Asus RT-N56U router review
Asus introduced the RT-N56U router in 2010. It is powered by Ralink RT3662F @ 500 MHz chipset, 128 MB of RAM, and 8 MB of flash memory.
Want to know if the Asus made a really good router? Keep reading!
Table of Contents
- Asus RT-N56U 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-N56U, please let us know.
The RT-N56U is a powerful router. It is full of features and made for advanced networking. Asus routers are well-liked because of their user-friendly design.
Asus RT-N56U specifications
| Brand | Asus |
|---|---|
| Name | RT-N56U |
| Type | RT-N56U |
| Rating | |
| Launch | 2010 |
Body
| Dimensions | 172 x 145 x 60 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 330 g |
The dimensions of a router can impact its cooling capabilities. Larger routers have more room for internal cooling. If you plan to mount your router on a wall or ceiling, the weight can affect the mounting process.
System
| Chipset | Ralink RT3662F @ 500 MHz |
|---|---|
| RAM | 128 MB |
| Flash | 8 MB |
| OS | Asus |
| Alternative OS | OpenWRT |
| Power supply | 19 V / 1.58 A |
The Asus RT-N56U router has a Ralink RT3662F @ 500 MHz processor. The 128 MB of RAM helps the router manage many tasks concurrently OpenWrt offers many features and capabilities. They extend the functionality of networking hardware.
Network
| Protocols | IPv4 |
|---|---|
| LAN ports | 4 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| WAN ports | 1 x 10/100/1000 Mbps |
| Mobile network | yes, with USB dongle |
| VPN support | no |
Gigabit Ethernet ports support data transfer rates of up to 1 gigabit per second. A Gigabit WAN port is useful when your internet plan supports high speeds. The RT-N56U router supports 3G or 4G dongles, allowing you to connect to a cellular network.
Wireless
| Antennas | 3 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 |
| Class | N600 |
| Speed | 300 + 300 Mbps |
| Transmit power | 20 dBm |
| Security | WEP WPA WPA2 |
| Guest network | yes |
Many IoT devices, smart home devices, and older Wi-Fi devices mainly use the 2.4 GHz band. The 5 GHz band is less crowded, and the RT-N56U router is 5 GHz capable. Older routers have a more limited range than newer Wi-Fi standards. So, they're less suitable for larger homes or offices. The introduction of WPA2 (Wi-Fi Protected Access 2) improved upon WEP. It provides stronger security.
Connectivity
| USB ports | 2 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). USB print servers let you connect a USB printer to your network. You can connect external storage devices such as USB flash drives or USB hard drives to your router.
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
- lightweight
- sufficient memory
- OpenWrt compatible
- high-speed LAN port
- high-speed WAN port
- 3/4G USB modem capable
- works on 5 GHz band
- 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
- missing WPS support
Asus RT-N56U photos
Asus RT-N56U comparisons
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Updated: May 25, 2024
