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Features
The AC66 has mostly the same features as the N66. ASUS has tweaked the list via firmware revisions since I last listed them in the N66 review, however. So here is an updated list that applies to both products, assuming you have the latest firmware loaded.
NOTE: The AC66 firmware is undergoing a fairly high rate of change at the time of this review. So some of the features you see listed below might be temporarily removed by ASUS while they are repaired.
Routing
- Static and Dynamic IP, PPPoE , PPTP, L2TP WAN connections
- MTU/MRU adjust (PPPoE only)
- DHCP Server w/ lease time setting, default domain and primary/secondary DNS
- DHCP Client list
- DHCP reservation
- Multicast routing and forwarding
- UDP proxy
- Switch jumbo frame enable
- UPnP enable/disable
- IPv4 Static Routes
- IPv6 support: Native; Native w/DHCP; Tunnel 6to4; Tunnel 6in4; Tunnel 6rd
- DDNS support for asus.com, dyndns.org, tzo.com, zoneedit.com
- Five level bandwidth-based QoS for up and download traffic.
Firewall
- Firewall enable/disable
- DoS protection enable
- Virtual Server/port forwarding for single or multiple ports with TCP, UDP or both protocols forwarded. Separate source and destination ports, not schedulable
- Triggered port forwarding for single ports, TCP or UDP, not schedulable
- URL and keyword filter
- Per client internet access scheduling
- DMZ Host
- RTSP passthrough
- PPPoE relay
- Ignore Ping Packet from WAN port
- Outbound port filtering: black/white list with port range, source/destination IP, protocol and day/time filter
VPN
- PPTP server
- PPTP, L2TP, IPsec passthrough (default enable)
Management
- Remote Management with user configurable port and HTTPS support
- Syslog server support
- Command line interface via Telnet (default disable)
- Reboot and reset to factory default
- Save/restore settings
- Logs: System console, DHCP, Wireless, port forwarding, routing table
Wireless
- WEP, WPA / WPA2 Personal and Enterprise (RADIUS) support
- Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) support, pushbutton and PIN
- Auto, N-only, Legacy modes
- Auto and manual channel set
- Channel bandwidth
- SSID broadcast enable/disable
- Radio enable day/time schedule
- WDS bridging / repeating
- Multicast tranmsit rate
- Beacon period, RTS threshold, DTIM interval adjusts
- Transmit burst (default enable), multicast forwarding (default disable), WMM APSD (default enable) enables
- Wireless client isolation (from each other)
- AP/router/Media bridge software mode switch
- Three Guest networks per radio
- Wireless MAC address filtering (allow or deny based on MAC address)
Note that ASUS has added secure HTTPS admin access and the ability to limit remote admin access to an IP address or range. Note too, that the AC66 currently (firmware 3.0.0.4.164) does not expose the transmit power adjustment. This was available in earlier firmware, but was removed because it was showing incorrect maximum power levels in some cases.
ASUS has given the AC66 a Media Bridge mode, like NETGEAR did for its R6300. This saves ASUS the hassle of making a dedicated media bridge for folks who would actually like to try out the draft 11ac higher throughput that they are allegedly buying.
Media Bridge mode doesn't require WDS to work, so will work with any router. Like the NETGEAR R6300, however, there is no scan function to find networks to connect to, so you must manually enter the SSID.
If you don't like running a bridged connection unsecured, you will like that you can encrypt the connection via WEP, WPA or WPA2. You get N and AC link rates only when running unsecured or WPA2/AES, however. I have a few shots about Media Bridge mode in the gallery if you want to take a look.
Table 2 summarizes key wireless settings. Note that both Personal and Enterprise (RADIUS) forms of WPA/WPA2 security are supported and there is one more 5 GHz channel (165) than many other routers support.
| Setting | 5 GHz | 2.4 GHz |
|---|---|---|
| Channel | Auto, 36, 40, 44, 48, 149, 153, 157, 161, 165 | Auto, 1 - 11 |
| Bandwidth control | Auto [default] 20 MHz 40 MHz |
Auto [default] 20 MHz 40 MHz 80 MHz (802.11ac) |
| Security | Open System Shared Key (WEP) WPA Personal WPA2 Personal WPA Auto Personal WPA Enterprise WPA2 Enterprise WPA2 Auto Personal RADIUS w/ 802.1x |
|
Table 2: Wireless settings summary
ASUS provides three Channel Bandwidth settings on the 2.4 GHz radio, i.e. Auto (default), 20 MHz and 40 MHz, and adds one more (80 MHz) on the 5 GHz radio. When set to Auto, you can't set the operating channel (ASUS labels this the Control Channel, when it exposes the setting).
