ASUS AC88U router ethernet cable missing

wheresmycar · May 13, 2021

Hi, I picked up a used AC88U but it arrived without the ethernet cable which links the router to the modem. If the seller can't locate it (he's gonna have a look tonite), which one do I need to buy as a replacement?

TheLostSwede · May 13, 2021

Any standards Cat 5e cable will do the job.

Also, do yourself a favour and install Merlin's firmware, it has far fewer security holes than Asus' firmware.

Home | Asuswrt-Merlin

www.asuswrt-merlin.net

bonehead123 · May 13, 2021

TheLostSwede said:
Also, do yourself a favor and install Merlin's firmware, it has far fewer security holes than Asus' firmware.

Home | Asuswrt-Merlin

www.asuswrt-merlin.net

^^THIS^^

Been there, done that, thankfully right before a major hacking attempt was initiated by some script kiddie scumbags over in da hood

wheresmycar · May 13, 2021

TheLostSwede said:
Any standards Cat 5e cable will do the job.

Also, do yourself a favour and install Merlin's firmware, it has far fewer security holes than Asus' firmware.

Home | Asuswrt-Merlin

www.asuswrt-merlin.net

Thank you!

I think I once inquired about something similar and it was you who posted up on the Merlin firmware suggestion. I had it bookmarked to follow up on at a later date.

I was meaning to ask - so basically I don't need to revert to the manufacturers website to upgrade the firmware and can do this directly from the Merlin firmware releases? Are there any negatives going down this route? One of the benefits i'm looking to secure is phone app access to set/control device access (parental controls). Will merlin compromise any of these types of features?

Also once the firmware is updated via Merlin... should I continue to download the software package from ASUS?

TheLostSwede · May 13, 2021

wheresmycar said:
Thank you!

I think I once inquired about something similar and it was you who posted up on the Merlin firmware suggestion. I had it bookmarked to follow up on at a later date.

I was meaning to ask - so basically I don't need to revert to the manufacturers website to upgrade the firmware and can do this directly from the Merlin firmware releases? Are there any negatives going down this route? One of the benefits i'm looking to secure is phone app access to set/control device access (parental controls). Will merlin compromise any of these types of features?

Also once the firmware is updated via Merlin... should I continue to download the software package from ASUS?

Zero negatives, he's actually sort of working for Asus in an unofficial capacity, in that Asus tends to implement his security fixes.
Almost everything will look the same, you'll just have a safer firmware with a few additional options enabled that you don't have to touch if you don't want to.
The key thing is that he does regular updates, Asus does not.
No need to download anything from Asus, the Merlin firmware replaces the Asus one.

wheresmycar · May 13, 2021

TheLostSwede said:
Zero negatives, he's actually sort of working for Asus in an unofficial capacity, in that Asus tends to implement his security fixes.
Almost everything will look the same, you'll just have a safer firmware with a few additional options enabled that you don't have to touch if you don't want to.
The key thing is that he does regular updates, Asus does not.
No need to download anything from Asus, the Merlin firmware replaces the Asus one.

SWEET! I didn't know that.

What about the android mobile app... is that something available through Merlin too?

TheLostSwede · May 13, 2021

wheresmycar said:
SWEET! I didn't know that.

What about the android mobile app... is that something available through Merlin too?

No, but the Asus app will work just fine.

dirtyferret · May 13, 2021

Like swede said, I use merlin on my main router while my old Asus router (set as an AP) runs stock Asus firmware. My Asus app has no issue with either router.

Shrek · May 14, 2021

Maybe someone can help me here with the ASUS firmware

The AC68U firmware recently went from

3.0.0.4.386.41634
to
9.0.0.4.386.41994
RT-AC68R - Support (asus.com)

does the 3.0.0 to 9.0.0 move have a significance?

Sybaris_Caesar · May 14, 2021

Andy Shiekh said:
Maybe someone can help me here with the ASUS firmware

The AC68U firmware recently went from

3.0.0.4.386.41634
to
9.0.0.4.386.41994
RT-AC68R - Support (asus.com)

does the 3.0.0 to 9.0.0 move have a significance?

Buncha vulnerability fixes pertaining to DNSmasq looks like.

