Asus RT-AC54U WiFi router: Pros and Cons
The Asus RT-AC54U (RT-AC54U) router released in 2015. It is powered by MediaTek MT7620A @ 580 MHz chipset, 64 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash. The AC1200 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with RT-AC54U is 300 + 867 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN ports.
Table of Contents
Our personal experiences and opinions form the basis of this article. We aimed to share insights on a topic, and we hoped others would find it useful and inspirational. The specs below rely on official manufacturer data, but we also consider user reviews. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Asus RT-AC54U, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The RT-AC54U is a popular router model from Asus. Many users have given it positive reviews. You can connect supported USB devices to the router. Asus is a well-established brand and has a significant market presence globally.
Asus RT-AC54U specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-AC54U |
| Type | RT-AC54U |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2015 |
Body
| Dimensions | 189 x 36 x 129 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 406 g |
The dimensions and design of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Routers with larger dimensions may have more space for internal cooling mechanisms. The weight of router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office setups.
System
| Chipset | MediaTek MT7620A @ 580 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 64 MB |
| Flash | 16 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Power supply | 12 V / 1 A |
The Asus RT-AC54U router has a MediaTek MT7620A @ 580 MHz processor. You cannot expand the router's memory (64 MB). When choosing a router, it is important to consider the RAM specifications. A larger flash memory allows for more space to store configuration backups. Asus often releases firmware updates. They improve the router's features, security, and bugs. They also add new features. The 12 V / 1 A PSU provides power to the router. If it breaks, you can replace it with a new one.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | yes, with USB dongle |
| VPN support | PPTP L2TP OpenVPN |
The router supports many networking standards. It ensures compatibility with different devices and systems. The IPv4 is the fourth iteration of the Internet Protocol (IP). It is the most widely used version of IP on the internet today. The latest firmware supports IPv6. It provides a system to identify and locate computers on networks. The WAN port on the RT-AC54U router is a Fast Ethernet port, not a Gigabit Ethernet.
The RT-AC54U router supports 3G or 4G dongles, allowing you to connect to a cellular network. OpenVPN is popular for VPNs. This is because it is strong, flexible, and works on many devices. PPTP has known flaws. These include problems with the encryption and the risk of password cracking.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 5 dBi RP-SMA |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Class | AC1200 |
| Speed | 300 + 867 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 23 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
This router has 2 x 5 dBi, RP-SMA antennas. Antennas are key parts of wireless routers. They send and receive radio signals to make wireless connections. Many IoT devices, smart home devices, and older Wi-Fi devices mainly use the 2.4 GHz band. The 5 GHz band is less crowded. This leads to less interference and a clearer wireless signal. The RT-AC54U router is 5 GHz capable. This Wi-Fi router supports multiple spatial streams, typically up to 4 streams.
The top speed, 300 + 867 Mbps, is the highest data rate the router can reach. It's the theoretical limit in perfect conditions. WEP was the first Wi-Fi security protocol. But it is now seen as weak and easy to hack. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) provides an easy method. It connects devices to a Wi-Fi network.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). USB print servers let you connect a USB printer to your network. This makes it accessible to many devices. You can connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives or USB hard drives to your router.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | admin |
Changing the password often is a good security practice. It protects your network and devices from unauthorized access. Changing the default password improves your router's security. It reduces the risk of unauthorized individuals controlling your network.
Pros and Cons
Every router, including this Asus one, has its good sides and not-so-good sides. Let's take a closer look at both to get a full understanding of what this router can do. We'll talk about what it does well and also where it could use some improvements. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- sufficient memory
- IPv6 capable
- 3/4G USB modem capable
- supports OpenVPN
- works on 5 GHz band
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- insufficient flash
- lack of Gigabit LAN
- Non-gigabit WAN port
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- incompatible with WPA3
Asus RT-AC54U photos
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