, Asus is by far the most suitable choice. (Learn extra about DDNS on this put up.)

Dynamic DNS: What it’s and why it’s tremendous helpful

Normal setup course of

Due to the online interface, all Asus router has the usual setup course of, as I detailed on this put up on constructing a house community from scratch.

Nevertheless, listed here are the final steps:

1. Join your router’s WAN port to the Web supply, be it a modem, an current gateway, or the Fiberoptic ONT. Flip it on.
2. Join a pc to the router by way of a community cable to one among its LAN ports, or the default open Wi-Fi community, typically named “Asus xx”.
3. Open a browser and navigate to the router’s default IP tackle which is 192.168.50.1 (or router.asus.com).

The remainder is self-explanatory. The primary time you get to the online interface, you’ll run right into a wizard that walks you thru a couple of steps.

(Alternatively, it’s also possible to use the Asus cell app in step #3 in case you use a cellphone or pill as an alternative of a pc. Nevertheless, I like to recommend the online consumer interface even whenever you use a cell machine for the setup course of.)

Useful cell app, no login account required

Once more, the Asus cell app works for each the setup course of and ongoing administration.

This app is frequent for all Asus routers and is kind of complete. It’s the most effective cell apps for routers you will discover in the marketplace. However, nonetheless, it’s not as in-depth as the online interface.

The perfect factor about it’s that you should utilize it to handle the router remotely with out a login account. As a substitute, identical to the online interface, it operates the distant administration by way of the router’s built-in help for the Dynamic DNS characteristic that features a free SSL certificates.

Nevertheless, one factor to notice is that utilizing the app can inadvertently activate or off particular settings that would trigger the router to behave unexpectedly. On this case, you’ll need to reset the router and set it up from the start.

So, whereas this app is handy and enjoyable to make use of, it will probably trigger points in case you fiddle an excessive amount of.

AiProtection and Parental Controls

The AiProtection is a characteristic that provides a lot worth to an Asus router. In some routers, this characteristic contains Parental Controls. In others, the latter has a bit of its personal.

However, amongst different issues, AiProtection at all times contains Community Safety.

Free Community Safety

It features a free-for-life real-time Community Safety powered by Pattern Micro and a Parental Management engine.

Community Safety is designed to maintain your complete native community secure. In some ways, it’s considerably like a strip-down model of an add-on firewall, just like the Firewalla or the subscription-based Armor from Netgear.

Nonetheless, for a free product, it’s wonderful. I’ve used it for years on a number of networks, and it has confirmed efficient in opposition to many malicious web sites and malware. Don’t anticipate it as whole safety (there’s no such factor!), however only a serving to hand, and also you’ll adore it.

Generic Parental Controls

Then again, the Parental Controls portion has been a bit too inflexible, in my view. You may solely filter the online by way of pre-determined classes and the best way Asus defines classes for internet filtering is a bit obscure.

On high of that, you possibly can’t use it to dam a specific web site or key phrase. This simplistic strategy is just not an enormous deal, nonetheless, particularly contemplating the actual fact there’s no device that may present efficient Parental Controls apart from an actual guardian, anyway.

Whereas AiProtection is out there in all Asus routers, some get a stripped-down model as a consequence of their restricted processing energy. Examples are the case of the Zenwifi XD4 and XD5 the place, amongst different issues, the Community Safety is neutered.

Adaptive QoS

The Adaptive QoS is a typical characteristic accessible in all Asus routers and is likely one of the most easy-to-use QoS options amongst all dwelling routers.

“QoS” stands for the standard of service, and it allows customers to prioritize Web visitors to help completely different purposes or companies.

Asus’s Adaptive QoS requires minimal work from the consumer and is kind of efficient. It additionally contains Bandwidth Monitor, Net Historical past, and an Web Pace check if you wish to know extra about your sources and maintain tabs in your community’s on-line actions.

AiMesh

AiMesh is a precious characteristic accessible in all Asus Wi-Fi 6 and most Wi-Fi 5 routers. First launched with the RT-AC86U in early 2018, AiMesh permits every standalone {hardware} unit to work as a part of a sturdy Wi-Fi mesh system.

