ASUS RT-N56U Wireless Router Review
Check out the little brother of ASUS’ Dual Band N Series.
On deck for review today is the ASUS RT-N56U “Black Diamond” Dual-band Gigabit Wireless-N Router. ASUS has a broad stable of networking equipment including wireless adapters, wireless routers, wired networking gear and even some power line networking gear. Released in late 2010, the RT-N56U is one of the lower cost offerings in ASUS’ Dual Band N series and can be found online for around $99.
ASUS RT-N56U Wireless-N Router Overview
The media review information supplied to us by ASUS claims the ASUS RT-N56U “Black Diamond” offers “Extreme performance in style.” The router’s “Aesthetic design” has a “Sexy and stylish approach with streamlined, meticulously designed and well-rounded appearance, just like diamonds sparkling and twinkling in the dark.” Now I don’t know about you, but if it’s dark, I’m not sure how you see diamond’s twinkling? But I digress; the RT-N56U is a great looking router, with the black cross hatched lattice surface we liked from previous ASUS routers.
Is the ASUS RT-N56U a worthy contender to handle all your router needs? Read on to find out!
Some other key features of the RT-N56U include:
- 802.11 a/b/g/n Wireless Networking
- Dual band 5 GHz & 2.4 GHz Wireless Data Rates of up to 300 Mbps concurrently
- 5 Internal Antennas (3 x 5.1 dBi for 5 GHz, 2 x 3.8 dBi gain for 2.4 GHz)
- 1 x 1 GB WAN Port and 4 x 1 GB LAN Ports
- “Ultra-fast” file transfers with up to 15 MB/s USB port speeds on twin USB 2.0 ports
Nice and compact, this router can easily be tucked in a corner or on a shelf without much of footprint. The router can either lie on its back horizontally or stand up vertically with the included stand. Since the antennas are built into the router, it’s probably best to use the stand and keep the router vertical to obtain the best wireless signals. The markings on the case are even oriented so they will appear correctly when the router is standing vertically on the stand. Unfortunately, there are no mounting holes available if on the router, so mounting it to a wall is not an option. Ports on the back of the router are marked with stampings in the plastic casing and are a bit hard to make out, but it’s pretty apparent what they are all for even without the markings. Included in the box with the router is a 19 volt/1.58 amp wall wart power adapter, one Ethernet cable, a printed setup guide and a CD with the user’s manual and support utility.
Seems pretty good, especially
Seems pretty good, especially with the VPN server. I wish more companies would do that. I have only experienced unstable implementations of routers functioning as a VPN server using pptp and openvpn was more trouble than it was worth because of all of the command line needed and also there being no decent tutorial that did not require you to read like 20 pages and still not get it working.
I like having a VPN that is easy to use so I can quickly login from my laptop, or from a Linux live USB if on a public computer.
While openVPN is more secure than the older PPTP, no one has made a GUI front end where you can do a few clicks and then if gives you all of the various config texts to turn the router setup part into a copy and pasture job, and automate the client setup process as much as possible.
Also liked the router performance improvements, it seems that they optimized the firmware a bit better, hopefully those optimization make their way to the N66U
I’ve been using one of these
I’ve been using one of these for almost 2 years now (ever since my old D-Link DI-624 died) and have been extremely pleased with the performance of the router.
I’ve not had a single dropped WiFi connection (and I generally have at least an iPad and 2 iPhones connected any time I’m home, and occasionally a laptop or 2) and the LAN speeds have always been solid.
In most cases, I take an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to my routers. But seeing that they’ve done a complete UI overhaul with the newest firmware, I just have to go and upgrade it now.
That was really the only downside I found with the router. I couldn’t stand having to work through that old UI.
Great review and I also would highly recommend this router. I don’t think you can do any better for under ~$100.
I had a D-link gamerlounge
I had a D-link gamerlounge (DGL-4500), it had good specs to go along with the marketing 😉 , that I replaced with this when it had started to act up. I think it was running a Terraria server that pushed the D-Link over the edge.