RT-AC68U｜WiFi routery｜ASUS Česká republika

Shrek · May 14, 2021

Also wondering why

The ASUS RT-AC68U firmware is 40.45 MB

The Merlin version is 35.2 MB

wheresmycar · May 23, 2021

TheLostSwede said:
No, but the Asus app will work just fine.

Hi I'm just about getting around to setting everything up.

I was meaning to ask - the latest Merlin firmware for the AC88U was last modified on 30-04-2021 https://sourceforge.net/projects/asuswrt-merlin/files/RT-AC88U/ and the last updated firmware on the ASUS support page was released 2/3 weeks later on 18-05-2021 https://www.asus.com/uk/Networking-...ASUS-WiFi-Routers/RT-AC88U/HelpDesk_Download/

Would you still recommend opting for the Merlin version?

EDIT: or is this not a problem in hopes of Merlin releasing further updates along the way?

Shrek · May 23, 2021

No reason there will not be a new Merlin build soon.

System Name	❶ Oooh (2024) ❷ Aaaah (2021) ❸ Ahemm (2017)
Processor	❶ 5800X3D ❷ i7-9700K ❸ i7-7700K
Motherboard	❶ X570-F ❷ Z390-E ❸ Z270-E
Cooling	❶ ALFIII 360 ❷ X62 + X72 (GPU mod) ❸ X62
Memory	❶ 32-3600/16 ❷ 32-3200/16 ❸ 16-3200/16
Video Card(s)	❶ 3080 X Trio ❷ 2080TI (AIOmod) ❸ 1080TI
Storage	❶ NVME/SSD/HDD ❷ <SAME ❸ SSD/HDD
Display(s)	❶ 1440/165/IPS ❷ 1440/144/IPS ❸ 1080/144/IPS
Case	❶ BQ Silent 601 ❷ Cors 465X ❸ Frac Mesh C
Audio Device(s)	❶ HyperX C2 ❷ HyperX C2 ❸ Logi G432
Power Supply	❶ HX1200 Plat ❷ RM750X ❸ EVGA 650W G2
Mouse	❶ Logi G Pro ❷ Razer Bas V3 ❸ Logi G502
Keyboard	❶ Logi G915 TKL ❷ Anne P2 ❸ Logi G610
Benchmark Scores	I have wrestled bandwidths, Tussled with voltages, Handcuffed Overclocks, Thrown Gigahertz in Jail

System Name	Overlord Mk MLI
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15 SE with offsets
Memory	32GB Team T-Create Expert DDR5 6000 MHz @ CL30-34-34-68
Video Card(s)	Gainward GeForce RTX 4080 Phantom GS
Storage	1TB Solidigm P44 Pro, 2 TB Corsair MP600 Pro, 2TB Kingston KC3000
Display(s)	Acer XV272K LVbmiipruzx 4K@160Hz
Case	Fractal Design Torrent Compact
Audio Device(s)	Corsair Virtuoso SE
Power Supply	be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 850 W
Mouse	Logitech G502 Lightspeed
Keyboard	Corsair K70 Max
Software	Windows 10 Pro
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Processor	i5-11320H @4.4GHZ
Motherboard	AZW SEI
Cooling	Fan w/heat pipes + side & rear vents
Memory	64GB Crucial DDR4-3200 (2x 32GB)
Video Card(s)	Iris XE
Storage	WD Black SN850X 4TB m.2, Seagate 2TB SSD + SN850 4TB x2 in an external enclosure
Display(s)	2x Samsung 43" & 2x 32"
Case	Practically identical to a mac mini, just purrtier in slate blue, & with 3x usb ports on the front !
Audio Device(s)	Yamaha ATS-1060 Bluetooth Soundbar & Subwoofer
Power Supply	65w brick
Mouse	Logitech MX Master 2
Keyboard	Logitech G613 mechanical wireless
Software	Windows 10 pro 64 bit, with all the unnecessary background shitzu turned OFF !
Benchmark Scores	PDQ