Since this characteristic could be very vital, I detailed it on this separate put up.

AiMesh: Asus’s ongoing journey to bettering Wi-Fi protection

Versatile port configuration: WAN vs LAN

Asus routers typically have plenty of flexibility of their port configurations. Following is what you are able to do with most of them when the {hardware} is working in router mode.

Routers with a Multi-Gig WAN port

That is the case with most ZenWifi routers such because the XT8 or ET8.

• Single WAN
  • If the router has no Multi-Gig LAN port: The default WAN at all times works because the WAN port, however when the USB port (when accessible) or a Gigabit LAN port is about as the first WAN, the default WAN port can work as a Multi-Gig LAN
  • If the router has a number of Multi-Gig ports: The default WAN port will at all times work as a WAN port.
• Twin-WAN: The default WAN port should work as one of many WAN ports (Major or Secondary). Another LAN port, or the USB port (when accessible), can work because the second WAN port.

Routers with a Gigabit WAN port

This contains these with a Multi-Gig LAN port, such because the RT-AX86U.

• Single WAN: The default WAN, USB port (when accessible), or Multi-Gig LAN (when accessible) can work as the first WAN port. The remainder of the ports will work as LANs.
• Twin-WAN: The default WAN port stays and the USB (when accessible), or any of the LAN ports, together with the Multi-Gig (when accessible) can work because the second WAN.

All routers

• WAN Hyperlink Aggregation (when supported): Default WAN port + one other LAN port — the LAN4 usually.
• LAN Hyperlink Aggregation (when supported): LAN1 + LAN2 so long as neither is used for different purposes, similar to Sport Port, Twin-WAN, or WAN LG.

Word {that a} explicit router would possibly deviate a bit from the record above, relying on the variety of ports it has or its {hardware} specs.

Versatile VPN help

Nearly all Asus routers characteristic a VPN part with help for simply normal VPN servers but in addition On the spot Guard, a brand new characteristic added in mid-2021 for cell customers.

On high of that, many routers also can work as a VPN consumer and help VPN Fusion which permits for assigning a sure linked consumer to a specific VPN connection.

Different helpful options

Aside from the above, it’s also possible to anticipate the next from all Asus routers:

• Networking instruments: Wake on LAN, Ping, Netstat, and Sensible Join Rule can come in useful for superior customers.
• Auto-reboot: You may set your router to restart by itself on a schedule.
• Visitors Analyzer: A set of instruments and statistics for these wanting to seek out out what’s occurring within the community.
• USB-related options galore: When internet hosting a storage machine, the router has all of the options you possibly can think about — from knowledge sharing (domestically and over the Web) to backup (together with the help for Time Machine) to a private cloud. You may even make the router deal with PC-less downloading and use the router’s USB ports to host printers or choose USB mobile modems.
• The usual set of community settings and options: These embrace IP reservation, Port-forwarding, so on and thus far, and even some Alexa Expertise.
• Frequent firmware replace: Asus pushes out firmware updates repeatedly to repair points and enhance its routers’ efficiency and performance. You may select to replace manually or activate auto-update.

Asus Wi-Fi routers: Gaming options

On high of the usual characteristic set above, sure Asus routers even have additional options geared towards on-line gaming.

The desk beneath exhibits the precise gaming flavors every supporting router. I’ll clarify what every taste means beneath the desk.

Asus gaming routers’ fast specs

The regularly-updated desk beneath contains all present gaming routers from Asus I’ve examined and goals to indicate what you’ll get from a specific router.

Asus’s gaming routers can work for normal dwelling networking wants. By default, the game-related options are turned off.

