Asus RT-AC86U WiFi router: Pros and Cons
The Asus RT-AC86U (RT-AC86U) router released in 2018. It is powered by Broadcom BCM4906 @ 1.8 GHz chipset, 512 MB of RAM and 256 MB of flash. The AC2900 router is compatible with IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards, and the maximum speed that you can get with RT-AC86U is 750 + 2167 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-AC86U, please let us know. Furthermore, we strive to deliver a thorough and precise overview.
The RT-AC86U is a powerful router. It is full of features and made for advanced networking. This router has USB connectors. They add features and expand your network's capabilities. Asus provides good customer support services through their website.
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 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 | 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. It handles tasks and services within the RT-AC86U router. You cannot expand the router's memory (512 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. The Asus packages the RT-AC86U router with 19 V / 1.75 A PSU.
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 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 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 helpful. It 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 is strong, flexible, and works on many devices. PPTP has known flaws. These include problems with the encryption and the risk of password cracking.
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 |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. The RT-AC86U is compatible with 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi networks. The 5GHz band provides faster data transfer speeds compared to the 2.4GHz band. This Wi-Fi router supports multiple spatial streams, typically up to 4 streams. The top speed, 750 + 2167 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 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. 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
- 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
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