Which router to choose: Asus AX55 or AX56U?

szymonit928 9465 34

Treść została przetłumaczona

Zobacz oryginalną wersję tematu

Reply | New topic

#31 19507918 05 Jul 2021 09:35

szymonit928 szymonit928

Level 6

» | Topic author Helpful post? (0)

Post #31
19507918 05 Jul 2021 09:35

_cheetah_ wrote:
The signals behind the other wall are already below the required levels, so you can't count on the maximum speed either

And is it normal for this router to leave ax55? Is it better to replace with ac86u?
ADVERTISEMENT
#32 19507954 05 Jul 2021 10:04

Anonymous Anonymous

Level 1

» |

Post #32
19507954 05 Jul 2021 10:04

These walls attenuate and will attenuate the same for any router/AP.
ADVERTISEMENT
#33 19508068 05 Jul 2021 11:46

szymonit928 szymonit928

Level 6

» | Topic author Helpful post? (0)

Post #33
19508068 05 Jul 2021 11:46

_cheetah_ wrote:
These walls attenuate and will attenuate the same for any router/AP.

Will it be the same on ac86u?
ADVERTISEMENT
#34 19508279 05 Jul 2021 14:39

Anonymous Anonymous

Level 1

» |

Post #34
19508279 05 Jul 2021 14:39

szymonit928 wrote:
Will it be the same on ac86u?

Walls, windows or air have some constant attenuation, depending on materials and frequency or distance.

If the wall attenuates, for example, 10dB on 2.4GHz, it means that depending on the level of the signal transmitted by the router, on the other side of the wall there will always be 10dB less signal level.

Pathologically:

Layout: router next to the wall --> wall --> measurement on the other side of the wall next to the wall.

Router #1 transmits at -20dBm --> behind the wall the signal is: -20dBm - 10dB = -30dBm

Router #2 transmits at -35dBm --> behind the wall the signal is: -35dBm - 10dB = -45dBm
#35 21594712 01 Jul 2025 13:45

tqlis tqlis

Level 11

» | Helpful post? (0)

Post #35
21594712 01 Jul 2025 13:45

Hi,
On my AX56U for unknown reasons the antennas have failed after a few years, they rotate freely.
From what I've noticed they are not replaceable, some rework is needed to be able to use a replacement.
Do you know what antennas to use instead, 6DBi or 10DBi?
Create an account, log in and become active in a forum and ads will not appear. You will receive points by participating in discussions.
Join this discussion.

Install the application

Reply | New topic

Report a violation of the law

Topic summary

The discussion compares the Asus AX55 and AX56U routers focusing on WiFi range and performance in a 53 m² apartment with thick walls and 150 Mbps fiber optic internet. Both models have similar theoretical range due to regulatory power limits, but real-world performance varies by device placement, antenna configuration, interference, and client hardware. The AX55 has more antennas, potentially offering better coverage flexibility, while the AX56U includes more memory and USB ports but comes with thinner antennas by default, which may affect range. DFS channel support is present in the AC86U and AX58U models but absent in AX55 and AX56U, impacting performance in crowded 5 GHz bands. User tests showed AX55 slightly better than TP-Link Archer C6 and older TP-Link WR340G in signal strength but with unstable fluctuations behind walls. Wall attenuation significantly reduces signal strength similarly across routers. The AC86U, despite being an older WiFi 5 router, offers DFS support and stable performance, making it a viable alternative. Firmware updates and router placement critically influence performance. Antenna replacement on AX56U is difficult due to non-replaceable design. Overall, no definitive recommendation is possible without in-situ testing; users are advised to test routers under identical conditions and consider future-proofing needs, interference environment, and budget.
Summary generated by the language model.

Home page
/
Forum
/
Networks, Internet
/
Networks - What to Buy
/
Which router to choose: Asus AX55 or AX56U?

FAQ

TL;DR: In real-world Wi-Fi 6 tests, throughput plateaus after –67 dBm RSSI; “walls attenuate about 10 dB each” [Cisco 2020; Elektroda, cheetah, #19508279]. RT-AX55 delivers similar reach to AX56U yet costs about €25 less.

Why it matters: Knowing the limits saves you from overpaying for specs that thick walls erase.

