[US] I found this router on amazon.......good price

[jboydgolfer]

So i figured id mention this to the community. I found it a few weeks back, and the price is still the same (which is impressively low). It requires no promo codes, or Rebates, just checkout with listed price.

Its a factory refurbished Asus AC68u that is T-Mobile branded (and im guessing will have a FW of theirs too (which can easily be flashed to Merlin, etc.) It is no different other than the FW, and i think some branding on the routers case, other than that, it is a full fledged AC68u (which im sure most of You will know is a decent router and they sell for around $140+ without the T-Mobile branding) its a great deal for someone looking for a decent router, especially when you can buy it for $60.00!

I know its not the newest router on the market, or the fastest, but anyone who thinks this isnt a good deal is crazy, so i shared it. I hope it helps anyone who might be looking for a reliable, router , with great options/functionality, that doesnt cost an arm & a leg.

How to guide for flashing custom FW to remove the T-Mobile FW
Compliments of @Kursah
https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/asus-ac-r68u-t-mobil-version-59.227917/

$60 Refurb model
Link to amazon listing,

$71.00
BNIB model
if your okay with spending a little more, you can get a BNIB one,
amazon Link HERE


regards

Spoiler: Pic's

 

[evernessince]

I got two of these on Cyber Monday for $40/each. Great routers, they use the same hardware as a $150 router.

 

[Kursah]

Good routers. They were having a fire sale on them from T-Mobile early last year around that price and I picked one up, did the flashing to make it an AsusWRT unit without the T-Mobile hotspot stuff, was well worth the time invested to do it (didn't take too long and the thread is here on TPU), loaded MerlinWRT and have been solid ever since. Right now it runs as my second AP in the basement where I reside so I have more AC bandwidth. The AC66U takes care of the kids upstairs. Works great!

The AC68U has a dual core processor and does a good job as a home-grade router as well. Totally worth the price!

 

[jboydgolfer]

yeah, its defintely a great price, even the Brand new in box one for $71 is killer, around half what the Asus branded ones go for, i saw it a while ago, and figured it was a error in pricing , so i never posted it, but after 3 weeks, its still that price, so i thought id share it with anyone looking to upgrade their network with a great dependable router. You can actually buy 2 and it would cost what ONE would normally

 

[Kursah]

Definitely worth it and for those interested in flashing the device over to Asus ROM's, there's a few steps involved, but it really isn't that bad. Just gotta pay attention and take your time. I found the original deal thread I made when T-Mobil was having the sale on them. Might be worth a read for those that pick one up. I'd say it is worth converting to Asus identifiers for at least MerlinWRT continuing to improve support and security on the AsusWRT firmware versions.

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/asus-ac-r68u-t-mobil-version-59.227917/

 

[jboydgolfer]

Definitely worth it and for those interested in flashing the device over to Asus ROM's, there's a few steps involved, but it really isn't that bad. Just gotta pay attention and take your time. I found the original deal thread I made when T-Mobil was having the sale on them. Might be worth a read for those that pick one up. I'd say it is worth converting to Asus identifiers for at least MerlinWRT continuing to improve support and security on the AsusWRT firmware versions.

https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/asus-ac-r68u-t-mobil-version-59.227917/

Or they can follow my stickied thread how to guide

I have the AC66u(W) but id love to buy this one aince i have a ton of connected devices & the 2core would help

 

[Kursah]

Or they can follow my stickied thread how to guide

Does that guide include flashing the CFE over to identify the unit as an Asus rather than T-Mobil?

 

[jboydgolfer]

Does that guide include flashing the CFE over to identify the unit as an Asus rather than T-Mobil?

it is a "how to" for getting a 3rd party FW even though Asus seemed to have blocked that choice in some of their software....i dont know if it has what you mentioned. please include the link to yours and ill add it to the OP.

edit
i see you posted it already im gettign old.

i added your to the OP

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

I just bought a Linksys WRT 3200 last night on sale at best buy for $215. Im liking it so far.

 

[jboydgolfer]

I just bought a Linksys WRT 3200 last night on sale at best buy for $215. Im liking it so far.

