Review and testing of ASUS RT-AC66U gigabit router.

It's no secret that ASUS loves to produce very high quality and really cool devices. Yes, it often happens that these devices, as they said in the 90s, are “for growth”. This review is devoted to just a similar device - the ASUS RT-AC66U router.
When you first look at the box, you immediately notice the wireless network standard - "802.11ac" and the ability to work at 5 GHz, respectively. And this gives a connection speed of over 1 Gbps. Unfortunately, devices capable of operating at such a speed have not yet arrived, but we will be able to test RT-AC66U with current laptops.

In the box with the router you can find:
-disk with software
-instruction
-VIP guarantee
-patch cord
-power adapter
-a router stand
-3 antennas

The design of a router at a height is not just a rectangle with antennas. Everything in order.

There are ventilation holes on the sides. And, as mentioned above, the shape of the router allows you to think that you have a high-tech device, and not a simple router.

At the back are all ports and control buttons:
1) three connectors for antennas
2) 220 V power connection
3) two USB 2.0 ports
4) five gigabit Ethernet ports - 4xLAN and 1xWAN
5) power and reset buttons (long holding the reset button allows you to reset the settings to the factory settings)

Traditionally, antennas can be pointed in almost any direction.

Below you can find stickers with basic information about the device and holes for attaching the stand. When placed horizontally, the router will not slide - all four feet have rubber tips.

ASUS RT-AC66U on a stand.

In the upper right corner, the manufacturer's logo flaunts in golden letters and the name of the model indicating the main advantage.

On the bottom of the case there are indicator icons that are highlighted with blue LEDs if the corresponding functions are active.

The first time you connect, the Network Setup Wizard starts. We will not focus on it - everything is very clear there and with comments that anyone can follow several steps.

The first tab shows us the state of the system - whether there is access to the Internet, how many clients are connected, whether there are USB drives, information about your wireless networks.

In the "Guest networks" section, you can create up to three networks in each frequency range. You can set a session time limit and isolation from your local network.

Below, in the "Traffic Manager" section, there are QoS rules and you can see the graph of the network congestion (Internet, wired network, 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz).

Parental Control allows you to configure the network access schedule for specific MAC addresses.

Finally, it came down to the USB ports as well. Thanks to the ability to connect your drives (FAT32, NTFS, EXT2 and EXT3 file systems are supported), you can create your own SMB / FTP shares. FTP-resources will help to be available anywhere in the world where there is Internet, using DDNS. You can also install 3G / 4G modems in the ports. In addition, you can set up your own UPnP / DLNA / iTunes server.

The AiCloud application for mobile devices running Android or iOS will also allow you to give access to files on the drive.

Traditional wireless settings. For each range, you can set your own settings.

For one of the ranges, you can set the WPS standard. The router supports a DHCP server with the ability to bind IP to MAC ardes, built-in UDP proxy, NAT translation accelerator, multicast support, the ability to enable Jumbo frames. Internet connection can be made using PPTP / PPPoE / L2TP. It is possible to configure port forwarding, virtual servers and PPTP / L2TP / RTSP / IPSec traffic. Not without the removal of one machine in the DMZ and PPPoE relaying.
Built-in firewall is able to protect your network from DoS attacks, you can also configure URL filtering, keywords and by white and black lists of MAC addresses.
Do not forget about the possibility of installing custom firmware from enthusiasts.

Main technical characteristics:
Network Standard
IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.3u, IPv4, IPv6

Product Segment
AC1750 ultimate AC performance; 450 + 1300Mbps

Data Rate
802.11a: 6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54Mbps
802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11Mbps
802.11g: 6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54Mbps
802.11n: up to 450Mbps
802.11ac: up to 1300Mbps

Antenna
Detachable antenna x 3

Operating Frequency
2.4G ~ 2.4835GHz /5.1~5.8GHz

Encryption
64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP, WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPA-Enterprise, WPA2-Enterprise

Firewall & Access Control
Firewall: SPI intrusion detection, DoS protection
Access control: Parental control, Network service filter, URL filter, Port filter

Management
UPnP, DLNA, DNS Proxy, NTP Client, DDNS, Port Triger, Virtual Server, DMZ

VPN Support
IPSec Pass-Throuth
PPTP Pass-Through
L2TP Pass-Through
PPTP server

WAN Connection Type
Internet connection type: Automatic IP, Static IP, PPPoE (MPPE supported), PPTP, L2TP
Dual Link support
Multicast Proxy support

Utilities
．Download master
- support BT, NZB, HTTP, ED2K
- support encryption, DHT, PEX and magnet link
- upload and download bandwidth control
- download scheduling
．Media server:
Image: JPEG
Audio: mp3, wma, wav, pcm, mp4, lpcm, ogg
Video: asf, avi, divx, mpeg, mpg, ts, vob, wmv, mkv, mov
．QoS:
WMM
User definable rules for IP / MAC / Port. Upload and Download bandwidth management.
ACK / SYN / FIN / RST / ICMP with Highest priority
．Guest Network
2.4GHz guest network x 3, 5GHz guest network x 3
．Printer Server: multifunctional printer support (Windows nly), LPR protocol support
．File server: Samba and FTP server with account management
．PPTP VPN server
．Network map
．Traffic monitor

Ports
1 x RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for WAN, 4 x RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for LAN, Support Ethernet and 802.3 with max. bit rate 10/100/1000 Mbps and auto cross-over function (MDI-X)
USB 2.0 x 2

Buttons
WPS Button, Reset Button, Power Button

LED Indicators
PWR x 1
LAN x 4
WAN x 1
AIR x 2
USB x 1

Power supply
AC Input: 110V ~ 240V (50 ~ 60Hz)
DC Output: 19 V with max. 1.58 A current

Dimensions (edit)
207 x 148.8 x 35.5 mm (WxDxH)

The weight
450 g

Router Special Features
3G / 4G data sharing AiCloud Printer server Download Master AiDisK Multiple SSIDs Parental Control

Testing
For testing, a PC (via a network cable) and a laptop (over the air, 2.4 GHz) were connected to the ASUS RT-AC66U. A folder with files was shared on a PC and we downloaded it from a laptop and then uploaded it back. The reception and transmission speeds reached 21195 KB / s and 19299 KB / s, respectively.

By increasing the buffer size, it was possible to achieve a data transfer rate of 336 Mbit / s.

Then a second laptop was connected (over the air, 2.4 GHz). In this test, files were transferred from one laptop to another. The reception speed reached 10144 KB / s, and the recoil rate reached 10097 KB / s.

The data transfer rate via the network cable is, as expected, high.

Conclusion
ASUS RT-AC66U router boasts excellent speed performance, many possibilities for building and configuring a network, and the ability to install custom firmware. Only the price can scare away ordinary users, but they do not need such a sophisticated device, which is quite worth the money.
The disadvantages are:
-not very fast operation of the standard firmware interface (not critical for professionals - custom firmwares are already starting to appear)
-Quite strong heating during operation (the measurement was carried out in the Asuswrt-Merlin firmware, the temperature in the load was up to 65 degrees).
But these negative aspects do not affect the performance, so there are no peers for ASUS RT-AC66U at the moment.

