Asus RT-AC68U (different models)

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JohnRob
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 11 Nov 2016
Posts: 10

PostPosted: Sun Dec 10, 2017 16:15    Post subject: Asus RT-AC68U (different models) Reply with quote
I am looking to buy an Asus RT-AC68U unit. However the shop shows that this is the model RT-AC68UF.

After some digging around it appears that this is a slight change to the original AC68U. In fact it is the same as the AC68P except, according to WikiDevi, the wireless chip is BCM43602 and not BCM4360 (as on the AC68U and P models).

https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC68UF
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC68P
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC68U

Having already bought an RT-AC1200G+ a year ago, as I thought 'Work in Progress' meant DD-WRT would be available on the unit pretty soon and still isn't, I don't want to get another Asus router that I can't use with DD-WRT.

So my question is, will the firmware for the RT-AC68U work on the RT-AC68UF?

Interestingly the DD-WRT Supported Devices page and WikiDevi pages report that the processor and wireless chips of the RT-AC68UF are apparently identical to the Asus RT-AC3200... So would that firmware work?
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC68UF
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC3200

I know the above sounds a bit odd, but according to this forum the new RT-66U units should be flashed with the RT-68U firmware these days...
https://www.dd-wrt.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=305763

Thanks a lot for any / all replies.
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ian5142
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Joined: 23 Oct 2013
Posts: 2318
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Wed Dec 13, 2017 14:39    Post subject: Wikidevi Reply with quote
More than most likely, if wikidevi says the hardware is similar. You should be able to flash dd-wrt using a slightly modified factory-to-ddwrt file. Don't quote me on this as I do not own the hardware, but this has been the case with ~10 different TP-Link models that I have helped other users with.
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Before asking a question on the forums, update dd-wrt: Where do I download firmware? I suggest reading it all.
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Some dd-wrt wiki pages are up to date, others are not. PM me if you find an old one.

Atheros:
Netgear R7800 x3 - WDS AP / station, gateway, QoS
TP-Link Archer C7 v2 x2 - WDS Station
TP-Link TL-WDR3600 v1 - WDS Station
TP-Link 841nd v8 - NU
D-Link 615 C1/E3/I1 x 7 - 1 WDS station
D-Link 825 B1 - NU
D-Link 862L A1 x2 - WDS Station
Netgear WNDR3700v2 - NU
UBNT loco M2 x2 - airOS

Broadcom
Linksys EA6400 - Gateway, QoS
Asus N66U - AP
Netgear WNDR3700v3 - not used
MediaTek
UBNT EdgeRouter X - switch
JohnRob
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 11 Nov 2016
Posts: 10

PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 11:42    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks for the reply.

Would you know if the drivers for the BCM4360 work with the BCM43602?

This would settle the question of starting with the RT-AC68U or RT-AC3200 firmware.
ian5142
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 23 Oct 2013
Posts: 2318
Location: Canada

PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 12:32    Post subject: No idea Reply with quote
I have no idea. My guess would be start with the RT-AC3200 firmware because wikidevi lists the hardware as exactly the same, minus one 5GHz chip:
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC3200
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC68UF

_________________
Before asking a question on the forums, update dd-wrt: Where do I download firmware? I suggest reading it all.
QCA Best WiFi Settings


Some dd-wrt wiki pages are up to date, others are not. PM me if you find an old one.

Atheros:
Netgear R7800 x3 - WDS AP / station, gateway, QoS
TP-Link Archer C7 v2 x2 - WDS Station
TP-Link TL-WDR3600 v1 - WDS Station
TP-Link 841nd v8 - NU
D-Link 615 C1/E3/I1 x 7 - 1 WDS station
D-Link 825 B1 - NU
D-Link 862L A1 x2 - WDS Station
Netgear WNDR3700v2 - NU
UBNT loco M2 x2 - airOS

Broadcom
Linksys EA6400 - Gateway, QoS
Asus N66U - AP
Netgear WNDR3700v3 - not used
MediaTek
UBNT EdgeRouter X - switch
jwh7
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 25 Oct 2013
Posts: 2670
Location: Indy

PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 18:03    Post subject: Re: Asus RT-AC68U (different models) Reply with quote
JohnRob wrote:
So my question is, will the firmware for the RT-AC68U work on the RT-AC68UF?