This has held up much better than my D-link did, and was really impressed how well this performed without a myriad of antennas sticking out (my d-link had 3).
I have this router – I must
I have this router – I must upgrade the firmware as pcper did – and it just works. Plug it in and off you go. It is fast, reliable has good wireless range what more could you ask for
Only one problem with the design is that the Cat cables stick out so you will need to invest in a set of right angle connectors to preserve the clean look – if that is important to you.
Highly recommended
Have you tried the Padavan
Have you tried the Padavan firmware? Google for it.
There is a RT-N65U at the egg
There is a RT-N65U at the egg for the same price. Looks like an updated version with USB 3.0 and more range being the big difference.
Have lost my installation
Have lost my installation disc. Can anyone tell me have to get it on line ?
I have tried the new firmware
I have tried the new firmware and despit resetting/ rebooting etc, find it keeps dropping wireless connections. Have tried lots of different firmware for this over the last 16 months or so that alive owned it, including the Panamanian firmware, the only version to date that I’ve found reliable is 1.0.1.8f . All the rest are hopeless
Sorry about the typos. My
Sorry about the typos. My ipad autocorrects everything incorrectly. Meant Padavan firmware
Don’t need installation disc
Don’t need installation disc for asus router – just access via web browser at address 192.168.1.1. Can update firmware from here.
Also meant firmware version
Also meant firmware version 1.0.1.7f. Not 8f!
Currently using the firmware
Currently using the firmware that shipped with my router – V1.0.1.8j and working solidly so far. This is a replacement router as the first one I got kept spontaneously rebooting and intermittently unable to connect to internet via wifi. I had upgraded the first one with the latest f/w xxxx.318…don’t know if the upgraded firmware caused the problems, but I just returned for a new one through amazon.
Currently using the firmware
Currently using the firmware that shipped with my router – V1.0.1.8j and working solidly so far. This is a replacement router as the first one I got kept spontaneously rebooting and intermittently unable to connect to internet via wifi. I had upgraded the first one with the latest f/w xxxx.318…don’t know if the upgraded firmware caused the problems, but I just returned for a new one through amazon.
Had this router for about 2
Had this router for about 2 weeks now. Updated to latest firmware and experienced the dropped connections I have read about. Just now downgrading to .7f. Haven’t put it back online yet (using old router currently), but I do not see the Parental Controls. Is this only in the latest firmware?
One thing, does it support
One thing, does it support more than one printer at the same time?
I would like to connect 2 or 3 printers (with a usb hub)?
I’ve been using it 2 weeks.
I’ve been using it 2 weeks. It arrived with the 1.0.1.8j I updated the firmware to 3.0.0.4.342 while I was setting it up. I’m running the media server, two wireless g 2.47 subnets through it as well as the n on 5. Plus using the VPN, usb for a hard drive share and a printer. No dropped wireless connections and the VPN has been solid.
Would you please share how to
Would you please share how to setup your vpn? I tried to setup VPN with my iphone 5, but unfortunately I always got the error ” A connection could not be established to the ppp server” no matter I am at home or office.
thanks,
Does any one have experience
Does any one have experience of using IPv6 in this router? I am planning to have one for IPv4 & IPv6 dual stack.
hey i just updated my
hey i just updated my firmware to the most recent 3.0.0.4.342. Love this router, but with the old firmware u were able to block mac address, i cant seem to figure out how to do it on the latest firmware… i have neighbours whos kid is living with us… ftw… n they mysteriously obtained our network key, its easier just to block them rather than have to go thru the whole proccess on setting everything back up with the new network key… someone please show me the light, much appreciated
Would you please share the
Would you please share the result of your matrix21 testing? From the above test, i cannot get the maximum session of the router.I tested the router with matrix21 and encountered the winsock error. I just wonder any method can help to avoid the winsock error. Thanks.