The development of household data transmission technologies is progressing at such a pace that something revolutionary has not been observed for a long time. Such that everyone hop - and immediately appreciated. For example, gigabit routers and adapters are no longer a rarity, moreover, gigabit ports have been soldered on motherboards of stationary PCs for a long time, but with all this commonplace home network(or even a network of a small office) can be supported by 100-megabit switches, but this almost does not float to anyone - files are thrown, torrents flow, what else is needed, although by replacing a network node you can get a performance increase on a budget.

With wireless networks, the situation can also be paradoxical - routers are boasting more and more throughput- 150 ... 300 ... 450 ... 900 ... 1300 ... 1750 Mbit !!! and what? But nothing, the bulk of wireless clients do not support such speeds. Even in laptops, in fact, full-fledged PCs, an adapter for a measly 150 Mbit is often built in. Would you like to be quicker? Please also fork out for a more powerful adapter.

On the other hand, progress, although it stuck at times, is still not worth it in place, and if you don't follow new products with a ready-made network infrastructure, then when building new network it’s good to have a reserve for the future, to lay a good “foundation” (so that later you don’t have to invest in reshaping).

If, based on such considerations, you look closely at a reasonable combination of "novelty of technologies" and "adequacy of the price tag", then sooner or later you can find for yourself an attractive in terms of characteristics, albeit a bit biting at the price of a router ASUS RT-AC66U... It is about him that will be discussed in this review.

Specifications

Routers are chosen primarily based on their characteristics.

And what we have here:

Standards supported: IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.3u, IPv4, IPv6 Data rates: 802.11a: 6,9,12,18,24,36,48 , 54Mbps 802.11b: 1, 2, 5.5, 11Mbps 802.11g: 6,9,12,18,24,36,48,54Mbps 802.11n: up to 450Mbps 802.11ac: up to 1300Mbps Antennas: 3 detachable antennas Operating frequency ranges: 2.4 G ~ 2.4835GHz / 5.1~5.8GHz Equipped with ports: 1 x RJ45 10/100/1000 for WAN, 4 x RJ45 10/100/1000 for LAN, USB 2.0 x 2 Encryption standards supported: 64-bit WEP, 128-bit WEP, WPA2-PSK, WPA-PSK, WPA-Enterprise, WPA2-Enterprise Firewall and access control: traffic check for correctness, protection against DoS attacks, parental access control, network service filtering, URL filtering, port filtering. Additional services: UPnP, DLNA, DNS Proxy, NTP Client, DDNS, Port Triger, Virtual Server, DMZ VPN support: IPSec Pass-Throuth, PPTP Pass-Through, L2TP Pass-Through, PPTP server WAN connection type: Dynamic IP, Persistent IP, PPPoE (with MPPE support), PPTP, L2TP, support for dual connection for redundancy, support for Multicast Proxy (useful for IPTV). Additional applications: ．Download master (customizable download manager, including for peer-to-peer networks) ．Media server supports formats: Image: JPEG Audio: mp3, wma, wav, pcm, mp4, lpcm, ogg Video: asf, avi, divx , mpeg, mpg, ts, vob, wmv, mkv, mov ．QoS: Bandwidth control and traffic prioritization ．Guest Network (you can create multiple guest networks, no password) ．Print server． File server (Samba and FTP)． PPTP VPN server ．Network map ．Traffic monitor Dimensions 207 x 148.8 x 35.5 mm (WxDxH) Weight 450 g.

What is so “modern” and “technological” about this router?

As a "modern" it supports dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz, but unlike the first routers with 5GHz support, it can work in them simultaneously, thanks to two radio transmitters. If earlier you had to choose, now two wireless networks in two ranges are rising simply and without fuss.

In addition, ASUS RT-AC66U supports operation at speeds up to 1300 Mbps in the 5 GHz range and up to 450 Mbps in the 2.4 GHz range (in total, the same 1750 Mbps).

In principle, these are the most important parameters for routers, everything else is pleasant bonuses.

Equipment, appearance

But enough of walking around, and about, let's take a close look at the device itself.

The device comes in a relatively small box (about the size of a pack of "Snow Maiden"). The box is dotted on all sides with inscriptions and icons, in all colors and halftones describing the advantages of the device. In principle, this is convenient for those who choose a device directly in the store - you can stand in front of the counter to take a box, turn it over in your hands, read anything. Well, it's logical - after all, if you came for a router, then you don't have the Internet yet!

In principle, the pictures on the box illustrate a list of features, with particular emphasis on advanced technology and user friendliness.

In the box we find a standard gentleman's set of a household router:

The router itself (for the sake of it the whole song was written)

Power supply 19V, 1.58A (without it, the router simply will not turn on)

3 antennas (if you only have wired clients, antennas count as a bonus!)

Patch cord, cool, flat! (in principle, if you only have wireless clients, then this is also a bonus)

Stand for installing the router in an upright position

Operating instructions (in case all else fails)

Warranty card (all serious, 3 years warranty - no joke!)

A disk with software (why is it needed - it is not clear, apparently they put it out of habit)

In general, the kit is classic, no frills.

Let's go directly to the router.

The design of the device is made in the same style as all other modern ASUS routers - a black box with a raised front panel, beveled at a slight angle, combined with a strip of “polished” plastic at the top. In a conspicuous place - a golden vendor logo, designation and description of the model (ASUS RT-AC66U Dual Band 3x3 802.11AC Gigabit Router), as well as 9 blue status LEDs with corresponding pictograms:

power indication

operation of 4 LAN ports

WAN port operation

operation of radio modules 2.4GHz and 5GHz

USB activity

Everything is laconic and tasteful.

The lower part of the case is equipped with a sticker with the necessary information about the product.

Here we see 4 anti-slip “legs”, two cruciform recesses for vertical installation and many, many ventilation holes, under which you can see metal plate for heat dissipation.

Cooling is passive, so the more massive the radiator and the more holes, the better.

True, judging by this arrangement of holes, the most practical working position of the router is upside down to ensure more natural convection of warm air.

All ports and controls are located on the back of the router (or on the top, if installed vertically?)

4 Gigabit LAN ports

gigabit WAN port

a pair of USB2.0 ports

power connector

power button

quick connect button, WPS

reset button

I don’t know about you, but I personally find it inconvenient to grope the buttons located among the busy ports, I hope that only the power button will really come in handy.

In general, the design is pleasant, the device well combines practicality and good looks, the plastic is non-staining and at the same time quite scratch-resistant.

Customization

RT-AC66U settings are made using a convenient web interface. Not, well, really, comfortable!

