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Amazon.ca

Asus RT-AC3100 Dual-Band Wi-Fi Router $229

  • Last Updated:
  • May 9th, 2020 9:23 am
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25 replies
May 4th, 2020 7:38 am
Repooc
Deal Addict
Jul 6, 2005
4416 posts
2078 upvotes
Toronto

May 4th, 2020 7:38 am

I'm back and forth between something like this or one of those qotom i3 mini-pc's from aliexpress loaded with pfsense... Although the qotom option is about $100 more than this Asus

.... Coming from a guy who is still running an Asus rt-n66u (dark knight) loaded with Merlin firmware.

I seem to be having quite a bit of stability issues in the last few months.
May 4th, 2020 7:45 am
4zim
Member
Dec 3, 2007
435 posts
62 upvotes

May 4th, 2020 7:45 am

Showed up as $344 for me. And no Prime.
May 4th, 2020 7:54 am
tegboy
Jr. Member
Jan 29, 2013
106 posts
78 upvotes
Mississauga

May 4th, 2020 7:54 am

4zim wrote: ↑ Showed up as $344 for me. And no Prime.
If you choose amazon as the seller, then it shows up as OPs price.
+1
May 4th, 2020 8:34 am
4zim
Member
Dec 3, 2007
435 posts
62 upvotes

May 4th, 2020 8:34 am

tegboy wrote: ↑ If you choose amazon as the seller, then it shows up as OPs price.
OOS
May 4th, 2020 1:54 pm
keyser-soze
Deal Addict
Oct 8, 2009
2481 posts
1670 upvotes
Kitchener

May 4th, 2020 1:54 pm

Thanks for taking the time to post Op.
+3
May 4th, 2020 2:13 pm
EPcjay
Deal Fanatic
Nov 11, 2008
8927 posts
2753 upvotes

May 4th, 2020 2:13 pm

I upgraded from an ac68. Did not notice any performance improvements for distance....
+1
May 4th, 2020 2:23 pm
nikotine30
Jr. Member
Feb 21, 2011
151 posts
226 upvotes
Canada

May 4th, 2020 2:23 pm

Note that this is a slightly downgraded version of the highly-rated Asus RT-AC88U:

he Asus RT-AC3100 has two minors differences from the recently reviewed RT-AC88U. It has only four LAN ports (the RT-AC88U has eight), and it comes in black (the RT-AC88U has red styling). Other than that, the two routers are the same. That said, if you don't have use for the extra LAN ports, the RT-AC3100 will deliver exactly the same performance as the RT-AC88U.

https://www.cnet.com/reviews/asus-rt-ac ... r-preview/
+4
May 4th, 2020 4:36 pm
bendak
Sr. Member
User avatar
Oct 1, 2005
626 posts
482 upvotes
Kitchener

May 4th, 2020 4:36 pm

I'd take a RT-AC86u (aka AC-2900) over this one. Goes on sale for $199 from time to time, and if you're lucky maybe a staples coupon is also running. It has better performance and a much smaller form factor, at almost half the size (though it's vertical only). The performance difference is especially relevant if you want to run OpenVPN clients or servers on it. The AC-2900 has a total throughput of about 200Mbps with Openvpn where the AC-3100 is like 40-50Mbps. Difference is due to CPUs in the units.

The cool thing about merlin firmware is you can put only certain devices through the VPN if you want rather than everything or nothing. Different devices on different VPN endpoints even -- i.e. maybe you want a streaming device on US, but other stuff is fine on Canada because you just want the security factor. I also have the openvpn server setup so I can easily access my NAS securely when away from home. The AC86 is a beast.
+4
May 5th, 2020 9:56 am
keyser-soze
Deal Addict
Oct 8, 2009
2481 posts
1670 upvotes
Kitchener

May 5th, 2020 9:56 am

bendak wrote: ↑ I'd take a RT-AC86u (aka AC-2900) over this one. Goes on sale for $199 from time to time, and if you're lucky maybe a staples coupon is also running. It has better performance and a much smaller form factor, at almost half the size (though it's vertical only). The performance difference is especially relevant if you want to run OpenVPN clients or servers on it. The AC-2900 has a total throughput of about 200Mbps with Openvpn where the AC-3100 is like 40-50Mbps. Difference is due to CPUs in the units.

