最近，我一直在寻找一款非常好的无线N 路由器(N router)，它既能提供良好的速度和覆盖范围(speed and coverage)，又能与我所在地区的所有其他无线网络成功对抗。我做了一些研究，我了解到很多人都在谈论华硕 RT-N56U(ASUS RT-N56U)以及它有多快。虽然炒作对产品来说是一件好事，但这并不意味着它总是应得的。华硕 RT-N56U(ASUS RT-N56U)真的是您能找到的最快的路由器之一吗？我迫不及待地想知道。
注意：(NOTE:)在过去的几个月里，我在自己的公寓中测试了这款路由器，我使用了两个不同的固件版本，包括最新版本 - 3.0.0.4.260 - 与以前的版本相比，它带来了许多变化和改进。
硬件规格
您可以在产品的官方页面上阅读详细规格：ASUS RT-N56U。但是，我想强调一些重要特征：
- 它支持以下与您的ISP（互联网服务提供商(Internet Service Provider)）连接的协议：动态(Dynamic)、静态(Static)、PPOE、PPTT 和 L2TP(PPPT and L2TP)。
华硕 RT-N56U 拆箱
包装看起来不错，正如您对更优质的路由器所期望的那样。
在里面，你可以找到路由器本身、电源适配器(power adapter)、黑色网线(network cable)、说明书和安装光盘(setup disc)。
路由器非常纤薄，没有可见的天线。它可以使用右侧的 LED 显示简要状态。当它们所代表的服务处于活动状态时，它们就会亮起。但是，它们不能用作了解您是否遇到Internet 连接(Internet connection)问题或其他问题的方法。只是为了快速判断哪些服务已打开，哪些未打开。
使用包装内的可拆卸支架，您可以轻松地将路由器立式放置在桌面上。(standing position)您会很高兴地注意到该设备不会占用太多空间。
路由器设置
使用安装光盘(installation disc)设置路由器。该过程并不复杂，它涉及设置您的Internet 连接(Internet connection)和路由器提供的无线连接。对于更高级的配置，您需要登录路由器并自行设置。
我喜欢路由器要求用户单独设置每个无线网络(wireless network)并且不提供预设密码的事实。从安全角度来看(security perspective)，这是理想的。在进行更高级的设置时，您会注意到某些设置需要很长时间才能在ASUS RT-N56U上应用。如果您想在使用家庭网络(home network)之前设置很多东西，请耐心等待。
表现
我在大约 90 平方米的 3室公寓中使用了(room apartment)华硕 RT-N56U 。(ASUS RT-N56U)如果其他路由器对公寓更偏远的角落感到失望，华硕 RT-N56U(ASUS RT-N56U)在使用使用 802.11n 标准运行的 2.4GHz无线网络(wireless network)时可在各处提供良好的信号和吞吐量。(signal and throughput)我将一系列大文件从台式机传输到连接到无线网络(wireless network)的笔记本电脑上。使用 2.4GHz 网络时，传输速率(transfer rate)从近距离时的 10MB/s 到公寓较偏远角落的 3MB/s 不等。我没有设法找到任何角落，无论多远，网络连接在哪里(network connection)不会以不错的速度工作。5GHz无线网络(wireless network)仅在近距离范围内提供更好的速度。当笔记本电脑与路由器在同一个房间时，我能够以 16MB/s 的速度传输文件。但是，去其他房间时，信号强度下降了很多。似乎墙壁非常善于吸收 5GHz 信号。因此，在更偏远的房间里，我只能以 1MB/s 的速度传输文件。在位置怪异的角落，网络完全停止工作。浏览网页时，我使用Speedtest.net进行的测试显示这两个网络之间没有显着差异。
从网络下载文件时，2.4GHz 网络与 5GHz 网络一样工作，速度约为 5MB/s。在通过网线连接的计算机之间传输文件时，我的传输速度从 70MB/s 到 100MB/s 不等。这简直太棒了。我能够利用SSD提供的(SSD)速度优势(speed advantage)通过网络以极快的速度复制文件。在我的桌面上，我以 10MB/s 的速度从Internet(Internet)下载文件没有问题，这是我的ISP提供的最大值。路由器的流量管理器 (QoS)(Traffic Manager (QoS))功能可以很好地根据您的需要确定流量的优先级。文件传输不会减慢您的在线游戏或视频速度(gaming or video)如果您不希望它流式传输。您可以使用路由器设置的默认优先级(default prioritization)规则，也可以设置您自己的自定义规则。
就个人而言，我对这款路由器的性能非常满意。如果您想在任何地方都获得良好的覆盖范围和良好的吞吐量，您应该使用 2.4GHz无线网络(wireless network)和 802.11n 标准。只有当无线设备距离路由器相对较近且没有厚墙隔开时，5GHz网络才是一个不错的选择。
很酷的功能
ASUS RT-N56U 路由器(ASUS RT-N56U router)包含许多您会喜欢使用的功能：
- 路由器提供一长串应用程序，可与您通过USB端口连接的设备一起使用：AirDisk （用于通过(AirDisk)Internet共享文件）、Servers Center（用于设置您自己的FTP 服务(FTP service)）、网络打印机服务器(Network Printer Server)（用于将您的USB 打印机(USB printer)变成网络打印机(network printer)）、媒体服务器和下载大师(Media server and Download Master)（通过网络广播和传输媒体）。