Most of the sections are provided with clear descriptions, sometimes even in pictures. The friendliness of the interface is overwhelming. Don't get me wrong, I didn't have any problems with configuring routers from D-link, TP-Link, Zyxel, and ASUSWRT (that's what ASUS called the setup interface) differs from all of the above, with unrivaled convenience and clarity.

In addition to clarity, the settings are striking in variety.

Of course, basic functions are available here - the choice of the operating mode (router, repeater, access point, media bridge), port forwarding, keyword and address filters, configuring and protecting wireless networks, and IPv6 support.

In addition to the basic ones, there is also advanced functionality that has already become standard for modern routers - parental control, guest wireless networks, IPTV support, connection and sharing of removable media.

But that's not all, the functionality is noticeably expanding with the help of such atypical "chips" for mass household routers:

VPN - client / server

traffic monitoring - simple and clear

print server, simple and working (most importantly) print server

add-ons for working with USB drives (you can muddle up a simple cloud resource accessible from anywhere!)

FTP server

In short, you can't remember. If you don't have a NAS yet, then by connecting a USB drive to this router, you can stretch for some time .... but in fairness, I note that a normal NAS is still much cooler.

In work

Well, let's move on to the most interesting, to the speed measurements.

I always suspected that these numbers are like 450 Mbit / s, 1300 Mbit / s, etc. are actually overpriced in relation to reality. WiFi is such a thing where the lion's share of traffic is eaten up for business needs. And what is the use of all these huge numbers for a simple user if in life he gets a much lower speed? This is what we will find out - what we actually get.

The measurement technique is extremely simple: a PC with a gigabit network card is connected to the gigabit port of the router via twisted pair, the ASUS PCE-AC66 WiFiac adapter is installed in the other PC, and a stopwatch was used to measure the copy time of a file of 8531976434 bytes.

Based on the results, the real average copying speed was calculated, in megabits per second (for anyone interested in megabytes, he can divide the column in his head by 8 and get the result of interest)

The measurements were carried out under three conditions:

Distance from router to wireless client 1.5m

Distance from router to wireless client 10m, same room

Distance from router to wireless client 10m, room behind 2 concrete walls

The router supports "jumbo frames", the inclusion of which, in theory, should have a beneficial effect when transferring large amounts of information, but by default this function is disabled, at the same time I decided to check what the activation of this function affects.

The results are summarized in a visual diagram:

What do we see?

The highest speed is achieved when transferring data to a wireless ac-client, the result was an impressive 339 Mbps, i.e. neither more nor less, but as much as 42 megabytes per second. I don't know about you, but I'm not used to such speeds over a wireless network, I experienced a kind of culture shock.

If we take into account that the transmission speed of the second radio module reaches 110 Mbit / s (14 megabytes per second), then in total we will get already 56 Mb / s. Citizens accustomed to wired 100 megabit LAN have never felt and could not feel this in principle!

If you once thought that “WiFi is fuu, and the cable is our choice”, now you can cut this cable with a clear conscience!

Uff ... but back to earth. As you move away from the source, the signal of the 5GHz network noticeably weakens, this is also true for 2.4GHz, but to a lesser extent. If in line of sight for 5 GHz the speed drop is about 20%, then for 2.4 GHz it is only about 10%. The appearance of obstacles weakens the signal even more, but the transmission speed for 5GHz according to the “ac” standard still remains noticeably higher.

Enabling the "jumbo frames" option leads to a slight drop in speed, perhaps something is simply not yet worked out, but at the moment it is better not to enable it.

For the sake of interest, let's see the speed of Internet access (100 Mbps channel) with mobile client (iPad mini retina), it does not support the “ac” standard, so in the 5GHz band it works according to the same “n” standard. Let's check if the speed will differ when connecting in different ranges.

We observe that when working in the 2.4 GHz range, the speed is still less than 5 GHz. Theoretically, a 5GHz connection is also more economical for the battery of a mobile device, so a couple of weighty arguments are already being gathered to switch to this range.

I would like to note that during operation, the body of the device heats up noticeably, the temperature can even be called uncomfortable. There are no network failures, but heating itself cannot please. It is better to install Asus RT-AC66U in a well-ventilated place.

Eventually

If you can't wait to get a high speed when transferring data over the air, then at the moment it is quite achievable, but for this you will have to inject funds not only into the router upgrade, but also into equipping clients with high-speed adapters (if your clients already support the ac standard , then everything is much simpler).

In principle, given the current trend towards an increase in the number of network clients in each apartment, as well as the fact that the air is heavily clogged by neighboring 2.4GHz networks, it is quite worthwhile to lay such a router as the Asus RT-AC66U as the basis of the network infrastructure, new devices will already be able to work with it in the 5GHz range, coexisting with the old ones, working only at 2.4GHz.

Advantages:+ excellent data transfer rate over the air + two simultaneously operating radio modules + convenient web-interface + detachable antennas (sometimes this can be important) + the possibility of vertical installation

disadvantages+ heats up + price is too high

Which is, without a doubt, one of the best models on the market. However, in the same spring at the CeBit exhibition, some manufacturers showed samples of equipment supporting the new standard. wireless communication 802.11ac, which promised to significantly increase performance - to the level of a gigabit wired network.

You can, of course, argue why mobile devices need such a speed: 802.11n is enough for streaming video, and user data is increasingly located on network storages and in cloud services. But if a standard has been developed, then someone needs it. As a last resort, marketing will come to the rescue and convince us that without this function it is simply impossible to live and work.

Today we will look at one of the representatives of the new generation of devices with support for 802.11ac. Recall that now this standard is in the draft of the third version, which, however, does not prevent the sale of network equipment with its implementation.

In fact, the Asus RT-AC66U is not much different from its predecessor: one of the two radio units has been replaced with a new version with 802.11ac and the flash memory has been increased.

Contents of delivery

This time the packaging is noticeably more compact - only about 30 × 23.5 × 8.5 centimeters. Its design is standard - photographs, descriptions, technical features. A combination of matte and glossy lamination is used to attract attention. Interestingly, there is no “Wi-Fi Certified” logo on the box, which once again confirms the “draft” status of the standard.

The delivery set also has not changed: a router, three external antennas, tower stand, 19V 1.58A power supply, gigabit network cable, optical disc, multilingual quick start guide and warranty card (two-year warranty). Localization affected electronic documents, device interface and utilities.

The CD is of little interest as the device is new and in the period frequent updates, so it would be better to download the necessary programs from the company's website. In particular, it presents utilities initial setup, search for a device on the network, restore firmware, connect a printer.

Appearance

This section could be skipped altogether - RT-AC66U almost completely repeats the design of its predecessor. The differences are really minimal - new text on the front and gold color of the logo instead of silver. So the assessments of the appearance will be the same.

From the point of view of style, everything is fine - matte black plastic with an interesting texture looks attractive. The router can be installed horizontally and vertically (with a stand), as well as mounted on a wall. Large external antennas, common to the two bands, provide high signal strength and good sensitivity.

