SFP+ Port IPTV Support on RT-BE88U – Will it be integrated into Merlin?

[BorjaAday]

I recently noticed that with the latest official ASUS firmware for the RT-BE88U (version 3.0.0.6.102_38186, released on August 8, 2025), a new feature was introduced in the changelog:

SFP+ Port IPTV Support – Added IPTV configuration support on the SFP+ port

After installing this update, I can confirm that IPTV now works perfectly through the SFP+ port. However, this forced me to temporarily abandon Asuswrt-Merlin, since IPTV configuration on the SFP+ port was not previously supported, and I rely on using the router with a GPON ONU module. While the stock firmware enables this feature, I miss the stability and advanced functions that Merlin provides.

My question is:

• Is this feature (SFP+ IPTV support) expected to be integrated into Merlin in the future?
• If so, is there any rough timeline for when we might see it available?

Thanks in advance, and I really appreciate all the work being done on this project!

 

[RMerlin]

It will be integrated whenever I merge an Asus GPL that has the feature implemented.

 

[BorjaAday]

It will be integrated whenever I merge an Asus GPL that has the feature implemented.

Thanks for the quick response!

The original software includes it since Firmware version 3.0.0.6.102_38186, so I'll wait for a Merlin update that merges with GPL 3006.102_38186 to return to Merlin. I'm looking forward to it.

Thank you very much!

 

[BorjaAday]

Investigating this again, I saw that in Merlin’s changelog it says

Asuswrt-Merlin 3006.xxx Changelog
3006.102.5 (3-Aug-2025)

• NOTE: For developers, please note that the new default branch
  is now called “main” - it’s what was previously the
  3006.102 branch.
  The “master” branch has been renamed “master-old”, and
  is no longer actively used. Due to how the 3006.102
  branch diverged, it was easier to do it this way than
  to fold back 3006.102 on top of master.
• NEW: Completely redesigned System Log -> Connections page.
  - You can now filter the list
  - You can set the page to auto-refresh itself
  - Public IP addresses can be looked up on
  WhatismyIPaddress.com
  - Local hostnames will be resolved and shown
  - Routed IPv6 connections will be shown
• UPDATED: Merged GPL 3006.102_37957 for Wifi 6 devices.
• UPDATED: Merged GPL 3006.102_38757 for WIfi 7 devices.

And the official version that incorporated IPTV via SFP is 3.0.0.6.102_38186. Does this mean it’s already integrated into Merlin? Because in the changelog we see “Merged GPL 3006.102_38757 for Wifi 7 devices,” which should be a newer version.

It’s strange because the official version was released on August 8, while Merlin published this changelog on August 3.

I’d really appreciate your help!

 

[bennor]

And the official version that incorporated IPTV via SFP is 3.0.0.6.102_38186. Does this mean it’s already integrated into Merlin? Because in the changelog we see “Merged GPL 3006.102_38757 for Wifi 7 devices,” which should be a newer version.

It’s strange because the official version was released on August 8, while Merlin published this changelog on August 3.

Not really strange. RMerlin has indicated the code he receives is generally unrelated to what Asus releases on their website.
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/development-news-reworked-connections-log.94962/#post-958902

I get code directly from Asus, it's unrelated to what's released on their website. I have particular requirements that their developers need to meet when preparing the archives, like having the same code base for all models, which is rarely the case with their own firmware releases.

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/development-news-reworked-connections-log.94962/#post-959109

It depends. If you ask them for a GPL drop for a particular model, it will be for the same version that was used for that model's released firmware - which is what the GPL licensing requires them to do. The difference in my case is they build the tarballs for all models within a branch but all on the same version, so I don't need to maintain 20 parallel branches to handle 20 devices on 20 different codebase versions. Sometimes, that version will match a released firmware. Sometimes it will be a newer snapshot, depending on the point in time where they prepare those archives. But in terms of content, yes, that is the same code that is available in regular GPL drops. Just it might be from a more recent git point.

 

[BorjaAday]

Not really strange. RMerlin has indicated the code he receives is generally unrelated to what Asus releases on their website.
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/development-news-reworked-connections-log.94962/#post-958902

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/development-news-reworked-connections-log.94962/#post-959109

Perfect, so I understand this feature is already implemented, as it was implemented in firmware 3.0.0.6.102_38186, and RMerlin is using GPL 3006.102_38757 for Wi-Fi 7 devices like the BE88U. Is that correct?

If so, I'll try it today and let you know if it works.

Best regards.