Anyone bought a RT-N66U for use on ADSL line?

syx123 · 4 Mar 2013 at 14:07

Really like the RT-N66U, but how easy is it to install on an ADSL line? Can i keep the BT HH3? Has anyone actually done this and care to give me a walkthru?

Thanks in advance

bremen1874 · 4 Mar 2013 at 14:21

The easiest way would be to use it with a Vigor 120 modem, but they aren't cheap.

Using it with the HH3 would require double NATing, which works but isn't ideal.

Unless you're buying because FTTC will be available very soon I just wouldn't bother.

syx123 · 4 Mar 2013 at 16:59

bremen1874 said:
The easiest way would be to use it with a Vigor 120 modem, but they aren't cheap.

Using it with the HH3 would require double NATing, which works but isn't ideal.

Unless you're buying because FTTC will be available very soon I just wouldn't bother.

Funnily enough, can pick up a Vigor for £20 (bargain). So basically, with the Vigor, i just swap it out for the HH3 and then just follow the online promps?

bremen1874 · 4 Mar 2013 at 17:34

syx123 said:
Funnily enough, can pick up a Vigor for £20 (bargain). So basically, with the Vigor, i just swap it out for the HH3 and then just follow the online promps?

As long as you read and understand the instructions for the modem before you start should be fine. The key point is that the modem acts as a PPPoE to PPPoA bridge.

KIA · 4 Mar 2013 at 17:47

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-051-AS&groupid=46&catid=1595&subcat=

syx123 · 4 Mar 2013 at 19:42

bremen1874 said:
As long as you read and understand the instructions for the modem before you start should be fine. The key point is that the modem acts as a PPPoE to PPPoA bridge.

Ah, i thought that i had read somewhere that the Vigor sort of comes pre-configured? Basically plug n play.

syx123 · 4 Mar 2013 at 19:46

KIA said:
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=NW-051-AS&groupid=46&catid=1595&subcat=

My main problem with the DSL- N55u is that when fibre finally arrives, i will have to buy again. Also i wanted the Aicloud features and vpn.

bremen1874 · 4 Mar 2013 at 19:53

syx123 said:
Ah, i thought that i had read somewhere that the Vigor sort of comes pre-configured? Basically plug n play.

The default modem settings should be okay. You just need to know that you'll be configuring a PPPoE connection on the router rather than PPPoA.

Phemo · 4 Mar 2013 at 20:06

The modem would need some configuration at least. You'd need to configure it with your username and password for your ADSL connection which I imagine is easy enough to do and via a web interface.

bremen1874 · 4 Mar 2013 at 20:19

Phemo said:
The modem would need some configuration at least. You'd need to configure it with your username and password for your ADSL connection which I imagine is easy enough to do and via a web interface.

For a standard BT ADSL connection the router shouldn't need any configuration. If the connection doesn't use the standard 0/38 VPI/VCI there would need to be some tweaking.

In either case the username and password are entered into the PPPoE settings of the router rather than the modem.

KIA · 4 Mar 2013 at 20:48

syx123 said:
My main problem with the DSL- N55u is that when fibre finally arrives, i will have to buy again. Also i wanted the Aicloud features and vpn.

You can use one of the ethernet ports as a WAN port.

bremen1874 · 4 Mar 2013 at 20:54

KIA said:
You can use one of the ethernet ports as a WAN port.

Does this require third-party firmware? It is becoming a fairly common router feature, but there doesn't appear to be any mention of it in the Asus specs.

KIA · 4 Mar 2013 at 21:57

bremen1874 said:
Does this require third-party firmware? It is becoming a fairly common router feature, but there doesn't appear to be any mention of it in the Asus specs.

Latest official firmware. Someone mentions it in the OcUK thread. bledd has mentioned it a couple of times.

bremen1874 · 4 Mar 2013 at 22:18

KIA said:
Latest official firmware. Someone mentions it in the OcUK thread. bledd has mentioned it a couple of times.

Ta.

bledd · 4 Mar 2013 at 23:11

Yup

Latest firmware works with it.

Other options are the new Billion 7800 series routers, 7800N is the 'older' one, there's a few newer models with 5ghz wireless

daknour · 17 Apr 2013 at 14:35

The ASUS RT-AC66U, RT-N65U and RT-N66U routers doesn't have a dsl modem, so thy can't be connected directly to a DSL line. You could connect another DSL router to the line and behind the ethernet LAN port of the first router, you can connect the RT-N66U. This option could be even better if your first router can be used as just a bridge ADSL.

My recomendation, however, is that you evaluate to use the ASUS DSL-N55U as a better option. It is almost as powerful as the RT-N65U & RT-N66U routers, but cheaper and you would also save energy with only one device. When you get fiber to your home, you can sell it and study your new options. This is what I have done since there will be no fiber to my home at least until next year if not 2014.

You should consider some other things before to decide. If you decide by the DSL-N55U router, you should realise that there are two models: Annex A and Annex B. Depending of where you live and the provider, one will work and the other one won't.

If you need the AiCloud feature, it isn't implemented in the last version of AsusWRT for DSL-N55U. I have read in the Asus support forums that they are going to add this feature. It even was expected to appear in february-2013, but as far as I know the new beta release still doesn't implement it and we are in april.

If you want this router becouse you are planning to change the firmware to AsusWRT-Merlin (http://www.mediafire.com/asuswrt-merlin/), it won't work on DSL-N55U. This firmware is just available for RT-AC66U, RT-N65U and RT-N66U. There is some people working on an alternative for the DSL-N55U that is called Asuswrt-bender, which is ais spin-off of AsusWRT-Merlin, but I think it is not working yet.