Like its predecessor, the router has a high weight, and this is due to the need to install a large radiator to cool the high-performance filling. From the point of view of temperature conditions, it is more efficient to install the router vertically, since the passive ventilation grilles are located along the circuit and at the bottom of the device. The standard desktop version is slightly worse. However, we note that in the tests under load, no effect of the temperature regime on the results was noticeable.

The set of nine blue LEDs has not changed - status, LAN1-4, Internet, 2.4 and 5 GHz Wi-Fi, USB. The brightness of their glow is average, but the activity of ports and interfaces is accompanied by blinking.

On the back at the end of the case there are wired ports, connectors for antennas, two USB port 2.0, power supply input and on / off switch, reset buttons and WPS client connections. There is a small remark only about the latter - it is too small, and with the LAN4 connector occupied by the cable, it will not be easy to get to it.

Hardware configuration

The filling of the device differs from the RT-N66U a little more than the appearance. The same processor is used - BCM4706 / BCM53003 with a frequency of 600 MHz. Volume random access memory is also preserved, and in the new model is an impressive 256 MB. But they added flash - instead of 32 MB, here now there are as many as 128 MB. Additionally, there is also a second 2 MB microcircuit with some service partitions. To operate at 2.4 GHz, a BCM4331 radio unit is installed, and a new chip, BCM4360, is responsible for supporting all versions at 5 GHz, including 802.11ac. Both of them are connected to the main processor via the PCIe bus. Modes up to 450 Mbps for 802.11n (3T3R) and up to 1300 Mbps for 802.11ac are supported.

As for USB, the controller is located in the processor, and an additional hub based on the AU6259 chip is connected to it outside. Unlike the previous model, there is no microSD card slot. The gigabit switch has not changed - BCM53125. The PCB also has a console connector and a JTAG pad. The hardware version of the device under test is A1.

As we have repeatedly met with Asus, the announcement of the device and even its appearance on sale, unfortunately, does not at all mean the existence of the correct firmware for it, which performs all the functions described in the specifications. It is interesting that the router, if it has access to the Internet, is able to check the availability of new firmware versions by itself and install them after user confirmation. In our case, he settled on version 3.0.0.4.164, so 3.0.0.4.188 and then 3.0.0.4.220, with which the testing was carried out, had to be downloaded independently and loaded in the traditional way.

Customization and capabilities

In general, the router has similar features to its predecessor, but there are also some improvements and additions. So in this section we will not describe the functions in detail, but will try to focus only on the main ones.

The web-based configuration interface has not changed - all the same dark colors, a built-in assistant, translation into several languages ​​(including Russian), a graphical network diagram, etc. The only thing that has been noticeably improved here is that in addition to HTTP, HTTPS (port number can be changed). Adding links to manuals, utilities, and FAQs on the company's website can also come in handy. Not all of these documents have been localized. It should be noted that this is also implemented in the previous model with a firmware update.

You can allow access to the settings from the WAN side. We retained support for using the telnet client to access the console, which opens up wide opportunities for expanding the set of device functions. The Network Map now displays more information. In particular, data on the Internet connection (address and hostname) was added.

To connect to the Internet, all current options are supported - IPoE, PPPoE, PPTP, L2TP, 802.1x. It is possible to change the MAC address and disable NAT. There are options for port switching and translation, UPnP, DMZ, NAT Passthrough for some protocols and a DDNS client. In the latter case, you can use both the popular services DynDNS, NO-IP, TZO, and Asus's own service, which is very easy to configure - you just need to come up with a unique name for the third-level domain, no registrations are required. For IPTV users, there is an opportunity to select a port number for connecting a set-top box, enable multicast and a built-in UDP Proxy server. In addition to receiving a list of routes from the provider, manual programming is also supported. Note the presence of two hardware options - enabling Jumbo Frames (works only in the LAN segment) and disabling the hardware accelerator for packet translation.

In the local segment, everything is standard - you can select the IP address of the device, enable the DHCP server for automatic configuration of clients. The server allows setting fixed MAC-IP pairs, which can be useful when using remote access with port translation. Note the support for IPv6 through automatic or manual assignment of addresses and tunnels, which may become relevant in the near future.

Not much has changed in the settings for the wireless interfaces either. Since the radio units are completely independent, all options are duplicated. For each band, the name of the network is traditionally indicated (with the possibility of hiding), the mode of operation ("all standards" or "only n"), channel width, channel number (there are 13 for 2.4 GHz and 4 for 5 GHz), access control mode (including open network, WPA2-PSK and enterprise editions, RADIUS server) and password. To quickly connect clients, you can use WPS technology. Additional security enhancements are provided by the MAC address filter. The "Professional" page allows you to program the operating schedule of wireless modules, enable multicast broadcasting, set some specialized options.

The router also knows how to create guest networks, three for each range. For each, you can select protection, set an automatic shutdown timer, allow access to the local segment of the main network.

The Firewall page group allows you to create lists for filtering by URL links, keywords on site pages (testing showed that this function does not work), MAC addresses, and services. In the latter case, the rules specify parameters familiar from firewalls - source and destination addresses, port ranges, protocols, and filter time.

In the section "Administration" you can find standard set from updating the firmware, changing the administrator password, managing the configuration, setting the clock, enabling the telnet server. Here you can also choose one of the three operating modes of the device: wireless router, bridge (client), access point.

Operation logs, like other Asus models, are presented in an extended format - standard system logs, states of wireless controllers and DHCP server tables, routing and address translation. Note that for remote control there is only support for sending messages to the syslog server, by e-mail, unfortunately, the device cannot communicate.

One of the additional functions of the router - "Parental Control" - allows you to set a schedule for selected clients for permitted access to the Internet.

Another function already familiar from previous reviews is a PPTP remote access server with support for MSCHAP v1 / v2 and MPEE-40/128. It will allow you to securely access your home local network. The administrator can program up to ten accounts, the maximum number of simultaneous connections is also ten.

We will also mention the implementation of the QoS traffic control function. As before, we assess its need for home routers as controversial. But for monitoring the current traffic consumption on different interfaces, this function can come in handy.

Working with USB devices

RT-AC66U inherited the same two USB 2.0 ports. They can be used to connect external drives, printers / MFPs and cellular modems. Full MFP support only works for operating rooms Windows systems using the complete proprietary software. For other operating systems, you can use the LPR protocol.

With the support of 3G / 4G modems, the situation is gradually improving. But, unfortunately, the manufacturer hid the compatibility list very deeply, which creates some difficulties when choosing a model. On the other hand, models that are not included in it can work. In particular, we have earned Huawei E156G. It was enough just to choose an operator from the list. There is only one modem use mode at the moment - if the cable connection is lost, the router switches to the cellular network. However, it must be taken into account that the mechanism reacts only to the physical disconnection of the cable, and does not know how to return itself.

