Those hanging on to their non-supported gear

[nospamever]

Would like to suggest a poll for non-supported gear.
For instance I have a RT-AC86U with another as backup (both bought used very cheaply). Understand this unit is no longer supported by Asuswrt-Merlin but these are just too solid to throw away.
I do not know what other gear people are keeping after EOL so hope someone more knowledgeable can start a poll.

 

[Tech9]

This specific model is the one with above average failure rate. Perhaps the reason it was very cheap second hand. Quite a few SNB Forum members lost one or more RT-AC86Us mainly due to common internal power circuit failure, but it also had issues with failing radios and overall build quality as well as unresolved software issues affecting the use of custom scripts. Not a device you really want to keep.

 

[nospamever]

This specific model is the one with above average failure rate. Perhaps the reason it was very cheap second hand. Quite a few SNB Forum members lost one or more RT-AC86Us mainly due to common internal power circuit failure, but it also had issues with failing radios and overall build quality as well as unresolved software issues affecting the use of custom scripts. Not a device you really want to keep.

Yeah it is coming back to me now, yes think I have read something about it a while ago. So far so good for me maybe because I am a lite user and only have YazDHCP as addon. I do have a sophos xg105w in the cupboard bought used very cheaply. I did use another sophos SG firewall some years ago but that was very hard to configure and maintain. Just maybe I can start playing with it again.

 

[bennor]

Would like to suggest a poll for non-supported gear.
...
I do not know what other gear people are keeping after EOL so hope someone more knowledgeable can start a poll.

What are you hoping to achieve by having a poll about what EOL Asus routers people are still using? Curiosity or some other end goal?

... these are just too solid to throw away.

So, don't throw it away if it works and you still have use for it.

EOL Asus routers will still have their use for some. Either as AiMesh nodes, AP nodes or as simple switches. Various Asus routers including those EOL may continue to have support (even if limited) on other 3rd party firmware like FreshTomato and others. And there will continue to be some who will, for their own reasons, continue to use EOL Asus routers as internet facing devices.

I still keep two old Asus RT-AC68U routers as spares, one with latest stock, the other with the last supported Asus-Merlin firmware + YazDHCP and YazFi (for testing). Some day, if the need arises, they may end up as AiMesh nodes or AP nodes for IoT equipment or the like.

 

[Tech9]

So far so good for me maybe because I am a lite user and only have YazDHCP as addon.

Just don't reuse old routers because you have them. Folks add AiMesh nodes or purchase mesh sets for no reason making Wi-Fi worse.

 

[Poul Bak]

Here's a nice statistic over how many users have downloaded merlin the last week: https://sourceforge.net/projects/asuswrt-merlin/files/. Probably the best poll you will get (and yes funny that RT-AC68U is still the most downloaded firmware).

 

[dlandiss]

Just don't reuse old routers because you have them.

My "older routers" make great access points. If their security is not updated it doesn't matter because the gateway router handles that.

 

[Tech9]

Perhaps the best use case for such older devices is wireless bridge or what Asus calls Media Bridge - high powered Wi-Fi adapter to wired clients. Not every firmware version is very stable in this mode though. May need some experimenting to find proper firmware, not necessarily the latest available.

 

[Tech9]

great access points

It all depends on the definition of "great". The abundant around RT-AC68U and variants for example are early AC Wave 1 generation. Wireless drivers are in "as is" state for years. BCM4360 doesn't have own encryption processing and relies on the main CPU. There is limited active clients per radio support. Without 3rd party firmware and/or custom scripting there is no VLAN support. Usable in some cases, but far from "great" in my view. New proper AX1800-class access points start under $100.

 

[cptnoblivious]

My "older routers" make great access points. If their security is not updated it doesn't matter because the gateway router handles that.

Same, I've got routers I converted to APs behind my Ubiquiti router (2 AX models running Merlin and configured as APs with VLANS for guest networks)

 

[Tech9]

2 AX models running Merlin

Your 2x AX models are still supported. You do not qualify for this non-supported gear thread.

 

[cptnoblivious]

Your 2x AX models are still supported. You do not qualify for this non-supported gear thread.

AX58 v1 and AX68 are _about_ to no longer be supported. I'm just proactive