Community Fibre 1Gb - Asus AC86U or Linksys Velop?

[PULCK]

I've just had Community Fibre 1Gb installed. They installed a Linksys Velop router (but no nodes) and a modem.

My existing setup was 2 x Asus AC86U to create a mesh network and I was very happy with the coverage so I simply plugged their modem into my Asus router and the connection seems to be working, although perhaps a little more sluggish than I had hoped when connected to the mesh.

Is there any disadvantage to switching back to the the Asus routers?

And is there anything I should be doing to the Asus settings to optimise the new FTTH connection? (I'm running Merlin firmware.)

 

[L&LD]

The best/only way to 'optimize' the new FTTH connection is by getting at least one AX class router (your location may still need two though). At 1Gbps symmetrical speeds, I suggest the GT-AX6000 or the RT-AX88U Pro (whichever is on sale for the lower price). But as I hinted above, you may only need one.

If you can optimize the location of the main router (even a few inches may help here) and depending on your home's construction, a single AX class router can easily replace your current 2x RT-AC86Us.

[ 386.4 alpha Build(s) ] Testing available build(s)

There are some odd regressions being discussed on the dnsmasq-discuss list from the PiHole guy (Dominik). https://lists.thekelleys.org.uk/pipermail/dnsmasq-discuss/2021q3/015598.html https://lists.thekelleys.org.uk/pipermail/dnsmasq-discuss/2021q3/015596.html I see Merlin is testing 2.86 out...

www.snbforums.com

Note the single RT-AX68U that showed superior performance above the 2x RT-AC86Us for my customer above is not recommended for your 1Gbps FTTH ISP service. Sure, it will work. But you won't hit your paid-for speeds (except very near the router).

 

[bbunge]

WIFI mesh will seem sluggish, as you said. Better to have Ethernet backhaul. Also recommend to run Asus firmware on the node.

A mesh network is not to improve bandwidth but to improve coverage.

Make sure you return the Linksys especially if you are paying for it.

 

[PULCK]

Thank you, both, for the advice - very helpful.

The 2 suggested routers are expensive. How much improvement would I be getting over either:

1/ keeping my existing 2 x Asus AC router setup

2/ adding a node to the Velop

(The house is Victorian brick/3 floors so I think 1 AX router is not going to give enough wifi coverage.)

Also, the sluggishness I was experiencing by plugging my AC router into the Community Fibre modem now seems to be symptomatic of more than just poor wifi coverage. The entire internet connection dropped several times last night from a device in the same room as the router. And speed tests were registering 800mbps up & down, but web pages were taking an age to load.

I'm guessing I can't just plug 'n' play the Asus router. Is there something I need to know when setting up for FTTH?

 

[Tech9]

RT-AC86U model is an excellent performer, but well known for hardware and software related issues. A new AX class routers won't give you much coverage improvements and you'll have no Wi-Fi speed improvements unless you replace your clients with AX capable. The cheapest RT-AC86U replacement today is perhaps RT-AX86U Pro. The two routers above sometimes come close on sale and have 2x 2.5GbE ports for WAN and LAN. Don't buy RT-AX68U, this one has issues too, not popular, already replaced by multiple other AX3000 class products on different hardware platform.

 

[L&LD]

@PULCK, did you read the link I offered? The performance improvement with a single RT-AX68U over 2x RT-AC86U is almost doubled. Read that link again for more details.

I would not be running AC class hardware today with a 1Gbps FTTH connection.

Adding another (cheap) node won't help here.

There is nothing special about FTTH setups.

Merlin on ASUS ax86U Question

I have an ASUS AX86U and contemplating the installation of Merlin firmware. The DDNS settings on the AX86U are limited to select dns providers. If I install Merlin, will I have more flexability (choices) with the DDNS Settings? Thanks in advance!

www.snbforums.com

[Wireless Router] When Standard Reset Isn’t Working: Hard Factory Reset - Models list | Official Support | ASUS USA

Am I all set to start fresh with the latest stable release? And a request for L&LD...

After creating the checklists two weeks ago to save the pages with settings, I've made all the screenshots (I think at least) of all the relevant guides written by @L&LD and the very useful tip by @netware5. The only thing is, those guides are great, except when you'll be offline at least for a...

www.snbforums.com

L&LD

www.snbforums.com

In summary, flash the latest firmware you want to use. Fully reset the router (even if you just pulled it out of the box). Minimally and manually configure the router to secure and connect to your ISP. See the first link for more details. See the remaining links for additional setup tips after you've achieved a stable main router with the indicated/suggested defaults.

 

[Tech9]

The reality:

Observations on switching from RT-AC86U to GT-AX6000

I use the ASUS main/AP mode for my two router home network. This setup requires wired backhaul. It lacks some features of Aimesh, but its 100% reliable, and I have full control over the radio settings on the AP. I replaced both the main and the AP RT-AC86Us with GT-AX6000s. My home network...

www.snbforums.com

"but I can say with certainty that there's no obvious difference in network performance"

I can confirm with 2x RT-AC86U to 2x RT-AX86U. You have to measure the performance difference. You may not see it.

Inviting @maxbraketorque to this conversation.

