Asus RT-N66U is a widely known wireless router that can guarantee fast work and high ergonomics at the same time. Here in this article, you will get to know about the features of this router, the specifications of this router that it has what it can offer, and whether it will be suitable for the requirements of your home or a small office network.
This is an Asus rt n66u router which is a dual-band gigabit router Wireless-N 900 technology is sufficient to provide uninterrupted wireless speed on 2. 4GHz and 5GHz bands. The RT-N66U offers great performance and comes equipped with higher security and USB-sharing options, it comes with a simple design and is commonly used for any type of networking requirement.
Key features
- Dual-band Wireless-N 900 (up to 600Mbps on 2.4GHz and 300Mbps on 5GHz)
- Gigabit WAN/LAN ports for wired connectivity
- USB 2.0 port for file/printer sharing
- Advanced firewall and content filtering
- Guest network access
- USB-based internet connection sharing
- Compatible with AsusWRT firmware for experienced users
- Intuitive web-based graphical user interface (GUI)
Hardware specifications
- Processor: Broadcom BCM4702 700MHz CPU
- Memory: 128MB DDR2 RAM, 8MB flash ROM
- Antenna: 3 external antennas
- Ports:
- 1 WAN Gigabit Ethernet port
- 4 LAN Gigabit Ethernet ports
- 1 USB 2.0 port
- Connectivity: 2.4GHz 802.11n/g/b and 5GHz 802.11n/a
- Power: 12V/2A power adapter
- Buttons: Power, WPS, Reset
- Dimensions: 206 x 143 x 39mm
- Operating temperature: 0°C to 40°C
Wireless capabilities
The RT-N66U mainstream router supports the latest 802. 4GHz and 5GHz bands and is classified as a Draft 2.0 compliant device as per 11n wireless networking standards. The number of bands that are being used by this Wireless access point are frequency bands 4GHz and 5GHz. For the 2. This can easily reach up to 600 Mbps. on the 2.4GHz band and up to 300Mbp in the 5GHz band.
Wireless devices can be put on different bands to enhance clear work with no interferences in case it has the dual-band option. The 2. The 4GHz band is better suited for legacy devices and can bear more interference, while 5GHz has more available bandwidth though not so crowded for the latest devices.
The router also has some functionalities like wireless security WAP/WPA2, wireless MAC address filtering, wireless access control, WPS push button configuration, and wireless guest access.
Wired networking
On the wired side of the RT-N66U, this model has a 1x WAN Gigabit Ethernet port and a 4x LAN Gigabit Ethernet port. This enables for fast wired internet connection to your broadband modem and wired connection to other devices in your network at a speed of 1Gbps.
The availability of the Gigabit ports is very useful in transferring large files between computers and other attached devices within the network. Connecting the desktops, gaming consoles, NAS devices, or printers to each other using a LAN cable is the best method as this provides operations at the highest throughput.
USB 2.0 port
A very special and handy feature of RT-N66U is it has USB 2. COM 0 port through several units of printers, storage, and mainly for establishing a connection with USB internet modems.
Depending on the model you can plug in an external hard drive or a USB flash drive into this port & Using a built-in File Server utility you can transfer files over the network within the home. To add a USB printer and make it available for use by any of the computers on the network, do the following.
User interface and setup
This device employs an easy-to-use-web-based graphical user interface when it comes to setting up as well as managing of the RT-N66U. All you have to do is to plug in your computer to the router either by a wired connection or wirelessly and then type the routers IP address in your browser to get to the routers admin page. The GUI is well-structured and organized. Getting started just involves basic configuration like setting up the wireless network name and password. Advanced users can make changes to port forwarding, VPN server settings, USB sharing services, and router security profiles.
Overall the setup process is straightforward and beginner-friendly. Asus also provides a mobile app for iOS/Android called AsusWRT for remote monitoring and configuration on the go.