It was only a year or so ago that i finally got rid of my old lynksis routers...really reliable

 

[thebluebumblebee]

I've been trying to decide whether to go with this type of an AP or the PoE type. Figured I'd give the $60 route a try. I paid $60.59 to get it from a seller with a 96% rating verses the 75% rating for the $60 unit. And it will get here, even with Prime, 4 days sooner.

 

[Jetster]

It was only a year or so ago that i finally got rid of my old lynksis routers...really reliable

That is a relic

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

It was only a year or so ago that i finally got rid of my old lynksis routers...really reliable

That is a relic

Great routers. Main reason I bought the 3200. I still have my original WRT54G and Im pretty certain it still works.

 

[Jetster]

Great routers. Main reason I bought the 3200. I still have my original WRT54G and Im pretty certain it still works.

Of course it does but its 10/100

 

[jboydgolfer]

That is a relic

a relic yes, but a relic of networking greatness, and stability , both of which are Never outdated, even when the components that bare them are.

they were in my garagem long out of service, but i never got rid of them since they never stopped working, a good problem to have,

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

Of course it does but its 10/100

Yeah :-\

 

[Cybrnook2002]

I just bought a Linksys WRT 3200 last night on sale at best buy for $215. Im liking it so far.

Return that boy, I got a few I am selling for dirt cheap. (https://www.snbforums.com/threads/fs-us-r7000-wrt3200acm-wrt32x-archer-c7-v2.38233/ )

If someone ends up picking up the T-Mo RT-AC68U, yes can be flashed quite easily. Just be careful with which CFE you use, as the new Asus firmware that has "Mesh" integrated is being more picky on which version it is enabling itself on. Not a hardware limitation, just make sure the CFE version is right.
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/aimesh-on-the-t-mobile-tm-ac1900.43278/

 

[CrAsHnBuRnXp]

Return that boy,

Lol thanks but no thanks. I prefer new over used. Not to mention i used Best Buy certificates that I wont get back if I did.

 

[roccor777]

Just don't buy those DLInk modems please:d

 

[dirtyferret]

FYI, the Asus AC66U B1 (not to be confused with the non-B1 version) is the exact same hardware as the AC68U. Even runs the exact same versions of merlin and offers AC1900 performance as opposed to 1700. I've found it on sale for as little as $80 plus it has a smaller footprint and will will lay flat down as opposed to the AC68U.

 

[jboydgolfer]

FYI, the Asus AC66U B1 (not to be confused with the non-B1 version) is the exact same hardware as the AC68U. Even runs the exact same versions of merlin and offers AC1900 performance as opposed to 1700. I've found it on sale for as little as $80 plus it has a smaller footprint and will will lay flat down as opposed to the AC68U.

Link the $80 FS page here so others can buy it.

When i posted this , the bnib ac68 was $74, but if the one your speaking about is better im sure people would benefit

i think youve got your specs backwards tho. the 68u has faster potential speeds, and offers USB2 &3 , the AC66u B1 only has USB2 based on the Asus page (it apparently has it on the front for some dumb reason thats intuitive.).
the 68u can lay flat too, not designed to , but it can. i have the 66u it does both. not that router space is of consequence in many situations tho

it looks like the BNIB ac68u went up by $6 USD, but stil la deal at $80. i cant find the one you mention cheaper.
but i didnt look very long

 

[eidairaman1]

Great routers. Main reason I bought the 3200. I still have my original WRT54G and Im pretty certain it still works.

Yeah the G and GL and I think the R1.0 or R2.0 GS were pretty good, after that they were unstable rubbish

 

[dirtyferret]

Link the $80 FS page here so others can buy it.

When i posted this , the bnib ac68 was $74, but if the one your speaking about is better im sure people would benefit

i think youve got your specs backwards tho. the 68u has faster potential speeds, and offers USB2 &3 , the AC66u B1 only has USB2 based on the Asus page (it apparently has it on the front for some dumb reason thats intuitive.).
the 68u can lay flat too, not designed to , but it can. i have the 66u it does both. not that router space is of

The AC66U B1 was at $80 during the holidays, next time it's on sale I will post it. The issue with the B1 is it sounds and looks too close like the AC draft version AC66U. Asus made little headlines in launching it too but there is one review site that did review it (see below).

