Request to update Merlin firmware for an AC router/s.

[KGB7]

Router AC68U.
Firmware: 386.14.2

Once a month, I have to reboot or power cycle the router, because WiFi speeds will randomly tank, when transferring files over WiFi to a HDD that is attached to the router.

Once every six month I have to reboot or power cycle the router, because it will drain a battery on iPhone and on Android phone, the solution rarely works.

At times, rebooting the router or power cycling the router does not solve the issue when it comes to battery drain on a cell phone. Only solution that I have found that works half the time after countless testing, is to set Beacon Interval to 300, apply new setting, reboot router, set Beacon Interval back to 100, reboot router.

Today, for the first time in years, the router selected Auto channel on 5ghz band, after I changed Beacon Interval to 300. It would not allow me to manually change channel that I have set manually. After several reboots, I was able to manually set a channel on a 5ghz band. A bug that I have never seen before.

I’m typing this post on my iPhone and in the past 10 minutes, iPhone battery went down by 4%.

Few weeks ago I was playing a game on my iphone for several hours none stop and there was far less battery drain.

Few days ago, I was listening to music via Radio Garden app on my android phone. After an hour, battery went from 85% to 15%. I have been using the app for several years, on Android and on iPhone, and I have never seen such high battery drain. It’s not the app.

OS and apps are updated on both phones. Both phones have been wiped to factory settings two months ago.

Cheers.

 

[dave14305]

See if the latest stock firmware behaves any better. I don't imagine Merlin lifting a finger for these EOL models.

 

[NoLight]

The AC68U is 12 years old and EoL. You can get a new router, or run FreshTomato which still has support.

 

[heysoundude]

re: iphone battery drain - just which model (how old) is your device? is it possible you might need a new battery? (if your router is a decade old, how old is your phone? these technologies are intended to be updated at 3-5y intervals at most)
How far are you generally from the router, and which band are you connected to? 2.4GHz may be slower, but it's better for longer-range wireless connections...if that part of the spectrum is relatively clear

 

[RMerlin]

Also, AX/BE are more energy-efficient than AC - another reason to upgrade the router.

 

[ducky124]

Jeez, just buy a new router.......

 

[Tech9]

I know from previous conversations @KGB7 doesn't need much and I understand their position, but it's indeed strange how families sign easily contracts for $3000-4000 in latest and greatest mobile phones and at the same time believe $250-300 for a home wireless router is too much. Apparently it's very important to carry around latest Galaxy or iPhone, something others can see... but who cares what home router do you have anyway? Priorities, I guess.

 

[MDM]

And have you tried the simplest thing - reset the Router to factory settings..?
If yes, it seem to be simply dying and that's it.