Asus RT-N14U WiFi router: Pros and Cons
The Asus RT-N14U (RT-N14U) router released in 2013. It is powered by MediaTek MT7620N @ 600 MHz chipset, 64 MB of RAM and 16 MB of flash. The N300 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11b/g/n standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with RT-N14U is 300 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-N14U, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The RT-N14U has a user-friendly interface. It is accessible to users with varying levels of expertise. This router has USB connectors. They add features and expand your network's capabilities. Asus is another well-known manufacturer in the networking industry.
Asus RT-N14U specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-N14U |
| Type | RT-N14U |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2013 |
Body
| Dimensions | 187 x 145 x 77 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 260 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 router is not typically a critical factor for most home or office setups.
System
| Chipset | MediaTek MT7620N @ 600 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 64 MB |
| Flash | 16 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT |
| Power supply | 12 V / 1 A |
The MediaTek MT7620N @ 600 MHz CPU provides processing power. It handles tasks and services within the RT-N14U router. 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. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model. However, it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface.
Other router operating systems offer more customization options. They also have advanced features. Router makers compare this to the default firmware. OpenWrt has a community that actively develops it. They continuously work on improving its security. The Asus packages the RT-N14U router with 12 V / 1 A PSU.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | no |
The router supports many networking standards. It ensures compatibility with different devices and systems. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The RT-N14U features a Fast Ethernet WAN port that has a maximum speed of 100 Mbps.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 3 dBi internal |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
| Class | N300 |
| Speed | 300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 16.5 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. The RT-N14U is compatible with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks. This is a Wi-Fi 4 router, with slower data transfer speeds. This can result in slower downloads, video buffering, and reduced performance. The top speed, 300 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). By connecting a USB printer to the RT-N14U router, you can make it accessible to all devices on your network. This router has a USB file server. It lets you connect external storage devices to your network. For example, you can connect USB flash drives or hard drives.
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
- lightweight
- sufficient memory
- OpenWrt compatible
- 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
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
Asus RT-N14U photos
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