ASUSRT-AX86U Pro (AX5700) Dual Band WiFi 6 Extendable Gaming Router, 2.5G Port, Gaming Port, Mobile Game Mode, Port Forwarding, Subscription-free Network Security, VPN, AiMesh Compatible

I've been using the ASUS router for a little over a month now and have been very happy with the performance and features. The router supports 15 wireless devices in a two story house with two devices being heavy gaming PCs.The initial setup and configuration was easy and took no time to get up and runningLatency and throughput have both been good with no complaints from any home users.I had one slight issue getting a Brother printer to get a wireless DHCP address from the router, but it was probably the outdatedness of the printer and not the routers fault. Once I switched to WPS setup it connected fine.The router's admin portal gives you a ton of configuration options, security features and reports which is nice. I also like the free security they give you via TrendMicro.Overall very happy with my purchase.

Fast, Reliable, and a Must-Have for Home Assistant AutomationI recently upgraded to this ASUS RT-AX86U Pro to replace the standard router from my ISP, and the difference is night and day. Not only is it incredibly fast with my Google Fiber service, but it unlocked a level of network control I was looking for, specifically for my Home Assistant setup.In terms of raw performance, this router is a beast. The Wi-Fi 6 speeds are excellent throughout my house, and the 2.5G WAN port handles my gigabit internet without breaking a sweat. Everything feels snappier, from streaming 4K video to general web Browse.But the real reason I chose this specific model was for its well-known integration with Home Assistant. The setup was incredibly easy; Home Assistant’s native ASUSWRT integration found the router immediately. My goal was to be able to programmatically control internet access for my kids' devices. With this router, I've created automations in Home Assistant that disable internet access for their tablets automatically after a certain time of night or when they've reached a daily limit. It works flawlessly. The ability to toggle access for any device on my network from a dashboard or script is a game-changer for smart home parenting.Beyond that, the AiProtection security features are a great bonus without requiring a subscription, and knowing I can easily expand with another ASUS router using AiMesh in the future is a big plus.Pros:* Excellent Wi-Fi 6 speed and coverage.* 2.5G port is perfect for multi-gig internet like Google Fiber.* Seamless integration with Home Assistant for advanced automation.* Powerful, subscription-free network security features.* Stable and reliable performance.Cons:* The web interface is packed with features, which could be a bit intimidating for a total beginner (but it's perfect for enthusiasts).If you're just looking for a fast and reliable router, this is a fantastic choice. But if you're a Home Assistant user looking to take your network automations to the next level, this router is an absolute must-have. It’s powerful, flexible, and has performed exactly as I'd hoped.

In 2021 I purchased an Orbi system (RBK753 or RBK753S which is the membership club equivalent) and it worked fine for a while, but it had one flaw that used to drive me crazy: Whenever there was a need to reboot the router, it would take 1 to 2 DAYS for my 10 nest cameras to sync and for all of them to be online again. After putting up with this for 2 years I had enough and after 2 decades of an exclusive relationship with Netgear, I decide to open myself up and go back to the router dating scene to see what had changed in 2 decades. To my surprise, apparently Netgear is no longer king, and this particular ASUS router was included in the top 5 router rankings on every publication and established website out there. Sometimes it would be ranked #1 sometimes #3 but it would always be in the top 5. So I purchased it. Going from a Netgear Orbi system with 5 satellites (6 if you count the router itself), I was curious as to how much of my 4000sqft home a single router could cover. My goal was, if possible, to do away with Mesh systems. Netgear also had a flaw where despite broadcasting the same SSiD on all satellites, some clients still could differentiate between the one they originally connected to and an identical satellite broadcasting the same SSiD in other parts of the house. Some of my light switches would even see the same SSiD listed several times despite technically being the same network.So I installed the ASUS RT-AX86U PRO and even though it didn’t cover the entirety of the 4000sqft, it did cover a solid 50%. Technically I was able to see and connect to its SSiD from anywhere in the house but in some far corners the signal would not be a solid or steady. I knew I was asking too much of a single router since my previous Orbi alone with no satellites could barely cover 20% of my home so the fact that this one was pushing 50% it was a huge accomplishment. So I decided to order another RT-AX86U PRO and add it to the first one as an iMesh node.In case you’re not familiar AiMesh is the proprietary ASUS technology that allows you to seamlessly add other ASUS products as Mesh network nodes to your main router. Just the future proofing benefits alone make this a brilliant concept. So once I added the second RT-AX86U PRO to AiMesh, with 2 clicks, the remaining part of the house that I was having issues with now had a rock solid signal. Not only that but the 4 LAN ports on that second router acting as a node were active! And allowed me to hardwire several legacy devices in that room for unparalleled speed. I still had 2 nest cameras in a far corner of the property that were actually out of the house in my backyard and only operated in the 2.4 ghz range and were struggling to connect to the network (understandable since now I was not only asking my router to broadcast successfully at that distance but also to penetrate siding and insulation and the odd slab of concrete which are tougher for a wireless signal to penetrate than the drywall inside the house). At 200 bucks a pop my wallet was a bit reticent to add a 3rd RT-AX86U PRO, so I settled for an ASUS RP-AX58 AiMesh extender. At only 80 bucks, if this thing really did what it said it did, which was integrating itself into my AiMesh network, talk to the other routers in the fast 5ghz channel and rebroadcast that data in the far corner of the house both in the 5Ghz and also in the 2.4 GHz frequency that is the only one my aging nest cameras could comprehend, it was a no brainer. And guess what: It did. So using 2 RT-AX86U PRO routers, one as a main and the second one as an AiMesh node, and one ASUS RP-AX58 AiMesh extender, I was now able to flawlessly cover my 4000sqft home. Something that with the Netgear Orbi it used to take 6 satellites to do. And the best part, if I ever needed to reboot the router, all my nest cameras would come back online within a minute. Not 2 days.I am extremely happy with my purchase and considering the 2 routers I just added to my network are top of the line, I expect to be able to continue to purchase the latest and greatest ASUS router every few years and use all existing hardware as AiMesh nodes.