The cool thing about merlin firmware is you can put only certain devices through the VPN if you want rather than everything or nothing. Different devices on different VPN endpoints even -- i.e. maybe you want a streaming device on US, but other stuff is fine on Canada because you just want the security factor. I also have the openvpn server setup so I can easily access my NAS securely when away from home. The AC86 is a beast.
I agree with this.

I have both and used the 3100 as my main router before AiMesh and it was great, but the A86u is better overall, mainly due to the processor. Now my 3100 is a node and the A86 is the main unit.
+1
May 5th, 2020 11:20 am
toxikwaste
Sr. Member
User avatar
Aug 25, 2010
653 posts
226 upvotes

May 5th, 2020 11:20 am

Does this router support full hardware acceleration (CTF and flow acceleration) with PPPoE? I presently have the RT-87u and I can only use CTF with PPPoE
May 6th, 2020 10:17 am
spursbob2
Newbie
Feb 4, 2017
99 posts
91 upvotes

May 6th, 2020 10:17 am

stevensingh21 wrote: ↑ does it support the bell hub 3000
Hmm, was wondering how this works. Do you replace the Bell Hub 3000 with this or connect them?
May 6th, 2020 10:18 am
xuanzh
Banned
Oct 28, 2015
2166 posts
1225 upvotes
Vaughan, ON

May 6th, 2020 10:18 am

How does this stack against Linksys wrt1900acs? I see the Linksys has a little bit higher CPU frequency, but the 3100 has Merlin support which is very nice.
May 6th, 2020 10:41 am
nickmar
Newbie
Aug 3, 2006
45 posts
32 upvotes
Montreal

May 6th, 2020 10:41 am

bendak wrote: ↑ I'd take a RT-AC86u (aka AC-2900) over this one. Goes on sale for $199 from time to time, and if you're lucky maybe a staples coupon is also running. It has better performance and a much smaller form factor, at almost half the size (though it's vertical only). The performance difference is especially relevant if you want to run OpenVPN clients or servers on it. The AC-2900 has a total throughput of about 200Mbps with Openvpn where the AC-3100 is like 40-50Mbps. Difference is due to CPUs in the units.

The cool thing about merlin firmware is you can put only certain devices through the VPN if you want rather than everything or nothing. Different devices on different VPN endpoints even -- i.e. maybe you want a streaming device on US, but other stuff is fine on Canada because you just want the security factor. I also have the openvpn server setup so I can easily access my NAS securely when away from home. The AC86 is a beast.
The RT-AC86u is currently on sale at Staples for $200: https://www.staples.ca/products/2860115 ... rt-ac86uca

I live in a three-floor townhome and I currently have a Netgear Nighthawk router (r7000) on the second floor. Coverage is spotty throughout the house. I currently have a 120Mbps internet connection and I struggle to get higher than 50Mbps on floors one and three (often dropping to 20Mbps). Would the RT-AC86u be a massive upgrade over the r7000 or should I instead consider a tri-band mesh network (Eero Pro or Orbi RBK50)?
May 6th, 2020 11:00 am
Gee
Deal Expert
Aug 2, 2004
37535 posts
10782 upvotes
East Gwillimbury

May 6th, 2020 11:00 am

Why would anyone blow this much money on a consumer router?

You can do a lot better for less

Ubiquiti Edge Router is less than 100$ on sale
The TP-Link EAP 245 Access point is currently on sale at Amazon for 89$

That combination will beat any consumer router
+1
May 6th, 2020 11:14 am
IggyCity
Jr. Member
Jul 19, 2011
100 posts
300 upvotes
CALGARY

May 6th, 2020 11:14 am

TP Link is bottom of the barrel crap, I have a TP Link AC1750 right now and it's drops connection every other week. And I have never heard of Ubiquiti...sounds like some Aliexpress product.

Asus is best known brand for reliable routers. Rather spend the $30-40 extra!

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