Problems with ASUS DSL-AC88U 2.4Ghz device
Problems with ASUS DSL-AC88U 2.4Ghz device
Your ASUS DSL-AC88U performs much better on 5GHz compared to the 2.4GHz band. Nearby the modem you're seeing 40/9 out of 50, while a few walls away it drops to 30/8. On 5GHz it still manages up to 50/10, but the 2.4GHz sometimes disconnects users unexpectedly.
2.4 Ghz is commonly used for baby monitors, Bluetooth, wireless keyboards/mice, and many other devices. This isn't a problem at all. The channel also offers coverage, so nearby networks on the same or adjacent channels can cause interference. Consider switching to a different channel and see if it resolves the issue, though other devices might still be causing the problem.
I should mention that I reside in an area with limited population density and don’t have children or heavy 2.4GHz equipment. Turning off beamforming significantly improved performance, but recently speeds fell back down by 25%-50%. Restoring the system and disabling quick beamforming now bring me to around 80% of the maximum speed.
2.4 Ghz is designed for range and depth, not for high speed. If you want faster connections, go with 5 Ghz. For dependable performance, Ethernet is your best bet. That’s the only sure way to ensure consistent speeds. Just keep in mind how hot your router gets—my old model would burn up quickly, especially after installing DDWRT. Using a laptop cooler helped, but it’s still unpredictable. You really can’t control whether 2.4 Ghz or another band will work; it just works sometimes and sometimes not.
I know 2.4GHz is designed for longer range and better penetration. Unfortunately, some of my gadgets only work on 2.4GHz. I prefer 5GHz wherever possible. My main PC connects via Ethernet without problems, but the cheaper phones in the house don’t support 5GHz and Ethernet isn’t really suitable for them. I’m just a bit sensitive if there’s an issue with the router. It seems disabling beamforming helped a lot. However, once I added a quest network, my internet download and upload speeds dropped again. The connection strength remained around 200Mbps, but the modem got quite warm at 60°C. This post might be unclear since I’m typing from a phone and only half of my message is visible right now.