Asus rt-n56u
 

Up to now I have been reasonably happy with the VM Superhub. I didn't seem to have any of the major problems posted on the forums. However I felt that the wireless performance was deteriorating as the household added more and more wifi kit. Stuttering on HD video streaming and the occasional dropout. At present our wifi kit consists of three Tivos, two Humax PVRs, three Apple TVs, three smartphones, a Macbook Air, two Windows laptops, two Pure Internet radios, two iPads, a Nexus 7 and an Airplay Speaker. As it is coming up to Christmas I decided, based on advice from various forums, to treat myself to an ASUS RT-N56U. Ordered yesterday and delivered this morning from Amazon. Excellent service.

Installation was just about as easy as it could be, especially as I am not the best when it comes to networking. All I did was plug it in and follow the short wizard.I had no need to access the more complex configuration menu. I am blown away by the increase in both speed and range over wifi. Speed-test results over cable and wifi are the highest I have ever experienced and HD video is rock solid. iPlayer is also flawless. Best Christmas present ever, even though it was from myself! LOL:xmas:

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

Its a fantastic bit of kit if you don't mind paying the premium, with some nice 3rd party firmware support if you want to do the more bespoke network stuff.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

Real decent router you got there. Just a question. Amazon has the RT-N56U for £80.99 and the RT-N66U for £108.79. Did you consider the RT-N66U ?

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

No, I didn't. I'm not clued up enough to appreciate the difference. I am more than happy with the 56.:)

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

did you ask on here prior to buying it? you would be happy, its a really good router. the difference is the RT-N66U is an upgrade, added features and has the ability to be toyed with loading ddwrt or tomato plus at the £30 price difference it in my opinion would of been worth buying instead. im not saying your tech connected cannot be handled by the RT-N56U. I'm just saying the RT-N66U is better and would of been the better option.

RT-N56U 3rd party firmware - www.code.google.com/p/rt-n56u/

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

Thanks for your very interesting input but I have to recognise my own limitations. The prospect of going beyond where I am this evening with my home network frightens the proverbial out of me. I'm 67 and am reaching the stage where tech is just about leaving me behind. Still I do alright. My family rely on me for most tech support, even some of the young ones. Mind you, they tend to benefit from my upgrades.:)

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

fair enough. simply put minus the 3rd party firmware, you should have brought the RT-N66U instead. id like to know why you was advised to buy the RT-N56U instead of the RT-N66U. id understand if the price difference was big.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

Thats a completely redundant argument, there are much better options than the N66U as well.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

????

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

How dare you! What business is it of yours which router anyone buys?

The OP is, and was, free to buy any equipment he likes and just because £30 isn't much of a difference to you doesn't mean that a 34% price premium for features not needed is justifiable to all.

The OP has explained he has straightforward 'normal' networking requirements and is unlikely to use all the bells and whistles on the n56 so why incorrectly advise spending more money for more bells and whistles on the n66? Equally, the standard firmware will serve the needs of 99% of users - Not everyone is interested in DD-WRT/Tomato etc!!

Advise - Yes, but keep it relevant. Not once have you either asked what the requirements are...
Suggest that all purchases should be ratified by the 'Cableforum router purchasing advisory committee' - No!!

Simply put - The OP has bought an excellent piece of hardware that he's very happy with. Leave him alone!

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

how dare I? oh shut up. read and notice whats in bold..!

I'm not in any way shape or form disrespecting the OP! I'm actually going out my way to put across a valid point helping the OP. The OPs been advised to buy a router that costs a little less than the product one up from it. the RT-N66U holds more value being versatile and having extra features!

fixerman if youve taken what ive said offensively then im sorry. its just annoying that someone or some people advise a product but fail to point out its big brother doesnt cost much more and is better.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

I think you're being intrusive here, TH.

The Ferret's right, I'm afraid.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

intrusive? yeah ok. just like all 'those' cloners hey ;)

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

I have the N56U can't say I have ever come across any problems and as the OP says the WIFI is fantastic on it.