For drives, the set of capabilities has been expanded. As before, you can connect devices with FAT32, NTFS, EXT2, EXT3 file systems. Access is provided via SMB and FTP protocols (simultaneously enabled for access via the Internet). In the first case, you can choose network name and the name of the working group, and set the encoding for the FTP server. The administrator can program several users in the router and grant them rights to shared resources, which are folders on partitions.

If there are not enough ports, you can use a USB hub. You can safely disconnect the drive using the button in the header of the Web interface.

The following graph shows the results of testing the read and write speed of a large (about 700 MB) file. Note that, like its predecessor, the server in the router reacts strangely to the inclusion of Jumbo Frames - in some cases the speed is halved. Therefore, testing was carried out without using this technology.

In general, the results are quite expected for the used platform. Note also that while using Internet access and / or wireless networks, the numbers will be smaller. In tests, the processor load of the router only on this one task reached values ​​of 40-80%. So if you want to use a router as a network storage device, you need to be clear about the possible performance limitations.

As before, the miniDLNA module allows you to stream media files located on external drives to compatible players. Indexing is carried out for all devices at once and supports jpeg, mp3, m4a, aac, wma, avi, mp4, mkv, wmv, mpeg and some others files. The easiest way to sort photos and videos into folders is to use tags for audio recordings. Additionally, you can enable the iTunes online library, but the server version is not compatible with iTunes 10, so we could not test it.

The relatively powerful processor of the router can also be used with an offline file download system via HTTP, FTP, Magnet, ed2k and BitTorrent and NZB protocols. The Download Master module is installed directly from the web interface of the router on the selected partition of the external hard drive and takes about 50 MB on it. Here you can also find a link to download a proprietary utility for a PC. It allows you to automatically send files for download from Explorer, Internet Explorer and other browsers, call the module's own Web interface (password protected) to control the process and set parameters. Among them are setting a schedule, choosing a directory for storing downloaded files, changing the port number of the control interface, allowing access from the WAN side. The utilities amule, nbzget, snarf, transmission are used as clients. For the latter, you can change the port number, limit the speed and the number of peers, enable encryption, DHT and PEX.

To estimate the load, we present the following figures - one task for downloading a large file (an image of one of the popular Linux distributions) it worked at a speed of 2-3 MB / s with the number of peers 20-30 and at the same time took about 90% of the processor time (writing was done to the ext3 partition). At this moment, you can not even talk about the speed of access to the section - it drops tenfold. So letting the router work as a stand-alone server is possible, but only if the power is really not required for other tasks. And, of course, you don't have to expect the performance of a PC or NAS from it.

The settings pages for working with a USB drive, in our opinion, are not very well designed. In some cases, the router opens a new window for them, and the options and parameters are not always clear to novice users.

Absolutely new function in the tested firmware version - AiCloud. It consists of several features: Cloud Disk, Smart Access and Smart Sync. Unfortunately, their description is not very clear and difficult to understand. The main feature of the service is to provide access not only to USB drives on the router, but also to all other systems on the local network. We are talking about the standard "Network Neighborhood". For this, the router becomes the Master Browser and stores a list of all local devices. In this case, if the computer is turned off, then it will still be present in the list and the WOL (wake-up over the network) option will be available for it.

Further, the user has several options for gaining access to the data. In particular, using Cloud Disk, you can do this through the Web file manager, and Smart Access is used in conjunction with the AiCloud program for mobile devices on Android and iOS. It supports HTTP (port number - 8082) and HTTPS (standard port - 443). All this requires a DDNS configured on the router and an external IP address. It is expected that future versions of AiCloud software will not have this limitation. It should also be noted that at the moment the login to the service works only with the administrator account. For local systems, you can enter your usernames and passwords. Additional option- provision of temporary direct links to files for easy and quick download from the browser. Access to documents is read-only. There are built-in players for photos, music and videos. Office formats can be viewed in Google docs and, if necessary, edit, but you cannot write the changed file back to the old place. The Smart Sync module allows you to set up synchronization of a selected folder on a USB drive with the MySyncFolder directory on cloud storage Asus WebStorage.

The utility of the same name for smartphones provides in general exactly the same capabilities as the browser. And links to documents can be sent immediately by e-mail or SMS.

Of course, similar capabilities can be implemented through the built-in VPN server, however, the AiCloud service is geared towards unprepared users and is really very easy to set up and use. The only pity is that there is no way to work with multiple user accounts. This would allow more flexible customization of access to documents. Note that there is a built-in blocking when a password guessing attempt is detected, however, it can be removed only through the router's web interface.

AiCloud may indeed be of interest to many (forgetful) users. So if you urgently left your home or office, then, with minimal preliminary settings, you can download the desired presentation or spreadsheet right at the meeting from your phone or tablet.

Performance

The device was tested according to a slightly modified program and only at the stand using the IxChariot program. The router settings were minimal - only setting the parameters for connecting to the Internet and wireless networks.

The first graph shows the results in a routing test using all connection options - IpoE, PPPoE, PPTP and L2TP.

For a direct connection, more than 850 Mbps are provided, which is a good indicator for modern gigabit routers. In the case of using the PPPoE protocol, the results are noticeably lower - up to 200 Mbps, but for modern mass connections using the FastEthernet standard, this is more than enough. PPTP and L2TP also provide in most tests without problems full use 100 Mbps channel. Note that the results are slightly higher compared to RT-N66U, but it should be borne in mind that a different firmware version was used last time.

Support for access to the local network of the provider may be interesting for users with VPN connections. The following graph shows test data in a scenario of simultaneous download from the local segment and the Internet.

As you can see, there are no comments on the operation in this mode to the router.

Additionally, we decided to run routing tests with alternative firmware version 3.0.0.3.178.15. Considering that it is based on an earlier original build, a slight difference in the results is to be expected.

But the main conclusion is that the change and expansion of the device's capabilities is not accompanied by a significant drop in speed in the main mode of operation of the router.

As with its predecessor, tests were also carried out on the built-in VPN server. A standard module from Windows 7 was used as a client. Modes without encryption with MPPE 128 were tested. The direction is indicated relative to the external client.

Depending on the mode of the Internet connection and encryption, the server provides access speeds from 30 to 110 Mbps, which will be more than sufficient for most remote access tasks. As in the last time, we note that using a VPN server is a rather difficult task for the router platform in terms of CPU load.

Testing of wireless access points of the device was carried out together with the fastest controllers in our laboratory: Asus EA-N66, Atheros AR5BXB112 (AR9380), Intel Ultimate N Wi-Fi Link 5300, Intel Centrino Ultimate-N 6300 and NETGEAR WNDA4100. All of these devices support dual band and 3T3R operating mode with a maximum speed of 450 Mbps. The first is an Ethernet bridge, the next three are miniPCIe adapters, and the last is a USB controller. To test the most interesting 802.11ac mode, we used the second Asus RT-AC66U router, switched to bridge mode.

