华硕 RT-AC56U(ASUS RT-AC56U)是广受欢迎的华硕 RT-N56U(ASUS RT-N56U)的继任者- 既是出色的表现者，也是畅销产品。我们非常想知道新模型提供了什么，如果它提供了更好的性能和更多的功能。新型号是否值得替代华硕 RT-N56U(ASUS RT-N56U)？我们已经使用和测试了华硕 RT-N56U Wireless-AC1200 路由器(ASUS RT-N56U Wireless-AC1200 router)10 天，以下是我们所学到的：
华硕 RT-AC56U 路由器拆箱
华硕 RT-AC56U(ASUS RT-AC56U)的包装与华硕(ASUS)其他路由器的包装相同。盒子采用相同的设计，很好地宣传了路由器的主要特点。
在包装盒内，您会找到路由器本身、电源适配器(power adapter)、保修、快速设置指南(setup guide)、以太网网络(Ethernet network)电缆，以及包含用户手册和一些实用程序的支持光盘。(support disc)
从上图可以看出，华硕 RT-AC56U没有像(ASUS RT-AC56U)华硕(ASUS)最新的路由器那样配备任何外部天线。这是否会以任何方式影响其性能？我们非常想了解，但暂时让我们来看看这款路由器的硬件规格。
硬件规格
顾名思义，华硕 RT-AC56U Wireless-AC1200(ASUS RT-AC56U Wireless-AC1200)支持现代 802.11ac无线网络(wireless network)标准，这是使其从前代产品中脱颖而出的第一个功能。它在 2.4GHz无线网络(wireless network)上的最大理论吞吐量为 300 Mbps ，在 5 GHz无线网络(wireless network)上的最大理论吞吐量为 867 Mbps。
该路由器有 4 根内部天线（每个频段 2 根）、一个运行频率为 800MHz 的Broadcom BCM4708A0 双核(Broadcom BCM4708A0 dual-core)处理器（与其更昂贵的兄弟——华硕 RT-AC68U 相同(ASUS RT-AC68U)）、256 MB 的RAM和 128MB 的存储空间(storage space)。
在路由器的背面，您会发现两个USB端口：一个USB 3.0和一个USB 2.0。
该路由器支持所有现代类型的Internet连接、所有类型的加密、VPN 支持(VPN support)、WPS 支持(WPS support)以及现代路由器所期望的所有其他功能。
您可以在此处阅读详细规格：ASUS RT-AC56U 规格(ASUS RT-AC56U specifications)。
设置和使用华硕 RT-AC56U 路由器(ASUS RT-AC56U Router)
设置华硕 RT-AC56U 路由器(ASUS RT-AC56U router)就像设置其他华硕(ASUS)路由器一样简单。插入其电源适配器(power adapter)，然后从您的Internet 提供商处插入(Internet provider)Internet 连接(Internet connection)电缆，打开路由器，使用捆绑的以太网电缆(Ethernet cable)将路由器连接到您的计算机，然后启动您喜欢的浏览器。
转到192.168.1.1或http://router.asus.com并按照设置向导进行操作。
该向导将自动检测您正在使用的Internet 连接(Internet connection)类型并询问必要的连接详细信息。在设置过程中，系统会要求您设置路由器密码并设置可用的无线连接。完成后，您将有机会查看您的配置并查看您是如何设置所有内容的。
由于固件与其他现代华硕路由器(ASUS router)上使用的固件相同，因此华硕 RT-AC56U 路由器(ASUS RT-AC56U router)使用的接口没有任何不同。我们发现它组织良好且易于使用，即使对于那些不太熟悉华硕路由器(ASUS router)的人也是如此。如果您过去使用过ASUS 路由器(ASUS router)，您还有额外的好处，您可以将旧路由器的设置导入新路由器，这样您就不必从头开始整个设置。仅导入新路由器中仍存在的功能的设置，因此您几乎没有机会搞砸。
在测试这款路由器时，我们使用了可用的最新固件版本 - 3.0.0.4.374_5656。该固件为与该路由器功能相关的几乎所有内容提供了非常详细的控制，因此极客和 IT 专业人员可以毫无问题地使其按自己的意愿工作。此外，默认设置通常设置得很好，大多数用户不需要更改其设置即可获得良好的性能。只有那些想要最大可能性能的人才需要更详细地调整此路由器的设置。
在摆弄其设置时，我们发现该路由器具有您可以启用的漫游助手。(Roaming assistant)当您拥有可扩展网络范围的范围扩展器(range extender)和其他此类设备时，这会有所帮助。使用此功能，您可以将无线客户端设置为断开与路由器的连接，并允许它们在无线信号强度低于某个值时连接到范围扩展器。(range extender)
我们发现的另一个有趣的功能是Tx 功率调整(Tx power adjustment)，它允许您增加传输功率(transmission power)，以便在遇到信号强度问题时获得更好的信号。
在语言支持方面，(language support)华硕(ASUS)提供了 22 种语言的固件，从英语(English)到罗马尼亚语或马来语(Malay)，一切看起来都很棒。
我们对快速设置过程(setup process)和这款路由器的工作方式感到满意。我们没有遇到任何讨厌的错误或问题，因此我们继续进行性能测试。让我们看看我们学到了什么。
Reviewing the ASUS RT-AC56U - A Reasonably Priced AC Router
ΑSUS RT-AC56U is the successor of the highly popular AЅUS RT-N56U - which was both a great performer and a best seller. We were very curious to learn what the new model had offеr, if it delivered better perfоrmance and morе features. Is the new model a worthy replacement for ASUS RT-N56U? We have used and tested the ASUS RT-N56U Wireless-AC1200 router for 10 dаys and herе's what we have learned:
Unboxing the ASUS RT-AC56U Router
The packaging of the ASUS RT-AC56U is the same as that of other routers from ASUS. The box uses the same design and does a good job of advertising the main characteristics of the router.