Interestingly the DD-WRT Supported Devices page and WikiDevi pages report that the processor and wireless chips of the RT-AC68UF are apparently identical to the Asus RT-AC3200... So would that firmware work?
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC68UF
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC3200
There is another significant clue to be gleaned from wikidevi...the FCC ID for the AC68UF is the same as for the AC68P. And working backwards...if you compare the latest OEM firmware for each, you'll notice that they are, in fact, identical. The AC3200 does not have the same FCC ID, and the f/w is not the same though that may only be as it is a newer rev (of v3.0.0.4.382.x). It does have the same first-four-bytes: HDR0 (48445230 in hex), so the AC3200 build might work, but there is much more certainty with using the AC68P build (thus, AC68U) to flash DD-WRT. Let us know... Smile
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quarkysg
DD-WRT User


Joined: 03 May 2015
Posts: 323

PostPosted: Thu Dec 14, 2017 21:55    Post subject: Re: Asus RT-AC68U (different models) Reply with quote
jwh7 wrote:
JohnRob wrote:
So my question is, will the firmware for the RT-AC68U work on the RT-AC68UF?

Interestingly the DD-WRT Supported Devices page and WikiDevi pages report that the processor and wireless chips of the RT-AC68UF are apparently identical to the Asus RT-AC3200... So would that firmware work?
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC68UF
https://wikidevi.com/wiki/ASUS_RT-AC3200
There is another significant clue to be gleaned from wikidevi...the FCC ID for the AC68UF is the same as for the AC68P. And working backwards...if you compare the latest OEM firmware for each, you'll notice that they are, in fact, identical. The AC3200 does not have the same FCC ID, and the f/w is not the same though that may only be as it is a newer rev (of v3.0.0.4.382.x). It does have the same first-four-bytes: HDR0 (48445230 in hex), so the AC3200 build might work, but there is much more certainty with using the AC68P build (thus, AC68U) to flash DD-WRT. Let us know... Smile


Almost all router firmware images are packaged using the TRX format, which starts with HDR0.

I doubt the AC68UF will be equivalent to the AC3200. It should more closely match the AC68U/P, from a marketing POV anyway. The OEM firmware probably has codes to load the appropriate drivers and init codes base on the model it detected, like what DD-WRT firmware is doing. A single DD-WRT image can work on multiple router models based on the same design/chipset.
JohnRob
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 11 Nov 2016
Posts: 10

PostPosted: Sun Dec 17, 2017 23:43    Post subject: Reply with quote
Thanks very much for the replies. I've ordered the unit (RT-AC68UF) and will start to play around during the holidays.

Will commence with the RT-AC68U (/P) firmware in the first instance and let you know how things work out.
JohnRob
DD-WRT Novice


Joined: 11 Nov 2016
Posts: 10

PostPosted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 16:08    Post subject: Reply with quote
Just to let you know that both firmwares AC68U and RT-AC3200 run on this AC68UF unit.

Unfortunately though I don't know how to work out which is the better.
jwh7
DD-WRT Guru


Joined: 25 Oct 2013
Posts: 2670
Location: Indy

PostPosted: Thu Feb 22, 2018 17:04    Post subject: Reply with quote
JohnRob wrote:
Just to let you know that both firmwares AC68U and RT-AC3200 run on this AC68UF unit.

Unfortunately though I don't know how to work out which is the better.
The AC3200 build is 5% bigger, so must have an extra feature or more (unless it just has different compile options). Compare the `cat /proc/version` & `wl devinfo` outputs as well as the bin/ directories or do a `find / 2>&1` output; copy/paste into a spreadsheet or similar.

Or use the Firmware Mod Kit to compare the file/dir structures.

_________________
# NAT/SFE/CTF: limited speed w/ DD # Repeater issues # DD-WRT info: FAQ, Builds, Types, Modes, Changes, Demo #
OPNsense x64 5050e ITX|DD: DIR-810L, 2*EA6900@1GHz, R6300v1, RT-N66U@663, WNDR4000@533, E1500@353,
WRT54G{Lv1.1,Sv6}@250
|FreshTomato: F7D8302@532|OpenWRT: F9K1119v1, RT-ACRH13, R6220, WNDR3700v4
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