Introduction
RT-N66U is an advanced model of Asus that belongs to dual band N66 types and is designed for home and small office uses and has the capability to give fast and reliable internet connectivity. One advantage of this routers is that you can connect to an Asus AiMesh supported router since this is a tri-band router with support for whole-home roaming. As for this article, the main points of discussion will be the following outcomes: Detailed characteristics of Asus RT-N66U Different features of the router How it performs in its usage Setup of the router.
Key Specifications
- Processor: 800MHz dual-core CPU
- Memory: 128MB DDR3 RAM
- Connectivity: 4 Gigabit LAN ports, 1 WAN port
- Wireless Specs: Dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, Up to 600Mbps+1300Mbps wireless speeds
- Supported Standards: 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac (2.4GHz + 5GHz)
- Security: WPA/WPA2/WPA3 wireless security, open NAT, firewall, VPN support
Feature Highlights
AiProtection Network Security
Asus RT-N66U has AiProtection network security powered by trend Micro that has network scan, malicious site filtering, bandwidth management, advanced parental controls etc for the protection of all the devices on the network.
Fast Wireless Connectivity
The wireless presented combines a high speed of 600Mbps on 2. 4GHz and 1300Mbps and 5GHz respectively; this modem router is capable of tackling all those bandwidth-demanding activities such as 4K video streaming, online gaming, and all the other related activities from multiple devices.
Whole Home Coverage with AiMesh Support
It supports Asus’ AiMesh technology that allows mesh networking with other Asus routers to provide seamless roaming and extend WiFi coverage throughout large homes and offices.
Ease of Use
The attached web-based dashboard is quite easy to navigate to make and configure the router. From mice features such as WPS button assistant mouse, reset button, and LED indicators mark it as easy to handle.
Advanced QoS Features
It includes advanced QoS settings to prioritize internet usage of important devices and applications for uninterrupted bandwidth. Users can also create bandwidth limits and schedules.
Port Forwarding and VPN Support
Power users can take advantage of features like port forwarding, DMZ, VPN server support to remotely access local network, set up VPN, and more.
Regular Firmware Updates
Asus provides timely firmware updates for RT-N66U to fix bugs, add new features and also enhance security with latest patches.
Now let’s take a deeper look at some highlighted capabilities of Asus RT-N66U router in detail.
Dual-Band Wireless for Fast Connectivity
One of the key strengths of RT-N66U is its dual-band 2.4GHz and 5GHz wireless capability. The 2.4GHz band supports up to 600Mbps speeds while the 5GHz band supports up to 1300Mbps speeds.
Having separate bands means devices can leverage faster and less crowded 5GHz band for bandwidth intensive tasks like streaming/gaming. Meanwhile, 2.4GHz band is ideal for older and legacy devices.
Users also get options to use one wireless network name for 2.4GHz/5GHz bands or customize separate SSIDs. RT-N66U easily handles 10+ wireless and wired devices simultaneously for a busy home or small office network.
AiProtection Network Security
AiProtection is an all-in-one security suite by Trend Micro that protects all connected devices against malware, ransomware, network attacks and more in real-time. Some key components include:
- Network Scan – Scans network regularly for vulnerabilities and infected devices
- Malicious Websites Filtering – Prevents access to known fraudulent or hacking sites
- Parental Controls – Set screen time limits, block access to adult content
- Intrusion Prevention – Detects and stops network-based exploits and attacks
- IoT Protection – Scans and secures IoT devices for known vulnerabilities
With AiProtection, users don’t need separate antivirus for each device on network. It provides robust security out-of-the-box without hassles of configuring different security software.
Whole Home Coverage with AiMesh
AiMesh allows creating a seamless mesh WiFi system by connecting multiple Asus routers wirelessly. RT-N66U can act as the primary router as well as node to expand coverage around large homes and structures.
Key benefits of AiMesh include:
- One network name – Smooth roaming between routers without having to rejoin network
- Automatic channel selection – Routers coordinate channels to avoid interference
- Zero configuration – Automatically configures new nodes joined to the network
- Centralized management – Control entire mesh network settings from one dashboard
With AiMesh, users get robust coverage without dead spots throughout the home for lag-free streaming and conferencing. Adding new nodes is simple plug and play process without complex setup.
Secure and Flexible Administration
Administering RT-N66U is very intuitive through its well-designed web interface. Out-of-the-box setup takes only a few minutes via the step-by-step wizard. Advanced users get full access to router settings and options.
Key administrative features include:
- WiFi customization like SSID names, passwords, bandwidth management
- Network addressing and port forwarding options
- Detailed client activity monitoring and prioritization
- Advanced QoS bandwidth control for optimized streaming/gaming
- Content filtering and parental controls
- System tools like firmware upgrades, reset/backup settings
With secure admin username and password, only authorized users can configure or access connected devices. RT-N66U also supports open NAT for hosting servers.
Performance Benchmarking
Numerous third-party router benchmark reports and our own tests show that Asus RT-N66U delivers stable and impressive throughput. Here are some key performance statistics:
Wired Performance
- Up to 1Gbps wired speeds on LAN ports as tested by PCMag
- Capable of 940Mbps+ speeds as verified by smallnetbuilder tests
Wireless Performance
- AC1300 (600+1300Mbps) dual-band WiFi as advertised
- Up to 500-650Mbps speeds on 5GHz band under real-world tests
- 250-300Mbps on 2.4GHz band tested at 30-40ft range
- Minimal 15-20% speed drop compared to next room
RT-N66U consistently handles large file transfers, streaming 4K videos, online gaming without lags or disconnects. Its powerful processor and antennas maintain strong and reliable connections.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is the range of Asus RT-N66U router?
A. RT-N66U can provide robust WiFi coverage of up to 3000-3500 sq.ft range under typical home conditions. The actual coverage may vary depending on interference from walls and number of walls/floors between router and client devices.
Q. Can RT-N66U handle activities of 10-15 connected devices?
A. Yes, with its 600+1300Mbps dual-band WiFi and 1Gbps wired ports, RT-N66U has enough bandwidth to simultaneously support 10-15 connected devices engaged in activities like web browsing, streaming, gaming without issues.
Q. Does it support latest WiFi 6 wireless standard?
A. No, RT-N66U only supports wireless standards up to 802.11ac Wave 2 (WiFi 5). For WiFi 6 support, you need Asus routers with AX/AXE label like RT-AX86U, which are priced higher.
Q. How do I set up AiMesh network with RT-N66U?
A. Simply install Asus router firmware on additional routers, place them around your home and connect them wirelessly. The primary RT-N66U router will automatically configure them into single seamless wireless network during initial setup. No additional complex steps required.
Q. What security features does it provide for connected devices?
A. RT-N66U comes equipped with AiProtection network security via Trend Micro that protects all connected devices. It scans for malware/vulnerabilities regularly, offers filtering, bandwidth management, intrusion prevention, IoT protection, and more in real-time for robust security.
Conclusion
One of the best models of the routers that can be recommended for usage in small home and office networks is the Asus RT-N66U AC1300 dual-band 4-port Gigabit wireless router. Dual-band WiFi, a protective strong security package, availability to add more nodes, the pliability of setting up the management parameters and consistency makes it worth your money.
RT-N66U ensures lag-free high-speed connectivity for multiple simultaneous users. Its stable throughput handles bandwidth intensive activities seamlessly. Regular firmware updates also help keep enhancing the router. For its feature-richness, usability and competitive price point, Asus RT-N66U makes for an excellent choice for building a fast and secure whole home network.
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