Issue with Asus Gaming Router
Issue with Asus Gaming Router
Hello everyone.
I recently purchased a new Asus router, model AXE-160000. Until now, everything worked smoothly. However, lately my internet speeds have been very slow or inconsistent, and I’m trying to identify the cause. I’ve performed full factory resets, power cycles, and tested various cables and connections, but nothing has resolved the problem.
My connection uses cable internet from the ISP Breadline, offering 500 Mbps down and 50 Mbps up. The only equipment provided by the ISP is a modem with built-in Wi-Fi, which I’ve disabled because the in-built network is unreliable. I connect my PC, printer, and NAS via Cat 7 cable to the router. This setup previously worked without issues, but the Wi-Fi signal has weakened over time (the modem was over seven years old).
I’ve also tried full power cycles for both the modem and router, reset the router, applied custom firmware, used older official Asus updates, and even installed the latest firmware. Despite these efforts, I’m still experiencing unstable upload speeds and packet loss. On a wired connection, speeds are poor—ranging from 8Mbps to 30Mbps max—and ping times often fluctuate between 17 and 20 during speed tests.
On the other hand, when connecting my desktop directly to the ISP modem (around the router), there are no issues with upload speeds. They remain steady at 45–50 Mbps. However, once I return to the router, speeds drop significantly.
I’ve tested this on two phones, a new 2025 Asus gaming laptop, and a Steam Deck. Upload speeds remain unstable through the router. I’ve checked for QOS settings, firewalls, and performed a full setup after a factory reset, but nothing has changed.
Any suggestions you might have would be greatly appreciated. I’m unable to reach Asus tech support until tomorrow (Monday), and their advice seems to recommend bypassing the router, which isn’t ideal. I’ve spent over $400 on this router, and it’s now past the return period. This issue seems to have changed recently. I suspect it’s not related to firmware. I’ve tried three different versions, including older ones, but it still works.
I don't recall the exact location where ASUS currently stores it, but they have included a speedtest function in their router for a long time. Using this would remove the need for lan cables and Wi-Fi. If you encounter problems here, it's more likely related to the internet connection itself. You might try unplugging the router and testing directly with the ISP device. If that device has Wi-Fi, it's probably a router unless you altered its settings to make it a modem only.
If your ISP modem supports Wi-Fi, it functions as a modem/router combo. Keeping DHCP enabled on both devices leads to double-NAT. Turning off Wi-Fi on either device doesn’t resolve the issue.
This setup also influences IPv6 traffic, since router advertisements might not reach the intended destination. You’d need a DHCP PD server on one router and a client on the other, which most ISP routers don’t support.
Certain providers let you disable DHCP or enable bridge mode on these devices, while others don’t. The main advantage of using only a modem is avoiding reliance on ISP-restricted firmware that can alter DNS routing. Disabling DHCP on the more expensive ASUS turns it into an access point plus switch, offering only minor benefits with Wi-Fi.
Some ISPs can remotely activate bridge mode for you, but users often report it resets after firmware updates, creating a recurring problem.
It turns out the problem was actually with my ISP, who hasn't been resolving it and has caused several speed inconsistencies. They've been the only faster option I've had for over a decade. Because of this, I searched for alternatives and found that Verizon Fios/optical is now available in my area. I switched last week and have experienced no issues. Thank you for your responses.