ASUS RT-AC68U AC1900 Dual-Band Mesh Wi-Fi System 2 Pack Wireless Router, Access Point Mode, Gigabit, Twin USB 3.0 for Media Server, 3G/4G Dongle Support

Asus AC1900 (2 pack RT-AC68U) I always change my ISP as soon as the contract is up. I signed up for VM's 100mb broadband service and received their appalling Hub3. The Asus has sorted all the problems out. In fact it is so good I could have got away with just a single RT-AC68U. House is two storey 3 bed detached with front and rear garden on a very steep slope, yet I was able to get wifi everywhere, whereas the Hub3 could not even reach the bathroom. Set up was straightforward1. Log in to VM Hub3 and place into Modem Mode then switch it off2. Power up one of the AC68Us and connect it directly into a laptop using an ethernet cable3. Go to router.asus.com in a browser and follow the on screen set up for the SSID etc4. Connect Ethernet cable from WAN port of Asus to a LAN port on the Hub3 when prompted.5. Switch on Hub3 and wait for the LED to turn purple (Modem Mode). Takes ages for the Hub 3 to reboot so be patient6. Update firmware on Asus when prompted.TIP: Use exactly the same SSID and password as you used on your Virgin Hub. That way all your devices will automatically reconnect without any hassle.My network includes 4 IP cameras, a normal DVR, 8 Echo's, 15 smart switches, and countless phones, tablets and Windows / Linux machnines, and all working without any problems within minutes of the set up.The Asus interface is the best I have ever used. It has everything you want and much more. The Hub3 on the otherhand was laggy, takes forever to boot, and offers almost nothing in customisation. This Asus is very user friendly yet is full of features you would normally only expect from something like OpenWRT.Having got everything up and running I then added the second RT-AC68U router as a node to create an AiMesh using a wired ethernet connection as the backhaul. I can now get full speed wifi on both bands even at the back of the garden. If you use a wired connection you first need to connect the routers wirelessly using WPS and then place it where you have a wifi deadzone. I also really like that I can separate the wifi bands into 2.4 and 5ghz as some of my smart switches won't connect if the SSID is the same for both bands.TIP: It takes time for the AiMesh to settle and for clients to use the second router even when they are not far away from it. After several hours 3 devices with weak signal switched over but I had to reset a couple of the Echo's so that they would connect to the stronger signal on the mesh.

I purchased two of these routers for use with the low-emission 3rd-party JRS firmware to keep the harmful EMF emissions to a minimum, and I have to say I'm very impressed with this router. It does everything I need it to with no grumbles and I'm definitely a power user.I run Nord VPN through this router and while it doesn't natively support any particular service, it's easy enough to get going, if you're comfortable with router configs and VPNs.Another great feature of this router is the QoS (Quality of Service) function. It's really easy to set up and really helps with prioritising gaming over anything else the family might be doing online. Netflix can wait. CoD definitely can't!!Other useful functions include a media and print server, in-built security software to keep the nasties out and even a basic Parental Controls function.When all this is packaged together with the undeniably rock-solid Asus build quality, there's really nothing to beat it.Finally, anybody concerned with the steadily growing body of knowledge on the health impact of Wifi and EMF's in general should check out the JRS firmware for this router. It really does reduced the harmful emissions and provide additional functions to limit and control the EMF output of this already amazing router.

One of the units just stopped working out of the blue, won't switch on, won't light up, won't reset, is totally dead. Feel like I have totally wasted my money on asus.

I good spread of features, had everything I needed for a slightly advance setup.Extremely fast router. Been using TP-Link for a couple years, but not going back after this. I get almost double the throughput with these, and a stable 5GHz signal.

Very strong wifi signalGreat in a mesh set upImpressive speed as well

Didn't work. First one setup OK. Second one showed up and did a download, never to be seen again.

Good