AC87U questions...

[Hexen575]

I've got the RT-N66U router atm. Looking to upgrade to an AC router. I was wondering if this firmware fixed the 5GHz issues people have been reporting with the RT-AC87U model?

 

[Deleted member 22229]

Also keep in mind the 87U for a lot of people has thermal issues and may require active cooling. The one i had the 5GHz radio ran very HOT.

 

[highwire]

I've got the RT-N66U router atm. Looking to upgrade to an AC router. I was wondering if this firmware fixed the 5GHz issues people have been reporting with the RT-AC87U model?

I have had an 87U since the beginning of January. Of all the routers I have owned (many), this one is at the bottom of my list because the Quantenna SoC/5GHz radio. If I was going to do it now, I'd spend the few extra $ and buy the AC3200. My RT-AC66U actually works better than my 87U so I'm back to using it as my main router.

Maybe Quantenna will solve some of these issues with the upcoming promised (and long awaited) MU-MIMO update, but at this point I'm not holding my breath.

 

[Hexen575]

So skip the AC87U, huh? I see a lot of the same issues listed with the AC3200 as well. Does the Merlin FW fix those issues then?

 

[RMerlin]

So skip the AC87U, huh? I see a lot of the same issues listed with the AC3200 as well. Does the Merlin FW fix those issues then?

Anything related to wifi will be the same, since I reuse Asus's precompiled drivers.

 

[elorimer]

I switched from my N66 to the AC87. Planning on replacing an N16 with the N66, moving the N16 to replace an N10+, so I can be running Merlin on everything. It could be suggested I have a problem.

I got the AC87 as a refurb for $149, and it seemed too good to pass up. It came in new packaging, less the film and the outer sleeve, and with the original firmware. A month in, I'm not seeing any problems. I concluded the 87 must be getting a lot of returns of perfectly good hardware units so the odds were good. I only wish it used less power.

I've since moved my 4TB external to the AC87, and seeing throughput about 5 times higher. I have a Seagate NAS with a crappy design--the non drive stuff is on the bottom, like putting Sterno under the drive, so those drives have failed twice. As a result I have all this on a $12 17" notebook USB fan. I'm seeing 50C on the 5g radio and 67C on the CPU.

 

[bilboSNB]

I was debating the same for ages, kept hanging on but i got fed up of waiting for the all clear on the ac87u so have just purchased the ac68u, hopefully it will arrive today!

 

[Sushiglobster]

I went from an RT-N66U to the RT-AC87U. I actually think it's pretty good. The only issue I'm having is that 5Ghz connection is pretty unreliable. It's constantly disconnecting or timing out. Other than that, it's fast, doesn't seem to be running hot...luke warm to the touch...and does everything I need it to do. Just fix that 5Ghz wireless issue and I think it would be a pretty good router. The router itself is pretty overkill for me, but should be somewhat future proof for awhile. At least for my needs. No regrets.

 

[cowboy]

I have the RT-AC87U 5 months now and can only say good things about it. (using 378.55 Merlin version)

Temps on my AC87U:

 

[inPicton]

No issues with my 87u thus far.

 

[inPicton]

Forgot to mention using version 378.55

 

[coldkick]

Anything related to wifi will be the same, since I reuse Asus's precompiled drivers.

Temps on my RT-AC3200.

My 5Ghz is actually cooler, so I don't know why some have issues with the new chips overheating. Maybe I'm just lucky and have a more stable chip?

 

[njespo]

same here. I've had the 87u for about a month and a half and all is well. very pleased

 

[MarioCaires]

I think the uptime speaks for itself!
378.55

 

[Hexen575]

I think the uptime speaks for itself!
378.55

View attachment 4285

That's just the last time to router was rebooted. Not the last time one of the channels went down.

So, is everyone who is claiming the 87U is solid actually using the 5GHz channel?

 

[RMerlin]

So, is everyone who is claiming the 87U is solid actually using the 5GHz channel?

I am, with an Intel 7260AC card in my laptop.

 

[Hexen575]

Hmm. Thanx for all the info people. More research awaits ^_^

 

[fiasko]

I have also found the 7260AC to be quite stable with AC87U. However that's one of the rare devices at my house capable of doing so.

 

[inPicton]

Am using 5 gHz on 2 devices.

 

[MarioCaires]

That's just the last time to router was rebooted. Not the last time one of the channels went down.

So, is everyone who is claiming the 87U is solid actually using the 5GHz channel?

Thought the uptime would mean something, even with Wifi, since I read a lot about people having to reboot the router in other to get Wifi back on working...
I'm using 5GHz on 5 devices, being one of them my TV Panasonic G60 which is used a lot with Netflix and other streaming services, as far as I can remember, never got disconnections. Other 3 devices are Apple (ipad2, ipad air2 and iphone6 plus) and the last but not least my Nexus5.