ASUS DSL-N55U FW

[touch]

I realize this is an older router, but I'm looking for a newer FW than the one from 2016. My router is the ASUS DSL-N55U FW_C1 version.

Have found a FW for the ASUS DSL-N55U FW_D1 that is from 2018, can I use that on the _C1 version?

 

[mtls2005]

Probably not. Those suffixes indicate different underlying hardware, usually.

 

You're looking for stock Asus firmware?

 

You're terminating a DSL service currently?

 

Are you experiencing some issue(s)?

 

Be advised that sometimes when flashing the latest stock firmware you might make it impossible to flash down or over to custom FW. (Just noticed that this is a DSL router.)

 

Version 1.1.1.2
2016/04/11

https://www.asus.com/Networking/DSLN55U_C1/HelpDesk_BIOS/

 

 

 

[touch]

Thanks for the clarification. I was afraid of that. 

I'm using it with AIS Fibre. Have their router in bridge mode. 

Everything is actually working well except that sometimes I might experience that the Wi-Fi sort of freezes. No data flow. Power cycling the router or just turning off and on Wi-Fi on the client(s) usually helps. 

Was hoping that a newer FW would be available to see if that helped. 

Maybe I should try and reflash the 2016 FW? 

[mtls2005]

 

No clue why re-flashing the current FW would address any issues?

 

How do you have your AIS Fiber router (Huawei?) linked to your ASUS DSL-N55U? Ethernet I assume? Why have you done this?

 

Which router is serving as your DHCP router? (One assumes it's the Asus, but have you turned off DHCP in the AIS router?) Do you have any devices plugged into the LAN ports on the AIS router? Are you using the WLAN on the AIS router? What DNS are you using?

 

And why have the AIS router in Bridge mode? You can just create a different sub-net? 

 

WiFi "freezes"? Does it ever "thaw" without manual intervention? Did your set-up ever work properly? So a device is working acceptably n the internet, and then, bang, it freezes?

[touch]

I had the Asus lying around when I got AIS Fibre and wanted to use it with a vpn subscription, it also has better Wi-Fi coverage than the supplied router from AIS. (not using VPN now) 

I'm not using the Ais router and nothing is plugged into it except the ethernet cable to the Asus. 

Yep everything was working perfectly until about a month ago when I started seeing web pages not loading as they should. Doing a speedtest then would show a speed around 1-2 mbit in download. (that's download speed using Wi-Fi. Speed using ethernet from the computer always gave me around 100 mbit) I never had the patience to wait and find out if the data flow would return to normal. Power cycling always took care of the problem. 

 

It's not a big problem since it's very infrequent and might not happen for a week or so. Would be nice to have it working properly though. 

 

 

[mtls2005]

8 minutes ago, touch said:

Speed using ethernet from the computer always gave me around 100 mbit

 

When connected to the Asus router? OK, then it sounds like the issue only occurs on WiFi? Is that correct? On many different devices? Or just one?

 

11 minutes ago, touch said:

Yep everything was working perfectly until about a month ago

 

Maybe some issue with the WiFi components in the Asus router? Or maybe just channel overlap and interference? Maybe do a site-survey - can use an Android app like WiFi analyzer - to see what networks are near you can if you can use a different fixed channel?

 

I might revert to using the AIS router alone, taking the Asus out of the network, to see if that performance is acceptable? Or try another secondary router, i.e. replacing the Asus router, maybe by borrowing one from a friend briefly, or buying an N300 WiFi router? 

[touch]

Yes the problem is only when  using Wi-Fi and across all client devices. 

I agree that there seem to be something iffy with the Asus router. I've already done the site survey and there is nothing that can interfere with my Wi-Fi. I'm on channel 2 and 36 and there's no other networks using these channels. 

Maybe I should let AIS cancel the bridge mode and use a sub-net as you suggested or get a new router. Don't really want to buy a new one if I'm not sure this one is broken. 

What would you recommend if I were to buy a new router? I like Asus, but would be open to other brands. 

Thanks for taking the time and trying to help

Edited October 23, 2018 by touch
Spelling

[mtls2005]

22 hours ago, touch said:

What would you recommend if I were to buy a new router? I like Asus, but would be open to other brands. 

 

Honestly, you need to figure out your requirements and budget, then watch/read reviews. Asus seems like a decent brand - I've got a ~ 6-year-old Asus RT-N16 still running fine (DDWRT) - but they're all (brands within a category/price range) probably running similar hardware and freeware?

 

For some, a 1,000 baht router is fine, while others seem to need 6,000/7,000/8,000 baht routers.

[touch]

Thanks I'll look into it. I'm going to have ais cancel the bridge mode and use a sub-net config. Will have some time to look into purchasing a new router. Commart is coming up in November... 

[Formaleins]

If you are looking for a new router I would more than likely go for Linksys or Asus. I used my last Linksys for almost ten years without issue. They are not the fastest routers but seem pretty tough and well built, sure you can get a lot more bells and whistles for the money, but be careful as a lot of it is just junk.

 

The newer Asus routers seem quite good. I am running an N86U at the moment, it runs fine and have had no problems at all with it. The only thing I am not so keen on is that it runs pretty hot, over 65C in a fan room (No aircon) so I tagged a fan to the vents and it runs 24/7 at just under 65C.

 

One thing you might like to look out for is routers that support WRT custom firmware, Asus supports  Merlin which is another custom addition.

 

TP link  and Belkin are not bad either and worth a look. The only routers and switches I have used here that consistently break down, glitch, break or just  misbehave are by Dlink, I would never  touch their  kit ever again. 

[touch]

Haha I've been burnt by Dlink too. 

I'm looking at Asus at the moment. There's a AC68U router for sale on lazada for 4K..

[mtls2005]

Personally, I might test the AIS router in a stand-alone configuration first to determine where the 'problem' might lie? If you're no longer running a VPN then you may not even need a secondary router - the AIS router should provide sufficient WiFi performance to match your end-points (they may not even support 5 GHz) and broadband service (which may top out at 100/200 Mbps). 

 

Running custom firmware can be dicey, and unnecessary unless you have some unusual and unique requirements. ASUSWRT supports applications like VPN natively. But having that option is a nice-to-have.

[touch]

I did try in stand-alone mode last night and it's pretty conclusive that it's the wi-fi in the ASUS that isn't up to the task any more.

It seems like it's only the 5ghz that's affected, but I'm not 100% on that.

I've had the ZTE router set to router mode and ran Wi-Fi analyzer to compare the strength of the Wi-Fi between the ZTE and the ASUS. The ASUS Wi-Fi reaches much farther and is stronger than that of the ZTE. If I'm going to use the ZTE I'll have to get an Access Point to extend the coverage.

[touch]

OK got the ASUS DSL-N55U C1 set up as a sub net to the ZTE AIS router. Using the 2.4 G from the ASUS as it's stronger, farther reaching , than the ZTE. Commart is coming up next week and I'll see if there are any good deals on routers there.

Edited October 28, 2018 by touch