System Name	❶ Oooh (2024) ❷ Aaaah (2021) ❸ Ahemm (2017)
Processor	❶ 5800X3D ❷ i7-9700K ❸ i7-7700K
Motherboard	❶ X570-F ❷ Z390-E ❸ Z270-E
Cooling	❶ ALFIII 360 ❷ X62 + X72 (GPU mod) ❸ X62
Memory	❶ 32-3600/16 ❷ 32-3200/16 ❸ 16-3200/16
Video Card(s)	❶ 3080 X Trio ❷ 2080TI (AIOmod) ❸ 1080TI
Storage	❶ NVME/SSD/HDD ❷ <SAME ❸ SSD/HDD
Display(s)	❶ 1440/165/IPS ❷ 1440/144/IPS ❸ 1080/144/IPS
Case	❶ BQ Silent 601 ❷ Cors 465X ❸ Frac Mesh C
Audio Device(s)	❶ HyperX C2 ❷ HyperX C2 ❸ Logi G432
Power Supply	❶ HX1200 Plat ❷ RM750X ❸ EVGA 650W G2
Mouse	❶ Logi G Pro ❷ Razer Bas V3 ❸ Logi G502
Keyboard	❶ Logi G915 TKL ❷ Anne P2 ❸ Logi G610
Benchmark Scores	I have wrestled bandwidths, Tussled with voltages, Handcuffed Overclocks, Thrown Gigahertz in Jail

System Name	Overlord Mk MLI
Processor	AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D
Motherboard	Gigabyte X670E Aorus Master
Cooling	Noctua NH-D15 SE with offsets
Memory	32GB Team T-Create Expert DDR5 6000 MHz @ CL30-34-34-68
Video Card(s)	Gainward GeForce RTX 4080 Phantom GS
Storage	1TB Solidigm P44 Pro, 2 TB Corsair MP600 Pro, 2TB Kingston KC3000
Display(s)	Acer XV272K LVbmiipruzx 4K@160Hz
Case	Fractal Design Torrent Compact
Audio Device(s)	Corsair Virtuoso SE
Power Supply	be quiet! Pure Power 12 M 850 W
Mouse	Logitech G502 Lightspeed
Keyboard	Corsair K70 Max
Software	Windows 10 Pro
Benchmark Scores	https://valid.x86.fr/5za05v

ASUS AC88U router ethernet cable missing

wheresmycar

TheLostSwede

News Editor

Home | Asuswrt-Merlin

bonehead123

Home | Asuswrt-Merlin

wheresmycar

Home | Asuswrt-Merlin

TheLostSwede

News Editor

wheresmycar

TheLostSwede

News Editor

dirtyferret

Shrek

Sybaris_Caesar

Shrek

wheresmycar

Shrek

Processor	faster at instructions than yours
Motherboard	more nurturing than yours
Cooling	frostier than yours
Memory	superior scheduling & haphazardly entry than yours
Video Card(s)	better rasterization than yours
Storage	more ample than yours
Display(s)	increased pixels than yours
Case	fancier than yours
Audio Device(s)	further audible than yours
Power Supply	additional amps x volts than yours
Mouse	without as much gnawing as yours
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VR HMD	not as odd looking as yours
Software	extra mushier than yours
Benchmark Scores	up yours

System Name	HP Compaq 8000 Elite CMT
Processor	Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
Motherboard	Hewlett-Packard 3647h
Memory	16GB DDR3
Video Card(s)	Asus NVIDIA GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 (fan-less)
Storage	2TB Micron SATA SSD; 2TB Seagate Firecuda 3.5" HDD
Display(s)	Dell P2416D (2560 x 1440)
Power Supply	12V HP proprietary
Software	Windows 10 Pro 64-bit

System Name	SYBARIS
Processor	AMD Ryzen 5 3600
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Cooling	Cryorig H7 Quad Lumi
Memory	Team T-Force Delta RGB 2x8GB 3200CL16
Video Card(s)	Colorful GeForce RTX 2060 6GV2
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Display(s)	AOC 24G2 24" 144hz IPS
Case	Montech Air ARGB
Audio Device(s)	Massdrop + Sennheiser PC37X \| QKZ x HBB
Power Supply	Corsair CX650-F
Mouse	Razer Viper Mini \| Cooler Master MM711 \| Logitech G102 \| Logitech G402
Keyboard	Drop + The Lord of the Rings Dwarvish
Software	Windows 10 Education 22H2 x64