| Linksys WRT1900AC | ASUS RT-AC87U | NETGEAR Nighthawk R7000 | |
|---|---|---|---|
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| WiFi Performance | AC1900 WiFi (600 + 1300 Mbps) | AC2400 WiFi (600 + 1734 Mbps) | AC1900 WiFi (600 + 1300 Mbps) |
| WiFi Band | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz | 2.4GHz & 5GHz |
| Ethernet Ports | 4 Gigabit LAN port 1 Gigabit WAN port |
4 Gigabit LAN port 1 Gigabit WAN port |
4 Gigabit LAN port 1 Gigabit WAN port |
| USB Ports | 1 USB 3.0 port 1 eSATA/USB 2.0 port |
1 USB 2.0 port 1 USB 3.0 port |
2 USB ports 1 USB 2.0 port 1 USB 3.0 port |
| Processor | 1.2 GHz dual-core ARM-based | 1GHz dual-core | 1GHz dual-core |
| RAM | 256MB DDR3 | 256MB DDR3 | 256 MB |
| Flash Memory | 128MB | 128MB | 128 MB |
| MSRP | $249.99 | $279.99 | $199.99 |
The Asus AC2400 RT-AC87U is a dual band wireless gigabit router that offers extremely fast Wi-Fi speed and long range connectivity. It has just about every feature that was found in the predecessor, the RT-AC68U, but also comes with a pack of new features for enhancing home Wi-Fi performance. To benefit from the top speed that the router offers, you need client devices that are compatible with 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The RT-AC87U delivers tremendously fast speed and supports long range connectivity. It is also handy for hosting external hard drive. The RT-AC87U is a good choice for use in a large house. If you need improved Wi-Fi coverage, then this device is meant for you.
The RT-AC87U comes with impressive hardware features. It is powered by a dual-core 500MHz Quantenna chip, delivering speed up to 1734Mbps on the 5GHz frequency band when connected via 802.11ac client and 600Mbps with a 802.11n client. On the 2.4GHz band, a dual-core 1GHz Broadcom chip delivers speed up to 600Mbps. Other functions of the router including NAT, system operation and USB are also executed via the Broadcom chip. It has 256MB of RAM and 128MB flash memory. These specs are sufficient to run a small home server. In home routers, the RT-AC87U offers some of the most powerful specs.
The RT-AC87U features four gigabit LAN ports and a gigabit WAN port, which is sufficient for home use. It also has two USB ports. The USB 3.0 port is located on the front of the device whereas the USB 2.0 finds its place towards the rear. Generally, the USB 3.0 port is used to connect the router to a permanent storage device. The router has LED status lights on the front of the device. However, the lights aren’t very visible as they face downwards. To view the lights, the user may have to bend down or lift the router up from the front side. The on/off power button can use some improvement as its current design makes it difficult to press the button.
In line with previous router models, the RT-AC87U is easy to set up. When the router is plugged in for the first time, you have to point the browser to the default IP address, 192.168.1.1. A Web-based wizard will take you through simple steps for router setup. If you need to customize the settings at a later point, you can always come back to the wizard. Asus hasn’t changed the settings structure, which is helpful for someone upgrading from the previous Asus models.
The two USB ports on the router can be used for a variety of purposes, such as hosting storage devices, printers and cellular modems. Data from a connected storage device can be shared with local clients as well as remote clients over the Internet. Data can also be accessed when the computer is powered off. Data sync and backup are also facilitated. It offers a built-in VPN server that can be used to create virtual private network for remote use. There are three guest networks on each frequency band. While the guest networks are turned off by default, it takes just a click to turn the guest networks on. Guest network allows you to limit the resources that are accessible to certain clients.
Overall, the Asus RT-87U is a top notch networking hub that offers excellent Wi-Fi range and fast speed connectivity. It’s a powerful router for home use and is filled with many useful features for basic as well as advanced users.
