Asus RT-N16 router review
The Asus RT-N16 (RT-N16) router released in 2009. It is powered by Broadcom BCM4718A1 @ 480 MHz chipset, 128 MB of RAM and 32 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-N16 is 300 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100/1000 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-N16, 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. This router has USB connectors. They add features and expand your network's capabilities. Asus offers networking solutions that cater to different scales of networks.
Asus RT-N16 specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-N16 |
| Type | RT-N16 |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2009 |
Body
| Dimensions | 216 x 161.9 x 40.5 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 470 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. If you purchase a router online or have it shipped, the weight may affect the overall cost.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM4718A1 @ 480 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 128 MB |
| Flash | 32 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT DD-WRT |
| Power supply | 12 V / 1.25 A |
The Broadcom BCM4718A1 @ 480 MHz CPU provides processing power. It handles tasks and services within the RT-N16 router. Some router features and software need a certain amount of RAM. They need it to work well. More storage space comes from a larger flash memory. It can accommodate future firmware upgrades. 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 offers many customization options. They let users modify and tailor their router's function to their needs. The Asus packages the RT-N16 router with 12 V / 1.25 A PSU.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | PPTP L2TP |
The RT-N16 router has built-in security features. They protect your network and devices. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). If you have a 1 Gbps or faster internet plan, you need gigabit Ethernet ports. They are essential to use all the available bandwidth. This router ensures that you can use fast internet from your ISP fully. PPTP uses the Password Authentication Protocol (PAP). It also uses the Challenge Handshake Authentication Protocol (CHAP) for user authentication.
Wireless
| Antennas | 3 x 2 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 | 21 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 |
| Guest network | yes |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. The RT-N16 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. Real-world RT-N16 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.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 2 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-N16 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 |
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-N16 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
- sufficient memory
- OpenWrt compatible
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- USB 2 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
- missing WPS support
Asus RT-N16 photos
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