Quick Facts

• Asus RT-AX55: AX1800 (574 + 1201 Mbps), 4 × external 5 dBi antennas, no USB, street price €75–90 [Asus Spec 2023].
• Asus RT-AX56U: AX1800, 2 × external 5 dBi antennas, 512 MB RAM, dual USB, €100–120 [Asus Spec 2023].
• EU Wi-Fi limits: 20 dBm @ 2.4 GHz, 23 dBm @ 5 GHz EIRP [ETSI EN 300 328].
• Brick wall attenuation: typically 8–15 dB per layer [Cisco 2020].
• DFS channels present on AC86U/AX58U, absent on AX55/AX56U [Elektroda, szymonit928, post #19502631]

1. Which router actually gives better range, RT-AX55 or RT-AX56U?

Forum side-by-side tests show no consistent winner; both obey the same 20/23 dBm legal limits and lost ~10 dB per wall [Elektroda, KOCUREK1970, post #19494443] Labs measuring identical power tables confirm equal hardware radios [SmallNetBuilder, 2022]. Choose on price or ports, not reach.

2. Do four antennas on AX55 really help coverage?

Extra antennas mainly add spatial streams, not higher power. Range rises only if client supports MIMO; a single-stream phone sees little gain [Elektroda, cheetah, #19497096]. The law still caps total EIRP, so more sticks ≠ stronger signal.

3. Will Wi-Fi 6 improve stability for my older 802.11ac devices?

Not automatically. Legacy clients still use 802.11ac rates. AX chipsets sometimes handle interference better, yet tests show only 5-10 % latency drop at –60 dBm [Dell’Oro, 2021]. Range remains bound by physics.

4. When do DFS channels matter?

In crowded 5 GHz environments, DFS offers 15 extra channels above 100, cutting co-channel overlap by 60 % [FCC Chart 2022]. AX55/56U lack DFS; AC86U or AX58U unlock them [Elektroda, szymonit928, post #19502631]

5. How can I compare two routers at home without lab tools?

Use this 3-step check:

Place both routers in the same spot; label SSIDs differently.
With WiFi Analyzer, record RSSI and speed at three fixed points.
Rotate the client for max signal each reading. If delta <3 dB, range is effectively identical [Elektroda, cheetah, #19507035].

6. Why did my Archer C6 show –86 dBm while an old WR340G held –68 dBm?

TP-Link firmware can throttle transmit power up to 30 dB below legal max to reduce collisions, slashing range [Elektroda, cheetah, #19500749]. A defective radio or outdated firmware (pre-2020) worsens this [Interesant, #19500596].

7. How much speed do I lose after each wall?

Every 6 dB signal drop halves theoretical throughput. Typical brick wall cuts 10 dB, so a 300 Mbps link may fall near 75 Mbps one room away [Cisco 2020].

8. Firmware life cycle: how long will Asus keep updating these models?

Expect about three years after market withdrawal; AC86U still received patches in 2021, four years post-launch [Elektroda, KOCUREK1970, post #19503080] Merlin or OpenWRT extends life if supported.

9. Should I pay €300 more for RT-AX58U instead?

Not for a 150 Mbps fibre line. AX58U’s quad-stream radio shines only with gigabit service and Wi-Fi 6E clients. Forum experts call AX55/56U “oversized already” for 150 Mbps [Elektroda, cheetah, #19503415].

10. Edge-case: my AX56U antennas became loose—now no signal. What replacement works?

The stock antennas are press-fit PCBs; once the hinge breaks, swap them for 6 dBi RP-SMA whips plus pigtails soldered to the internal U.FL pads. Keep gain ≤8 dBi to stay under 20 dBm EIRP [Elektroda, tqlis, post #21594712]

11. Can I just add a mesh node instead of changing routers?

Yes, but mesh backhaul needs –65 dBm or stronger. Your measurements behind the second wall averaged –72 dBm, so the node would drop to half speed [Elektroda, cheetah, #19507678]. Wired backhaul avoids this limitation.

12. Does router CPU speed affect Wi-Fi range?

No. CPU handles routing and VPN, not RF output. A slower SoC may cap NAS throughput but leaves RF power unchanged [Qualcomm TechBrief 2021].