 

[L&LD]

That reality was based on BETA firmware. And specifically, BETA 0.0.6.xxx level firmware (i.e. the next-gen firmware that is still not ready for daily use for most). Finally, that was almost 6 months ago.

The only reality that counts is the one where it is tested against the current hardware on current stable firmware.

 

[PULCK]

@PULCK, did you read the link I offered? The performance improvement with a single RT-AX68U over 2x RT-AC86U is almost doubled. Read that link again for more details.

I would not be running AC class hardware today with a 1Gbps FTTH connection.

Adding another (cheap) node won't help here.

There is nothing special about FTTH setups.

Merlin on ASUS ax86U Question

I have an ASUS AX86U and contemplating the installation of Merlin firmware. The DDNS settings on the AX86U are limited to select dns providers. If I install Merlin, will I have more flexability (choices) with the DDNS Settings? Thanks in advance!

www.snbforums.com

[Wireless Router] When Standard Reset Isn’t Working: Hard Factory Reset - Models list | Official Support | ASUS USA

Am I all set to start fresh with the latest stable release? And a request for L&LD...

After creating the checklists two weeks ago to save the pages with settings, I've made all the screenshots (I think at least) of all the relevant guides written by @L&LD and the very useful tip by @netware5. The only thing is, those guides are great, except when you'll be offline at least for a...

www.snbforums.com

L&LD

www.snbforums.com

In summary, flash the latest firmware you want to use. Fully reset the router (even if you just pulled it out of the box). Minimally and manually configure the router to secure and connect to your ISP. See the first link for more details. See the remaining links for additional setup tips after you've achieved a stable main router with the indicated/suggested defaults.

Thanks @L&LD and sorry for not responding sooner.

At the moment I can't see the RT-AX86U Pro for less than £250, which is a fair bit to splash out just right now. I'll keep looking for offers though!

 

[drinkingbird]

Thanks @L&LD and sorry for not responding sooner.

At the moment I can't see the RT-AX86U Pro for less than £250, which is a fair bit to splash out just right now. I'll keep looking for offers though!

In the meantime I'd look into either running an Ethernet or using MOCA if you have existing coax to get wired backhaul between the nodes. Wireless backhaul will always be a big performance hit, unless you get a tri band router but those are even more expensive.

MOCA or DECA can be a very cheap solution.

 

[archiel]

Hi @PULCK I have just had Community Fibre installed (should be 1Gb symmetric, currently only showing 100Mb). Did you get it up and running with your RT-AC86U (or another Asus router) and if so what are the required WAN settings? Thanks Archiel

UPDATE: after some trial and error, left WAN connection on 'Automatic IP', cloned the Velops MAC, rebooted the Asus, plugged in the connection from the ONT and all is good .

 

[PULCK]

Hi @PULCK I have just had Community Fibre installed (should be 1Gb symmetric, currently only showing 100Mb). Did you get it up and running with your RT-AC86U (or another Asus router) and if so what are the required WAN settings? Thanks Archiel

UPDATE: after some trial and error, left WAN connection on 'Automatic IP', cloned the Velops MAC, rebooted the Asus, plugged in the connection from the ONT and all is good .

Apologies for the late reply, although it sounds like you got it working without my help.

I did not clone my Velops's MAC address and strangely mine seems to be working.

I did, however, need to change my IPv6 connection type to "native" and enable DHCP-PD. I also had to set WAN connection type to "Automatic IP" and delete old settings I had in DHCP options 60 & 61 (which I had need to set in order to connect on my old ISP).

TBH I have no idea what any of these settings do but changing them seems to have done the trick.

My issue is that Wifi connection speeds drop off massively as I move away from the router, so at some point I'm going to need to upgrade the router. (But I will save that for when I'm more solvent!)

 

[archiel]

Apologies for the late reply, although it sounds like you got it working without my help.

I did not clone my Velops's MAC address and strangely mine seems to be working.

I did, however, need to change my IPv6 connection type to "native" and enable DHCP-PD. I also had to set WAN connection type to "Automatic IP" and delete old settings I had in DHCP options 60 & 61 (which I had need to set in order to connect on my old ISP).

TBH I have no idea what any of these settings do but changing them seems to have done the trick.

My issue is that Wifi connection speeds drop off massively as I move away from the router, so at some point I'm going to need to upgrade the router. (But I will save that for when I'm more solvent!)

The connection has settled down nicely and I am getting a steady 500-600 up/down. As I have Wireguard (via WGM so as to support IPv6), Flow Control is off, so from reading various forum notes, I understand that this is about the most I can expect from an RT-AX88U.

I already had IPv6 set to native & DHCP-PD (on Sky) so I did not need to make any changes there, and in my case leaving or not leaving my old data in Option 61 makes no difference.

I have tried enabling Flow Control and speed does increase, but eventually the router resets itself, so I will leave that until I have more time to investigate.

I am guessing if I want to get 'full' use of the new speeds I will either need a Asuswrt-Merlin supported router than can handle 1Gb connections without Flow Control - I have no idea if any of them do - or place something like a pfsense/OPNsense router between the ONT and Asus devices and then just run these in AP mode for the WiFi. For now the new speed is more than sufficient (and so much better than my old ISP).