I'd be curious to see what happens however if you do a factory default reset after flashing 2239, and then compare results with that of the -em build.
RMerlin, I was going to do that eventually
- but had to get a feel for the new firmware before I committed to it. You encouraged me to 'just do it'.
Here is what I found after doing a reset to defaults, manually entering all settings to how the previous build was
http://forums.smallnetbuilder.com/showpost.php?p=98452&postcount=150
And running some quick tests.
At about 35 feet from the router... with the same laptop and wireless adaptor as the link above.
The inssider scores for 2.4GHz are now at 72% and 100% for 5GHz - although they are both about 2-5db signal power lower than with the xxx.38_2-em build. Those were 76% (2.4GHz) and 100% (5GHz) before.
Still, the router UI is extremely responsive, I find - even compared to 38_2-em.
I also tried Ookla speed tests and while the latency has gone from 11ms to 18ms - it was like that with the 38_2-em version too for the last few days (varying from 16-18ms).
The speeds are: 34.5/11.4 on 2.4GHz and 52/11.5 on the 5GHz band. And, higher than the original I reported in post #150.
Firmware 374.38_1-em with reset and manually entering settings (above)
inssider showed signal strength readings of -42 (2.4GHz) and -48 (5GHz).
Ookla speed tests are 39/11 Mbps (2.4GHz) and 51/11 Mbps (5GHz) and 11 ms latency for both.
With a laptop equipped with an AC7260 client, I also tried an actual file transfer to my 4 drive QNAP - the average speed has jumped from ~11.5MB/s to just under 15MB/s, wirelessly - well done Asus!
Also with the AC7260 equipped laptop, the Ookla speed tests were wire speeds at 52.99/11.6 on both bands.
Note that these tests with the dual antenna AC7260 client was from the same ~35 foot distance as the single antenna N client for the tests reported above. Including the file transfer test which the 11.5MB/s comparative was normally done at closer to 6 to 8 feet instead of about 35.
These are greatly improved results even over the -em build in my setup.
The only thing missing is the RMerlin touch to the firmware (I feel so lost in AsusWRT land...). Especially being able to turn off all those router LED's!
As a side note; before resetting the router to defaults (v2239), the single antenna, dual band (Broadcom based) laptop tested with the 2.4GHz band at barely 4-5Mbps in the Ookla speed tests. I not only had to reset the router to defaults - I also had to 'forget' the 2.4GHz network settings to get almost an order of magnitude higher performance. The 5GHz band did not need (nor benefit) from 'forgetting' the network settings to give the great results it did.
While the 2.4GHz band is a little slower (and much more jittery) than with the -em build, the overall improvements are worth this small regression.
These tests I do also drive home the point that getting either the latest client (as the AC7260 shows) or the latest router (as the new for me, RT-N66U shows) gives more network performance than what we had before. Of course, upgrading both to the same 'class' is ideal - but for my needs (to have the fastest network possible), upgrading either as you can is worthwhile for the small cost involved (~$200 every few years is not too much).
RMerlin, I hope I've covered enough in these quick tests for you?