There are a ton of stuff built into the router even I don't understand and you'll find that a lot of Reviews recommend the router...I've read the reviews myself on both before I went and bought the N56U and a lot didn't rave that much about the 66 other than it has a lot better range than the N56U (software differences) are not that much different.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

Me too. No need for the 66. It's a lot more expensive then the 56.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

can an one give me the name of a resonably priced route that will get me near my 100meg wireless up from bettween 30 and 50mb to near than what i am paying for . fed with talking to virgin about it they say that is about right
tried it various times of the day, they say it is my engry saving lights but mostly when i am online the lights are off , evn my wired speed has never recahed 100mg is is usualy in the low 80s , so i am going to put the hub in modem mode and get a router, please do not go to techincal when tell me and i only have pc and laptop and windows phone conected to my network,

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

I dont know that much about networking but I read on here I'm sure it was about laptops that the Wifi on them will only do around 75megs? might be wrong like but sure I read it somewhere

---------- Post added at 23:49 ---------- Previous post was at 23:45 ----------


Did you do the new firmware update that changed the UI looks a lot better makes it a lot more easier in my opinion.

Also the client checker updates a lot faster now than it did before

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

Hi offmore

You've read the debate here on the SUS routers and you've seen the prices. Are they "reasonabl" in your mind? You didn't define "reasoonable".

---------- Post added at 23:59 ---------- Previous post was at 23:55 ----------

Hi Gav

Which firmware version do you mean? I haven't updated it for some months.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

ASUS RT-N56U Firmware Version 3.0.0.4.260
1. After upgrading to 3.0.0.4.260 and restarting your router, please press the reset button for more than 5 seconds to reset the system to the default settings.
2. The original download master is not compatible with new firmware. Please uninstall the download master utility in computer and remove the "Complete", "InComplete" folder in the hard drive plugged in RT-N56U usb port.
3. Upgrade to the latest ASUSWRT user interface
4. Enhanced QoS feature
5. Web based download master
6. PPTP VPN server
7. Flexible on-line time control for different client

---------- Post added at 01:26 ---------- Previous post was at 01:23 ----------

And this was the last update they did after......


ASUS RT-N56U Firmware Version 3.0.0.4.318
Fixed
1. DDNS registry problem after upgraded firmware from 1.0.1.8.x to 3.0.0.4.x
2. IPTV UI bugs
3. Server-U UPnP issue
4. UI bugs for mobile device

Modified
1. Update wireless driver
2. Add multicast setting for airprint/airplay
//3. allow empty gateway for Static IP + VPN in Russia
4. Add more 3G dongle support: SWU-3220A, SWC-U200, dongles from FreshsTel in Ukraine, YES in Malaysia

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

Yes but it's better on the N66U

The DIR-615 will easily do "near 100meg" under good conditions. And probably even under not-so-good conditions in non-standards-compliant mode.

Failing that you'll have to go for 5Ghz and just about any 5Ghz "N" router should have no problems reaching 100.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

I also recently stuck the Superhub in modem mode and got an Asus RT-N65U for £96 and it really has improved the throughput, range and reliability heaps over the Superhub.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

Yeah I looked at some reviews on the N66U but a lot were saying that unless you want 200feet range then you might as well just stick with a cheaper modem.

I've never tried the N56U outside the house for range I might do that see how far it can extend but upstairs the furthest bedroom from the router which is a laptop gets around 70meg on speed net so dont consider that bad at all.

For the 5ghz setting I was under the impression that only some mobile phones could access that setting? I dont think laptops have caught up with 5ghz wifi yet?

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

that is cheap, 2 weeks ago the 66u was £130 which put me off it. I maybe would have brought it for £108 possibly, I paid £70 for the n16u.

Also yes the issue with 5ghz is the wireless clients also have to be able to use it.

For ages I used 40mhz on 2.4ghz, then I dropped it back to 20mhz when my phone started having issues with it and discovered I only get about an extra 5% or so performance from the dual channel I assume due to mass interference, in my area is 16 wireless networks on 2.4ghz including 3 40mhz ones. I can get about 70-75mbit throughput tho on it which confuses me as articles state on 20mhz wireless N throughput should be much lower.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

another vote for the n56u. had it for quite some time now (April 2012) and I can't fault it. massive performance increase over the 'superhub', which is now in modem mode. plus, I've only restarted the asus about 6 times since owning it, and that's down to me upgrading firmware. unlike the superhub which literally needed restarts about 2 to 3 times a week because it would lock up or stop passing traffic over wifi.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

the 56u I dont like the design.

16u and 66u better designs.

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

to be honest, I don't sit there looking at it. I was more interested in it's performance and features!! :)

Re: Asus rt-n56u
 

Most laptops have had it for the past decade. Except ultra-cheap ones. Phones are the ones catching up but most high-end smartphones have it too and so do most premium tablets.

---------- Post added at 07:49 ---------- Previous post was at 07:42 ----------

Doesn't have to be interference. 40Mhz will switch itself off if it detects any overlapping networks in the area, even non-interfering ones. I think it's a bit stupid.