Like other router manufacturers, ASUS is adding "cloud" features to its routers, which are called AiCloud. The graphic below taken from the AiCloud site summarizes the features, which appear to be all storage and file-access related. The AiCloud menu currently contains only a link to ASUS' Facebook page, which is where you are supposed to monitor AiCloud's progress.
AiCloud feature summary
I've put a few images in the gallery for screens that are different than those in the N66 review.
Image Gallery
User reviews
View all user reviewsAverage user rating from: 6 user(s)
NOTE! Please post product reviews from actual experience only.
Questions, review comments and opinions about products not based on actual use will not be published.
NOT STABLE !!
It's was a great router, but and there are a BIG but. It is not very stable. The first couple of weeks the range and speed are excellent. Then it suddenly begin to loose both range and speed, especially on the 5 GHz band, but there are also loads of examples that it has the same problem on the 2.4 GHz band.
One solution, for me at least, has been to restart the router every day.
Great router for LAN/WAN and wireless but issues with VoIP
I had lots of comments about the wireless range, how users could still be connected in the parking garage from the 5th floor. I couldn't use it, yet, because it appears to be performing PAT over NAT and I was trying to use it to support laptops, cell phones and a VoIP phone system with VoIP phones and one FXS device.
I opened my RTP ports at 10001-11001 but RTP traffic was coming in around 44K. As someone else stated, trying to get support is NIL. I've been talking to Joe from Taiwan and he really has an issue with English, there isn't support for it or he just doesn't know or care. He never answers my questions.
Ex.
ME: Joe, The Braeburn apples I got from you are not very tasty. Do you also sell Honey Crisp?
JOE: Get the new oranges and check back if you still have an issue.
My original question was can I disable PAT or do you recommend a different router for VoIP. His first response was, If you still have a problem, call Indiana after waiting 2 days for an email response but they're only open M-F. He replied on Saturday. Then he replied with update the firmware and then check back if that doesn't resolve the issue. What issue? I asked how to modify settings or recommend something geared towards VoIP devices, SIP traffic.
If you want a new technology router that does not involve SIP traffic, this is a very good router to have. I've tested it with Mac, Windows and Linux. There may be a way to use it for SIP traffic but currently, it's unknown to me. I originally purchased it for the new wireless technology, speed, range and QoS. All of those were as expected. High end ports being translated was the only issue I had.
Great router but does not see my Synology diskstation
The setup was very easy. It found my MacBook Pro and PC right out of the box but for some reason my 8TB of Synology storage is not seen at all. Can't figure this out over the weekend so I will be switching back to my AirPort Extreme until I get this figured out.
Can't make the media bridge perform
I like it a lot as a router, but can't get it to perform adequately as a media bridge. Having set up everything to default between the two RT-AC66Us, I can only reach 80 Mbps and that's way too low to even be considered as acceptable given the hype around it. I got 4 replacements before I gave up and the ASUS support had nothing more to throw at me. FYI, I used firmware versions 3.0.0.4.246, 3.0.0.4.260, 3.0.0.4.266. Currently using RT-AC66U with ASUS EA-N66 clients which give me about 120-200 Mbps.
Great router! It only needs DD-WRT or TomatoUSB Support!
Great router! It only needs DD-WRT or TomatoUSB Support! It already has RMerlin custom firmware, but there is need for more! For me, it was on par with Asus RT-N66U (identical design actually), but it has just one extra feature: 80211ac standard! Also known as Gigabit WiFi... and when you use that with another 80211ac WiFi card (or just another bridge), the speed is crazy! It's almost like you're on cable :)
Hope to see more improvements via the firmware updates...
Related Items:
ASUS RT-AC66U Wireless RetestCisco Linksys EA6500 Review - Part 2
ASUS RT-N66U and Linksys EA4500 / EA4200v2 Wireless Retest
NETGEAR R6300 Wireless Retest
Slideshow: Netgear WNDR3300 RangeMax Dual-Band Wireless N Router
