2.4 GHz WiFi performance Tenda 6 and Tenda 11.

In the past, I did not pay much attention to 2.4 GHz WiFi performance because I will always choose 5 GHz in my phone.

Based on what DIR-868L users saying about the 2.4 GHz mediocre performance, I decide to check other brand routers at my disposal in my workplace.

The results could be use as comparison with DIR-868L 2.4 GHz performance.

We are having Tenda AC6 and AC11. Both are AC1200 class budget routers. 

Internet connection is capped to 100 Mbps DL/100 Mbps UL.

Attached performance table of my short testing.



First value is UL and second value is DL in Mbps. dB is signal strength from 2 m from Oppo F1 Plus phone.

2 m reading is inside same room. 15 m reading from outside room with 2 gypsum board walls.

Interestingly, Tenda AC11 are delivering better 2.4 GHz speeds at 2 m and 15 m.

Tenda AC6 2.4 GHz performance almost same like DIR-868L.

However, Tenda AC6 is better at 5 GHz.

DIR-868L 2.4 Ghz performance definitely mediocre. 

Regards,

Last step ip should be 192.168.1.1,  not 192.168.0.1. If its 192.168.0 1, that means you have not clear nvram properly.  Need to use wps + power on, after internet led blinks for 10 secs,  release the wps button.

If you still can not get in done in miniweb screen,  easiest is to to asus firmware restore,  download from ac68u firmware page,  fast and  easy.  Just make sure your pc is set to static ip like 192.168.1.3 etc

Next follow my guide at post #98 to fix 2.4G wifi. Choose the AC66U_B1 version

https://forum.lowyat.net/topic/5079525/+80#

WPS + power on, then asus firmware restore is the best method for fresh install 868l, it will not fail. If you use the clear nvram in miniweb, sometimes it will fail, even if you click it a few times.

AC68U and AC66U_B1 are using the same firmware, so there is no need for you to flash ac68u firmware and then ac66u_b1 firmware, the only thing you need to change is the cfe, either the ac68u cfe or the ac66u_b1 cfe. ac68u cfe no lights, ac66u_b1 got lights, its your choice.

ac68u cfe load  more things than ac66u_b1 cfe, for example, in aimesh pairing, ac68u will need to go to 80% then can pair, while ac66u_b1 only need to go to 60% only to pair.

Both is fine. But just stick with AC66U_B1 so that LED works.

For aimesh to pair,
1) power up the node, wait 3 mins, then press the reset button on the bottom until power led flashes for 10 secs, wait another 3 mins
2) at the main router, MUST turn on WPS in wireless tab
3) go to aimesh menu, and add node
that is about it.

If you flash to ac68u stock firmware, you can't get the led working for router, but for node, you can turn off and then turn on the led, and the internet led will on. If you power cycle the node, the led will be gone, need to off/on led in aimesh -> node management menu

If you flash to ac68u merlin firmware, you can put a script in the jffs folder when startup and the led will be on automatically for main router. You need to search snb forum for the script. I remembered if no script, you can turn on the stealth mode and led will also work, but not so sure after power cycle the led will turn on or not.

Did you change all 3 mac addresses and Secret code in the CFE?

You can't use the default one. Default one is 123456789. You must use back the WPS code written on the sticker under your unit. Then only AiMesh can work.

Are both routers using the correct mac address and WPS PIN as shown on their respective stickers?

For the 3 mac addresses, did you use the same address for all 3?
1:macaddr is supposed to be a bit different than 0:macaddr and et0macaddr.

after re-flashing cfe,
1. you need to clear nvram using wps +power on until internet led flashes 10 secs, wait 3 mins, then try aimesh pairing.
2. if still can not, then reset button until power led flashes for 10 secs, wait 3 mins then try pairing again.

Cannot cannot. The MAC address has to be different.

Follow the initial guide in the first page when you're doing the conversion.

2 of the MAC address is same number. The 3rd one need to +4.

1:macaddr needs to plus 4 on the last number.

Otherwise your aimesh might not be using 5g backbone. Makes sense why LAN works because LAN is the correct macaddr.

1:macaddr  change to ..................29BC (original was ...........29B8)

0:macaddr change to x.x.x:29:B8
et0macaddr change to x.x.x:29:B8
1:macaddr change to x.x.x:29:BC

Asus firmware will change the 5Ghz mac address for you if you specify same mac address in your cfe. that's why .....29BA, not the correct ....29BC.

The rule is follow your router's sticker but plus 4 numbers.
Convert the HEX number to decimal and then +4. Then convert back to hex number.

Yours is B8 is hex number. Convert to decimal is 184. Now we add 4 and it becomes 188. Convert 188 back to hex and it becomes BC.

0:macaddr change to x.x.x:29:B8 (Follow router sticker)
et0macaddr change to x.x.x:29:B8 (Follow router sticker)
1:macaddr change to x.x.x:29:BC (Convert to Decimal, +4, convert back to Hex)

Where are you buying yours from? Are you from Johor? I actually have 1 extra unit to let go. Still under D-Link warranty.
Since AC66U_B1 and AC68U using same firmware, as long as they keep supporting AC68U, we should be fine. Asus Merlin will also keep supporting as long as Asus supports.

Yes it's interchangeable. AC66U_B1 and AC68U uses the same firmware. Both ASUSWRT and ASUSMerlin also can.