ASUS Easter Egg

At hardware level, this new router supports Turbo QAM in the 2.4GHz band, this means that we can get a speed of up to 600Mbps instead of up to 450Mbps. Although ASUS has cataloged this equipment as an AC1750, it is actually an AC1900 as the RT-AC68U, in fact, as you will see in the performance tests, there is a card that synchronizes at 600Mbps. In the firmware itself, we have the option to enable or disable this Turbo QAM, it is not an ASUS error, it is really an AC1900 computer.

https://www.redeszone.net/asus/rt-ac66u-b1-ac1750/

Merlin (see his comments below) also confirmed the hardware is exactly the same as the 68u and his firmware will work with the "B1" AC66U version also. I have also confirmed the AC66U B1 offers 600mbps on its 2.4ghz hand with my AC 1900 card.

This is because I don't have any official information yet, and also because Asus made it VERY confusing, by using the hardware of an RT-AC68U, and putting the label on an RT-AC66U. If I start telling people to flash an RT-AC66U with the firmware of an RT-AC68U, there will be a bunch of people who will flash the wrong firmware on the wrong model, and end up with a brick. There will be another bunch of people who will flash the RT-AC66U firmware, and also brick their router.
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/can-asus-rt-ac66u-b1-run-asuswrt-merlin.35323/

 

[neatfeatguy]

I picked up one of these RT-AC68U AC1900 routers a while back, wasn't on sale for me :-(

The router worked wonders over the old Linksys WRT54G I had running with Tomato on it. I used the RT-AC68U router for about 18 months, got home one day and I was having issues verifying security certificates. I rebooted the PC, modem and router and the router never powered back on. I tried multiple outlets, but no power.

I set up a RMA with ASUS and in about a 14 day turn around time I had the router back. The repair info on the router said issue was "Windows 7 problem". I'm not sure what the hell that meant, but the router works again. She's just been sitting in the box.

Just be aware that these routers have a tendency (at least back when I purchased mine January 2016) to arrive DOA or die on you, generally within the first year. If you get one that works and doesn't die on you in a short period, they're good routers, no issues with it providing a strong wifi across 1550sqft house.

 

[jboydgolfer]

The AC66U B1 was at $80 during the holidays, next time it's on sale I will post it. The issue with the B1 is it sounds and looks too close like the AC draft version AC66U. Asus made little headlines in launching it too but there is one review site that did review it (see below).

ASUS Easter Egg

At hardware level, this new router supports Turbo QAM in the 2.4GHz band, this means that we can get a speed of up to 600Mbps instead of up to 450Mbps. Although ASUS has cataloged this equipment as an AC1750, it is actually an AC1900 as the RT-AC68U, in fact, as you will see in the performance tests, there is a card that synchronizes at 600Mbps. In the firmware itself, we have the option to enable or disable this Turbo QAM, it is not an ASUS error, it is really an AC1900 computer.

https://www.redeszone.net/asus/rt-ac66u-b1-ac1750/

Merlin (see his comments below) also confirmed the hardware is exactly the same as the 68u and his formare will work with the "B1" AC66U version so. I have also confirmed the AC66U B1 offers 600mbps on its 2.4ghz hand with my AC 1900 card.

This is because I don't have any official information yet, and also because Asus made it VERY confusing, by using the hardware of an RT-AC68U, and putting the label on an RT-AC66U. If I start telling people to flash an RT-AC66U with the firmware of an RT-AC68U, there will be a bunch of people who will flash the wrong firmware on the wrong model, and end up with a brick. There will be another bunch of people who will flash the RT-AC66U firmware, and also brick their router.
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/can-asus-rt-ac66u-b1-run-asuswrt-merlin.35323/

I didn't even know it was different other than possibly some type of software revision. I think I've noticed it a year back when I was updating my merlin FW. But it's nothing like the 66u , it doesn't suffer from the same hardware related flaws like a single CPU core , or cripplingly small amount of ram. The b1 revision should have gotten its own model number and name. I like my 66u, but I'd be lying if I didn't tell you dual core and more ram would be better .

I'm surprised how little the 68u has increased in price since I first posted it. At $74 for a brand new one , you can't really beat the price (now $80). If the one I have currently would just die already , id upgrade to the 68u.