What are your thoughts on the new AI router GT-BE19000AI?

[Tech9]

I expect Dark Mode added later to this new look GUI. At least for home products. Patience, you are going to get AI-ed and the transistor brain will tell you what is best for you.

 

[sfx2000]

I expect Dark Mode added later to this new look GUI. At least for home products. Patience, you are going to get AI-ed and the transistor brain will tell you what is best for you.

This should be a basic fix - openwrt luci is able to tell from the browser whether the client logging in to the WebUI what mode it is in...

FWIW - my thoughts here is that the whole dark/light mode has been a big challenge, esp for folks like me that are color vision challenged (e.g I'm color blind) - it really has been a train wreck, as many web designers are not, so they basically just don't get it and make bad choices...

 

[Poseidon]

New fw update for the BE19000ai released today. Speeds are still inconsistent with all AiProtection services enabled. Still don’t see option for AFC though.

 

[bennor]

New fw update for the BE19000ai released today. Speeds are way better with all AiProtection services enabled. Still don’t see option for AFC though.

Thread on firmware started in the ASUSWRT - Official subforum: Asus GT-BE19000AI Firmware version 3.0.0.6.102_40240 (2025/11/25)

 

[Richard1864]

Thread on firmware started in the ASUSWRT - Official subforum: Asus GT-BE19000AI Firmware version 3.0.0.6.102_40240 (2025/11/25)

I manually shut down mine for 60 seconds after updating, speeds did improve afterwards.

 

[Plak]

Looks like AFC just got added in latest firmware:

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI Firmware version 3.0.0.6.102_40272

Version 3.0.0.6.102_40272
69.99 MB 2025/12/01
SHA-256 :2F518520C92B15A9D512672D0B52EA667BA8FFB43369D09CA610A88986F64CE9
New features:
- Support AFC feature to unlock the high power usage of the 6GHz band, improving transmission distance and mid-to-long-range transmission speeds.
FAQ: https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1054880/
[Note 1] AFC feature is currently supported only in North America.
[Note 2] Incompatible OS versions or devices may have 6GHz connectivity issues. Please ensure your client device's operating system is up to the supported version.

Bug Fixes and Enhancements:
- Fixed no data showing on WiFi Traffic Monitor.
- Resolved abnormal client list page switching with many connected devices.
- Eliminated browser cache issues when switching from other ASUS routers.

Well that's good news. Asus is finally doing pretty frequent updates to this model and now we have afc.

 

[RMerlin]

...and then people will actually learn how AFC works, and realize they don't want to use that...

 

[bennor]

Looks like AFC just got added in latest firmware:

So others are aware, there is already a thread discussing AFC on this router.

AFC now available for BE19000AI

ASUS today released an update for the BE19000AI which enables AFC, version 3.0.0.6.102_40272. it can be downloaded from the BE19000AI product page, and also includes some bug fixes.

www.snbforums.com

And a release thread in the ASUSWRT - Official subforum:

Release - Asus GT-BE19000AI Firmware version 3.0.0.6.102_40272 (2025/12/01)

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI Firmware version 3.0.0.6.102_40272 Version 3.0.0.6.102_40272 69.99 MB 2025/12/01 SHA-256 :2F518520C92B15A9D512672D0B52EA667BA8FFB43369D09CA610A88986F64CE9 New features: - Support AFC feature to unlock the high power usage of the 6GHz band, improving transmission...

www.snbforums.com

 

[Tech9]

So the others are aware of what RMerlin is talking about:

"Automated Frequency Coordination System is a cloud-based operator (Example: Federated Wireless, Open AFC) that has access to regulatory domain specific 6 GHz, incumbent database, which stores geolocation coordinates and power of these licensed wireless services operating in the 6 GHz spectrum. In order to avoid interference the access point must present its geolocation coordinates to the AFC provider when powering on and before powering on the 6 GHz radio."

(copy/paste from Cisco Meraki)

 

[RMerlin]

So the others are aware of what RMerlin is talking about:

"Automated Frequency Coordination System is a cloud-based operator (Example: Federated Wireless, Open AFC) that has access to regulatory domain specific 6 GHz, incumbent database, which stores geolocation coordinates and power of these licensed wireless services operating in the 6 GHz spectrum. In order to avoid interference the access point must present its geolocation coordinates to the AFC provider when powering on and before powering on the 6 GHz radio."

