Asus RT-AC86U router review
Asus introduced the RT-AC86U router in 2018. It is powered by Broadcom BCM4906 @ 1.8 GHz chipset, 512 MB of RAM, and 256 MB of flash memory.
Want to know if this Asus router stands out? Stay tuned for the answer!
Table of Contents
- Asus RT-AC86U 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-AC86U, please let us know.
The RT-AC86U is a powerful router. It is full of features and made for advanced networking. Asus has a history of introducing innovative features and technologies into its products.
Asus RT-AC86U specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-AC86U |
| Type | RT-AC86U |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2018 |
Body
| Dimensions | 220 x 83.3 x 160 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 872 g |
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. The weight of the router is not typically a critical factor for most setups.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM4906 @ 1.8 GHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 512 MB |
| Flash | 256 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Power supply | 19 V / 1.75 A |
The Broadcom BCM4906 @ 1.8 GHz CPU provides processing power. You cannot expand the router's memory (512 MB). When selecting a router, it's essential to think about the RAM specifications.
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. The router has Gigabit Ethernet ports. They allow for faster communication between devices on your local network. A Gigabit WAN port is useful when your internet plan supports high speeds. You can connect the 3G/4G USB dongle to the USB port on the RT-AC86U router. OpenVPN is popular for VPNs. This is because it's strong, flexible, and works on many devices.
Wireless
| Antennas | 3 x 3.3 dBi RP-SMA |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | yes |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| Class | AC2900 |
| Speed | 750 + 2167 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 23 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | yes |
The RT-AC86U is compatible with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks. The 5 GHz band provides faster data transfer speeds compared to the 2.4 GHz band. This AC Wi-Fi router supports multiple spatial streams, typically up to 4 streams. 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-AC86U 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 |
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.
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
- plentiful flash
- IPv6 capable
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- 3/4G USB modem capable
- supports OpenVPN
- works on 5 GHz band
- decent Wi-Fi performance
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- USB 3 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- incompatible with WPA3
Asus RT-AC86U photos
Asus RT-AC86U comparisons
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Updated: June 23, 2024