- 家长控制(Parental Controls)只允许基本的时间管理(time management)。对于网络上的任何设备，您都可以设置何时允许访问互联网(Internet)，何时不允许访问。有些人希望设置有关设备可以浏览的网站类型或允许的网络流量类型的规则。(network traffic)不包括此类功能。此外，不会向Internet 访问(Internet access)被阻止的用户提供自定义错误消息。(custom error message)浏览器中仅显示标准连接超时错误。
- 您可以设置自己的VPN 服务器(VPN server)，以便您可以从 Web 上的任何位置访问家庭网络(home network)。
强大的固件支持
我喜欢这款路由器的另一个方面是华硕(ASUS)提供的固件支持。对于路由器，大多数制造商在产品推出后只提供一两次更新。这不是华硕(ASUS)的情况。他们一直非常活跃，听取用户的反馈，修复错误，提供附加功能，多语言翻译等。从2011 年3 月(March 2011)到2012 年11 月(November 2012)，他们发布了 12 次固件更新。这真的很棒，我希望更多的制造商能提供同样水平的支持。
判决
华硕 RT-N56U(ASUS RT-N56U)是一款出色的双频无线路由器(wireless router)。即使在距离路由器较远的房间中，它的无线信号也能提供良好的覆盖范围和良好的速度。华硕(ASUS)提供的固件支持非常出色，可用的定制级别会让任何极客高兴。初学者也将欣赏它经过深思熟虑的默认设置(default setup)，以及如果他们不想摆弄它，他们不必摆弄它。ASUS RT-N56U提供开箱即用的所有基本功能，无需任何特殊配置。就个人而言，我已经很久没有用过这么好的路由器了。你不会后悔购买它。
Reviewing the ASUS RT-N56U - Is it Really the Fastest Wireless Router?
Lately, I have been seаrching for a really good wіreless N router, аblе to provide both good ѕpeed and coverage, whіle battling sucсessfully with all the other wirelеss networks available in my аrea. I did a bit of research and І have learned that many people were talking aboυt ASUS RT-N56U and hоw fast it is. While hype is a good thing to have for a produсt, it doesn't mean it is always deserved. Is the ASUS RΤ-N56U truly one of the fastest routers уou can find? I couldn't wait to find out.
NOTE: I tested this router in my own apartment, for the last couple of months and I have used two different firmware versions, including the latest version - 3.0.0.4.260 - which brings many changes and improvements over previous ones.
Hardware Specifications
You can read the detailed specs, on the product's official page: ASUS RT-N56U. However, I would like to highlight a few important characteristics:
- It supports the following protocols for the connection with your ISP (Internet Service Provider): Dynamic, Static, PPOE, PPPT and L2TP.
Unboxing the ASUS RT-N56U
The packaging looks good, as you would expect from a more premium router.
Inside, you can find the router itself, the power adapter, a black network cable, the manual and a setup disc.
The router is very slim and it has no visible antennas. It is able to show a brief status using the leds present on the right side. They are lit when the services they represent are active. However, they can't be used as a means to understand whether you have issues with your Internet connection or other issues. Only to quickly tell which services are turned on and which are not.