Of course, in most cases, if both the router and the adapter can operate at 5 GHz, it is this range that should be used, but we additionally checked the 802.11n and 2.4 GHz adapters to assess the capabilities of the device in question in this range.

For the 5 GHz band, the router was configured to set the WPA2-PSK AES mode. To achieve high results at 2.4 GHz, the wide channel mode ("40 MHz") was additionally forced and the channel numbers were rigidly selected from the freest ones. Neighboring networks on 5 GHz are not yet available, but 2.4 GHz is busy quite densely. The distance between the devices was about five meters without obstacles.

The first graph shows the results of single-threaded tests for reception, transmission and simultaneous operation in two directions.

Evaluating the results, we can confidently say that modern high-performance wireless devices can operate at speeds almost double the speed of previous generation wired networks. Of course, all this very much depends on the conditions of the broadcast, but at least we did it. In absolute terms, the figures are slightly higher in the 5 GHz range, but the results are quite decent even in 2.4 GHz. I would especially like to mention the Atheros and NEGTEAR adapters. The first continues to hold the palm, and the second is interesting for its USB interface, which allows you to use it on any computers to add or improve a wireless interface. As for 802.11ac, in this group of tests it allows one and a half to two times to improve performance.

The second graph shows the results of similar tests, however, for unidirectional transmission, eight streams were used, and for full duplex, four streams were used in each direction.

Despite the fact that the results of 802.11n have grown, the new standard has grown even more. In this scenario, its speed is already two to three times higher: performance has increased from 200-300 Mbps to 500-600 Mbps. Interestingly, again, the real speed is about half of the technical speed indicated in the specifications.

As we can see, the new wireless communication standard, although it does not formally provide "gigabit speeds", is still quite noticeably different from the current version. But do not forget about its draft status and the lack of built-in controllers in laptops and other mobile systems.

This can be clearly demonstrated by the test results " new iPad»In the following graph (direction is relative to tablet).

In this case, you can count on figures of the order of 40 Mbit / s, which the controller built into the tablet allows you to implement. Of course, this is enough for watching online video streaming. But for synchronization and Reserve copy I would like more - transferring 32 GB at this speed will take more than an hour and a half.

In the new devices of the market leaders, judging by the technical characteristics, more efficient controllers are used, but the real speed must be checked in practice.

As for the specific equipment in question, there is one more important point- with the current firmware version, RT-AC66U only supports four channels in the 5GHz band. This means the only possible configuration for 802.11ac and it is not yet very clear how two such access points will work on the same air. True, this limitation is associated with regional settings and may well be removed / changed in new versions of firmware for our market.

conclusions

The Asus RT-AC66U router differs from its predecessor in the only consumer characteristic - support for the new 802.11ac wireless standard. So its assessment will differ little - the device has a high-performance platform, a good design and an attractive design. With any common options for connecting to the Internet, it will not be a weak link and will allow the user to get the maximum available access speed.

Asus has implemented in its firmware not only functions traditional for routers, but also significantly expanded it. In particular, it is worth mentioning support for guest wireless networks, traffic monitoring, VPN server, restricting Internet access on a schedule. But most of the features are associated with the installed USB ports. They can be used to share a printer and MFP, reserve a channel through cellular modems, implement the basic functions of a network storage device with providing access to files via SMB, FTP and DLNA protocols.

One of the latest innovations - the AiCloud service - allows you to work remotely through a browser or mobile devices with files not only on USB drives, but also on other computers on the network. Synchronization with Asus WebStorage is also supported.

The implementation of the 802.11ac protocol performed well in the tests, significantly outperforming the modern version of the 802.11n standard. However, the real use of the new protocol is noticeably limited due to the low prevalence of equipment with its support in the market. So today it is worth choosing a model with ac only if you need to provide high speed at short distance and there is no possibility to lay a cable or, if funds are available, “for the future”. For a certain category of users, the increased amount of flash memory in the updated model may be of interest.

The device is expected to appear on the local market in mid-October. The estimated cost will be 6,500 rubles. Average retail price of Asus RT-AC66U in Moscow, actual at the time of reading this article: $ 129 ().

Specification:

Packaging and delivery set

ASUS RT-AC66U router is shipped in a cardboard box that reliably protects it from damage during transportation. The packaging is well illustrated and provided with a number of detailed diagrams to help you better understand the benefits of the IEEE 802.11ac standard and other technologies used in this model.

The delivery set includes the following set of components that the user may need while connecting the ASUS RT-AC66U router and its further operation:

• mains power adapter (Input AC: 100 - 240 V, 1 A, 50-60 Hz; Output DC: 19 V, 1.58 A);
• three antennas;
• network cable;
• stand;
• user guide;
• warranty card;
• CD with documentation and software.

The ASUS RT-AC66U model is made in a rather attractive black case with a branded notch on the top panel. Against the background of monotonous gray boxes, such a router looks much more spectacular. It will perfectly fit into the interior of a modern room or office.

To prevent the device from taking up a lot of space on the table or shelf, the manufacturer has provided a special stand.

As for the configuration of the case itself, it is already more standard for solutions of this class: indicators of device operating modes and the status of LAN ports are placed on the lid of the router, and all interfaces are grouped on the rear panel. There are also sockets for connecting three detachable antennas.

On the ends and bottom of the case, you can find many ventilation holes. Still, in network equipment of the AC1750 class and above, rather powerful electronics are installed, which requires appropriate cooling. But we'll talk about this a little later, but now we propose to take a look at the set of available connectors and controls.

It looks like this:

• DCIN input for connecting a power supply unit;
• "Power" button, with which you can turn on or turn off the router;
• two USB 2.0 ports;
• unnamed button for resetting settings;
• gigabit WAN port;
• four gigabit LAN connectors;
• "WPS" button for quick connection to an existing wireless network;
• three inputs for connecting external antennas.

Note the presence of two USB 2.0 ports, which significantly expand the capabilities of the ASUS RT-AC66U model. Depending on the connected devices, it can act as a network storage, a print server, a manager for downloading files from the Internet. In addition, there is support for 3G / 4G modems.

Internal organization

Inside the router there is a two-layer board, covered on both sides by massive radiators. As we already wrote above, devices of this kind use relatively powerful components, so efficient heat removal from them is a rather important task. As you can see, the engineers at ASUS took a responsible approach to solving this issue.

Unfortunately, it is not possible to consider the marking of most of the chips, since they are hidden behind the heat distribution plates, the dismantling of which will most likely damage the components or the board itself. Nevertheless, we still managed to find some information about the hardware used here.

