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expiredchaofun posted Mar 4, 2022 10:49 PM

ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless Router w/ SD Cashback

$80

$180

55% off
+ Free Shippingat Amazon
84 Comments
80.7K Views
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Deal Details
Amazon also has ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless Router AiMesh on sale for $79.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks Deal Hunter chaofun for sharing this deal.

Best Buy via eBay has ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless Router AiMesh on sale for $79.99 (add to cart to see price). Additionally, earn Slickdeals Cashback before purchase when you follow the cashback instructions below (PC extension required, before checkout). Shipping is free.

Best Buy also has ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless Router AiMesh on sale for $79.99. Shipping is free.

Key Features:
  • Fast Wi-Fi Speed Wireless Transmission - Ideal Wi-Fi dongle for voice streaming and online gaming.
  • 300Mbps - Excellent connection and High speed Wi-Fi dongle Secure.
  • Advanced Security - 64/128-bit WEP, WPA, WPA2 WPA3 encryption standards.
  • Simply Insert, Simply Connect- Freestanding transceiver and connecting cable allows easy positioning for the best reception.

Editor's Notes

Written by CChoiVA
  • About this deal:
    • Our research indicates that ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless Router AiMesh is $19.96 lower (20% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $99.95 at the time of this posting.
  • About this product:
    • 4.4 out of 5 stars rating at Amazon based on over 10,800 customer reviews
  • About this store:
    • Best Buy via eBay return policy: 14 days returns; Buyer pays for return shipping
    • View Amazon return policy here.
    • View Best Buy return policy here.
    • Don't have Amazon Prime? Students can get a free 6-Month Amazon Prime trial with free 2-day shipping, unlimited video streaming & more.
    • If you're not a student, there's also a free 1-Month Amazon Prime trial available.
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details & discussion. -StrawMan86

Original Post

Written by chaofun
Community Notes
About the Poster
Deal Details
Community Notes
About the Poster
Amazon also has ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless Router AiMesh on sale for $79.99. Shipping is free.

Thanks Deal Hunter chaofun for sharing this deal.

Best Buy via eBay has ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless Router AiMesh on sale for $79.99 (add to cart to see price). Additionally, earn Slickdeals Cashback before purchase when you follow the cashback instructions below (PC extension required, before checkout). Shipping is free.

Best Buy also has ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless Router AiMesh on sale for $79.99. Shipping is free.

Key Features:
  • Fast Wi-Fi Speed Wireless Transmission - Ideal Wi-Fi dongle for voice streaming and online gaming.
  • 300Mbps - Excellent connection and High speed Wi-Fi dongle Secure.
  • Advanced Security - 64/128-bit WEP, WPA, WPA2 WPA3 encryption standards.
  • Simply Insert, Simply Connect- Freestanding transceiver and connecting cable allows easy positioning for the best reception.

Editor's Notes

Written by CChoiVA
  • About this deal:
    • Our research indicates that ASUS Blue Cave AC2600 Dual-Band Wireless Router AiMesh is $19.96 lower (20% savings) than the next best available price from a reputable merchant with prices starting from $99.95 at the time of this posting.
  • About this product:
    • 4.4 out of 5 stars rating at Amazon based on over 10,800 customer reviews
  • About this store:
    • Best Buy via eBay return policy: 14 days returns; Buyer pays for return shipping
    • View Amazon return policy here.
    • View Best Buy return policy here.
    • Don't have Amazon Prime? Students can get a free 6-Month Amazon Prime trial with free 2-day shipping, unlimited video streaming & more.
    • If you're not a student, there's also a free 1-Month Amazon Prime trial available.
  • Please refer to the forum thread for additional details & discussion. -StrawMan86

Original Post

Written by chaofun

Community Voting

Deal Score
+41
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Top Comments

Daddio1949
364Comments
516Reputation
In order to convert a TM-AC1900 to a Asus RT-AC68U you had to enable SSH (Secure Shell Protocol) on the router. With SSH enabled you could then install the Asus bootloader (cfe) and the firmware (or an alternative variant, e.g. Merlin ). Unfortunately, only the initial firmware for the TM-AC1900 allowed SSH to be enabled; later versions removed this feature. Consequently, you had to downgrade the firmware on the TM-AC1900.

I have converted 4 TM-AC1900s to RT-AC68Us. One of the TM-AC1900s came with the original firmware and made for an easier conversion.

For all the gory details on how to do this see https://www.bayareatechpros.com/ac1900-to-ac68u/. Of the 24 steps in this procedure, the 1st 10 lead to enabling SSH.
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gerony620
6Comments
14Reputation
I have 2 of these blue caves, set up via the Aimesh for expanded coverage in my 3 story home. Has been working flawlessly for the last 2 years with no issues whatsoever. Love the boxy shape and can be blended perfectly in any setup because you don't have crazy antennas poking out.

I have Fios with Gigabit connections speeds and via WIFI I get 600mbps uploads and downloads, which isn't the best, but for my wireless devices its perfect (my pc is wired so I get the full bandwidth)

4 gigabit ports, usb 3.0 port for cloud storage, super easy setup either via the app or router.asus.com. Cant complain about anything on this router!
Go to Comment
darwinesque
64Comments
38Reputation
Love the aesthetics of this, but I actually just recycled mine at Best Buy in favor of an AX86U. This is an oddball in the Asus lineup because it has an Intel wireless chip. It runs hot and hasn't received a firmware update in ages. I held onto my flashed AC68Us even though they're less capable spec-wise because they continue to receive firmware updates, run cooler and are just as (if not more) stable than the Blue Cave.
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84 Comments

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Mar 5, 2022 1:58 AM
6 Comments
Joined Dec 2017
gerony620Mar 5, 2022 1:58 AM
6 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank gerony620

I have 2 of these blue caves, set up via the Aimesh for expanded coverage in my 3 story home. Has been working flawlessly for the last 2 years with no issues whatsoever. Love the boxy shape and can be blended perfectly in any setup because you don't have crazy antennas poking out.

