Beta Asuswrt-Merlin 386.1 Beta is now available

[Deleted member 72428]

There is quite a bit of misinformation here about QoS and it's role. Part of is to prioritize bandwidth, sure, but the other part is latency which causes bufferbloat and can effect any connection including 1GB fiber (which I have). Anyone saying otherwise either does not play video games or has no kids that play video games. One can easily have enough bandwidth to stream 15 Netflix HD streams simultaneously with no issue but for time sensitive applications like games and voip, even with 2 streams which is a common use case, your latency will go up. Feel free to run the bufferbloat test on dslreports.com with QoS/Cake/Any other SQM (set up properly) and without.

 

[jsbeddow]

Can we get back on to the topic of this thread, and move the QOS discussions elsewhere?

 

[Makaveli]

There is quite a bit of misinformation here about QoS and it's role. Part of is to prioritize bandwidth, sure, but the other part is latency which causes bufferbloat and can effect any connection including 1GB fiber (which I have). Anyone saying otherwise either does not play video games or has no kids that play video games. One can easily have enough bandwidth to stream 15 Netflix HD streams simultaneously with no issue but for time sensitive applications like games and voip, even with 2 streams which is a common use case, your latency will go up. Feel free to run the bufferbloat test on dslreports.com with QoS/Cake/Any other SQM (set up properly) and without.

On my fiber connection i'm already getting sub 10ms pings.

When I have twitch open and viewing a stream and have other things running bufferbloat is still a+ on that test.

I've been on fiber for 2+ years now and have done all this testing with multiple apps on my connection I don't need QOS.

For a house with multiple heavy users then yes I would recommend it.

And yes this is getting off topic now for this thread.

 

[bradbort]

Even after you read RMerlin's description of the bug you ran into, due to differences between the firmwares and how they handle missing options? Perhaps you might want to read it again.

That was about a different issue. In this case, the option is not missing. Also, it is data that moving from the ASUS prod version to the Merlin beta requires a complete reset. Merlin may be able to use that to fix how installs are handled.

 

[somms]

I've been on fiber for 2+ years now and have done all this testing with multiple apps on my connection I don't need QOS.

Ditto...With quality 1GE WAN throughput enabling QoS would be redundant

 

[gspannu]

this is specific to the AU.

When most people are referring to fiber connections in NA and EU they are talking about 500+ mbps

Not really specific to AUS.
Even in UK, Fibre speeds can vary from 25 mbps upwards. UK too has the same sort of issues - FTTC and VDSL2+ based fibre connections.

 

[Makaveli]

Not really specific to AUS.
Even in UK, Fibre speeds can vary from 25 mbps upwards. UK too has the same sort of issues - FTTC and VDSL2+ based fibre connections.

This will be my last post on this since we are going off topic, if someone would like to create a thread discussing QOS and internet connections speeds I would join in.

Due to companies and their marketing departments they all have different defintions of what a fiber connection is. For me i'm referring to FTTH or FTTP only. So I have a fiber line coming into the residence and that is it, there is no conversion into another connection. And i'm not talking about something that is fed fiber to the node then using Docsis/dsl/vdsl etc coming into the home.

 

[LaMpiR]

At which point does QOS need to come into play? I have 250/50 in Austria. Two people at home, one tv only and we didn't have any problems so far. Would be curious to look into it. My ping to google.com is around 30ms, but when I am doing speedtest it jumps to over 100 then comes down to 80-90ms.

 

[bradbort]

It looks like ASUS has rolled back the stock firmware from 386 to 384 version for the AX88U.

 

[heysoundude]

this is specific to the AU.

Look again - you might find it much closer to home.
Ma Bell's Fibe here in (Central) Canada is often this way too, and I believe a large number of their cable cabal colleagues are as well.
I'm sure it can be found in many, many places as the fiber infrastructure continues to be built out to replace copper...because they know we react to marketing to justify the ridiculous bills they send us to build that infrastructure and give shareholders the quarterly profits/dividends they expect.

 

[beerglass007]

Why would you wish to disable AX? Devices that don't support AX fall back on AC anyway. I only have 2 devices with AX and rest with AC and N, all work just as well they should. What problems are you facing with AX enabled?

EDIT: I think I know what you are talking about over here. HE Frames are not supported on devices with older firmware. I had a work laptop which wouldn't work on HE Frames till I updated its drivers. All modern devices, regardless of AX support should support HE Frames. If they don't, (which seems to be true in your case) look for manufacturer to provide a firmware update for it. Again, this is not a support for AX issue, it is a support for HE Frames issue.

