Asus RT-ACRH13 Review – Gear Up For Super-Fast Wi-Fi
Are you having a tough time with your old router when the whole family is using Wi-Fi? Then it is time to upgrade your router to the ASUS RT-ACRH13 dual band Wi-Fi router. All of you can enjoy super-fast Wi-Fi speeds with the annoying wait time to connect to devices or latency issues.
The ASU RT-ACRH13 packs a ton of features into an affordable price tag letting you enjoy the convenience of top router models. You will never have to think about buying cheap routers that frustrate you or stop working altogether.
Whether you have hardcore gamers with gaming consoles at home or high-definition video junkies that cannot live without their 4k videos or the social media lover, all of them can connect their devices at the same time and have fun no matter what.
From dual-bands to super-fast Wi-Fi speeds of up to 1300 to the latest in router antenna technology such as the MU-MIMO technology and more there is no end to the capabilities of the RT-ACRH13. Below is our complete review of this Wi-Fi router with details on each of its features. Read on to find out more details.
Asus RT-ACRH13 specs
- Dual band AC 1300 router with top speed of up to 1267 Mbps
- 4 external 5dBi antennas for superior signal strength
- MU-MIMO technology for connecting multiple devices simultaneously
- USB 3.0 port for better transfer speeds and connecting to a storage device
- Works with the ASUS router app for easy monitoring and control of your router
Why is the Asus RT-ACRH13 the most affordable AC1300 Wi-Fi router?
You may be tempted to buy high-end Wi-Fi routers that give you blazing Wi-Fi speeds. These are not only more expensive but are more suited either for very large homes or small businesses. The Asus RT-ACRH13 is perfect for homes as it has the right combination of a number of features and a small price tag.
Below we look into the features of this Wi-Fi router in great detail so that you can decide if this is the right one for your home.
Speed
The Asus RT-ACRH13 is a dual band router that gives you extremely top speeds for its price point. It uses the 802.11 ac chip which is the latest in wireless internet protocol. The 5 GHz band can handle top speeds of up to 867 Mbps while the 2.4 GHz band can give you top speeds of up to 400 Mbps. These two bands together give you a total speed of 1267 Mbps to handle very large bandwidth tasks with ease.
Processor
The latest quad-core A7 processor is behind the RT-ACRH13 which ensures that you enjoy top speeds even when you run high bandwidth tasks. The processor works with the inbuilt 128 MB of memory to give a router that is powerful enough to multitask and give a superior performance.
Wi-Fi Range
This router comes with four 5dBi external antennas which means that your Wi-Fi is spread over a wide area in your house. This gives you a good signal strength and complete freedom of movement inside your house without worrying about dropped signals.
ASUS Smart Connect
With traditional single band routers, you had to endure network latency issues when multiple devices were connected or when high-bandwidth tasks were run. So if the gamer in the family wanted to play, then the speed of the other devices that are connected suffered a dip.
But the RT-ACRH13 has the smart connect feature which automatically detects the bandwidth required for each of the connected devices. It then switches the device to the appropriate band (5GHz or the 2.4 GHz) so that there is no drop in Wi-Fi speeds.
MU-MIMO technology
Don’t worry if the name sounds too technical as we are here to simplify what it means and how it improves the performance of your router. The MU-MIMO (Multi-user – Multiple Input Multiple output) technology uses both transmitters and receivers to improve signal strength. So you can connect multiple devices at the same time and enjoy top speeds.
Beam forming technology
These antennas employ beam forming technology which completely changes the way Wi-Fi signals are transmitted. Traditional routers would transmit the Wi-Fi signal randomly in every direction. But in the case of beam forming antennas, the signal is focused only where a device is connected.
USB 3.0
On the front panel is a USB 3.0 port which makes connecting a USB storage device to the router a breeze. No need to grope behind the router to find the USB port every time. The front placement gives you quick plug and play convenience.
You can leave a USB storage device permanently plugged into the port if you want to automatically backup important media like photos and videos. On the other hand, you can also play your favorite media from the storage device and play it on any connected device on the network.