According to it, the Broadcom BCM4706 chip acts as a central processor, operating at a frequency of 600 MHz and including a Gigabit MAC, 512 KB cache memory, a USB 2.0 controller, and a dual PCIe interface. LAN ports are supported using a Broadcom BCM53125 network switch. The central processor works in conjunction with the Broadcom BCM4331 chip, which provides a wireless channel at a 2.4 GHz transmission frequency with a maximum speed of up to 450 Mbps. The Broadcom BCM4360 controller is responsible for supporting the 5 GHz band and the IEEE 802.11ac standard. The theoretical data transfer rate in this case already reaches 1.3 Gb / s.

The RAM subsystem is represented by two Samsung K4T1G164QF-BCF7 microcircuits of the DDR2 standard with a capacity of 128 MB each.

The ASUS RT-AC66U model can be configured using the WEB interface or its own utility. Let's first consider the first option, since it is he who provides the maximum opportunities for configuring the network and the router. The WEB interface has an intuitive and logical structure with several tabs on the left side of the page. Accordingly, their contents and a list of available parameters are displayed on the right. Note the presence of Russian and Ukrainian localization and high-quality translation of all titles and explanations.

The first group of tabs is called " Quick setup Internet ”, which fully describes their purpose. This method of configuration is quite simple, so it is primarily suitable for beginners who have not previously encountered setting up network equipment.

In this mode, the system automatically sets all the necessary parameters and checks. The user is only required to select the type of connection, enter the password for access to the network and, if necessary, set the information provided by the provider for access to the Internet. Moreover, the entire setup process takes just a couple of minutes.

To control and monitor the state of the created network, there is a group of tabs "General". The Network Map page displays a detailed diagram where you can get a quick overview of connected clients, network devices, and the connection to the World Wide Web. To do this, just click on the corresponding icon.

The "Guest network" section allows you to configure a session to connect guest clients to the Internet without access to the internal network. Moreover, this can be done separately for each band (2.4 or 5 GHz).

The Traffic Manager tab contains options for prioritizing specific network tasks (surfing, downloading files, transferring files, etc.), as well as tools for tracking incoming and outgoing traffic.

The Parental Control submenu provides the ability to limit the time a specific client can use the network. This feature is useful in educational institutions, office organizations and even at home if your child spends too much time in social networks or for online games.

Information about all additional services available when connecting devices via USB ports, grouped under the "USB Application" tab. Here you can set the rules general access to an external drive via the Internet, organize file storage (FTP / SAMBA) or a print server. There is support for 3G / 4G modems, as well as the ability to use the phone as a device to access the global network.

I would also like to note the functionality of the built-in utility for downloading files (Download Master). She supports different types networks, including the p2p protocol. That is, on the basis of ASUS RT-AC66U, you can organize a torrent client that does not require a separate, always-on PC. The main thing is not to forget to connect a USB storage device to the router and set the correct path for saving files.

The next section, "AiCloud", serves to organize access to cloud services, including the ability to create your own cloud storage.

For a more detailed configuration of the wired and wireless network segments, refer to the group of tabs " Additional settings". In addition, here are collected parameters for managing a NAT service, VPN server, firewall and other services that will be useful when administering complex networks.

As in the ASUS RT-AC87U model, it also supports the dual WAN function. With its help, the LAN port can be configured to be used as a second WAN port and thus create two independent connections to the Internet. In this case, the user is given the opportunity to manually distribute Internet traffic between them, or to establish one of the connections as a backup.

Detailed logging of the events is carried out through the WEB-interface of the router. It also provides the ability to quickly diagnose and collect information about the network.

In general, the functionality of the ASUS RT-AC66U model can be called very good. In this regard, it is practically in no way inferior to top solutions with support for the IEEE 802.11ac standard. Thus, we can safely say that the number of settings described above is quite enough for organizing and monitoring a network in a home, office, and even in a small business. You can find a complete list of all available parameters by looking at the screenshot gallery.

Software

For the ASUS RT-AC66U router, there are several utilities that partially duplicate the functions available in the WEB interface, including creating a wireless or wired connection and setting up a network printer.

The rest of the utilities are more auxiliary in nature. So, ASUS Device Discovery allows you to quickly find out about the network configuration and get brief information about all connected clients, and Firmware Restoration allows you to update the router's firmware.

Testing

The main problem of network technologies, and especially wireless lines, can be called signal transmission interference. They make the limited computing resources of the Wi-Fi client spend on decryption and additional verification of each transmitted packet. It is very easy to create radio interference for a wireless channel - this is done by almost any electrical device or digital device... The most common Appliances: microwave oven, refrigerator motor or even fluorescent light when turned on, etc. Another important, and often the main source of interference, can be the high density of Wi-Fi networks surrounding the place where the wireless solution is used. Considering all these factors, it is impossible to speak about the complete repeatability of the test results of the wireless network segment.

Therefore, testing of all network solutions that came to our laboratory takes place in "ideal" operating conditions: in one room with line of sight and at a distance of no more than two meters between points. For the experiments, we used the following additional network equipment: ASUS RT-N66U, ASUS EA-N66, and Gigabit Ethernet Intel 82566MC.

Comparative performance testing in 802.11n mode at 2.4 GHz using WPA2 encryption

Comparative testing of performance in 802.11ac mode at 5 GHz using WPA2 encryption

Data flow in both directions

Data flow from client to router

Data flow from router to client

In actual use, the average data rate in both directions over a 2.4 GHz wireless connection (IEEE 802.11n) was about 118 Mbps. Wherein maximum speed depending on the direction it was equal to 160 or 133 Mbit / s. Such results for this mode can be considered quite good.

However, the use of the IEEE 802.11ac standard allows them to be improved even further. Recall that in this case, data transmission is already carried out at a frequency of 5 GHz. As you can see from the graphs, the average speed has more than doubled - up to the 300 Mbps mark. A significant increase in performance can be observed in separate sections of the connection: "client-router" and "router-client". Looking at these results, we can say with confidence that within the framework of a home or small corporate network, the performance of the ASUS RT-AC66U model in the wireless segment is quite enough.

Comparative testing of packet speed through a LAN interface for another LAN client

Data flow in both directions

Data flow in one direction

The functionality of the node responsible for exchanging data via LAN interfaces is pretty good. Recall that the router has Gigabit Ethernet ports with a theoretical bandwidth of up to 1000 Mbps. The total cross-data transfer rate was almost 870 Mbps, and the maximum speed was 800 Mbps. Such indicators for devices of this kind are more than acceptable.

Comparative Testing of the Speed ​​of Packet Traversal through a Router's NAT Service

In the ASUS RT-AC66U model, the NAT service is implemented in hardware, as a result of which the average switching speed reaches 844 Mbps. For lower quality gigabit solutions, where the NAT service operates at the software level, this value is usually 3-4 times lower.

