如果您在网上搜索有关ASUS RT-AC68U 双频无线-AC1900 路由器的信息(ASUS RT-AC68U Dual-Band Wireless-AC1900 router)，您会看到诸如“世界上最快的路由器”或“拥有一切的尖端 Wi-Fi 路由器”之类的说法。读这么大的词会导致非常高的期望。我设法在这个路由器上使用了几个星期，并且在我的家庭网络(home network)中每天使用它之后，我准备分享我的结论。这是世界上最快的路由器吗？让我们(Let)来了解一下：
华硕 RT-AC68U 拆箱
华硕 RT-AC68U(ASUS RT-AC68U)的包装看起来不错，就像您对高级设备的期望一样。在包装盒内，您会找到路由器本身、电源适配器(power adapter)、网线(network cable)、快速入门指南(start guide)和包含多种语言手册的支持光盘。(support disc)
该路由器比同类其他设备更大，三个外部天线令人印象深刻。该路由器的构建质量和设计非常可靠。它不像其他路由器那样脆弱，并且不使用非常便宜的塑料。
与所有华硕(ASUS)路由器一样，您会在设备正面找到多个LED 。(LEDs)它们会告诉您如果无线网络(wireless network)和Internet 连接(Internet connection)正常工作，路由器是否已打开，以及通过以太网(Ethernet)电缆连接了多少设备。在背面，你会找到一个关闭它们的按钮，以防你不喜欢上面有这么多闪烁的灯。
硬件规格
ASUS RT-AC68U拥有双核处理器(dual-core processor)（可惜它的频率和型号(frequency and model)不是华硕(ASUS)共享的）、三个外置天线、五个千兆以太网(Gigabit ethernet)端口，并支持最新的 802.1ac 无线网络标准。它承诺 2.4GHz 无线网络的最大传输速率为 600 Mbps ，5GHz 无线网络的最大传输速率为 1300 Mbps。该路由器还有两个USB端口：一个USB 3.0和一个USB 2.0。考虑到这款设备的其他所有方面有多重要，我本来希望有两个USB 3.0港口。我猜他们没有这样做，因为它需要更多的处理能力，甚至可能需要一个四核处理器(quad-core processor)。🙂
正如您对如此昂贵的设备所期望的那样，它适用于全球使用的所有Internet 连接(Internet connection)类型，并且支持 VPN。您不会想到的是双WAN 支持(WAN support)（您没听错！）：您可以拥有来自不同提供商的两个Internet 连接(Internet connection)，并将故障转移模式(failover mode)设置为使用辅助WAN进行备份网络访问(backup network access)。它还具有负载平衡功能，可优化带宽、最大化吞吐量、最小化响应时间(response time)并防止两个WAN连接的数据过载。最重要的是，管理此路由器的软件是高度可配置的，它允许您设置您能想到的每个参数。
如果您想全面了解这款路由器在硬件规格(hardware specs)方面必须提供的所有内容，请不要犹豫，阅读其详细的规格列表(detailed list of specifications)。
设置华硕 RT-AC68U 路由器
首次设置此路由器时，最好使用随附的网线(network cable)连接到您的计算机。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)线，将其连接到您的计算机并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。
在您完成初始设置并让您的Internet 连接(Internet connection)正常工作后，请毫不犹豫地检查此路由器软件中的每个部分。您会发现很多东西需要配置，从无线网络的运行方式到防火墙、VPN 访问(VPN access)、家长控制、端口转发(port forwarding)等等。
在查看了所有可用的配置选项后，我对这款路由器必须提供的控制能力感到惊讶。极客(Geeks)和 IT 专业人士会很喜欢这一点，并且一定会潜入并尝试调整所有内容。许多用户也会欣赏它出色的多语言支持。没有多少制造商提供对罗马尼亚语等不太流行的语言的支持，但华硕(ASUS)提供。在下面的屏幕截图中，您可以看到华硕 RT-AC68U 路由器(ASUS RT-AC68U router)支持的所有语言。
配置所需的所有内容后，请不要忘记更新此路由器上的固件。华硕(ASUS)每两个月发布一次固件更新，它们修复了大量问题并提高了设备的性能。在我几周的测试中，我使用了两个固件版本：3.0.0.4.374.5047 和 3.0.0.4.374_5656。我发现有些固件升级需要手动重启很奇怪。
一切正常(everything working)后，不要犹豫，最后看看这个路由器上启用的所有功能。正如我之前所说，它提供了许多功能，您肯定最终不会使用其中的一些功能。为了进一步提高其性能，享受一些节能、更多的安全性和更好的体验，我发现禁用我不需要的东西很有用，比如网络共享或DLNA 媒体服务器(DLNA Media Server)。如果您家中有 Xbox 主机，您会很高兴得知华硕(ASUS)允许您优化无线网络(wireless network)设置，从而在 Xbox 上进行游戏时提供更高的速度和稳定性。(speed and stability)
在花了几个小时按照我的意愿进行设置之后，使用华硕 RT-AC68U(ASUS RT-AC68U)变得轻而易举。该路由器提供了出色的信号强度、稳定性和速度。我不必像其他路由器那样每隔几天重新启动一次路由器，并且无线网络(wireless network)从未因奇怪的原因停止工作，就像在其他路由器上一样。我家庭网络(home network)中的所有设备从未在如此稳定和快速的网络上工作过。
Reviewing the ASUS RT-AC68U Router - Possibly the Fastest Router You Will Ever Use
If уou seаrch the web for information about the ASUS RT-AC68U Dual-Band Wireleѕs-AC1900 router, you will encounter statements like: "The world's fastest router" or "A cutting-edgе Wi-Fi router that has іt all". Reading such big words leads to having νery high еxpectations. І managed to get my hands on this roυter for a couple of weeks and after using it on a daily basis in my home network, I am ready to share my conclusions. Іs this the world's fastest router? Let's find out:
Unboxing the ASUS RT-AC68U
The packaging of the ASUS RT-AC68U looks good, just as you would expect from a premium device. Inside the box you will find the router itself, the power adapter, a network cable, the quick start guide and a support disc with the manual in several languages.
