If you check your current wireless router’s underside, you’re likely to find that a string of numbers and letters along the lines of “802.11 b/g/n”. Quickly summarized, the IEEE 802.11 LAN protocol is what handles the wireless side of your wireless router.
One of the more recent 802.11 standards is 802.11ac or simply called Wireless AC. Introduced back in 2013, Wireless AC is almost three times faster than the Wireless N standard that preceded it. While this doesn’t increase the internet bandwidth your ISP provided, this does eliminate networking bottlenecks and enabled high-speed file transfers within the local network.
With popular video streaming sites now featuring 4K high-bitrate content, a Wireless AC router with a 5 GHz band is the perfect partner for 4K smart TVs for a smooth and buffer-free watching experience. The 5 GHz band also has the advantage of being less susceptible to wireless interference than the more commonly used 2.4 GHz band.
Wireless AC has another handy feature: Beamforming technology. Found in various ASUS Wireless AC routers, beamforming tech intensifies the signal to a connected device instead of requiring the user to move to where the signal is strong.
To take advantage of ASUS Wireless AC both your router and the connected device should support the standard. Most smartphones, laptops, and other smart devices on sale today come with Wireless AC support. For fast and reliable dual-band Wireless AC routers, ASUS has a range of routers with coverage from small houses with 15 users, up to very large houses with up to 80 users.
| Model Name | Network Standard | Signal Coverage | No. of Users |
|---|---|---|---|
| RT-AC53 | AC750 Dual Band | Small House | 10-15 |
| RT-AC1300UHP | AC1300 Dual Band Hi-Powered | Small House | 15-20 |
| RT-AC68U | AC1900 Dual Band | Medium House | 40-50 |
| RT-AC86U | AC2900 Dual Band | Medium House | 40-50 |
| Lyra Trio | AC1750 Dual Band | Large House | 60-70 |
| RT-AC88U | AC3100 Dual Band | Very Large House | 60-70 |
| GT-AC5300 | AC5330 Tri Band | Very Large House | 60-80 |
