Interface: LAN, WAN, and Wi-Fi Settings
Extra features which enhance the experience are great, but we shouldn’t forget the basics. Every router has settings for the network aspects, but not every router gives you access to configure everything. So I will take you through the various options for the LAN, WAN, and Wi-Fi settings here.
Wireless Settings
We get to the Wireless settings first in the ASUS’ OS and the first page contains the general settings. These include the Smart Connect feature which will combine the two network bands into one – at least from the user’s point of view. With it, a connecting device will be assigned the fastest band it can handle. You can also edit the channel settings and authentication.
Wi-Fi Protected Setup, or WPS for short, is a simple way of connecting a Wi-Fi device with your router. Press the WPS button on both units and they’ll be paired without the need for user-input of network name and password. If your client doesn’t have a WPS button, it might have a code option. That’s also possible to use with the RT-AC86U.
The router can work in WDS bridge mode where it effectively works as a repeater. However, it is limited to half the available original wireless speed.
A MAC Filter is also available for the wireless networks. Block or allow specific devices based on the MAC address.
If you’re running enterprise-grade authentification, you’ll need RADIUS too, which has its tab in the wireless settings.
Advanced and Professional users also gain access to all other radio settings. But beware of what you change here, you might end up making things worse and not better.
LAN Settings
A wired network doesn’t need a lot of settings, but there are some. For example, we need to define its IP address and thereby the address range it operates within. That is set by default, and you most likely don’t need to change anything here.
The DHCP server is what hands out IP addresses to all your clients if you want it to do so. You can reserve IP addresses by MAC address too.
Static routes are also available.
And so can IPTV profiles.
The last page is for the switch, AKA the four LAN ports. You can enable Jumbo Frames for them if you utilise them on your network.
WAN Settings
There are more settings for the internet connection, such as the connection type. In many instances, this will all be detected automatically, and it’s doubtful that you’ll need to change or add anything.
As mentioned earlier, the RT-AC86U supports Dual WAN. With it, you can have load balancing or failover protection for your vital features.
Port triggers and port forwarding are vital features for a lot of us, at least if you deal with network setups as I do. Both are fully supported with a max limit of 32.
A Demilitarized Zone is also available if needed.
With the remote connection options we talked about for USB drives, a DDNS setup is needed. There are few people with static IP addresses these days, and you don’t need one with a DDNS setup. ASUS also offers up their service, so you don’t have to go to third-party providers for it.
The last WAN setting is the NAT Passthrough. This is needed for those of you with VPN setups.
IPv6 Settings
IPv6 could technically also be under the WAN settings, but it has its own section. If you need it, it’s there. If not, you can ignore it.