Mannequin Title	Multi-Gig Port	Gaming Personal Community	Sport First/ROG First	VPN Fusion	Sport Enhance	Gaming Port	Open NAT	Cellular Sport Enhance	Gear Accelerator	GeForce Now	Aura RGB LED Lights
GT6	1x 2.5Gbps WAN	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	Sure
GT-AXE16000	1×2.5Gbps 2x10Gbps	WTFast	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	Sure
GT-AX11000 Professional	1×2.5Gbps 1x10Gbps	WTFast	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure
GT-AXE11000	1×2.5Gbps	Outfox	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	Sure
GT-AX11000	1×2.5Gbps	WTFast	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	Sure
GT-AX6000	2×2.5Gbps	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	Sure
GS-AX5400	None	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	Sure
GS-AX3000	None	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	Sure
RT-AX88U	None	WTFast	No	No	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	No
RT-AX89X	1x10Gbps 1xSFP+	No	No	No	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	No
RT-AC88U	None	WTFast	No	No	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	No
RT-AX86U	1×2.5Gbps	No	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No
RT-AX86S	None	No	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No
RT-AX82U	None	No	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	Sure
RT-AX92U	None	WTFast	No	No	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	No
RT-AC86U	None	No	No	No	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	No
TUF-AX5400	None	No	No	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	Sure	No	Sure

There are two tiers in Asus gaming routers. The primary are these with frequent options accessible in all Asus gaming routers. The second tier contains top-tier routers with all that the primary tier has and extra.

Asus’ tier-1 gaming options: The entry-level set

These game-related options are the naked minimal to qualify an Asus router as a “gaming router,” together with:

• Open NAT: This characteristic helps rapidly create game-related port forwarding entries by way of a couple of steps.
• Cellular Sport Enhance: The flexibility to tune the router’s gaming settings by way of a single faucet on the Asus cell app.
• Gear Accelerator: An client-based automated QoS perform that detects and prioritizes Web visitors for explicit recreation {hardware} — consoles or PCs.

These are further options which can be collectively accessible in choose high-end Asus routers:

• Gaming personal community: A built-in help for a game-oriented VPN community, together with WTFast (one free consumer that makes the entire native community a part of the VPN) and Outfox (90-day trial).
• Sport First / ROG First: An integration community device designed for ASUS ROG merchandise for community optimization. To make use of this characteristic, you need to have a ROG gaming pc.
• Sport Enhance: An application-based automated QoS perform that detects and prioritizes Web visitors for explicit video games, whatever the recreation {hardware}.
• VPN Fusion: A VPN consumer that enables a mixture of VPN and non-VPN connections inside a single community. VPN Fusion ensures VPN is used just for these wanted, with out affecting recreation consoles.
• Sport Port: A devoted community port on the router robotically prioritizes any wired machine linked to it.
• GeForce Now: The constructed help for NVIDIA GeForce NOW.
• Aura RGB LED Lights: That is simply bling, a flowery lighting characteristic that may change coloration to make the {hardware} look cool.

Sure options require sharing web visitors with a 3rd celebration which generally is a privateness threat.

Nonetheless, the extra (gaming) encompasses a router helps, the higher. And there are different components, similar to Wi-Fi and wired networking specs, processing energy, design, and so on. So, it’s at all times a matter of choosing and selecting.

Talking of which, the naming conference beneath will assist.

Asus’s naming conference, defined

For years Asus solely made standalone routers. In early 2018, beginning with the RT-AC86U, the corporate added the AiMesh characteristic that turns most of its routers into a part of a mesh system.

Since then, the networking vendor has additionally launched a brand new household of recent purpose-built mesh techniques referred to as ZenWiFi with a unique naming conference from their standalone routers.

Let’s begin with ZenWiFi.

Asus’s naming conference for ZenWiFi mesh

Asus have had greater than half a dozen and counting ZenWiFi fashions, together with CT8, XT8, XD4, XP4 hybrid, XD5, XD6, ET8, XT12, and ET12. There can be extra sooner or later.

Dissecting the ZenWiFi mannequin names

These mannequin names embrace two letters and a quantity. Listed below are what they imply.

• The primary letter signifies the Wi-Fi normal:
• The second letter signifies the variety of Wi-Fi bands:
  • T means Tri-band. That is for a system the place every {hardware} unit has three Wi-Fi frequency bands.
  • D means Twin-band — every {hardware} unit has two Wi-Fi bands.
• The final digit signifies the variety of Wi-Fi streams every broadcaster has.

With that, we will now learn every mannequin identify simply.

For instance, the ZenWiFi ET8 is a tri-band Wi-Fi 6E system the place every broadcaster is a Wi-Fi 6E tri-band system with every {hardware} unit having eight streams, together with a 4×4 6GHz band, a 2×2 5GHz band, and a 2×2 2.4GHz band.

