ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Gaming Router

ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Dual Band Gigabit WiFi Gaming Router with MU-MIMO, AiMesh for mesh wifi system, AiProtection network security by Trend Micro, WTFast game accelerator and Adaptive QoS

ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router Feature:

Ultimate gaming experience – Built-in WTFast ® game accelerator and Adaptive QoS deliver lag-free online gaming and smooth 4K UHD streaming
Ultrafast Wi-Fi – AC2900 W-Fi speeds boosted with NitroQAM ™ and 5GHz quad-stream technology to deal with even the busiest home networks with ease
Ultrawide Coverage— High-performance antennas, ASUS AiRadar and Range Boost eliminate dead spots, and MU-MIMO maximizes Multi-device performance
Ultrapowerful Processor— Enjoy smoother networking and faster data transfers with the PC-grade 1.8 GHz 64bit dual-core processor
Commercial-grade Security— AiProtection, powered by Trend Micro ™, blocks and neutralizes internet security threats for all your connected smart devices
AiMesh Supported – Connect your RT-AC86U to other compatible ASUS routers to create a flexible and powerful whole-home Wi-Fi network

ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router Spec:

Model Name	ASUS RT-AC86U
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 1734 Mbps 1024QAM (2.4GHz) : up to 750 Mbps 1024QAM (5GHz) : up to 2167 Mbps
Antenna	External detachable antenna x 3 Internal antenna x 1
Transmit/Receive	MIMO technology 2.4GHz 3×3 5GHz 4×4
Processor	1.8 GHz dual-core processor
Operating Frequency	2.4G Hz / 5 GHz
Memory	256 MB Flash, 512 MB RAM
Boosts speed	Beamforming: standard-based and universal 1024-QAM high data rate 20/40/80 MHz bandwidth
Ports	RJ45 for Gigabits BaseT for WAN x 1, RJ45 for 10/100/1000/Gigabits 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

 

ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router Performance

Using MU-MIMO and beamforming technology, the Asus RT-AC86U delivers good throughput and range combined with security and gaming enhancements. At our Utah test lab using Ixia’s ixChariot software, we found that while it may not have been the fastest router on the block with the router and client next to one another, the ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router’s pace picked up when they were separated by more than 100 feet.
Its top speed of 667.8 Mbps was achieved with our client at 15 feet, and the Asus is 23 percent faster than the Linksys WRT32X but marginally slower than the TP-Link Archer C2300’s 682.3 Mbps at the same distance. It went 636.5 Mbps at 5 feet, more than 50 percent less than the Archer C2300’s class-leading 963.6 Mbps at the same distance.

The ASUS RT-AC86U’s throughput of 603.5 Mbps and 589.6 Mbps at 50 feet and 100 feet lagged behind the Archer C2300’s 913.8 Mbps and 613.2 Mbps. It, however, outperformed the Norton Core’s 601.4 Mbps and 483.8 Mbps at these distances.

It was at our terminal testing distance of 150 feet that the ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router caught up and shined, making it a good choice for larger homes. It moved 487.2 Mbps, besting the Archer C2300 by 29 percent (at 342.5 Mbps), the Norton Core by 21 percent (at 384.1 Mbps) and the Linksys WRT32X by 61 percent (at 302.4 Mbps).

ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router Advantage:

Furiously Fast. Powerfully Equipped.
ASUS RT-AC86U Router is the ultimate choice for gaming, with blistering 2917Mbps Wi-Fi speeds, MU-MIMO technology and powerful game-boosting features including the WTFast ® game accelerator and Adaptive QoS.

Ultrafast Wi-Fi with NitroQAM ™ and 5GHz Quad-Stream Technology
Whether you’re gaming online in a heated competition or streaming a live event in 4K Buffering, UHD and lag are simply not an option. NitroQAM ™ (1024-QAM) technology delivers the ultimate 5GHz quad-stream (4×4) speeds of up to 2167Mbps, giving ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router a combined total speed of 2917Mbps. Everyone on your network can enjoy smooth streaming and low-latency online gaming!

Powerful Hardware, Ultimate Performance
With the increasing popularity of 5GHz Wi-Fi devices, a router needs to deliver the maximum 5GHz bandwidth possible, with reliable long-range performance. ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router has an additional internal 5GHz antenna to provide the ultimate 5GHz quad-stream performance, while RangeBoost significantly improves mid- to long-distance Wi-Fi coverage. Additionally, ASUS RT-AC86U’s top-of-the-line 1.8 GHz 64bit dual-core processor brings its computational capability to the next level, enabling USB data transfers of up to 110MB/s and router download/upload speeds (WAN-LAN throughput) of as high as 1600Mbps

Free Game Accelerator Inside
Ping time and variance are critical technical parameters that affect responsiveness in online gaming, and their values depend heavily on the route game packets take to and from their destination. The Gamers Private Network ®( GPN ® )from WTFast ® automatically performs route optimization, choosing the most efficient route for game packets, resulting in consistently-lower ping time and minimal packet loss. With ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router this optimization is free for accelerating one selectable device at a time, so you can enjoy the results on supported competitive multi-player online games

Adaptive QoS– Prioritize Your Game
Boost your gaming bandwidth with Adaptive QoS (Quality of Service), which allows you to easily prioritize gaming packets and activities. You can even assign full dedicated bandwidth while gaming under gamer solo mode, making ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router the perfect ally for low latency gaming any place in your home. It supports major consoles including PlayStation ® 3, PlayStation ® 4, PS4 ™ Pro, PlayStation ® Vita, Wii U, 3DS and Xbox One.

Multiple Capacity Wi-Fi with Revolutionary MU-MIMO Technology
MU-MIMO gives every compatible device3 its own dedicated full-speed Wi-Fi connection, to ensure multiple devices can connect all at once without slowing down the network.
ASUS RT-AC86U is able to connect to multiple MU-MIMO-compatible clients at each device’s maximum speed simultaneously, unlike standard single-user MIMO where individual devices have to wait for sequential transmissions.

AiProtection Pro
All your family members, old or young, are exposed to the dangers of the internet every single moment they’re online. Disguised cyber threats can sneak in to steal your private data, or your kids may accidentally encounter inappropriate content during their ever-growing screen time. ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router includes Advanced Parental Controls to give you total peace of mind, with AiProtection Pro – commercial-grade security for your home network and comprehensive, simple control of the online experience for each family member and each device, all via the mobile app.

Fortified Frontline Network Security
When it comes to game performance, networking is only half the equation. As AiProtection is integrated in ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router and powered by the router, even though a device’s security software isn’t turned on– to get around blocked games, for example– AiProtection still protects the network from attacks and intrusions, for added peace of mind.

Powerful Whole-home Wi-Fi System.
In most cases, your ASUS RT-AC86U Router can deliver smooth, reliable 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, and 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 on– for all your devices, all the time!

Verdict

Asus’ $170 ASUS RT-AC86U AC2900 Router is a reliable, competent router that does extremely well at long distances where competitors fall short. It combines security and gaming enhancements with excellent customizability and a built-in stand. If all you crave is all-out performance, save yourself $50 and get TP-Link’s $120 Archer C2300. Still, the ASUS RT-AC86U can deliver a safe and reasonably fast online experience for every family member.