Asus RT-N12VP router review
Asus introduced the RT-N12VP router in 2014. It is powered by Broadcom BCM5357C0 @ 300 MHz chipset, 32 MB of RAM, and 8 MB of flash memory.
Keen to discover if this Asus router lives up to the hype? Keep reading to know!
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-N12VP, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
If you need more features, you may want to consider better Asus routers. Or, you can look at other routers on the market. Asus places a strong emphasis on network security.
Asus RT-N12VP specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-N12VP |
| Type | RT-N12VP |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2014 |
Body
| Dimensions | 179 x 128 x 28 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 275 g |
If you plan to move or travel a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. It needs to be small to be easy to carry. The weight of a router can matter in some situations. But, it is usually not as crucial as other factors. These factors include features and compatibility.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM5357C0 @ 300 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 32 MB |
| Flash | 8 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Power supply | 12 V / 0.5 A |
The Broadcom BCM5357C0 @ 300 MHz CPU provides processing power. It handles tasks and services within the RT-N12VP router. The amount of RAM in a router can affect its performance. It also affects its capacity to handle concurrent operations and traffic. The 8 MB flash memory in the router serves as the storage medium for the router's firmware. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model. However, it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface. The Asus packages the RT-N12VP router with 12 V / 0.5 A PSU.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | PPTP |
Like many modern routers, the RT-N12VP supports many network standards too. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The router also supports IPv6. This allows you to use the latest Internet Protocol. The RT-N12VP features a Fast Ethernet WAN port that has a maximum speed of 100 Mbps. The PPTP is an older VPN protocol. It was widely used in the past.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 5 dBi RP-SMA |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
| Class | N300 |
| Speed | 300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 20 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | no |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. This router is 2.4 GHz capable. The 2.4GHz band refers to the portion of the radio spectrum between 2.400 and 2.4835 gigahertz. This is a Wi-Fi 4 router, with slower data transfer speeds. This can result in slower downloads, video buffering, and reduced performance. Real-world RT-N12VP router speeds are lower than its theoretical maximum speed.
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 | no |
|---|---|
| Print server | no |
| File server | no |
The RT-N12VP router doesn't have file-server or print-server functionality.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | admin |
If you can't log in to your Asus router's setup panel, try resetting it. A reset can help you troubleshoot. It is highly recommended to change the default password of your RT-N12VP router. Do this after the initial setup.
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
- lightweight
- IPv6 capable
- WPS friendly
Cons
- insufficient flash
- lack of Gigabit LAN
- Non-gigabit WAN port
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
- no USB connectivity
Asus RT-N12VP photos
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