Firmware and customization
A great part about router Asus rt n66u is the ability to install alternative Asus rt n66u firmware to add advanced features and capabilities. The RT-N66U supports AsusWRT, a third-party open-source firmware built on the Linux operating system.m
Installing AsusWRT enables complete control over the router and options such as installing packages and scripts. This allows turning the RT-N66U into a versatile mini server for tasks like rt n66u VPN, torrenting, wireless mesh networking, and more. AsusWRT has a large developer community providing updates and support.
The stock Asus rt n66u firmware also facilitates quick configuration using AsusWRT-Merlin, a customized version of AsusWRT with additional optimizations and tweaks. You get more features while retaining an easy-to-use interface.
Performance
The Broadcom BCM4718 chipset along with 128MB of RAM and 8MB flash storage makes the RT-N66U a robust performer capable of handling connections from dozens of devices simultaneously without issues.
Independent testing has shown real-world average throughput of about 150-200Mbps on 2.4GHz and 250-300Mbps on 5GHz when transferring large files over a Gigabit network, which is quite close to the theoretical maximum speeds. The 3 high-performance external antennas provide strong and reliable WiFi coverage.
Gaming, video streaming, HD video calls – all Internet-dependent tasks run without lag or stutter on this router. Its 700MHz processor ensures lag-free browsing even when multiple 4K video streams are running in the home.
Overall the RT-N66U provides smooth and fast connectivity for the everyday needs of a small home or office network.
Security features
Being an Asus router, the RT-N66U comes with robust security features to safeguard your network and connected devices:
- Built-in hardware-based firewall
- Network Address Translation (NAT)
- Stateful Packet Inspection (SPI) firewall
- DoS/DDoS prevention, spoofing protection
- Website filtering with content blocking
- MAC address filtering for access control
- The Guest network is completely isolated from the main network
- VPN server for secure encrypted remote access
- WPA/WPA2 wireless encryption with preshared key
- Wireless MAC address filtering
- Password-protected administration page
These security layers work together to protect your network against hacking attempts and malicious threats from the internet. You can customize filters and allow/block lists according to your needs.
FAQs
Q. Does RT-N66U support the latest Wi-Fi 6 standard?
A. No, the RT-N66U only supports the older Wireless-N 900 and Wireless-AC 1350 standards, but not the new Wi-Fi 6 standard as it was released a few years back. So it may not be future-proof for newer Wi-Fi 6 compatible devices.
Q. What is the maximum number of connected devices it can handle?
A. The RT-N66U has sufficient processing power and features to manage connections from 50-100 devices simultaneously without any issues under normal usage. The actual limit may vary depending on how bandwidth-intensive the connected devices are.
Q. Can I install third-party firmware like DD-WRT on it?
A. No, the RT-N66U has a locked bootloader which doesn’t allow installing alternative firmware like DD-WRT. However, it fully supports the AsusWRT custom firmware which provides advanced features and customization options.
Q. Can I use this router as a wireless access point only?
A. Yes, the RT-N66U can be configured to work as a wireless access point (AP) by disabling its routing functions. You need to connect an additional router for internet access and DHCP functions in this mode. The RT-N66U will then act like a wireless extender.
Q. Does the USB port support USB 3.0 speeds?
A. No, the USB port on the RT-N66U is USB 2.0, so maximum throughput is limited to 480Mbps. USB 3.0 devices can still be connected but will operate at slower USB 2.0 speeds only.
Conclusion
Altogether, the Asus RT-N66U is a high-end but highly friendly for the users dual band gigabit router appropriate for home and small offices. It offers good wireless performance together with other features like a built-in USB port, a guest network, and basic security features that are preconfigured.
With the capability to use advanced open-source firmware, it remains a highly customizable option for power users as well. For its price, the robust performance, versatile design, and extensive customization options make the RT-N66U a great value router even years after its release. It remains a top recommendation for those seeking a capable and budget-friendly wireless solution.
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