On a side note, I think ASUS should change that switch back to saying "Enable HE Frames", rather than "Enable AX". Otherwise it just confuses people.

Yes this is my problem. When the AX mode is enabled my 3 google speakers and 1 LG sound bar doesn't see any SSID. When I disabled AX on the 2.4Ghz range my LG sound bar and google speakers work

So if I enable smart connect they wouldn't see any SSID unless I disable AX and that's on everything

When you say HE frames are you saying that's what disabled and not AX ?

I cant get google or LG to provide upgraded drivers I doubt they ever will

 

[taffeys]

Jesus! This thread is about Asuswrt-Merlin 386.1 Beta.

 

[beerglass007]

Jesus! This thread is about Asuswrt-Merlin 386.1 Beta.

Wow calm down

I'm posting on here because i'm running beta code and now having issues with 3 devices which i'm working out what's going on and why here

 

[ugandy]

beta4 will get it on track

 

[taffeys]

Wow calm down

Wasn't directed at you.

 

[beerglass007]

Wasn't directed at you.

No worries

 

[Deleted member 72428]

Ditto...With quality 1GE WAN throughput enabling QoS would be redundant

Apologies for hijacking the thread, this will be my last comment on the subject.

This here again is misinformation and those genuinely looking for solutions will be misguided. What you posted is a simple ping from a speed test which highlights your lack of understanding on bufferbloat. A speed test in an unloaded environment is not an accurate measure of bufferbloat. If you'd rather do the test manually then start 5 different large downloads and then continuously ping a server (google, etc) multiple times a second and see the variance in your ping to that server. Dslreports test can open up to 32 streams both up and down if you really want to test the robustness of your connection. What you want to see is a consistent and low ping throughout, without spikes. This is one of the goals of AQM/SQM algorithms, to prioritize time sensitive packets vs others, establish fairness by taking control of the queue under load, etc. This is far more complex than a simple bandwidth issue as some folks here make it out to be. While there are many variables that affect bufferbloat including ISP, modem, router, neighborhood load (if using cable), etc the things you can control will definitely help if you're looking for consistently low ping under load. If consistently low ping without spikes is not important and outside of your use cases then you need not to concern yourself with it... just please refrain from giving others advice that are looking for solutions to a real problem in their use.

For those that want to read more and inform themselves, there are actual research studies on this topic. They prove the efficacy of fq-codel, cake, and other AQM/SQM solutions for this problem irrespective of bandwidth. There are countless threads on AT&T forums, Dslreports, Reddit, SNB, etc including people with fiber connections. To make a blanket statement of just hey you got a gig connection you don't need to worry is a tad ignorant sorry to say.

Again, apologies for off topic.

 

[Slawek P]

Hi @ASUSWRT_2020, on Merlin 386 beta 3 the problem of slow Ookla tests while TrendMicro enabled remains.
Enabling any TrendMicro stuff like AiProtection or WebTraffic monitor slows down Ookla tests on AX88U router three times (for 1GB+ connections).
Disabling these features does not help, only withdrawing from Trend Micro privacy agreement restores Ookla speeds to 1GBs
TrendMicro changes somehow CPU load distribution on AX to be less favourable

 

[Soul_]

Yes this is my problem. When the AX mode is enabled my 3 google speakers and 1 LG sound bar doesn't see any SSID. When I disabled AX on the 2.4Ghz range my LG sound bar and google speakers work

So if I enable smart connect they wouldn't see any SSID unless I disable AX and that's on everything

When you say HE frames are you saying that's what disabled and not AX ?

I cant get google or LG to provide upgraded drivers I doubt they ever will

Correct. HE Frames are quite necessary for AX to operate. And in reality that toggle is for HE Frames, not AX. Funny thing is my LG C9 works just fine with HE Frames, even though it is not an AX device. I mean I have an old Samsung laser printer that only runs on 2.4GHz, and even that thing is running fine with smart connect and "AX" enabled.

Well in your case, I suppose there isn't a direct UI option to Enable smart connect, and disable HE Frames only for 2.4GHz. Maybe next black friday day swap that soundbar out

 

[cybrnook]

Hi @ASUSWRT_2020

I think you meant the asus beta, not merlin beta?