Asus’s naming conference for standalone Wi-Fi routers

On the standalone router entrance, Asus has much more variations. However all fashions include this 3-part conference:

A few main letters, a splash (-), a couple of extra letters, and the ending. The precise values of these three would possibly fluctuate, however the type stays. Listed below are some examples: RT–AC86U or the GT–AX11000.

Let’s do a little bit of dissecting to see what these three components imply.

1. The main letters earlier than the sprint (-)

There are typically two vital prospects:

1. Most Asus routers’ mannequin numbers begin with “RT” (which is brief for “router”). An RT router generally is a common router or a gaming router however there’s no method to inform which is which simply from the mannequin identify. Examples: RT-AX3000 (common) or RT-AC88U (gaming).
2. Some routers’ fashions begin with “GT” or “GS” or “TUF”. On this case, they’re at all times gaming routers. Particularly:
   • GT is for a router that’s a part of Asus’s Republic of Avid gamers (ROG) product line. That is the premium gaming household that features extra than simply Wi-Fi routers. ROG merchandise all include a cool brand and a flowery programmable color-changing Aura RGB mild. Examples: GT-AX11000, GT-AC2900.
   • GS is for a ROG STRIX: It is a sub-set gaming collection that gear in direction of the budget-minded, although it’s not “low-cost”. ROG STRIX additionally contains extra than simply Wi-Fi routers and options the Aura RGB mild. Examples: GS-AX3000, GS-AX5400.
   • TUF or “The Final Pressure” is for Asus’s new TUF Gaming: Just like ROG, this collection additionally contains gaming gear (routers, desktops, laptops, motherboards, instances, mice, keyboards, and headsets) designed to look robust and might take some beating — they’re sturdy. Instance: TUF-AX5400.

(My take is “RT” is the normal {hardware} and the remainder are simply variants with some additional touches in design and software program. So the GS-AX3000, for instance, is, for probably the most half, the RT-AX3000 in cool disguise.)

2. The letters following the sprint (-)

These point out a router Wi-Fi normal. Particularly:

3. The ending

The ending of an Asus router mannequin identify additionally contains two essential prospects:

• A string of numbers: This development turns into extra steadily used with Wi-Fi 6. On this case, this quantity signifies the entire Wi-Fi bandwidth of the router itself. So the RT-AX3000 is a Wi-Fi 6 router that has a complete bandwidth (of each bands) of 3000Mbps.
• Two numbers and a letter (“U”, “X”, “S” and so on.): That is the unique naming conference of Asus relationship again to Wi-Fi 4. On this case, the quantity — usually 5x, 6x, 6x, and 8x — means the grade of the router, the upper the higher. Right here’s the which means of the letter:
  • U: It is a USB-enabled router. So the RT-AX88U is a higher-end Wi-Fi 6 router than the RT-AX68U. Each have a built-in USB port.
  • X: That is an additional particular router. There’s just one thus far, which is the RT-AX89X that’s the primary from Asus that comes with two versatile 10Gbps community ports.
  • S: It is a stripped-down variant of the U router. For instance, the RT-AX86S is the lesser model of the RT-AX86U with inferior processing energy and no Multi-Gig port.

There you go. Now put two and two (extra like 1, 2, and three on this case) collectively, and you’ll determine what every mannequin identify means.

For instance, the RT-AX68U is an entry-level Wi-Fi 6 router, and the GS-AX3000 can also be an entry-level however now a gaming router. The GT-AXE16000 is a top-tier Wi-Fi 6E ROG gaming router, which is why it’s so costly.

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The takeaway

Regardless of which you find yourself with amongst Asus’s routers, you’ll discover the usual characteristic set, which is sufficient for many properties.

A gaming router with extras received’t harm — you possibly can at all times ignore the additional options in case you don’t want them. Some options, like VPN Fusion and QoS, are additionally useful for non-gaming purposes.

However in case you do need them, concentrate on completely different ranges and the truth that there’s no Asus router with every thing. Finally, your ability and the standard of your broadband connection matter most. A router can solely accomplish that a lot.