Comparative testing of the speed of reading / writing files using a SAMBA client on an external SSD-drive connected via a USB 2.0 connector

Reading from a connected SSD

Writing to a connected SSD

The speed of reading files through the SAMBA client from an SSD-drive connected to the router via the USB 2.0 connector was about 11.1 MB / s, and writing - 8.4 MB / s. These indicators are at a good level, outstripping many competitive peers. Of course, they are very far from the indicators of USB 3.0. Nevertheless, for organizing a home file server or device for downloading files from the Internet, this performance is quite enough. But to create a network storage within a small company, it is better to purchase a router more high level, for example, ASUS model RT-AC87U.

After the announcement of the IEEE 802.11ac standard, noticeable improvements can be observed in the conjuncture of the network equipment market every month. Moreover, not only the number of offers increases, but their cost also decreases, which, as ordinary users, cannot but rejoice. After all, this means that soon everyone will be able to appreciate the benefits of the new communication mode.

True, this requires the necessary equipment, for example, a router. In practice, it has demonstrated excellent results and is only slightly behind the flagship model ASUS RT-AC87U. At 2.4 GHz, the average wireless connection speed in both directions was about 118 Mbps, and at 5 GHz, it reached as much as 300 Mbps. Such indicators should be quite enough for the transmission of "heavy" content in real time via the Wi-Fi network segment. No less good results were recorded on the wired part of the connection. Due to the presence of gigabit ports and hardware implementation of the NAT service, the average switching speed in this case can reach 844 - 870 Mbps.

If we add here a functional WEB interface and support for additional services, such as a print server, network storage, cloud services and offline downloading of files from the Internet, then in the person of ASUS RT-AC66U we will get a rather interesting device, and with a relatively affordable price tag (about $ 180 ).

Advantages:

• support for the IEEE 802.11ac standard;
• support for simultaneous operation of two wireless Wi-Fi data transmission channels: 5 GHz and 2.4 GHz;
• high speed of data exchange in real conditions: on average 118 Mbps and 300 Mbps in both directions using IEEE 802.11n and IEEE 802.11ac modes, respectively;
• high performance hardware NAT service;
• availability of gigabit LAN and WAN ports;
• support for dual WAN technology for the organization of two simultaneously functioning connections to the Internet;
• the presence of USB 2.0 connectors, which significantly expands the functionality of the router and provides the user with access to a number of services: print server, media server, FTP storage, client for offline file download from the Internet;

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ASUS RT-AC66U router is a dual-band router with support for 802.11 ac, ASUS AiCloud cloud service, and aggregate data transfer rate of 1300 Mbps.

RT-AC66U router specifications

A detailed list of the router's technical specifications can be found in the following illustrations:

The price for such features remains quite high - around 7,500 rubles, but the ASUS brand speaks for itself.

Brief overview of RT-AC66U router

The router is made in the corporate black color with three detachable antennas attached to the back of the case, and a rectangular curved stand for vertical installation of the device.

There are nine indicators on the front panel of the router:

• "POWER"
• "LAN 4-1"
• "Internet"
• "2.4 GHz"
• "5 GHz"
• "USB".

On back side cases - together with the above antennas - there are connectors and ports for connecting external devices:

• DCIN connector
• ON / OFF button
• 2 ports "USB 0"
• RESET button
• port "WAN"
• 4 ports "LAN"
• WPS button.

Installing and connecting the router

The connection diagram of the rt ac66u model is not very complex and looks like this:

• connect the ISP's Internet cable (or modem) to the “WAN” port to the turned off router;
• cable " Twisted pair"Via" LAN "(Ethernet) ports;
• plug the power adapter into an electrical outlet and turn on the router.

Setting up an internet connection

Like the overwhelming majority of routers, RT-AC66U provides two types of settings to choose from - these are “Quick setup” and “Advanced setup” (or additional).

If you choose the first option, the setup wizard will step by step ask you for the basic parameters required for the network to work. However, the functionality of changing additional parameters will remain unavailable, therefore, it is better to use manual input to create a reliable network.

To create a new Internet connection manually, go to the "Advanced Settings" section - the "Internet" (WAN) subsection.

The first line is "WAN Connection Type" - depending on the provider's requirements, select one of the options:

Automatic IP

If your ISP requires account authentication, select "802.1x MD5" and enter your username and password.

PPPoE

Leave the WAN, NAT and UPnP options enabled.

If the provider provides receiving ip-addresses automatically, leave this line unchanged. If you need to register the IP address manually, then select "NO" - new lines will appear below, where you will need to specify the addresses.

In the Account Setting section, enter the User Name and Password.

Static IP

Fill in the "IP Address", "Subnet Mask", "Default Gateway" and " DNS server 1/2 "(DNS Server1 / 2).

"PPTP" and "L2TP"

The main requested parameters are filled in by analogy with a PPPoE connection.

In the "Special Requirement from ISP" section, pay attention to the line "VPN server" - this is the ip or url of the provider's VPN server.

After completing the data entry, click on the "Apply" button.

Configuring WiFi on the RT-AC66U router

Go to the subsection "Wireless" (Wireless), the "General" tab (General).

1. " frequency range"(Frequency) - select" 2.4 GHz "or" 5 GHz ";

2. “SSID” is the name of the access point;

3. Leave "Wireless Mode" and "Control Channel" in automatic mode;

4. Authentication Method - select one of the options:

• "Open System"
• "Shared Key" - enter the password in the "WEP-key" line and select 64bit or 128bit encryption.

“WPA-Personal” and “WPA2-Personal” and “WPA2-Personal” is the password in “WPA Pre-Shared Key”.

WPA - Enterprise and WPA2 - Enterprise and Radius with 802.1x

Click the Raduis Settings tab, select Frequency and enter the Server IP Address and Connection Secret.

After that, it remains only to click on the "Apply" button.

On the "Professional" tab, you can configure additional parameters of the wifi access point:

1. Set time limits.

2. Enable or disable options such as TX Bursting, Wireless Multicast Forwarding, WMM APSD, and more.

Setting up IpTV

The settings for the joint operation of the router and the set-top box are carried out in the "LAN" section - the "IPTV" tab

• select a provider profile from the list;
• in the line "Choose IPTV STB Port" select one of the "LAN" ports to which the set-top box is connected;
• enable "Enable multicast routing (IGMP Proxy)" and "Enableefficient multicast forwarding (IGMP Snooping)".

Additional features

VPN server

The RT-AC66U router can also work in a role, to configure you need to go to the VPN server section of the same name and do the following:

• activate "Enable PPTP Server" and "Network Place (Samba) Support";
• fill in the data in the "Username and Password (MaxLimit: 16)" block;
• click "Apply";
• go to the VPN Details tab;
• in the line "Broadcast Support" select "Both".
• MPPE Encryption - All three items must be checked.

Below is a table that will help you choose MPPE encryption.

Parental control

To configure Parental control, go to the appropriate section, move the slider to the right to “ON” and set the following parameters:

• in the column "Client name" select the desired device from the drop-down list and click on the "+" icon;
• in the column "Time management" click on the button with a pencil to edit the time interval of the rule;
• in the opened editor, set the time values ​​and click "OK".