Region Change on AC86u

[ASadani]

Hi All, I recently picked up (not yet received) the AC86u for a great price. I believe it will be the Chinese version of the unit. I cannot seem to find the details on the region change?
My current router AC5300 is purchased in the country where I live and I didn't have to mess around with any of the region settings. My AC5300 is of the region HG. (Not sure what region is that)

Appreciate any leads towards it.

 

[RMerlin]

If you don't see the region change setting, then it means your model/SKU doesn't allow region changes.

This cannot be overiden, it's hardcoded.

 

[ASadani]

If you don't see the region change setting, then it means your model/SKU doesn't allow region changes.

This cannot be overiden, it's hardcoded.

Thanks Merlin. Do you know if the Chinese versions of the router are locked. I presume they might be

 

[Gingernut]

Thanks Merlin. Do you know if the Chinese versions of the router are locked. I presume they might be

The Chinese version has an option to set a different language on the router's main landing IU and on the wireless professional tab you can also change the wireless region.

 

[ASadani]

The Chinese version has an option to set a different language on the router's main landing IU and on the wireless professional tab you can also change the wireless region.

Oh, that is good to know. Let's see what comes. I plan to put in merlin the minute it arrives via recovery. I am hoping it will startup with English?

 

[JacquesR]

Oh, that is good to know. Let's see what comes. I plan to put in merlin the minute it arrives via recovery. I am hoping it will startup with English?

Mine (86U, imported to South Africa via Gearbest) did not, no - started with Chinese. But so long as you remember where the language settings are (top-right), it isn't a problem to change.

 

[ASadani]

Mine (86U, imported to South Africa via Gearbest) did not, no - started with Chinese. But so long as you remember where the language settings are (top-right), it isn't a problem to change.

That's good to know.

 

[Grisu]

it is a huge problem in newer firmwares!
Initial got it with 16466, on the right top language setting, everything fine so far.

Now there will come a initial settings page very different to that and you are completely LOST with china symbols and no way to change language.
After you got it blind because you know what every page wants to input you get standard GUI and can change to whatever you like.
You will have this problem every time you make factory default!
Search youtube video in english for help or translation.
I knew these initial pages from updated 68U, just the same, so not too difficult to correctly fill them .

More infos:
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/rt-ac86u-international-version-only-chinese-symbols.46397/
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/ac2900-86u-vs-ac2900m-86u-chinese-version.46124/
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/a...-ac2900-wireless-router-reviewed.42195/page-9
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/r...es-between-european-and-asian-variants.46805/
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/list-asus-router-skus.44616/

 

[ASadani]

it is a huge problem in newer firmwares!
Initial got it with 16466, on the right top language setting, everything fine so far.

Now there will come a initial settings page very different to that and you are completely LOST with china symbols and no way to change language.
After you got it blind because you know what every page wants to input you get standard GUI and can change to whatever you like.
You will have this problem every time you make factory default!
Search youtube video in english for help or translation.
I knew these initial pages from updated 68U, just the same, so not too difficult to correctly fill them .

More infos:
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/rt-ac86u-international-version-only-chinese-symbols.46397/
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/ac2900-86u-vs-ac2900m-86u-chinese-version.46124/
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/a...-ac2900-wireless-router-reviewed.42195/page-9
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/r...es-between-european-and-asian-variants.46805/

Can you not use google translate to get by temporarily

 

[Grisu]

copy paste dont work here and have much fun drawing chinese symbols into a translator
but after you get this you will see known pages and can change language and set everything or change router-mode, no problem anymore, till you need a factory reset ...

For me still worth to have this international (chinese) version, as I am able to choose between all channels (EU) or stronger 2.4G power with Asian/US region.
I dont want to be limeted and like to be able to use the router anywhere on world!

 

[ASadani]

copy paste dont work here and have much fun drawing chinese symbols into a translator
but after you get this you will see known pages and can change language and set everything or change router-mode, no problem anymore, till you need a factory reset ...

For me still worth to have this international (chinese) version, as I am able to choose between all channels (EU) or stronger 2.4G power with Asian/US region.
I dont want to be limeted and like to be able to use the router anywhere on world!

How about using Google Chrome with the Auto Translate Option Enabled? Wouldn't that work simply? I have the AC5300 so I'll take the queue from there in terms of guidance.

 

[Grisu]

??? while setup without any internet connection U will use google on a intranet router page, how courious is that?

 

[ASadani]

??? while setup without any internet connection U will use google on a intranet router page, how courious is that?

lol. Can I just go back up and delete my message Forgot. Let's see when it comes.

 

[Grisu]

maybe you could take pictures on your mobile and let translate them, dont know if such a thing exists.
Here seems to be something you would need: https://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/pleco-2-2-chinese-dictionary-translates-text-in-real-time-using/
or maybe even google: https://support.google.com/translate/answer/6142483?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android

this link I missed: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/list-asus-router-skus.44616/

 

[Odkrys]

you can go simply 192.168.50.1/index.asp

 

[ASadani]

maybe you could take pictures on your mobile and let translate them, dont know if such a thing exists.
Here seems to be something you would need: https://www.engadget.com/2010/08/16/pleco-2-2-chinese-dictionary-translates-text-in-real-time-using/
or maybe even google: https://support.google.com/translate/answer/6142483?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform=Android

this link I missed: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/list-asus-router-skus.44616/

I believe google translate on mobile can do a live Chinese translation. I have tested it on Japanese ok paper recently.

I'll also try the index page mentioned below.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[NoSync]

I believe google translate on mobile can do a live Chinese translation. I have tested it on Japanese ok paper recently.

I'll also try the index page mentioned below.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Yup exactly, that’s what I do when I factory reset, live translation with Google Translate app.

 

[Grisu]

Another finding for chinese version: territory_code is set unchangeable to CN/02
I cannot change it!
Independent which region I set, that works for all WiFi settings very well, but in background it is still chinese territory_code.

That means AiMesh will work for me only with another device set to chinese territory_code and so I am limited to chinese WiFi Settings if used in AiMesh mode, just tested it with 2 chinese 86U.
Asus wrote somewhere that AiMesh only works with routers from same region (meant is probably territory_code), that will be correct for me.
While connecting via AiMesh it first resets to factory and so falls back to default chinese and cant be synchronized by parent which is set to region EU.
I can change parent router to region EU, but node wont take these settings and defaults 5G to ch. 149-161 unusable for most EU clients with default SSID.
Did not find a solution for it. Not even got it if SSH to node and try to change settings.

Maybe others or future firmware will or can solve it, I cant.

UPDATE:
Did further testing now with chinese 86U (21045) set to region EU and a 68U as node with 21071 firmware set to no region.

Here everything works well, all channels and SSID will be taken on both devices!!!
68U 5dB stronger on lower 5G channels and 5-20dB stronger on 2G (maybe because of 86U txpower-regulation).
Only guest-SSID still missing, hope this will come later, then I will use it in mesh-mode.

UPDATE2:
With new 21140 firmware on chinese RT-AC86U you will loose ALL languages except Chinese (default) and english!

 

[ASadani]

If you don't see the region change setting, then it means your model/SKU doesn't allow region changes.

This cannot be overiden, it's hardcoded.

Where is the region change setting in this router. I have received it and its working ok but the signal is weak. Wondering which region would be better.

 

[Grisu]

best is Asia or US for max. txpower. EU suffers from very low 2.4G but good for 5G with most channels, Australia no ch. 36, chinese very low power for all channels.

But keep in mind to use it within your local laws.