Converting DSL-AC68U to RT-AC68U for use as AiMesh Node – Solved

[GrisuParticipant Posts 256UKTechHub Regular]

hard time – but better to accept the fact that it passed away than waste more time for nothing.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by Grisu.

[UK SentinelModerator Posts 2181UKTechHub Skipper]

As @Grisu hinted (in his always direct way) if flashing and clearing NVRAM did not cure LAN port issues, and you / have tried different cable and all four ports are dead, then it appears the router has been damaged

Shame really as you only had issue due to trying third party GNUTON firmware ?

@Grisu, has others reported flashing issues with GNUTON and overheating for DSL-AC68U ?

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

[Watson306Participant Posts 8UKTechHub Recruit]

Yeah not sure if the overheating or the firmware flash caused it.
I never noticed the LAN ports not working previously (as I cant remember the last time I plugged anything into them), but the DSL port was definitely working.

• This reply was modified 1 year, 5 months ago by Watson306.

[GrisuParticipant Posts 256UKTechHub Regular]

not a single one had or posted troubles with flashing GNUton’s firmware.

But 2 had very high CPU-temps 90-100°C, but already with AsusWRT and first time saw it with Gnuton-Merlin!

[UK SentinelModerator Posts 2181UKTechHub Skipper]

90-100°C does sound hot – will be interesting when others use Gnuton-Merlin, if they have similar core CPU temps.

I guess @Watson306  was just unlucky with his DSL-AC68U

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

[GrisuParticipant Posts 256UKTechHub Regular]

NO, it is not related to Gnuton, only that it will be shown with Gnuton/Merlin in first place and somewhat hidden with stock firmware (or even not shown at all, cant remember).

[GrisuParticipant Posts 256UKTechHub Regular]

Problem with DSL-AC68U is that DSL chip produces much heat too and by design its a mess!

 

Temps cant be seen on GUI with AsusWRT and as soon as you load GNUton’s firmware you get awar of the high temps inside. They will be at 90°C by default – NOT GOOD.

Here someone started a project to reduce temps of DSL-AC68U, he is still writing and testing:

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/dsl-ac68u-temperture-issues-and-how-to-solve-them-project-hex-c.57065/

[UK SentinelModerator Posts 2181UKTechHub Skipper]

@Zendilar has done some great work on this and good to see inside the DSL-AC68U.

I have always wondered this since I converted my  DSL-AC68U to RMerlin a couple of years ago.

DSL-AC68U has :

1 x 2.4 GHz wifi chip (Broadcom)

1 x 5 GHz wifi chip  (Broadcom)

1 x Main CPU   (Broadcom)

1 x DSL chip (MedaiTeK)

So from the temps given by GNUton firmware, we are getting temps from wifi and Main CPU, but no temps from DSL chipset

I wonder if that chipset (DSL) is sitting next to main CPU and has no thermal pad, hence why main CPU is getting really hot ?

Either way, ASUS poor thermal design

My DSL-AC68U with RMerlin temps are:

2.4 GHz     –   52 C

5 GHz      –    54 C

CPU        –     86 C

So getting very warm acting as AiMesh Node ;-)

 

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

[max1486Participant Posts 1UKTechHub Recruit]

I’ve been attempting to follow this guide so that I can use my DSL-AC68U in Repeater Mode without having to buy a new AP entirely as my Ubiquiti one died.

For some reason, my AC68U keeps leaving the recovery mode when it’s about 70% through the standard ASUSWRT restoration. It’s like it’s too large for the time set. I then tried Merlin as it’s 10MB smaller and we got so close, 97%.

Is there any way around this?

[UK SentinelModerator Posts 2181UKTechHub Skipper]

If you are looking to utilise AiMesh Node option for the DSL-AC68U (I think that’s what you mean’t) then the latest ASUS DSL-AC68U stock firmware from ASUS now support AiMesh child/Node by default, so no need to convert ?

Version 3.0.0.4.384_81140

 

 

• This reply was modified 11 months, 1 week ago by UK Sentinel.

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

[Patryk PaboParticipant Posts 9UKTechHub Recruit]

Hi there,

I have an RT-AC86U as primary router (connected to vodafone power station via WAN port) and need to add two ethernet wired AiMesh nodes.

Accidentaly I have bough two DSL-AC86u, instead of RT…sigh…was in a hurry and the price was good

As for today the DSL firmware allow for Aimeshing I do not need to make the conversion to RT, right ?

Can  DSL-AC86U use LAN port to be aimesh-ed with ethernet backhaul ?

thx!

 

[SixParticipant Posts 54UKTechHub Regular]

Patryk Pabo wrote:

Hi there, I have an RT-AC86U as primary router (connected to vodafone power station via WAN port) and need to add two ethernet wired AiMesh nodes. Accidentaly I have bough two DSL-AC86u, instead of RT…sigh…was in a hurry and the price was good As for today the DSL firmware allow for Aimeshing I do not need to make the conversion to RT, right ? Can DSL-AC86U use LAN port to be aimesh-ed with ethernet backhaul ? thx!

Patryk Pabo wrote:

Hi there, I have an RT-AC86U as primary router (connected to vodafone power station via WAN port) and need to add two ethernet wired AiMesh nodes. Accidentaly I have bough two DSL-AC86u, instead of RT…sigh…was in a hurry and the price was good As for today the DSL firmware allow for Aimeshing I do not need to make the conversion to RT, right ? Can DSL-AC86U use LAN port to be aimesh-ed with ethernet backhaul ? thx!

Hi

Can you post a picture of these routers?

Thx.

[Patryk PaboParticipant Posts 9UKTechHub Recruit]

Six wrote:

Patryk Pabo wrote:

Hi there, I have an RT-AC86U as primary router (connected to vodafone power station via WAN port) and need to add two ethernet wired AiMesh nodes. Accidentaly I have bough two DSL-AC86u, instead of RT…sigh…was in a hurry and the price was good As for today the DSL firmware allow for Aimeshing I do not need to make the conversion to RT, right ? Can DSL-AC86U use LAN port to be aimesh-ed with ethernet backhaul ? thx!

 

Hi Can you post a picture of these routers? Thx.

I am away from home now. They are similar, the RT model has a WAN RJ45 port (blue) while the DSL has an RJ11 and the DSL module that act as a modem

[UK SentinelModerator Posts 2181UKTechHub Skipper]

You mean 2 x DSL-AC68U I think  ?

In a completely sane world, madness is the only freedom (J.G.Ballard).

[Patryk PaboParticipant Posts 9UKTechHub Recruit]

UK Sentinel wrote:

You mean 2 x DSL-AC68U I think ?

Yes, I have 1x RT-AC68U and 2 x DSL-AC68U

• This reply was modified 2 weeks, 2 days ago by Patryk Pabo.

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