ASUS DSL-N66U

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crewsaider

70 posts

Master Geek

#153607 2-Oct-2014 16:49

I am thinking about purchasing a ASUS DSL-N66U router to connect to Vodafone VDSL. Research in various forums would suggest a mixed experience with this unit, especially with ease of set-up, speed and continuity of sync. I see from the ASUS web that Firmware 1.0.7.6 (28 Aug 2014) provided settings for VF VDSL.

I would be grateful for any comments (praise or brickbats) on experience with the unit with latest firmware installed.

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1145800 2-Oct-2014 17:02

Mine is working well on Slingshot VDSL - far better than the ISP provided device!

I bought mine from the UK early this year, so got a good price and have been pretty happy with it on the whole.

Each new firmware has brought new levels of functionality, performance and stability (the out-of-box was a little flaky, but the first FW upgrade sorted that) and I don't have any issues with connectivity.

It handles all the WiFi devices in my house well - probably around 20+ devices of various types (Mac, PC, iDevices, Android, WD TV, PS4 etc) all on at different times.

Set-up for Slingshot using the automated settings works perfectly - obviously I can't confirm the same for Vodafone, nor do I recall seeing it as an option, but I think the last time I did this was on the 1.0.7.5 FW

My one concern seems to be that if I ever needed support from Asus for the device, I wouldn't have a fun time - general consensus and experience on the forums suggests they are lacking in this department.

markg1275

24 posts

Geek

#1145814 2-Oct-2014 17:31

Vodafone have been a nightmare with our UFB in the office, I've still not been able to get a 3rd party router working off the fibre NTE (ONT)And using a wireshark trace of the supplied thing that they want to call a router I can see all sorts of nasty tricks going on with the DHCP request sending over the routers serial number etc as part of option 125.

I was just hoping it was going to be a case of setting tagged on vlan 10 with a mac-address clone but no such luck.

I have one last thing to try which is enabling the correct DSCP mapping on the WAN port of our router as I spot that they use the DSCP bits to determine what's voice and data.

Just a bit of a warning to double check that you will be able to use a 3rd party router on a Vodafone connection. I know your VDSL and my experience is with UFB but I don't want anyone else to have to go though the same pain I've been though with this damm thing.

dukester

475 posts

Ultimate Geek

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Lifetime subscriber

#1145817 2-Oct-2014 17:39

Mine also worked far superior on slingshot than the provided one which gave me all sorts of problems setting up Italk. I just plugged the ASUS in and when the browser window opened I just had to supply user name and password and put in VLAN10, and away it went. Couldnt be happier with it. It will also do me when UFB arrives asthe ASUS is capapble of that as well.

crewsaider

70 posts

Master Geek

#1147533 5-Oct-2014 10:12

Many thanks for the responses. Shame there are no VF users but, given VF VDSL details are in a firmware update, I think I might take the risk that all will be well. I'm a 'glass half full' kinda guy!

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Retired Mod

Trusted

Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#1147543 5-Oct-2014 10:38

markg1275:
I have one last thing to try which is enabling the correct DSCP mapping on the WAN port of our router as I spot that they use the DSCP bits to determine what's voice and data.

Vodafone would use 802.1p tags for this - which is what's in the CFH spec, and what most ISPs are using as without it you can't use your CIR.

crewsaider

70 posts

Master Geek

#1156886 17-Oct-2014 15:07

My ASUS DSL-N66U arrived yesterday and, after upgrading FW the "Quick Internet Install" provided selection of Vodafone NZ VDSL but then demanded User/Password for PPPoE with no VLAN! On selecting Manual Setup I was able to choose "Automatic IP" and 802.1q with VLAN ID 10 and connection was immediately established. Unfortunately download sync is about 10Mbps below that with the HG659. Data:

http://selpat.co.nz/ASUS/ASUS_DSL-N66U_1.jpg

There are a number of controls available that could impact on DSL, most of which go far beyond my knowledge base, and I would me grateful for any advice on which, if any, should be altered.

http://selpat.co.nz/ASUS/ASUS_DSL-N66U_2.jpg

http://selpat.co.nz/ASUS/ASUS_DSL-N66U_3.jpg

Moreover, can anyone provide the telnet command which will give Profile?

Edited to provide links to clearer pics.

Item

1717 posts

Uber Geek

Subscriber

#1156955 17-Oct-2014 16:31

I would:

1) Set the VDSL Profile to 17a Multi-mode - this seemed to have an impact for me.
2) Disable Seamless Rate Adaption (SRA) if your line has been pretty stable until now.

If you still don't get where you want to be, then you can try tweaking the stability adjustment - but I would use this with caution as it can cause issues and there are others on here who can give you far better advice than I on this!

FWIW mine is set to +8DB and the Gain Adjustment is set to "Stable" as recommended by an Asus tech on my Slingshot line.

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crewsaider

70 posts

Master Geek

#1156984 17-Oct-2014 17:15

Item: I would:

1) Set the VDSL Profile to 17a Multi-mode - this seemed to have an impact for me.
2) Disable Seamless Rate Adaption (SRA) if your line has been pretty stable until now.

If you still don't get where you want to be, then you can try tweaking the stability adjustment - but I would use this with caution as it can cause issues and there are others on here who can give you far better advice than I on this!

FWIW mine is set to +8DB and the Gain Adjustment is set to "Stable" as recommended by an Asus tech on my Slingshot line.

Many thanks Item. I've tried 1 & 2 and the Gain adjustment with no noticeable improvement but I will wait to see what is further said about Stability Adjustment. I am a little cautious about numerous reboots in close succession in case that line monitor 'thingy' messes with my profile!

hio77

12999 posts

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Lizard Networks

#1157007 17-Oct-2014 18:06

SRA is pointless to enable, it is not in use on Chorus Wholesale, nor have i heard any mention of plans to use it.

All modems will sync slightly differently..

Ild be careful with playing with your SNR too much, VDSL is far more susceptible to errors and DLM is likely to not be too happy with you.

Resyncs can cause your profile to change, so its fair to be mindful of it.

Generally 2 resyncs within about 4 hours on DLM-1 will loose it for you.

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Any comments made are personal opinion and do not reflect directly on the position my current or past employers may have.

crewsaider

70 posts

Master Geek

#1157545 18-Oct-2014 16:45

Many thanks for the advice hio77. I have tweaked the Stability adjustment to 8db which seems to have eked out another 5Mbps. I think I'll stop at that as 41Mbps down is quite sufficient for my needs.

Now all I need is a telnet command to confirm the Profile.