ASUS RT-AC66U B1 AC1750 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Router
Check out the Asus RT-AC66U B1 ($ 109.99) if you’re looking to replace your outdated router but have limited funds. A dual-band router, the ASUS RT-AC66U B1 is equipped with four LAN ports and offers built-in Trend Micro malware protection and user-friendly Quality of Service (QoS) and parental control settings. Its solid performance, robust feature set, and affordable price earn it our Editors’ Choice for budget-priced routers.
ASUS RT-AC66U B1 Feature:
Fast Wi-Fi Speeds— Concurrent dual-band Wi-Fi delivers smooth streaming with 2.4 GHz speeds up to 450Mbps and 5GHz speeds up to 1300Mbps.
Optimized Wi-Fi Range— AiRadar beamforming and high-power antennas for better coverage.
Network control through ASUS Router app— PC-free manage of network settings, anytime, anyplace.
Parental Controls – Monitor and restrict internet activity for any user.
Improved network safety with ASUS AiProtection— Triple-strength network security powered by Trend MicroTM.
USB 3.0 – Built-in USB 3.0 port for printer sharing, 3G/4G dongle support and 10X-faster data-transfer speeds than USB 2.0 for storage devices.
AiMesh Supported – Connect to other compatible ASUS routers to create a flexible and powerful whole-home Wi-Fi network.
ASUS RT-AC66U B1 Spec:
| Model Name | ASUS RT-AC66U B1 |
| Network Standard | IEEE 802.11a IEEE 802.11b IEEE 802.11g WiFi 4 (802.11n) WiFi 5 (802.11ac) IPv4 IPv6 |
| Data Rate | 802.11a : up to 54 Mbps 802.11b : up to 11 Mbps 802.11g : up to 54 Mbps WiFi 4 (802.11n) : up to 450 Mbps WiFi 5 (802.11ac) : up to 1300 Mbps |
| Antenna | External antenna x 3 |
| Transmit/Receive | MIMO technology 2.4GHz 3×3 5GHz 3×3 |
| Operating Frequency | 2.4 GHz / 5 GHz |
| Ports | RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for WAN x 1, RJ45 for 10/100/1000 BaseT for LAN x 4 USB 2.0 x 1 USB 3.0 x 1 |
| Power Supply | AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz) DC Output : 19 V with max. 1.75 A current |
| Package content | RT-AC66U Dual Band 3×3 802.11AC Gigibit Router RJ-45 cable Power adapter Quick start guide Warranty card |
ASUS RT-AC66U B1Performance
The RT-AC66U B1 outperformed other budget-priced routers that we’ve tested. Its score of 97Mbps on our 2.4 GHz close-proximity (same-room) test was much faster than its predecessor, the RT-AC66U, and the D-Link DIR-859. It also beat the TP-Archer C7 V2, if only by 6Mbps. On the 2.4 GHz 30-foot test, the ASUS RT-AC66U B1’s score of 65Mbps surpassed the older RT-AC66U and the Archer C7 V2 by a slight margin, but was twice as fast as the D-Link DIR-859.
The ASUS RT-AC66U B1’s throughput on the 5GHz band was significantly better than what we saw with the original RT-AC66U. It scored 551Mbps on the close-proximity test compared to the older router’s score of 129Mbps. The D-Link DIR-859 and the Archer C7 V2 also trailed the ASUS RT-AC66U B1 on this test. At 30 feet, the ASUS RT-AC66U B1 managed 230Mbps, nearly doubling the score from the 2012 version and the D-Link DIR-859. The Archer C7 V2 led with a score of 250Mbps.
ASUS RT-AC66U B1 Advantage:
Dual-band connectivity for lag-free entertainment
Delivering 2.4 GHz and 5GHz concurrent bands at as high as 450Mbps and 1300Mbps, respectively, the ASUS RT-AC66U B1 has a total speed of as high as 1750Mbps. You can perform basic tasks such as web browsing and file downloading on the 2.4 GHz band, while simultaneously allowing multiple devices to stream in HD or support online gaming and other demanding applications smoothly on the clearer 5GHz band.
Do more at once with dual-core processors inside
The ASUS RT-AC66U B1 features a dual-core processor that eliminates the performance drops that plague other routers. In spite of on the busiest home networks, HD video streaming is smooth, the latency low for online gaming and VoIP calls, and file downloads are uninterrupted.
Entertainment everywhere, on every device
Exclusive ultra-sensitive receivers give improved mid- and long-range Wi-Fi signal, with high-powered amplifiers and AiRadar beamforming to deliver unrivaled coverage that’s fast, stable and dependable for all your connected devices, from PCs and mobile devices to game consoles and beyond.
Ultimate USB speed and versatility
USB 3.0 features data transfers up ten times faster than USB 2.0. Two USB ports make the ASUS RT-AC66U B1 perfect for file, multimedia, and 3G/4G sharing, while ASUS AiDisk supplies remote access and quick content streaming. Where other routers have their USB ports sandwiched close to one another, both ASUS RT-AC66U B1 USB ports are evenly spaced for easy access to either at all times.
Powerful Whole-home Wi-Fi System.
Your ASUS RT-AC66U B1 can deliver smooth, trustworthy Wi-Fi to every part of your home. But Wi-Fi coverage can be affected by many factors– room layout, construction materials, and even furnishings. ASUS AiMesh is an innovative new router feature that fixes these problems: it creates a whole-home Wi-Fi network using multiple ASUS routers. AiMesh is powerful, flexible and you can use a mix of ASUS router models– protecting your investment! AiMesh gives you time-saving central control, and seamless roaming capability. AiMesh is Wi-Fi you can rely upon– for all your devices, at all times
Control your network anyplace
In your increasingly mobile-enabled life, having manage over your network by an app is more important than ever. The new ASUS Router App is built from the ground-up to be both intuitive and robust, helping you to setup your router, control network traffic, diagnose connection issues and even update firmware, all without needing to boot up a PC.
Parental Controls
When they explore the internet, keep your kids safe. The state-of-the-art parental controls in AiProtection integrate all the management functions you need in one place and the intuitive interface makes it super simple to view and apply security settings to all the devices owned by individual family members
Verdict
The Asus RT-AC66U B1 is a budget-friendly dual-band router that is easy to install, feature-packed, and delivers solid throughput performance.
