我们喜欢测试高级网络设备，例如世界上最快的无线路由器或世界上最新最好的中继器和范围扩展器。(range extender s.) 今天，我们将为您回顾(Today)华硕(ASUS)最新的顶级范围扩展器(range extender)：RP-AC68U。这是一款令人印象深刻的设备，其灵感来自华硕(Republic)的玩家国度(Gamers lineup)系列(ASUS)设备。这些规格绝对值得一款高级设备，我们迫不及待地想要拿到它并对其进行评估。经过一个多星期的日常使用，以下是我们不得不说的华硕 RP-AC68U(ASUS RP-AC68U)：
华硕 RP-AC68U 无线 AC1900 中继器(ASUS RP-AC68U Wireless AC1900 repeater)拆箱
华硕 RP-AC68U 中继器(ASUS RP-AC68U repeater)采用优雅的黑色盒子。在正面，您可以看到设备图片及其最重要的功能。
在背面，您会发现与华硕(ASUS)产品组合中其他类似设备的比较。从该比较中可以明显看出，我们正在处理其新的范围扩展器系列中的高端设备。打开包装盒，里面是中继器本身、一根网线(network cable)、电源适配器(power adapter)、快速入门(Quick start)指南、保修单等。
如您所见，该设备非常庞大，而且看起来确实很有趣。但更多关于此评论的下一部分。
硬件规格和设计
首先，让我们谈谈尺寸和外观。如您所见，华硕 RP-AC68U(ASUS RP-AC68U)相当大，尺寸为 7 x 4.17 x 4.17 英寸或 178 x 106 x 106 毫米（长 x 宽 x 高(Length x Width x Height)）。它还重 1.91 磅或 870 克。这个范围扩展器(range extender)的设计灵感来自于游戏玩家(Gamers brand)共和国(Republic)品牌。照明系统肯定看起来很有趣，它会吸引人的目光。如果您不喜欢它，您可以随时通过简单地点击华硕标志(ASUS logo)将其关闭。
这个范围扩展器(range extender)如此大的一个原因是因为它包含非常强大的硬件，甚至可以与一些现代路由器竞争。ASUS RP-AC68U 包括 3 发射、4 接收 (3x4) 内置天线、运行频率为 620 MHz的(MHz)Realtek RTL8198C 双核(Realtek RTL8198C dual-core)处理器、256 MB RAM 内存(RAM memory)和 128 MB存储空间(storage space)。它可以在 5GHz频段(frequency band)上提供 1300 Mbps的最大理论带宽，在 2.4GHz 频段上提供高达 600 Mbps的最大理论带宽，总带宽高达 1900 Mbps。使该中继器脱颖而出的其他功能是 5以太网千兆位(Ethernet Gigabit)背面可用的端口和用于将外部设备连接到中继器的USB 3.0端口。(USB 3.0)
在背面，您还可以找到WPS 按钮(WPS button)、指示无线连接状态的LED 、(LEDs)电源按钮(Power button)和电源端口(Power port)。重置按钮(Reset button)位于设备底部。
ASUS RP-AC68U支持所有现代无线网络(wireless networking)标准，包括 802.11ac 和 802.11n。如果您想了解有关此设备的官方规格的更多信息，请访问此页面：华硕 RP-AC68U 规格(ASUS RP-AC68U Specifications)。
设置和使用ASUS RP-AC68U 中继器(ASUS RP-AC68U repeater)
您可以通过以下两种方式之一开始使用ASUS RP-AC68U 中继器：(ASUS RP-AC68U repeater)
- 通过使用路由器和中继器上的WPS 按钮(WPS button)，使它们相互连接。虽然此方法快速简便，但我们不建议您这样做，因为您最好详细配置如何执行与路由器的连接以及中继器如何广播无线信号。
- 通过将笔记本电脑或平板电脑(laptop or tablet)连接到中继器广播的无线网络(wireless network)，然后在网络浏览器(web browser)中手动配置设备。
我们选择了第二种方法，初始设置意味着我们必须选择希望中继器扩展的无线网络。输入连接详细信息后，我们就可以使用中继器了。
不要停在这里。将范围扩展器的(range extender)IP 地址(IP address)加载到浏览器(browser and log)中，并使用默认用户名和密码登录(default username and password)：admin/admin。完成此操作后，系统会要求您更改用于管理设备的默认用户名和密码(default username and password)（良好的安全预防措施(security precaution)）。
一旦完成，您就可以开始配置ASUS RP-AC68U 中继器的(ASUS RP-AC68U repeater)工作方式。用户界面与所有现代华硕网络(ASUS networking)设备相同，这意味着它组织良好且易于使用。此外，帮助文档(help documentation)做得很好并且很容易获得。
令我们惊讶的一个方面是，华硕 RP-AC68U(ASUS RP-AC68U)不允许您对它如何广播无线信号进行过多配置。例如，您不能设置用于每个频率的频道、加密类型或标准。(encryption type)在我们看来，与华硕(ASUS)过去在类似设备上提供的产品相比，这是一个缺点。
幸运的是，多语言支持仍然是最高级的，就像华硕(ASUS)网络产品一样：如下所示，用户界面(user interface)有 23 种语言可供选择，您可以轻松地在它们之间切换。
一旦我们完成了华硕 RP-AC68U 范围(ASUS RP-AC68U range)扩展器的配置，我们就开始将我们的设备连接到它并测试它的工作情况。我们没有遇到连接或稳定性问题(connectivity or stability issues)。我们能够在Windows中加入或创建(Windows)家庭组(Homegroup)、在网络上共享文件、流式传输视频(stream video)等。
如果您想了解华硕 RP-AC68U(ASUS RP-AC68U)广播的无线网络有多快、其额外功能和我们的最终裁决，请转到本评论的下一页。
Reviewing ASUS RP-AC68U - The range extender that you can't ignore!
