Asus RT-N12+ Pro 2.4 GHz router review, is it worth it?
The Asus RT-N12+ Pro (RT-N12P) router released in 2017. It is powered by MediaTek MT7620N @ 600 MHz chipset, 32 MB of RAM and 8 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-N12+ Pro is 300 Mbps. The router has 1 x 10/100 Mbps WAN and 4 x 10/100 Mbps LAN ports.
The user-friendly interface of RT-N12+ Pro make it accessible to users with varying levels of technical expertise. Asus has been involved in the development of innovative networking solutions.
Table of contents:
Asus RT-N12+ Pro (RT-N12P) specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-N12+ Pro |
| Type | RT-N12P |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2017 |
Body
| Dimensions | 146 x 111 x 28 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 169 g |
If you plan to move or travel frequently and need to take your router with you, the dimensions become important for portability. Smaller and more compact routers are generally easier to transport, while larger routers with external antennas or multiple ports may be bulkier and less convenient to carry. If you plan to mount your router on a wall or ceiling, the weight can influence the mounting process and the type of mounting hardware required. Heavier routers might require more robust mounting solutions to ensure stability and prevent damage or accidents.
System
| Chipset | MediaTek MT7620N @ 600 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 32 MB |
| Flash | 8 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Power supply | 5 V / 1 A |
The MediaTek MT7620N @ 600 MHz CPU provides processing power to handle various tasks and services within the RT-N12+ Pro router. The 32 MB of RAM enables the router to handle multiple tasks and processes concurrently. It allows for the efficient switching and allocation of resources among different processes running on the router, facilitating multitasking and ensuring smooth operation. The flash memory in a Asus router is different from the volatile memory (RAM) that is used for temporary storage of data while the router is powered on. Flash memory of the RT-N12+ Pro retains its data even when the router is powered off, allowing the router to maintain its firmware and configuration settings across reboots.
To upgrade the firmware of the RT-N12+ Pro router, you typically need to visit the manufacturer's website, locate the specific model of your router, and download the latest firmware version provided. The firmware upgrade process may vary depending on the router model, but it often involves accessing the router's web-based administration interface and uploading the downloaded firmware file. The Asus packages the RT-N12+ Pro router with 5 V / 1 A PSU. A good PSU is an essential component of a computer or electronic device that converts electrical power from an outlet into the appropriate voltage and current required to power the internal components of the device.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 IPv6 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100 Mbps |
| Mobile network | no |
| VPN support | no |
Like many modern routers, the Asus RT-N12+ Pro supports a variety of features and technologies to enhance your network connectivity and security. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). The RT-N12+ Pro router also supports IPv6 protocol, allowing you to utilize the latest version of the Internet Protocol. The LAN ports are physical connectors on a RT-N12+ Pro router that allow you to connect devices to your local network using Ethernet cables.
WAN ports are used to connect the router to your internet service provider (ISP). They typically use Ethernet cables or fiber optic connections to establish a high-speed link between your local network and the wider internet. The RT-N12+ Pro is equipped with Fast Ethernet WAN port, which have a maximum speed of 100 Mbps.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 2 dBi fixed |
|---|---|
| 2.4 GHz | yes |
| 5 GHz | no |
| 60 GHz | no |
| Standards | IEEE 802.11b/g/n |
| Class | N300 |
| Speed | 300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 20 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 WPS |
| Guest network | no |
The 2 x 2 dBi, fixed antennas of RT-N12+ Pro influence the quality and stability of the Wi-Fi signal. A properly positioned and well-designed antenna can minimize interference and signal degradation, leading to a more reliable and stable connection. This router is 2.4 GHz compatible. The 2.4 GHz band is widely supported by a wide range of devices, including older devices that may not be compatible with the 5 GHz band.
The RT-N12+ Pro is a Wi-Fi 4 router, with slower data transfer speeds. This can result in slower downloads, video buffering, and reduced performance when multiple devices are connected. The N300 is a performance indicator that represents the router's theoretical maximum speed. The theoretical maximum speed (300 Mbps) represents the highest data transfer rate that the router is capable of achieving under ideal conditions.
The TX power of RT-N12+ Pro can be adjusted by the user or set automatically by the router firmware. Higher TX power values indicate stronger signal transmission, which can result in a larger coverage area. The RT-N12+ Pro router offers several security protocols: WEP, WPA, WPA2, WPS. The WEP (Wired Equivalent Privacy) was the first security protocol for Wi-Fi networks but is now considered weak and easily compromised. It uses a static encryption key and has known vulnerabilities, so it is no longer recommended for securing Wi-Fi networks.
The WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) was introduced as an improvement over WEP and provides stronger security. If WPA3 is not available, WPA2-Personal with AES encryption is still considered secure. The RT-N12+ Pro router offers WPS. The WPS (Wi-Fi Protected Setup) provides a simplified and convenient method for connecting devices to a Wi-Fi network. Instead of manually entering the Wi-Fi network name (SSID) and password, users can use the WPS feature to establish a connection with the push of a button or by entering a PIN.
Connectivity
| USB ports | no |
|---|---|
| Print server | no |
| File server | no |
The RT-N12+ Pro router doesn't have file-server or print-server functionality.
Administration
| Default IP | 192.168.1.1 |
|---|---|
| Default username | admin |
| Default password | admin |
The default IP address of this router is 192.168.1.1. Explore the router's configuration interface to access more advanced settings such as port forwarding, DHCP settings, parental controls, firewall settings, and QoS (Quality of Service) settings. Regularly changing the password is a good security practice to protect your network and devices from unauthorized access. It is also recommended to use strong, unique passwords for other devices and online accounts connected to your network for enhanced security. By changing the default password, you improve the security of your router and reduce the risk of unauthorized individuals gaining control over your network. It helps prevent unauthorized access to your router's settings, network configurations, and sensitive information.
The specifications above are based on the official data published by the manufacturer, but we also take user reviews into consideration. If you found an error or something lacking in the specifications above for the Asus RT-N12+ Pro, then don’t hesite and signal the problem to us.
Asus RT-N12+ Pro (RT-N12P) pictures
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