I have Fios with Gigabit connections speeds and via WIFI I get 600mbps uploads and downloads, which isn't the best, but for my wireless devices its perfect (my pc is wired so I get the full bandwidth)

4 gigabit ports, usb 3.0 port for cloud storage, super easy setup either via the app or router.asus.com. Cant complain about anything on this router!
2
2
Mar 5, 2022 2:36 AM
6.1K Comments
Joined Mar 2011
T1NYMar 5, 2022 2:36 AM
6.1K Comments
I also have one on my aimesh connected to my Asus xt8 satellites. Very stable since I gotten it.
Mar 5, 2022 7:33 AM
22 Comments
Joined Nov 2011
foochackaMar 5, 2022 7:33 AM
22 Comments
Thanks, picked one up to extend my xt8 satellites
Mar 5, 2022 7:39 AM
932 Comments
Joined Sep 2014
GergorMar 5, 2022 7:39 AM
932 Comments
Quote from foochacka :
Thanks, picked one up to extend my xt8 satellites
Would adding an AC node to the mesh break wifi6 for the whole network? Or just this particular node won't have wifi6?
Last edited by Gergor March 4, 2022 at 11:41 PM.
Mar 5, 2022 7:44 AM
691 Comments
Joined Sep 2017
orramMar 5, 2022 7:44 AM
691 Comments
Quote from Gergor :
Would adding an AC node to the mesh break wifi6 for the whole network? Or just this particular node won't have wifi6?
The node will just not provide wifi 6.
I have a similar set up.
Mar 5, 2022 8:08 AM
571 Comments
Joined Nov 2016
LeeJ4041Mar 5, 2022 8:08 AM
571 Comments
Quote from orram :
The node will just not provide wifi 6.
I have a similar set up.
so the AC models can mesh with AX models?
Mar 5, 2022 8:10 AM
691 Comments
Joined Sep 2017
orramMar 5, 2022 8:10 AM
691 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank orram

Quote from LeeJ4041 :
so the AC models can mesh with AX models?
Yep. That's how I have mine set up.

EDIT: The answer is yes, as long as the router is AImesh ready.
Last edited by orram March 5, 2022 at 12:24 AM.
1

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Mar 5, 2022 8:27 AM
37 Comments
Joined May 2019
FeistyRoute355Mar 5, 2022 8:27 AM
37 Comments
How is this compared to TM-AC1900 (flash-able to RT-68U)? Considering TM-AC1900 can be purchased around $30. Thanks.
1
Mar 5, 2022 8:33 AM
236 Comments
Joined Jul 2014
nabillionMar 5, 2022 8:33 AM
236 Comments
How does this compare to the TP-Link deco mesh one from costco
1
Mar 5, 2022 12:38 PM
88 Comments
Joined Jul 2018
FlpennstaterMar 5, 2022 12:38 PM
88 Comments
Quote from nabillion :
How does this compare to the TP-Link deco mesh one from costco
I have the tp link and regardless of the fact the Costco price is amazing, the deco is awesome. Great coverage and literally sets up in a couple minutes with an app. I don't regret paying more for it, but at $200 it is a no brainer for a 3 pack
Mar 5, 2022 12:47 PM
645 Comments
Joined May 2006
RcketScientistMar 5, 2022 12:47 PM
645 Comments
Quote from FeistyRoute355 :
How is this compared to TM-AC1900 (flash-able to RT-68U)? Considering TM-AC1900 can be purchased around $30. Thanks.
I'm still running a TMobile router, solid for many years. Flashing it to Asus is not easy anymore. While it can be done Merlin, for example, boldly says it can't due to how much time was spent supporting the new anti flash measures.

That said, it's a bit old in the 4k streaming era. It can bog down quickly in a household.
1
Mar 5, 2022 12:59 PM
1.3K Comments
Joined Jul 2014
FriendlyxMar 5, 2022 12:59 PM
1.3K Comments
I'm looking for a router to replace my mesh system which is the TMobile router right now. It constantly drops but want something solid that will last
Mar 5, 2022 1:19 PM
406 Comments
Joined Nov 2010
xsboostMar 5, 2022 1:19 PM
406 Comments
Quote from RcketScientist :
I'm still running a TMobile router, solid for many years. Flashing it to Asus is not easy anymore. While it can be done Merlin, for example, boldly says it can't due to how much time was spent supporting the new anti flash measures.

That said, it's a bit old in the 4k streaming era. It can bog down quickly in a household.
You can do it by downgrading to a firmware that doesn't have anti flash, correct? While not as easy, it's not bad IMO. I've done three of them now. Spaced apart, so not like I remembered everything I did.
Mar 5, 2022 1:22 PM
645 Comments
Joined May 2006
RcketScientistMar 5, 2022 1:22 PM
645 Comments
Quote from xsboost :
You can do it by downgrading to a firmware that doesn't have anti flash, correct? While not as easy, it's not bad IMO. I've done three of them now. Spaced apart, so not like I remembered everything I did.
To get past the anti firmware one you had to flip some bits if I recall. I wouldn't recommend sitting on an old version of firmware for a router.

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Mar 5, 2022 1:27 PM
837 Comments
Joined Mar 2008
ovyboxMar 5, 2022 1:27 PM
837 Comments
Quote from Friendlyx :
I'm looking for a router to replace my mesh system which is the TMobile router right now. It constantly drops but want something solid that will last
I have a strong suspicion that it's actually the ISP dropping my connection and not the Asus mesh. The AC-68u and AC 1900 have a connection monitor menu.

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