We love іt when we get to test premium networking devices like the fastest wirеless routers in the world or thе latest and the greatest in the world of repeaters and range extender s. Τodаy, we will review for уоu the latest top-tier range extender from ASUS: RP-AC68U. It's an impressive devіce that's inspired by the Republіc of Gamеrs lineup of devices from ASUS. The specs are definitely wоrthy of a premium device and we could hardlу wait to get our hands on it and еvaluatе it. After more thаn a week of dаily use, here'ѕ what we have to say about ASUS RP-AC68U:
Unboxing the ASUS RP-AC68U Wireless AC1900 repeater
The ASUS RP-AC68U repeater comes in an elegant black box. On the front you can see a picture of the device together with its most important features.
On the back you will find a comparison with other similar devices from ASUS's portfolio. From that comparison it is obvious that we are dealing with the high-end device in its new lineup of range extenders. When you open the box, inside you will find the repeater itself, a network cable, the power adapter, the Quick start guide, the warranty and other leaflets.
As you can see, the device is quite massive and it definitely looks interesting. But more about that in the next section of this review.
Hardware specifications and design
First, let's talk about size and looks. As you can see ASUS RP-AC68U is quite large, as it has a size of 7 x 4.17 x 4.17 inches or 178 x 106 x 106 mm in Length x Width x Height. It also weighs 1.91 pounds or 870 grams. The design of this range extender is inspired by the Republic of Gamers brand. The lighting system definitely looks interesting and it will attract looks. If you don't enjoy it, you can always turn it off with a simple tap on the ASUS logo.
One reason why this range extender is so large, is because it includes very powerful hardware that can compete even with that of some modern routers. ASUS RP-AC68U includes 3-transmit, 4-receive (3x4) internal antennas, a Realtek RTL8198C dual-core processor running at 620 MHz, 256 MB of RAM memory and 128 MB of storage space. It can deliver a maximum theoretical bandwidth of 1300 Mbps on the 5GHz frequency band and up to 600 Mbps on the 2.4GHz band, for a combined total of up to 1900 Mbps. Other features that make this repeater stand out are the 5 Ethernet Gigabit ports that are available on the back and the USB 3.0 port for connecting external devices to the repeater.
On the back side you will also find the WPS button, the LEDs indicating the status of the wireless connections, the Power button and the Power port. The Reset button is on the bottom of the device.
ASUS RP-AC68U offers support for all the modern wireless networking standards, including 802.11ac and 802.11n. If you would like to learn more about the official specifications of this device, go to this page: ASUS RP-AC68U Specifications.
Setting up and using the ASUS RP-AC68U repeater
You can get started with using the ASUS RP-AC68U repeater in one of two ways:
- By using the WPS button on your router and the repeater so that they get connected to one another. While this method is quick and easy, we don't recommend it because it is best that you configure in detail how the connection to the router is performed and how the repeater broadcasts the wireless signal.
- By connecting a laptop or tablet to the wireless network that is broadcast by the repeater and then manually configuring the device in a web browser.
We chose the second method and the initial setup meant that we had to select the wireless networks that we wanted the repeater to extend. Once we entered the connection details, we were able to use the repeater.
Don't stop here. Load the IP address of the range extender into your browser and log in with the default username and password: admin/admin. Once you do that, you are asked to change the default username and password for administering the device (a good security precaution).
Once that is out of the way, you can start configuring how the ASUS RP-AC68U repeater works. The user interface is the same as on all modern ASUS networking devices, meaning that is is well organized and easy to use. Also, the help documentation is well done and easily available.
One aspect that surprised us is the fact that ASUS RP-AC68U doesn't allow you to configure much about how it broadcasts the wireless signal. For example, you cannot set the channel, the encryption type or the standard used for each frequency. In our view, this is a downside when compared to what ASUS has offered in the past on similar devices.
Luckily, the multilingual support is still superlative, as is always the case with ASUS networking product: as you can see below, the user interface is available in 23 languages and you can easily switch between them.
Once we were done configuring the ASUS RP-AC68U range extender, we moved on to connecting our devices to it and testing how well it works. We did not encounter connectivity or stability issues. We were able to join or create a Homegroup in Windows, share files on the network, stream video and so on.
If you would like to learn how fast the wireless networks that are broadcast by ASUS RP-AC68U are , its extra features and our final verdict, go to the next page of this review.
