Zen WiFi AX Hybrid XP4 - any 3rd party firmware

[Sunshine]

Hi,
My first post.

I have 3 sets of the above routers. I installed in June 2024 and am shocked to find they were EOL December 2024. They are still for sale on Amazon!

Is there any third party firmware to secure them?

What are my options? I don't really want to bin and buy more units.

Thanks in advance

 

[jksmurf]

Well unfortunately whilst they do have a Broadcom chipset, they are not supported by Merlin or Gnuton FW. WiFi Chipset: Broadcom BCM6756.

https://www.asuswrt-merlin.net/

GitHub - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng: Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers

Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

github.com

Nor can I see a fresh tomato or openwrt option

hardware_compatibility [FreshTomato Wiki]

wiki.freshtomato.org

[OpenWrt Wiki] Table of Hardware

openwrt.org

What’s the issue with the current router though and the current stock Asus firmware, admittedly older from 2024. The units were a PCMag readers choice in 2023… if you read anything into those, but what would you actually like it do that it doesn’t today?

ASUS Deutschland

Entdecke die Welt von ASUS - Alles rund um die besten Mainboards, Grafikkarten, Monitore, Laptops und vieles mehr erfährst Du auf der offiziellen ASUS Seite.

www.asus.com

 

[RMerlin]

am shocked to find they were EOL December 2024.

Odd, since they didn't list it on their official EOL site:

End-of-life product list

a PCMag readers choice in 2023

They were a bit late, since that product launched back in 2021.

 

[jksmurf]

They were a bit late, since that product launched back in 2021.

Whilst they plastered the award over that specific Router's page, I rather think this a little clever non-specific marketing, painting (or tarring if you will...) the entire range with the same brush.
Maybe 2023 was the right year to do such a thing, capture the older ones (such as the 2021 XP4) and the new ones under the ZenWifi umbrella in one fell swoop...

Ref: https://www.pcmag.com/news/readers-choice-2023-routers-nas-devices

 

[Tech9]

They are still for sale on Amazon!

See what we have on ASUS Canada:
https://www.asus.com/ca-en/networki...em/aimesh-wifi-routers-and-systems/blue-cave/

Latest firmware 3.0.0.4.384.46630 from May 2021, AiMesh 1.0 support. Unfortunately, not in stock...

 

[Sunshine]

Well unfortunately whilst they do have a Broadcom chipset, they are not supported by Merlin or Gnuton FW. WiFi Chipset: Broadcom BCM6756.

https://www.asuswrt-merlin.net/

GitHub - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng: Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers

Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng

github.com

Nor can I see a fresh tomato or openwrt option

hardware_compatibility [FreshTomato Wiki]

wiki.freshtomato.org

[OpenWrt Wiki] Table of Hardware

openwrt.org

What’s the issue with the current router though and the current stock Asus firmware, admittedly older from 2024. The units were a PCMag readers choice in 2023… if you read anything into those, but what would you actually like it do that it doesn’t today?

ASUS Deutschland

Entdecke die Welt von ASUS - Alles rund um die besten Mainboards, Grafikkarten, Monitore, Laptops und vieles mehr erfährst Du auf der offiziellen ASUS Seite.

www.asus.com

Thank you for confirming there isn't any third party firmware. I just want to run newer firmware, so the security of the unit is up to date. Not looking for new functions.

 

[Sunshine]

Odd, since they didn't list it on their official EOL site:

End-of-life product list

They were a bit late, since that product launched back in 2021.

When you try to update the firmware via a browser rather than the app it states product is end of life. Last update December 2024.

 

[jksmurf]

When you try to update the firmware via a browser rather than the app it states product is end of life. Last update December 2024.

Could you post a screenshot of the EOL message for others / record, thank you .

 

[RMerlin]

Could you post a screenshot of the EOL message for others / record, thank you .

It's on the download site:

 

[jksmurf]

It's on the download site:

Thank you and apologies, was not being lazy, genuinely thought only the OP could see that EOL statement when he used a Browser to update it (which I thought meant the WebGUI), which only the user of that Model could see) vs the App.

When you try to update the firmware via a browser rather than the app it states product is end of life. Last update December 2024.

 

[RMerlin]

Thanl you and apologies, was not being lazy, genuinely thought only the OP could see that EOL statement when he used a Browser tp update it, vs the App, (which I thought meant the WebGUI), which only the user of that Model could see.

Still odd that it's not listed on their official EOL website.