Asus RT-AC56U router review
Asus introduced the RT-AC56U router in 2013. It is powered by Broadcom BCM4708 @ 800 MHz chipset, 256 MB of RAM, and 128 MB of flash memory.
Curious if this Asus router is a real gem? Stay tuned!
Table of Contents
- Asus RT-AC56U specifications
- Body, dimensions, weight
- System, chipset, RAM, flash, power supply
- Network, protocols, WAN and LAN ports
- Wireless, antennas, speed, security
- Connectivity
- Administration, user interface, login information
- Links
- Verdict, Pros and Cons
- Photos
- Comparisons
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. If you noticed any mistakes or missing details about the Asus RT-AC56U, please let us know.
The RT-AC56U is a powerful router. It is full of features and made for advanced networking. Asus is known for being a respected and well-known maker of networking equipment.
Asus RT-AC56U specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-AC56U |
| Type | RT-AC56U |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2013 |
Body
| Dimensions | 147 x 205 x 66 mm |
|---|
If you plan to move a lot and need to take your router with you, the size is important. Otherwise, the size isn't too crucial.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM4708 @ 800 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 256 MB |
| Flash | 128 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Alternative OS | DD-WRT |
| Power supply | 19 V / 1.75 A |
The Broadcom BCM4708 @ 800 MHz CPU provides processing power. Some router features and software work best when they have enough RAM to help them.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Mobile network | yes, with USB dongle |
| VPN support | PPTP L2TP OpenVPN |
The router also supports IPv6. This allows you to use the latest Internet Protocol. If you have a 1 Gbps or faster internet plan, you need gigabit Ethernet ports. The RT-AC56U ensures that you can use fast internet from your ISP fully. You can connect the 3G/4G USB dongle to the USB port on the RT-AC56U router. OpenVPN uses a certificate-based authentication system. This enhances security and provides a stronger method of verification.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 5.1 dBi 2 x 3.8 dBi internal |
|---|---|
| 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 | 24 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
The router supports the 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi. Using the 5 GHz band can move some devices from the crowded 2.4 GHz band. The AC Wi-Fi router is backward compatible with older Wi-Fi devices that support 802.11a/b/g/n standards. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security. The Wi-Fi Protected Setup (WPS) lets you join a safe wireless network with the push of a button or a simple PIN entry.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 1 x USB 2.0 1 x USB 3.0 |
|---|---|
| Print server | yes |
| File server | yes |
The USB 2 port has a maximum theoretical data transfer rate of 480 megabits per second (Mbps). The USB 3 ports provide a fast interface for external storage with data transfer rates of up to 4.8 Gbps. By connecting a USB printer to the RT-AC56U 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.
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-AC56U router. Do this after the initial setup.
Links
| Official site | https://www.asus.com/ |
|---|
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. Just remember, this is just what I think, and you might see things differently.
Pros
- generous memory
- adequate flash
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- 3/4G USB modem capable
- supports OpenVPN
- works on 5 GHz band
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- USB 3 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- incompatible with WPA3
Asus RT-AC56U photos
Asus RT-AC56U comparisons
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Updated: May 25, 2024