Inside the box you will find the router itself, the power adapter, the warranty, a quick setup guide, an Ethernet network cable, plus a support disc with the user manual and several utilities.
As you can see from the picture above, the ASUS RT-AC56U doesn't have any external antennas like most recent routers from ASUS. Does this impact its performance in any way? We were very curious to learn but for the time being, let's take a look at this router's hardware specifications.
Hardware Specifications
As its name implies, ASUS RT-AC56U Wireless-AC1200 offers support for the modern 802.11ac wireless networking standard, this being the first feature that makes it stand out from its predecessor. Its maximum theoretical throughput of 300 Mbps on the 2.4GHz wireless network and a maximum of 867 Mbps on the 5 GHz wireless network.
The router has 4 internal antennas (2 for each band), a Broadcom BCM4708A0 dual-core processor running at 800MHz (the same as its more expensive brother - ASUS RT-AC68U), 256 MB of RAM and 128MB of storage space.
On the back of the router you will find two USB ports: one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0.
The router has support for all the modern types of Internet connections, all the types of encryption, VPN support, WPS support and all the other features you would expect from a modern router.
You can read the details specifications here: ASUS RT-AC56U specifications.
Setting Up & Using the ASUS RT-AC56U Router
Setting up the ASUS RT-AC56U router is just as easy as setting up other ASUS routers. Plug in its power adapter, then the Internet connection cable from your Internet provider, turn on the router, connect the router to your computer using the bundled Ethernet cable and start your favorite browser.
Go to 192.168.1.1 or http://router.asus.com and follow the setup wizard.
The wizard will automatically detect the type of Internet connection you are using and ask for the necessary connection details. During the setup you are asked to set a password for the router and also to set the wireless connections that will be made available. When done, you will be given the chance to review your configuration and see how you have set everything.
Since the firmware is the same as the one used on other modern ASUS routers, the interface used for the ASUS RT-AC56U router isn't any different. We find it well organized and easy to use, even for those who are not that familiar with ASUS routers. If you have used an ASUS router in the past you have the added bonus that you can import your old router's settings into the new one, so that you don't start the whole setup from scratch. Only the settings for the features that still exist in the new router are imported so there's little chance for you to screw things up.
When testing this router, we have used the latest firmware version that was available - 3.0.0.4.374_5656. The firmware offers very detailed controls for just about everything that's related to this router's functioning, so geeks and IT professionals will have no issues in making it work as they want to. Also, the defaults are generally set well and most users won't need to change its settings in order to get good performance. Only those that want the maximum possible performance will need to tweak this router's settings in more detail.
While fiddling with its settings, we discovered that this router has a Roaming assistant that you can enable. This helps when you have a range extender and other devices of this type that extend the range of your network. With this feature you can set wireless clients to disconnect from the router and allow them to connect to the range extender instead, when their wireless signal strength goes below a certain value.
Another interesting feature that we discovered is the Tx power adjustment which allows you to increase the transmission power so that you get a better signal if you are encountering problems with the signal strength.
In terms of language support, things are looking great as ASUS offers the firmware in 22 languages, from English to Romanian or Malay.
We were satisfied by the quick setup process and with the way this router worked. We did not encounter any pesky bugs or issues so we went on to our performance testing. Let's see what we have learned.
