@prokiller1199
Can provide link to tutorial?

Thanks getting AC18 alive, appreciate for your contributions on continuing provide updates.

Compare to 380.70 Final, tge never 386 offer better wifi performnce?
I know previous 384 is less stable than 380.70.
Definitely never firmware has better security or at least more upto date, thus I thinking to update for security reason.

Thanks 🙏

@prokiller1199 and @pisces1529

Thanks for your help, providing feedback and tutorials for getting my router AC18 updated from 380.70 Final to 386_2(CFE ver 1.3.0.7).

I have successfully upgraded the CFE and firmware
On the tutorial, no. 10. The command cat tmp/home/root/1.bin > /dev/mtd0 , I change it to cat /tmp/home/root/1.bin > dev/mtd0 as the user already in the folder, thus without modification doesn’t work.
Nothing wrong with the tutorial, but for newbie may stuck there.

Just wanted to provide a quick feedback here.
Before upgrade, I was getting around 500/44x mbps on DL/UL.

iPad speedtest on 380.70

However after update, my maximum Wi-Fi speed dropped significantly. Maybe it is my tweaking not suitable for 386, but on default Wi-Fi settings also worst. No a big deal, I think still acceptable with around 407/379 mbps for DL/UL.

iPad on 386_2

Will continue testing, hopefully no big issue.

Additionally, just for sharing that I also overclocked my router by change in CFE the cpuclkfreq = 800,667 to 1000,800
This is was the clock speed I was using in previous firmware version.
380.70 final got option to overclock in the GUI.
With 386, no option and I tried using putty and using nvram set cpuclkfreq = 1000,800 && nvram commit && nvram reboot.
Somehow it doesn’t work anymore like 380.70.
If anyone have the correct method apart from CFE, I would like to know. Thanks

This post has been edited by muncheno: Oct 10 2021, 02:21 PM

Thanks, I has been overclock my router for almost 2yrs+.
So far so good.

Haha 😂
I got worst results with your settings. Almost same as default speed.
I'm getting 330 / 338 Mbps DL/UL.

Thanks for sharing. 🙏

Perhaps you could also try my settings.
I managed to optimize back to my previous level 500/401 Mbps DL/UL.

Huh ???
Why downgrading your router? Are you just testing it?

Merlin WRT has more premium features and AC18 also has better chipset then AC23.
I have an Xiaomi AX3600 and yet I preferred to use my AC18 as main router.

Just for the update to the AC18 users who are using 386 branch.

I just updated to 386.5 on yesterday night, so far no issue found.
Just for security reason, I usually updating firmware at least once a year if available incase you wanted to know.

The firmware can be found here, it actually sharing the same firmware with it brother AC68u. Thus is only working with AC18 router that already updated to CFE boot version 1.0.2.0 & above (I'm using v1.3.0.7).

https://fw.koolcenter.com/KoolCenter_Merlin...n_386/RT-AC68U/

You mean this?
 Flashing_instructions.pdf ( 428.29k ) Number of downloads: 114

Try to boot into CFE mode, see can or not first.
If yes maybe can try flash the default the right Firmware.

Need alot of practice to go in CFE.

Sorry I can't remember that well.
Something like
1) disconnect power cable
2) make sure your PC set to manual IP, 192.168.1.XX or 192.168.0.XX.
the 1 or 0 depends on router default.
3) on your PC keep running ping 192.168.1.1 (depends on router previous default set)
4) connect the power (make sure ON button stay on before power ON) + same time pressing reset button for either 20 or 30 sec until your ping detected.
5) after detected quick login to router IP, 192.168.1.1
(note CFE boot will close if does detect login within X secs). Then you have repeat again.

This is just roughly what I rmb only, don't shoot me if it doesn't work.

This post has been edited by muncheno: Feb 16 2023, 08:47 PM