You can easily place the router on your desk in a standing position, using the detachable stand found inside the package. You will be pleased to notice that the device doesn't take too much space.
Router Setup
Setting up the router is done using the installation disc. The procedure is not complex and it involves setting your Internet connection and the wireless connections made available by the router. For more advanced configuration you need to log into the router and set things yourself.
I liked the fact that the router asks the user to set each wireless network individually and doesn't offer preset passwords. From a security perspective, that's ideal. When going through the more advanced settings, you will notice that some settings take a long time to be applied on the ASUS RT-N56U. If you want to set many things before using your home network, arm yourself with some patience.
Performance
I have used the ASUS RT-N56U in my 3 room apartment which has about 90 square meters. If other routers disappointed in the more remote corners of the apartment, the ASUS RT-N56U delivered good signal and throughput everywhere when using the 2.4GHz wireless network that was running using the 802.11n standard. I transferred a series of large files from my desktop to my laptop, connected to the wireless network. When using the 2.4GHz network, the transfer rate varied from 10MB/s when in close range to 3MB/s in the more remote corners of the apartment. I did not manage to find any corner, no matter how remote, where the network connection wouldn't work at decent speed. The 5GHz wireless network delivered better speeds only in close range. I was able to transfer files with 16MB/s when the laptop was in the same room with the router. However, the signal strength decreased a lot when going to other rooms. It seems that walls are very good at absorbing the 5GHz signal. Therefore, in the more remote rooms, I was able to transfer files only with 1MB/s. In corners with weird positioning, the network stopped working altogether. When browsing the web, my tests with Speedtest.net revealed no meaningful difference between the two networks.
The 2.4GHz network worked just as well as the 5GHz one, at about 5MB/s when downloading files from the web. When transferring files between computers connected via network cables, my transfers worked at speeds ranging from 70MB/s to 100MB/s. That's simply brilliant. I was able to use the speed advantage given by an SSD to copy files with great speed over the network. On my desktop, I did not have trouble downloading files from the Internet with 10MB/s, which is the maximum provided by my ISP. The Traffic Manager (QoS) feature of the router does a good job to prioritize traffic according to your needs. File transfers won't slow down your online gaming or video streaming if you don't want it to. You can use the default prioritization rules set by the router and also set your own custom rules.
Personally, I am very happy with how this router performs. If you want good reach and good throughput everywhere, you should use the 2.4GHz wireless network & 802.11n standard. The 5GHz network is a good choice only when wireless devices are relatively close to the router and there are no thick walls to separate them.
Cool Features
The ASUS RT-N56U router packs quite a few features you will enjoy using:
- The router offers a long list of applications that can be used in conjunction with the devices you connect via the USB ports: AirDisk (for sharing files through the Internet), Servers Center (to setup your own FTP service), Network Printer Server (to turn your USB printer into a network printer), Media server and Download Master (to broadcast & transfer media over the network).
- Parental Controls allow only for basic time management. For any device on the network, you can set when it is allowed to access the Internet and when not. Some people would expect to set rules about the kind of websites devices can browse or the kinds of network traffic they are allowed. Such features are not included. Also, there is no custom error message given to a user whose Internet access is blocked. Only a standard connection timeout error is displayed in the browser.
- You can set your own VPN server so that you can access the home network from anywhere on the web.
Great Firmware Support
Another aspect I love about this router is the firmware support provided by ASUS. When it comes to routers, most manufacturers offer only an update or two after a product is launched. This is not the case with ASUS. They have been very active, listened to feedback from users, fixed bugs, provided additional features, multi-language translations, etc. From March 2011 to November 2012 they released 12 firmware updates. That's really great and I hope more manufacturers will provide the same level of support.
Verdict
ASUS RT-N56U is a great dual-band wireless router. It offers good coverage with its wireless signal and good speed even in those rooms which are further away from the router. The firmware support provided by ASUS is simply outstanding and the level of customization available will make any geek happy. Beginners will also appreciate its well thought out default setup and the fact that they don't have to fiddle with it if they don't want to. ASUS RT-N56U provides all the basics out of the box, without any special configuration being required. Personally, I haven't used such a good router in a long time. You won't regret purchasing it.
