What's a good wireless router that isn't crippled by firmware?

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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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I've been using the Asus RT-N66U for our home wifi, which worked pretty decently originally, until I heard that they may have been crippled by the original firmware, as a lowest common denominator thing, to prevent maximum power from being used in some of the countries outside the U.S.

So I thought maybe I could get a little more power out of it by updating the firmware. It was a big mistake. Apparently that lowered the power even more, AND made it flaky too. ( as measured at my pc using InSSIDer. The signal strength went down permanently by 10-12db after the firmware update, even though I set it to the highest power setting! )

Asus recently emailed me back a complex procedure to reset it to the original firmware, but I'm not a networking tech - just a home user, and it looks like I'd have to fast and meditate to be able to do it right, and still cant trust whether this unit wouldn't have the rated "200mw" on 5GHz crippled, to suit international lowest common denominator fears.

So I'm pretty fed up at this point and am wondering if I could just BUY another truly higher powered wifi router that's guaranteed to be honestly able to set and run it at highest power, because the original settings on this RT-N66U were giving us pretty decent coverage in the house here, though it could have been a little better, which was why I messed with it.

And yes, I tried antenna orientation and all that. It's NOT the return reception that's being a problem here, as the two PC's and their wireless uploading are actually closest to the router anyway. It's the furthest devices, which are 5GHz wifi adapters for the TV's, that need more signal strength, and everything is on the ground floor here - we have no basement or upstairs - just a single floor ranch home in the Denver area.

Are there wifi routers on the less expensive side, which might even HONESTLY go above 200mw and NOT be crippled from it by firmware?
 
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newbcakes

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you could also put an open source firmware on it... tomato or dd-wrt?

I realize you've stated you're a home user (and by extension perhaps not as skilled), but I'd guess you can follow directions, there's a plethora of information out there on installation and setup, and it sounds like you have nothing to lose at this point! Hope this didn't come across snarky as it was not intended...
 
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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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I THINK that Merlin was the original firmware, but Asus says they're a different entity. But I managed to download RT-N66U_3.0.0.4_276 dated 8-1-13 from an Asus site. I'm not sure if that's Merlin though, but it appears to be the original.

But I'm confused - is the original still buried somewhere inside the router, where it can be reverted to somehow, by that complex reset technique they gave me?

It was just SUCH a nightmare when I upgraded the firmware a month ago, because EVERY device in the house had to have the big long password put in all over again, and the 5GHz dual band adapters for the TV's had to be brought in here and hooked by ethernet to my PC, to do it! EVEN my cell phone had to have the pass code entered again! It was about a 4 hour nightmare!
 
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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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No, newbcakes, not taken as snarky, but you're correct - not being a network tech makes all of this harder for me. I'd forgotten that the two adapters for the TV sets had to be taken in and hooked to my PC via ethernet, to get them working again, and that wasted 2 hours with me all stressed out and the network down, trying to figure out how the hades I was gonna get everything working again. That's why I'd almost rather just by some other unit at this point - especially if it might go above 200mw and not be crippled that way. The U.S. market is big enough where we shouldnt have to be saddled with lowest common denominator stupidity like that, ESPECIALLY when it's being SOLD as a 200mw unit!
 
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boosted1g

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No, ASUS uses what they call of ASUS-WRT which was modified from open-wrt/dd-wrt.
ASUSMerlin is "seperate" from official ASUS firmware and ASUSMerlin removes most every lock asus puts on things and provides many more features.
An asus router with ASUSMerlin is pretty much the best thing shy of a full on commercial/business grade router.
 
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Herc08

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Updating the firmware should not have an effect on passwords or anything. However, as boosted1g stated, by setting up the router with the exact same passwords will prevent you from entering in the passwords on each and every device. I have 10+ devices, so I know your pain. However, try to use the latest version of ASUS Merlin, and you should not have the "lock" any more. Trust me, it does wonders. I have a RT-AC56u and it hasn't failed me yet, going on 18 months now.
 
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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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That's why I don't understand why the original firmware that came with it said Merlin, if I recall correctly.

So now, should I look for the original firmware in Merlin, OR will updated Merlin firmware for this router allow me to actually set it to the highest power and for it to WORK that way?
 
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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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Thanks Grandmaster, I should have written it down before updating.

 
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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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Thanks Herc08. Will look for it! Oh, has the Merlin firmware been updated since 2013? I just found one, but it's dated 2013.

I also heard something to the effect that if you set the router to maximum bandwidth, it covers better.

I converted all my devices in the house to 5Ghz, because 2.4 was getting crowded in the neighborhood here in west Denver and we were getting stepped on. ( I'm not a network tech but have been a ham radio operator since the late 60's. :) )
 
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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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I came across this, but it appears too technically over my head:
https://www.rickygao.com.au/blog/tuning-the-asus-wireless-router-to-best-performance/

If anyone knows of a more simplified equivalent?

 
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kanewolf

kanewolf

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Merlin firmware has the same power restrictions as the factory firmware. Because the radio firmware is only provided as binaries from the hardware manufacturers.

Running 2.4Ghz in 40Mhz bandwidth only pollutes more adjacent channels. You already complain that your 2.4Ghz environment is congested. 40Mhz just makes it more congested.
 
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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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No, I said I'm on 5GHz only. The original firmware on this router was able to be set to 200mw on 5GHz, and I THINK it was Merlin. It wasn't until I updated the firmware and the power setting became hidden, that it went down by about 10-12 db, EVEN at the maximum setting.

SO you're saying that the latest updated Merlin won't allow me to set it to 200mw on 5GHz, like the original did?
 
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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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I'm getting so confused here. Per the original thread and ensuing discussion, I either need to be able to load firmware that will decisively let me turn the 5GHz power back up to 200mw and not leave this router crippled, OR I need to buy one that will decisively not be crippled in power output for use in the U.S.

I just started searching and found a TP-Link AC1900, which they say runs 900mw.

It just seems fraudulent to have bought the RT-N66U with claims that it does 200mw, and then find that any firmware update that I install reduces it to 15 mw and renders it useless for our house here.
 
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kanewolf

kanewolf

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Read this thread over at Small Net Builder -- https://www.snbforums.com/threads/no-tx-power-adjustment-for-rt-ac66u-b1.36555

RMerlin himself talks about transmit power and how changing it is meaningless because that only helps one side. The client has to be able to broadcast back. You can't change that. So even if the router can "shout" your client may only whisper. No reliable communication will happen.
 
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Melissa2008B

Melissa2008B

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I've read such articles too, but apparently the switch to new firmware set this router back from 200mw to 15mw, which is a HUGE difference of about 10db at my pc, AND the furthest devices - the dual band adapters for both TV's are having FAR worse problems receiving the streaming, and keep dropping connections now, with no antenna differences - JUST that power drop.

 
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