Anyone Using an Asus DSL-AC68U

simoncraddock · 18 Jun 2015 at 09:47

I know of no other 'mainstream' OEM using the Mediatek xDSL chipset in a CPE product other than Asus. Maybe this is due to contractual agreements already in place but it kind of makes you wonder why. It's either a poorly implemented xDSL chipset or difficult to support via the firmware, either way something is terribly wrong.

michty_me · 18 Jun 2015 at 10:01

simoncraddock said:
I know of no other 'mainstream' OEM using the Mediatek xDSL chipset in a CPE product other than Asus. Maybe this is due to contractual agreements already in place but it kind of makes you wonder why. It's either a poorly implemented xDSL chipset or difficult to support via the firmware, either way something is terribly wrong.

Asus seem to use Mediatek for a lot of their stuff. Is it not part of them in some way? Their tablets have mediatek chips in them too and again they are crap!

simoncraddock · 18 Jun 2015 at 12:28

michty_me said:
Asus seem to use Mediatek for a lot of their stuff. Is it not part of them in some way? Their tablets have mediatek chips in them too and again they are crap!

Not that I can see. All I can guess is there's some lucrative contract agreement as Asus seem to be it's main customer for it's chips.

michty_me · 18 Jun 2015 at 12:36

I'm not so sure if it is down to a poor chip from mediatek. One report I read was that it was fairly highly regarded. I'm sticking with the poorly written firmware being the main cause.
Maybe they do have a contractual agreement with Asus. You are right in saying that there aren't many if any other devices using it.

bitsNbobs · 19 Jun 2015 at 00:17

simoncraddock said:
I know of no other 'mainstream' OEM using the Mediatek xDSL chipset in a CPE product other than Asus. Maybe this is due to contractual agreements already in place but it kind of makes you wonder why. It's either a poorly implemented xDSL chipset or difficult to support via the firmware, either way something is terribly wrong.

There are a couple of older trendnet devices, though i think all their new FTTC/VDSL stuff is broadcom, with exception of the non 'AC' wireless stuff, which i think is infineon.

stringyb92 · 19 Jun 2015 at 15:40

Just plugged the router back in and i am getting about 1 crc error a minute on downstream

jambo862 · 19 Jun 2015 at 18:27

Update on my use of this router.

As a modem this really is a terrible device, but as a router it is probably the best domestic router I've ever used.

On the other hand my Sky Hub has truly awful routing functions, but the modem in it is truly superb, providing me a rock solid connection at the max connection I pay for (80 Down, 20 Up and no interleaved.

So I've now made the decision to run the two together and it's working great.

Shame Asus couldn't make the modem work on this as it has such potential.

plaistowpaul · 19 Jun 2015 at 19:06

I understand how you feel....before I gave up on mine I ran it with a BT OpenReach modem fed off a LAN port - and as you say the router is fine. Sad fact is though if you can't depend on the modem then the routing side is vastly overpriced, and slaving it off another device you are losing a lan port, and I think in your case dropping the connection speed between the Asus and Sky Hub down to 100MB from Gigabit. This probably won't have a practical impact, but what a messy solution when the whole point of the 68 is a "one box" solution.

Its a sad indictment - it looks like it will not get properly fixed, and the "N" devices seem to have similar issues. It's odd that it seems to work AOK for a select few, but for most it seems the perfect box on paper but not in practice.

stringyb92 · 19 Jun 2015 at 19:11

I am 4hours in now and i seem to be having less CRC errors than i did with the HG612 so i am happy

RedBull2k · 19 Jun 2015 at 20:12

@plaistowpaul
have you tried using it since the latest firmware? Dont forget though to Reset the device via the pin hole after updating.
try enabled ESNP also set Rx AGC GAIN Adjustment (VDSL) to High Performance.
I would love to know how you get on or anyone else thats willing to give this device another go.

stringyb92 · 19 Jun 2015 at 20:23

RedBull2k said:
@plaistowpaul
have you tried using it since the latest firmware? Dont forget though to Reset the device via the pin hole after updating.
try enabled ESNP also set Rx AGC GAIN Adjustment (VDSL) to High Performance.
I would love to know how you get on or anyone else thats willing to give this device another go.

The RX AGC GAIN how does this affect CRC errors? I am just worried about CRC as i seem to average about 50 an hour

RedBull2k · 19 Jun 2015 at 22:54

none as far as i can tell, for me it increased sync to match that i was having with a hg612, CRC is not important as much as SES which gui does not display. Previously on hg612 i would get about 2000 CRC per day and that was fine.

stringyb92 · 19 Jun 2015 at 23:18

RedBull2k said:
none as far as i can tell, for me it increased sync to match that i was having with a hg612, CRC is not important as much as SES which gui does not display. Previously on hg612 i would get about 2000 CRC per day and that was fine.

My sync is already above what the HG612 gave me but i am going to let the router settle for a couple of days now but as long as it doesnt interleave me suddenly i wont have any complaints about this router!

michty_me · 19 Jun 2015 at 23:45

I lost around 5-6Mb sync using the Asus, Playing around with settings did bring it back up but also made it unstable for me unfortunately.

RedBull2k · 19 Jun 2015 at 23:48

in past when i have switched from asus to openreach modem i have lost sync, just had to wait for DLM after that.

michty_me · 19 Jun 2015 at 23:57

What type of cab are you on? I'm on a Huawei.

RedBull2k · 20 Jun 2015 at 00:50

Its an ECI cab

plaistowpaul · 20 Jun 2015 at 10:12

Redbull2K - mine went back a while a go unfortunately, so unable to try again. I gave it a good go but rely on it heavily for work, so needed a stable set up. I'd still love a one box solution, but am on the AC87U with an OR modem now (its a Huawei) cabinet and all is well. I've learnt a fair bit following this thread, and had my AC68U quite early in the thread, sent logs to Asus, tried new settings, like many others.....but had to give up.

michty_me · 20 Jun 2015 at 10:17

plaistowpaul said:
Redbull2K - mine went back a while a go unfortunately, so unable to try again. I gave it a good go but rely on it heavily for work, so needed a stable set up. I'd still love a one box solution, but am on the AC87U with an OR modem now (its a Huawei) cabinet and all is well. I've learnt a fair bit following this thread, and had my AC68U quite early in the thread, sent logs to Asus, tried new settings, like many others.....but had to give up.

I suggest you try the new nighthawk D7000 when it is out. May be what you require?

plaistowpaul · 20 Jun 2015 at 14:20

Thanks - I invested the money refunded on the 68U on the 87U - so that will have to earn its corn before I think of anything else. I've no complaints at all with the 87U except the form factor. I'll keep my eyes and ears open, but when I get a new one-box solution it will be one that's had rave reviews for at least 6 months. I dived straight in on the 68U....once bitten twice shy!