Asus RT-N15U WiFi router: Pros and Cons
The Asus RT-N15U (RT-N15U) router released in 2011. It is powered by Broadcom BCM47186B0 @ 500 MHz chipset, 64 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-N15U 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-N15U, 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 has actively developed innovative networking solutions.
Asus RT-N15U specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-N15U |
| Type | RT-N15U |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2011 |
Body
| Dimensions | 172 x 145 x 24 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 240 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 a router can matter in some situations. But, it is usually not as crucial as other factors. These factors include features and compatibility.
System
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM47186B0 @ 500 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 64 MB |
| Flash | 8 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT |
| Power supply | 12 V / 1 A |
The Broadcom BCM47186B0 @ 500 MHz CPU provides processing power. It handles tasks and services within the RT-N15U router. The amount of RAM in a router can affect its performance. It also affects its capacity to handle concurrent operations and traffic. The 8 MB flash memory in the router serves as the storage medium for the router's firmware. 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 features and capabilities. They extend the functionality of networking hardware. The Asus packages the RT-N15U router with 12 V / 1 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 | no |
Like many modern routers, the RT-N15U supports many network standards too. The IPv4 uses 32-bit addresses, represented as four sets of numbers separated by periods (e.g. 192.168.0.1). This router has Gigabit Ethernet LAN ports. They provide data transfer speeds of up to 1000 Mbps (1 Gbps) over Ethernet connections. This router ensures that you can use fast internet from your ISP fully.
Wireless
| Antennas | 2 x 3 dBi internal |
|---|---|
| 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 | yes |
A well-positioned antenna can reduce interference and signal weakening. This leads to a more reliable connection. Many IoT devices, smart home devices, and older Wi-Fi devices mainly use the 2.4 GHz band. 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-N15U 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. 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 |
|---|---|
| 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-N15U 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-N15U 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
- lightweight
- sufficient memory
- OpenWrt compatible
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- WPS friendly
- USB 2 compatible
- printserver functionality
- fileserver operation
Cons
- insufficient flash
- missing Wi-Fi 6 support
- lacks Wi-Fi 5 compatibility
- reduced Wi-Fi bandwidth
- incompatible with WPA3
Asus RT-N15U photos
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