Does anyone know what the ASUS is trying to indicate when they slap a U or R on the end of their router model designation (e.g. RT-AC66U vs. RT-AC66R)? Their website isn't much help; the information that shows up when using the compare feature is different than that appearing in the specs for the individual model (the RT-AC68R page even says the package contains an RT-AC68U!). The only consistency that I can see is that the U models are "NVIDIA GameStream Ready". To add to the confusion, I notice that NewEgg is showing W models which don't appear on the ASUS web site. From the pictures, W must signify that those routers are white.
What does the U or R at end of ASUS router model signify?
- Thread starter RLS2013
- Start date
One of the better theories I have seen is that Best Buy...who sold the "R" models did it so they could avoid price match against internet. BestBuy has been known to have "special" model numbers on other products to get around their price match policies.
It likely means retail but as you have found asus is not telling
It likely means retail but as you have found asus is not telling
Thanks. It was a visit to a Best Buy store that caused the question. I've been doing some additional research since posting, and the combination of R meaning retail and avoiding price matching seems to be the consensus. However, I did see a report from someone saying they were able to get Best Buy to price match an R model with a U price. Someone also said they had seen small print on the back of a R model box indicating that it contains a U router. And with all the firmware updates, the exact feature set that the router arrives with depends on the date of manufacture. I guess in addition to a box of chocolates, life is also like a router box. 
I know this is an old post but my answer still applies today, so I thought I would share...
R and U versions in the ASUS router only offers really subtle differences in terms of network standards such as IEEE802.11.. etc. In most cases, the R versions were sold only through certain brick and mortar stores like Best Buy and Walmart. Online retailers like Ebay and Amazon have now picked up both variants as used and refurbished models are out there now. So online now you will see both variants.
The R and U lineup typically have identical performance specifications with the exception of the network standards, (the R's offering wider network standards). R and U units with the same pre-fix to a basic router user are pretty much identical and buying the cheaper of what's available would be the best bet. As you are probably not likely going to see a difference between the two in performance.
The nuts and bolts of it for the RT-AC66 series is that the RT-AC66R has additional network standards, which the RT-AC66U doesn't have, it supports IEEE802.11D, IEEE802.3, IEEE802.11I, IEEE802.11E. Also the RT-AC66U uses a frequency of either 2.4GHz or 5GHz, where the RT-AC66R uses a variable frequency between 2.4GHz~2.4835GHz and 5.1GHz~5.8GHz.
Hope this helps and doesn't serve to confuse more!
R and U versions in the ASUS router only offers really subtle differences in terms of network standards such as IEEE802.11.. etc. In most cases, the R versions were sold only through certain brick and mortar stores like Best Buy and Walmart. Online retailers like Ebay and Amazon have now picked up both variants as used and refurbished models are out there now. So online now you will see both variants.
The R and U lineup typically have identical performance specifications with the exception of the network standards, (the R's offering wider network standards). R and U units with the same pre-fix to a basic router user are pretty much identical and buying the cheaper of what's available would be the best bet. As you are probably not likely going to see a difference between the two in performance.
The nuts and bolts of it for the RT-AC66 series is that the RT-AC66R has additional network standards, which the RT-AC66U doesn't have, it supports IEEE802.11D, IEEE802.3, IEEE802.11I, IEEE802.11E. Also the RT-AC66U uses a frequency of either 2.4GHz or 5GHz, where the RT-AC66R uses a variable frequency between 2.4GHz~2.4835GHz and 5.1GHz~5.8GHz.
Hope this helps and doesn't serve to confuse more!
Your post does confuse things MUCH more. Do you actually understand those numbers or did you get them off some spec sheet.
802.11i is the standard more commonly called WPA2. 802.11e as a older wireless QoS standard. Both these have been integrated into the newer 802.11 protocols since about 2007. Nobody lists these older standard when the newer ones have these built in.
802.11d was primary used outside the USA but in 2015 the FCC rules this illegal in device for the US market so even if there was a difference between these models asus would have been required to remove the support with a patch.
No wifi router use just one frequency. The standard frequencies ranges are the ones you list. These represent what the router represents as channels in the configuration. The are slight difference for routers that can be used outside the USA but both these routers support exactly the same frequencies ranges.
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