This router is bigger than other devices of its kind and the three external antennas are quite impressive to look at. The build quality and the design of this router are very solid. It doesn't feel fragile like other routers do and it doesn't use very cheap plastic.
As with all ASUS routers, you will find several LEDs on the front of the device. They tell you whether the router is turned on if the wireless network and the Internet connection are working and how many devices are connected via Ethernet cables. On the back, you will find a button for turning them off, in case you don't like having so many blinking lights on it.
Hardware Specifications
ASUS RT-AC68U has dual-core processor (unfortunately its frequency and model are not shared by ASUS), three external antennas, five Gigabit ethernet ports and support for the most recent 802.1ac wireless networking standard. It promises maximum transfer rates of 600Mbps for 2.4GHz wireless networks and 1300 Mbps for 5GHz wireless networks. This router also has two USB ports: one USB 3.0 and one USB 2.0. Considering how over the top everything else about this device is, I would have expected two USB 3.0 ports. I guess they did not go for this because it would have required even more processing power and maybe even a quad-core processor. 🙂
As you would expect from a device this expensive, it works with all the Internet connection types used worldwide and it has VPN support. What you won't expect is dual WAN support (you heard it right!): you can have two Internet connections from different providers and set the failover mode to use a secondary WAN for backup network access. It also has load balancing to optimize bandwidth, maximize throughput, minimize response time, and prevent data overload for both WAN connections. To top everything, the software managing this router is highly configurable and it allows you to set every parameter you can think of.
If you want a complete overview of everything this router has to offer in terms of hardware specs, don't hesitate to read its detailed list of specifications.
Setting Up the ASUS RT-AC68U Router
When setting up this router for the first time, it is best to connect to your computer using the bundled network cable. Plug in its power adapter, then the Internet connection cable from your Internet provider, connect it to your computer and start your favorite browser. Go to 192.168.1.1 or http://router.asus.com and follow the set up wizard.
After you go through the initial set up and you get your Internet connection working, don't hesitate to check every section in this router's software. You will find plenty of things to configure, from the way your wireless networks function, to the firewall, VPN access, parental controls, port forwarding and much more.
After looking through all the configuration options that are available, I was amazed by how much control this router has to offer. Geeks and IT professionals will simply love this and will be sure to dive right in and try tweaking everything. Many users will also appreciate its great multilingual support. Not many manufacturers provide support for less popular languages like Romanian but ASUS does. In the screenshot below, you can see all the languages that are supported on the ASUS RT-AC68U router.
Once you configure everything you need, don't forget to update the firmware on this router. ASUS releases firmware updates once every month or two and they fix plenty of issues and improve the performance of the device. In my weeks of testing, I have used two firmware versions: 3.0.0.4.374.5047 and then 3.0.0.4.374_5656. I found it strange that some firmware upgrades require a manual reboot.
After you get everything working, don't hesitate to take a final look at all the features that are enabled on this router. As I said before, it offers many features and you will surely end up not using some of them. In order to improve its performance even more, enjoy some energy savings, a bit more security and an even better experience, I found it useful to disable the things I did not need, like network sharing or the DLNA Media Server. If you have an Xbox console in your home, you will be pleased to learn that ASUS allows you to optimize the settings for your wireless network so that it provides improved speed and stability when gaming on the Xbox.
After taking a few hours to set everything up as I wanted, using the ASUS RT-AC68U was a breeze. This router delivered great signal strength, stability, and speed. I did not have to reboot the router once every few days like it happens with other routers, and the wireless network never stopped working for weird reasons, like on other routers. All the devices in my home network have never worked on a network this stable and fast.
