Asus RT-N66U SSIDs going offline?

DHR · 16 Jun 2016 at 18:50

I've had an Asus rt-n66u running without issue for about 9 months but the last three I've had some seriously strange issues with the 2.4 SSID.

Most of my stuff is on 5 but the wife's kindle uses 2.4 along with a few other devices. It's probably been an issue from the outset but it's taken some time to notice.

Basically, after it's been up for 7-10 days the 2.4 SSID just disappears, you can't see it, you can't connect to it, the router says it's there but it's just gone from all devices. The only solution I've found thus far is to reboot it or turn just tr 2.4 off, save, turn on 2.4 and save.

It's starting to drive me nuts! Currently on the latest firmware too.

Any ideas before I go down asus support :rolleyes:

Morg · 16 Jun 2016 at 22:11

Might be worth trying the Merlin firmware from the smallnetbuilders site. I use that on the same router without problems.its a modified version of the Asus firmware, Merlin seems to work pretty closely with Asus

DHR · 18 Jun 2016 at 10:59

Wanted to avoid using non-Asus firmware really. Been down the tomato USB route and it was great until there was a security vuln and you had to upgrade it then setup again. Generally don't have time for messing with stuff like that these days

Rroff · 18 Jun 2016 at 11:08

As Morg said you probably want the Merlin one on there - aslong as he doesn't disappear he is on top of updates and works with Asus in rolling stuff into their main firmware and security fixes.

I had to put it on my 66 to get wifi working stable.

DHR · 18 Jun 2016 at 11:37

Do you have to mess around doing the 30-30-30 resets with it?

Rroff · 18 Jun 2016 at 11:42

Merlin goes on the same way as the official updates no messing about - it closer to a branch of the official code not a 3rd party complete rewrite.

Avalon · 21 Jun 2016 at 11:29

With Merlin's he works very closely with Asus, it's about as close to official as you'll get without it being from Asus. It's flashed in the same way and tbh if doing a 30/30/30 is your main reason for not upgrading something than why did you buy a product marketed for enthusiasts with support for 3rd party firmware? Asus stock firmware was awful, they had long standing vuln's for years and did nothing previously hence the US auditing agreement now in place.

Type_R · 21 Jun 2016 at 13:53

Got an RT-N66U here. Just like the OP I was a little reluctant to switch firmware, but I have done it and so far seems extremely stable and perhaps a little more responsive (might just be placebo!).

EDIT - So quick question. When a new Merlin update comes up will the Router advise of this or will it try and update back to Asus firmware?

DHR · 21 Jun 2016 at 16:03

Avalon said:
With Merlin's he works very closely with Asus, it's about as close to official as you'll get without it being from Asus. It's flashed in the same way and tbh if doing a 30/30/30 is your main reason for not upgrading something than why did you buy a product marketed for enthusiasts with support for 3rd party firmware? Asus stock firmware was awful, they had long standing vuln's for years and did nothing previously hence the US auditing agreement now in place.

Because I wanted the flexibility... having the flexibility and the time to go down the entusiast route are two different things though

Edit - So looking at the docs you don't have to mess around doing a 30/30/30 reset. Can you save/export the config for wireless etc and restore those settings post firmware upgrade or is it a case of cutting/pasting them back in?