ASUS RT-AC5300 Range sucks

So I bought this router thinking it's the best thing made ever since sliced bread with its octopus looking antennas.

I live in a 2 bedroom apartment. The router is located in the living room and both rooms are like 10-12 feet away

the thing is, once the wooden doors of those rooms are closed, I might get connection but no internet on my mobile devices

I know the walls block some of the waves but it is only 10-12 feet away

what other router that has a low ping rate like the ASUS AC5300 is there but has much better range?

Shall I consider the Linksys WRT1900AC?

@downloads

 

That's odd - what are the doors made of? Do you live in a vault?
On a more serious note - does this happen with both bands or only 5GHz?

 

There is advanced tuning to increase power output for each radio, check that out.

And, 2.4ghz will get much better penetration of structure than 5ghz... adjust according to signal strength through your structure - use 2.4ghz if you must.

Also, I think that radio / model will allow directional beam forming, check out the manual and google for hints.

I do know the take off angle for those antennas is 90 degree's - straight up the antennas will have best penetration horizontally.

Also some antenna's are dual 2.4/5ghz - two sets - and one set is only 5ghz - hence the tri-band / radio features.

I do recall you making a fun "spider" crawl out of the router - you posted a photo, so make sure you have the router right side up and antenna edges pointed such that the signal has best coverage perpendicular to the antenna - off the sides when vertical.

It should be a good router with good coverage... give it a read up on the manual and advanced tuning - it may take a few sessions and googling to find the best set up.

 

I'm using ASUS Smart Connect so it should be altering them according to which bans is best

 

It's best to physically point the router and the antenna's in the direction that gives the best coverage for your usage - the automatic software tuning can take it from there, but if it's physically pointing in the opposite direction(s) from optimal coverage, there isn't much the software can do for you.

And, the advanced settings should let you max out power and tune the parameters to match your needs better as well.

Here, these looks interesting:

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/asus-rt-ac5300-smart-connect-on-or-off.33437/

Maybe turn off the Smart Connect feature, and manually select the bands best for each device yourself. It doesn't sound like it's automaticness is doing a stellar job.

"Smart Connect is a joke - marketing garbage. I have 16 devices on my AC5300 and it wouldn't hook in with some apple products. I love ASUS routers but just an example of putting it in for marketing and maybe 1-2 years from now they will have the programming code worked out to make it work.

Set up 3 different SSID's and different passwords - then you'll be fine. In my house, I have kids and wives devices on 5G-1 and all mine on 5G-2 - so it works well. Granted those channels have different frequencies but in a 2,400 sq. ft hosue and connection not an issue. In fact, switching from AC68 to AC 5300 - boosted my 5G range from only in house to a 100 yard circle around my house - router in bedroom on 2nd floor. The range on AC5300 is unreal."

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/wire...us-rt-ac3200-smart-connect-the-missing-manual

And, keep googling for AC5300 specific tuning tips.

Get in there up to your elbows, and give it a shot, before throwing it out.

 

ah ok, I will try playing with the settings, can u guide me from where?

I have the antennas like a spider, I will put them all up in the air

 

I can try, but hopefully with the Auto Connect stuff off, the rest will make sense on it's own.

Jack up the power on all radios used - set up each SSID so you can manually distribute the devices across the 3 SSID's - pick devices in the beam path to get best coverage.

Once you get everything connecting well, then you can tune down the power of each radio individually so as to be a good RF citizen - only use the power required for a solid high speed connection and no more.

Maybe focus in on 1 direction / radio / set of devices at a time - go area by area to get devices online.

Have fun

 

He is a rich Arab Sheikh, so probably lives in a vault to keep out all the peasants from raiding his cash stockpile

I live in a 2 bed room apartment here too, never had any such issues... I use a Netgear R7500v2 router, which is AC2350... Strong signal throughout the house... I have wooden doors too although they are not that thick...And plasterboard walls... Are your wooden doors thick and walls made out of concrete? That might explain your issues...

 

if only you knew how poor I am......

 

Asus smart connect does not work well. My 5300 is a beast. I can get signal thru my house and almost to the back of my property that is just under 2 acre. I stay connected to my wifi with my phone streaming music while riding my lawn mower. Certain parts I loose signal out in the yard. But it's pretty good around. 5ghz is weak as mentioned already at going thru walls and doors that is going to be with almost every router. Atleast all I've tested.

 

Did you get this worked out? Range ok now with the auto Connect stuff disabled and manual connections set up?

 

Didn't do a thing, just upgraded to the latest firmware v3.0.0.4.380.7266 and now it's better even with Smart Connect still enabled

 

Well at least Asus updates its router firmwares regularly, can't say the same for Netgear!

 

oh I wasn't aware of that, I was almost gonna pull the trigger on the netgear version of this router at the time when I wanted to purchase it

 

You need to flash a good custom firmware to get he most out of high end routers these days. Its been ages since i used any router at stock and didnt give me issues while at it.

 

I tried every Merlin Firmware, they all suck, had better performance and connectivity with the stock firmware.

The old days of the Merlin Firmware magic on the AC68U are gone

 

That is indeed weird , im using Merlin on 2 of my AC68U's and they have been flawless. The only time they have issues is when one of friends brings over their apple device and the whole network ****s the bed.

 

I said it's not great on the AC5300, it was great on the AC68U

 

Ah yeah i mid read that.

have you tried setting the transmission power manually? But then you might need to actively cool the router as well. Most high end routers throttle because of heat.

 

I don't want to or need to do any of that with the stock firmware and it works great. Merlin's firmware does not add anything new or impress me in any way like it did in the past.

 

And all contain BGA!! Work as intended.

 

LOL

Cant stuff a LGA in there bruh.

 

You wanna run LGA routers now too?

What about your electric toothbrush, toaster, blender?

Go LGA on everything? Whether it makes sense or not?

Update: Duh, why would I even ask, of course you would

 

I should have been more precise in my reply. Sorry Just the right location for BGA

 

Hi..

802.11ad is very interesting, though I can’t see many applications in the UK for it right now that wouldn’t be better served with 10Gb.