Executive Summary

Asus manufactures a series of network routers directly competing with Linksys routers from Belkin. The Asus series of routers usually ship with Broadcom chipsets, faster processors, and more memory than average, removable antennas, and USB ports for expansion. Asus' factory default firmware is generally more feature-rich than its competitors, but Open source Linux-based router firmware projects such as DD-WRT, OpenWrt, Tomato Firmware, and DebWRT are able to get better performance out of the devices and offer their users more flexibility and customization options.

Asus encourages and supports the use of these open-source firmware projects and advertises several routers as particularly suitable for DD-WRT. The RT-N16 gigabit router, RT-N13U/B, RT-N12, RT-N10+, WL-520GU, and WL-520GC are also advertised as DD-WRT compatible, although they do not ship with this operating system.

Asus' routers are designed to provide high-speed wireless networking and are suitable for use in a variety of applications, including homes, small businesses, and large enterprises. They offer advanced features such as beamforming, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA, which enable high-speed data transfer and efficient network management.

Architecture & Design

The Asus series of routers uses Broadcom chipsets, which provide high-speed wireless networking and advanced features such as beamforming, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA. The routers are designed to provide high-speed data transfer and efficient network management.

The RT-N16 gigabit router, for example, uses a Broadcom BCM4708A0 processor and has a memory of 256 MB Flash and 128 MB RAM. It also has a USB 2.0/3.0 Gigabit switch and supports wireless standards up to 802.11ac.

• RT-ACRH13 (AC1300): Qualcomm IPQ4018 processor, 128 MB Flash, 128 MB RAM, 2x2:2 b/g/n wireless standard
• RT-AC56U (AC1200): Broadcom BCM4708A0 processor, 256 MB Flash, 128 MB RAM, 2x2:2 b/g/n wireless standard
• RT-AC58U (AC1300): Qualcomm IPQ4018 processor, 128 MB Flash, 128 MB RAM, 2x2:2 b/g/n wireless standard
• RT-AC66U (AC1750): Broadcom BCM4706 processor, 256 MB Flash, 128 MB RAM, 3x3:3 b/g/n wireless standard
• RT-AC87U (AC2400): Broadcom BCM4709A0 processor, 128 MB Flash, 128 MB RAM, 4x4:4 b/g/n wireless standard
• RT-AC88U (AC3100): Broadcom BCM47094 processor, 512 MB Flash, 128 MB RAM, 4x4:4 b/g/n wireless standard

Performance & Thermal

The Asus series of routers provides high-speed wireless networking and advanced features such as beamforming, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA. They are designed to provide high-speed data transfer and efficient network management.

The RT-N16 gigabit router, for example, has a data transfer rate of up to 1.9 Gbps and supports wireless standards up to 802.11ac. It also has a USB 2.0/3.0 Gigabit switch and supports Quality of Service (QoS) and traffic control.

The RT-AC87U (AC2400), for example, has a data transfer rate of up to 3.0 Gbps and supports wireless standards up to 802.11ac. It also has a USB 2.0/3.0 Gigabit switch and supports Quality of Service (QoS) and traffic control.

• RT-N16 (Gigabit): Up to 1.9 Gbps data transfer rate, 802.11ac wireless standard
• RT-AC87U (AC2400): Up to 3.0 Gbps data transfer rate, 802.11ac wireless standard
• RT-AC88U (AC3100): Up to 3.2 Gbps data transfer rate, 802.11ac wireless standard

The Asus series of routers also provides advanced thermal management features, such as temperature monitoring and fan control, to ensure reliable operation and extend the lifespan of the device.

Market Positioning

The Asus series of routers is positioned in the high-end market segment, competing with other high-end routers from manufacturers such as Linksys and Netgear.

The target buyer for the Asus series of routers is the home user and small business owner who requires high-speed wireless networking and advanced features such as beamforming, MU-MIMO, and OFDMA.

The Asus series of routers is also suitable for use in large enterprises and organizations that require high-speed wireless networking and advanced features such as Quality of Service (QoS) and traffic control.