With USB 3.0 data transfer rates are much higher too when compare to its earlier version of USB 2.0.
Connectivity
The Asus RT-ACRH13 comes with enough ports for connectivity. On the back panel is a reset button and a power button. Then there are four LAN ports and a single WAN port. There is also a WPS button on the back panel which will let you start the WPS wizard on pressing it.
In addition to the above, the router also has an easy-to-access USB 3.0 port on the front. This is very handy as you can quickly connect your USB storage devices to back up all your important data.
ASUS app
Unlike traditional routers that required you to connect to a laptop or a PC for settings and monitoring, this router can be controlled using a mobile app. You can simply download the free ASUS router app on your smartphone and monitor all network details such as performance, connection status and more with just a swipe on your phone.
Design
The body of this Wi-Fi router is a simple design with a matte finish to prevent finger prints from spoiling the looks of the router. There are two high-gain antennas on each side of the router for maximum coverage.
Unlike some router models that let you place your router in a standing position, the ACRH13 can only be placed horizontally on a table or such flat surfaces. But if you have limited desk space then you can also mount the router on a wall using the two holes on the bottom.
The router also has a number of vent holes on the sides and bottom for quick heat dissipation. This is very important to keep the router cool at all times as overheating can occur when large bandwidth tasks are running. This cooling system further improves the longevity of the router by protecting the internal components from heat.
Security
Having a Wi-Fi network at home makes life easier as you can connect to multiple devices at the same time wirelessly. But the same convenience puts all your important data and your network at risk as unauthorized access by unwanted individuals is possible.
But you don’t have to worry about a thing when you use the RT-ACRH13 as it uses advanced 64-bit WEP encryption to keep your network and all your sensitive data safe.
Maintenance
The RT-ACRH13 is a very durable router made with high-quality materials to be long-lasting. But as with any other electronic gadgets, a bit of care and maintenance can go a long way and improve the life of your router.
It is important to place your router in a well-ventilated area away from direct sunlight as heat can degrade some components. Dust your router from time to time and use a surge protector if your home experiences frequent power surges. It is also important to keep the firmware updated for optimum performance.
Easy set-up
Setting- up and getting started with your router is a breeze thanks to the ASUS WRT interface. You don’t need to have extensive router set-up knowledge as the interface is very user-friendly and intuitive.
All you need to do is get on to the ASUS website from your browser and enter the login details. This will open the interface and for the initial set-up, it will automatically open the setup wizard. Just follow the step-by-step guide to complete the set-up and start using your router in no time.
Pros
- Total top speeds of up to 1267 Mbps
- MU-MO technology for connecting to multiple devices simultaneously
- Easy to set-up with the user-friendly interface
- An affordable price tag and a high price to features ratio
- External storage can be connected to the USB 3.0 port
Cons
- Rebooting time is not as good as some comparable models
- Tends to run hot and hence needs to be placed in a well-ventilated area
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Conclusion
The ASUS RT-ACRH13 has a lot going for it despite its budget-friendly price tag giving you more value for your money. With multiple devices connected to your home network, it makes complete sense to buy a super-fast Wi-Fi router that satisfies the speed requirements of everyone on the network.
The RT-ACRH13 has some great customer reviews and is powerful enough for homes and small businesses. It gives you features and speeds of top model routers but without burning a hole in your pocket. With dual bands to handle different bandwidth tasks simultaneously to MIMO technology for multi-device support to beam forming technology for device-specific Wi-Fi signals and more, this Wi-Fi router will keep everyone in the family happy.
Resources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MIMO
- https://www.asus.com/us/Networking/RT-ACRH13/
- https://www.howtogeek.com/220774/htg-explains-what-is-beamforming-on-a-wireless-router/
- http://www.wikihow.com/Set-Up-a-Wireless-Router
- https://www.techpowerup.com/forums/threads/routers-are-higher-dbi-antennas-effective.179323/