topic Re: RT-AX82U Issues in Networking

RT-AX82U Issues

ripface — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 16:20:38 GMT

Hi All,

My first post ... be gentle!

I have an Asus RT-AX82u set up in mesh mode with an Asus RT-AX52. I have NordVPN setup as a VPN Client so all the clients in the house are protected. Firmware is the latest gnuton. For the most part everything works well but lately I've been seeing some "issues" with the setup. They include ....

1. The mesh GUI often reports 0 clients on both the routers. Bit of a pain as I like to see what the second router is up to.

2. I was uploading some maps to my TomTom and was monitoring the router. It seemed to be coping ok, although the CPU was running quite hot and maxing out a couple of the cores. Only getting 4mbps throughput. While this was running I checked my mobile phone and noticed that the home WiFi was connected, but no internet available. Weird! My linux box was fine and could surf ok (Hardwired) but the phone would not connect to the internet even though it was on the WiFi. I tested this again, and whenever the router is driven hard ... the internet drops of the WiFi clients.

Can anyone make some constructive suggestions on fixes for either issue. I'm starting to think I made a bad choice going with Asus!!!

Thanks,
Ripface

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

jzchen — Wed, 10 Sep 2025 18:49:25 GMT

I have no experience with GNUton nor Merlin from which it is based. Are you willing to try the latest ASUSwrt? (My suggestion)...

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

ripface — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:18:50 GMT

Hi jzchen, if it gives me the same functionality as GNUton then I'd be happy to give it a whirl. One issue I have with GNUton is that it has a version for the 82u but not the 52. Will go have a google at ASUSwrt. Cheers!

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

ripface — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:33:19 GMT

Shame ... seems that ASUSwrt has neither a version for the RT-AX82u or the RT-AX52. Bummer!

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

jzchen — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 08:40:28 GMT

Not sure if there was a misunderstanding, but GNUton and Merlin are not official ASUS firmware, ASUSwrt is the official ASUS firmware. You have to manually flash Merlin/GNUton AND I do not think any issues you experience while on them are covered under ASUS warranty, while ASUSwrt is covered...

I hope you can try to go back to official firmware and see if they perform better...

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

ripface — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 11:18:36 GMT

Hi jzchen,

I would have loved to use the official firmware but unfortunately it lacks on of the features I use, namely VPN client so I can protect all the devices home side of the router.

Cheers,
John.

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

jzchen — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 13:47:58 GMT

I'm sorry I do not use NordVPN, which seems to use either Open VPN (which is supported), or WireGuard (which is not supported by ASUSwrt 4.0).

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

ripface — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:03:37 GMT

I believe it supports VPN Server for remote access over an encrypted tunnel .... but does not support VPN Client for local protection. I returned the RT-AX82u to stock firmware and there was no option for VPN Client, only VPN Server.

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

jzchen — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:12:34 GMT

May be a bug with the current firmware version you are running. May I ask which version is it? VPN Client should be a tab right next to the VPN Server tab if this FAQ second image is accurate...

https://www.asus.com/us/support/faq/1011232/

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

jzchen — Thu, 11 Sep 2025 14:43:15 GMT

Or VPN Fusion (also a client):

https://routerkb.asuscomm.com/?page_id=9&lang=en

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

Aureliannn_ASUS — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 02:09:49 GMT

Hi @ripface ,

Thank you for your detailed description of the issue you encountered when using RT-AX82U (AiMesh main router) with RT-AX52 (node) along with the NordVPN client. To help us clarify the situation, please kindly check the following:

Ensure that both routers are updated to the latest firmware.
Test suggestion: temporarily disable VPN, then perform the same upload scenario to confirm if the issue only occurs when VPN is enabled.
If Adaptive QoS or Traffic Analyzer is enabled, please try disabling them and observe, as they may add extra load in high-traffic scenarios.
Try temporarily disabling the AX52 node and observe whether Wi-Fi disconnections still occur on a single-router (AX82U) setup.

If the issue persists, we recommend submitting a Web UI Feedback report at the moment the problem occurs, and providing us the following details via private message for follow-up:

The exact time the issue occurred
The email address used when submitting the feedback
The MAC address of the wired/wireless device where the issue occurred

Thank you for your cooperation and patience. We will continue to follow up and provide support.

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

ripface — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 11:16:18 GMT

Yeah, that is weird. I flashed the latest firmware from Asus and there was no option for VPN Client. The GNUton also gives me extra functionality with the VPN Director where I can point certain devices to the WAN instead of using the VPN. This is useful as some of my WiFi enabled plugs don't like VPN for some reason and the only way to get them to work is to switch off VPN .... or with VPN Director I can specifically re-route them to WAN.

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

jzchen — Fri, 12 Sep 2025 11:45:23 GMT

There is VPN Fusion, but it is not listed in the specificafions of the RT-AX82U. It was supposed to be a feature of ASUSwrt 5.0 aka 3.0.0.6.xxxxx firmware but from the ASUSwrt 4.0 page VPNFusion shows as part of "3.0.0.4.388.xxxxx and higher" firmware. Maybe they forgot they put that there in the 4.0 description page...

Sigh...

Re: RT-AX82U Issues

MitchG — Tue, 16 Sep 2025 17:50:46 GMT

Following this topic