RT-AX82U Issues

[ripface]

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

[ripface]

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.

[jzchen]

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).

[ripface]

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.

[jzchen]

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/

[ripface]

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.