(copy/paste from Cisco Meraki)

Asus describes what they specifically require you to share on their own FAQ - basically the same, but with a few extras such as the device serial number:

[Wireless Router] What is AFC? How to enable AFC? - (United States Only) | Official Support | ASUS Global

 

[jerry6]

So the others are aware of what RMerlin is talking about:

"Automated Frequency Coordination System is a cloud-based operator (Example: Federated Wireless, Open AFC) that has access to regulatory domain specific 6 GHz, incumbent database, which stores geolocation coordinates and power of these licensed wireless services operating in the 6 GHz spectrum. In order to avoid interference the access point must present its geolocation coordinates to the AFC provider when powering on and before powering on the 6 GHz radio."

(copy/paste from Cisco Meraki)

for now , what will they monitor next ?

 

[Tech9]

I don't think monitoring users is the main goal of AFC.

 

[BoostOver]

Be alarmed by those who don't ask for your consent........who you obviously don't know!

 

[Lax]

Have you a 10 Gb Ethernet client to try the Ookla app?

Yes I do, All my Mac minis have 10GBE builtin, PCs have Mellanox 100 Gigabit NICs and MacBook Pro using the OWC thunderbolt dock. I get 7 gbps/up/down which I posted before. I get ~9gbps throughput within LAN.

 

[Lax]

Excerpt from About text (from the Merlin site):
Priorities: Stability > performance > features.

@jaderaso That speed test looks like you've got some serious interference/noise. I've seen UPS can cause this, or USB 3.0 HDD. I ended up using one of these https://tripplite.eaton.com/isobar-...oules-3-diagnostic-leds-4-in-height~ISOBLOK20 since I insist on using a UPS. A simple surge protector strip was what I initially used, and caught the degradation as soon as I added a UPS. Also no USB drive/stick connection...

As for the USB3 hard drives attached, it's better to use the power add-on usb cable (USB 3.0 Dual Power Y Shape Hard Drive Cable USB) to handle the transient power requirements.

 

[Lax]

I don't think monitoring users is the main goal of AFC.

Yeah, true. But everyone in the middle-east should be worried about getting this one For now, its only supported in the USA, but the hardware can be hacked.

 

[Lax]

Last few days, I've been testing the AI board functionalities, there are several issues:

1. AI board Firmware update was not working, (Asus just fixed it, this week)
2. Unable to login to docker account, after the firmware update. Fails with "unauthorized" error. No way to reset the password.
3. AI board restore to factory default also fails with message "AI board rescue failed"

 

[Tech9]

Fails with "unauthorized" error

"AI board rescue failed"

So basically this additional hardware is not working at the moment?

 

[jzchen]

As for the USB3 hard drives attached, it's better to use the power add-on usb cable (USB 3.0 Dual Power Y Shape Hard Drive Cable USB) to handle the transient power requirements.

Mine's quite old, it has an AC adapter....

Last few days, I've been testing the AI board functionalities, there are several issues:

1. AI board Firmware update was not working, (Asus just fixed it, this week)
2. Unable to login to docker account, after the firmware update. Fails with "unauthorized" error. No way to reset the password.
3. AI board restore to factory default also fails with message "AI board rescue failed"

I found it a little strange that the three "scenarios" were listed as such:

[AI Router] How to Reset the AI Router to Factory Settings | Official Support | ASUS USA

Scenarios 1 and 3 appear to be close enough to be the same, and Scenario 2 describes resetting the router through the router GUI, then resetting the Ai right after.

There is no option to leave the router intact and reset exclusively the Ai portion.

(Not sure if you noticed this so I thought I'd bring it up just in case it may help you)...

 

[Clark Griswald]

Last few days, I've been testing the AI board functionalities, there are several issues:

1. AI board Firmware update was not working, (Asus just fixed it, this week)
2. Unable to login to docker account, after the firmware update. Fails with "unauthorized" error. No way to reset the password.
3. AI board restore to factory default also fails with message "AI board rescue failed"

Explains why people haven't been posting the benefits of using Docker on this router.