DSL AC68U Guidelines

[KelvinS]

HI UK Sentinel,

Please can you share how you achieved your setup?

I have a RT-AC88U with Merlin that I want to use as the main router and would like to setup my DSL-AC68U to extend WiFi coverage and external USB drive if possible.

Either I can set the DSL-AC68U into AP mode (ethernet backhaul) and access the external disk and TimeMachine via ip, or use AiMesh.

How do I do this?

Which option do your recommend?

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[UK Sentinel]

Welcome @KelvinS, glad you made it in the end ;-)

The main question is how far apart will the RT-AC88U and DSL-AC68U be  ?

AiMesh is easiest via wifi, but is limited by wifi distance, hence question ?

If AiMesh is used, the DSL-AC68U will have to be converted to an RT model, but that is easily achievable

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[KelvinS]

About 13 meters.

However I’ve used AiMesh very successfully via Ethernet with the DSL-AC68U as the router and another RT-AC68U

Now I’ve a bigger, more powerful RT-AC88U that I want to keep as the main Router and not have to replace the DSL-AC68U which in my view is a very good modem router  that can serve as fallback should the fiber fail

I sold the RT …

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[UK Sentinel]

KelvinS wrote:

About 13 meters. However I’ve used AiMesh very successfully via Ethernet with the DSL-AC68U as the router and another RT-AC68U Now I’ve a bigger, more powerful RT-AC88U that I want to keep as the main Router and not have to replace the DSL-AC68U which in my view is a very good modem router that can serve as fallback should the fiber fail I sold the RT … <!–more–>

The DSL-AC68U for AiMesh does not support being set as an AiMesh Node, only as Router (Primary).

So either you convert the DSL-AC68U to run RT-AC68U firmware (which from your reply is not good choice for yourself), or Purchase another RT-AC68U and set that as AiMesh Node or Use ASUS DSL-AC68U as AP (Ethernet BackHaul) but I think the DSL-AC68U does not have this option (please verify) – there is a workaround but it is a tad unstable (or was)?

Which sounds the best option for yourself ?

Personally, I would purchase a replacement RT-AC68U or better model and use this as AiMesh Node, either wifi or ethernet connected to Primary.

IT kit like this is worth the investment ;-)

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[Grisu]

I think he is coming from snb and wants to convert his DSL into an RT exactly like you did with yours in exactly same config, RT88 as router and converted DSL as Aimesh node.

To do so he needs to know how you converted and if necessary he could reconvert back.

 

Or you wrote you had your DSL running Merlin and you could use it as Aimesh-node after enabling Aimesh with SSH.

Then this should/could be possible with GNUton Merlin-DSL fork too.

Would be easier to do only a SSH command than converting.

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[UK Sentinel]

I see, I hope you was kind to @KelvinS whist on SNB forums ;-)

Hopefully they will be online later and the options we have given will help ?

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[KelvinS]

Grisu was very kind. He suggested I come on over to uktechhub and ask you how you did it.

So, yes, Grisu summed it up perfectly above.

 

… you wrote you had your DSL running Merlin and you could use it as Aimesh-node after enabling Aimesh with SSH.

Is it now best to go with RT-Merlin, or GNUton Merlin (without DSL functionality)?

Stable. Upgradable. Least hassle. It would be great for the node to inherit all the settings on Router …

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[UK Sentinel]

Glad @Grisu is looking after you, Yes DSL-AC68U running Merlin as a Node only if the DSL-AC68U is converted to RT-AC68U (Merlin) firmware and SSH commands entered to enable AiMesh.

Merlin firmware is very good and has been around for ever and he is comminication with ASUS, alas GNUton has not and does not, so the risk (notice I did not state which ones)  could be  greater.

If you convert DSL-AC68U to RT (Merlin) , it might not convert back again, so you loose DSL-AC68U modem functions, so either use GNUton or purchase a new  RT-AC68U ;-)

Alas, Not tried GNUton to see if it support AiMesh as a Node.

 

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