🛒
Final Update (September 5, at 2:15 pm): Web Dove has received his prize and left the following message:
Thank you Dong!
I have a 2.5g Trendnet switch which will let me connect 2.5g ethernet AiMesh backhaul between this new Ax86u and my current Ax86u exterior router.
Looks like somebody is having a fun Labor Day.
With that, this giveaway is now concluded. The official comment count is 185. The comment section is now re-opened. Check back via this link for previous and upcoming contests.
Update 4 (September 4 at 10 pm): We have a NEW and final winner.
Here are the current stats:
- Total comments: 185
- Number of correct guesses: 1
- The correct guess: Conor (185). The contestant failed to provide a US residential address and was therefore disqualified per the official rules.
- Winner: Web Dove (184)
Congratulations, Web Dove! You’re the final winner of the contest.
Web Dove has confirmed his shipping information and his agreement with the official rules. A brand-new Asus RT-AX86U router is on the way to him. We’ll have to wait to see if he wants to leave a personal message or not.
Update 3 (September 3 at 3:30 pm): We have a winner!
Here are the current stats:
- Total comments: 185
- Number of correct guesses: 1
- The unconfirmed winner: Conor (185).
- Unconfirmed runner-ups: Web Dove (184) and AK (188).
Congratulations, Conor! You’re the winner of the contest.
Please review the official rules at the bottom of the page. After that use the Contact page with the same email and “Giveaway contest” as the subject to send us a message saying that you agree with the rules together with your mailing address. Once the information is verified, a brand-new Asus RT-AX86U will be shipped to you.
If we don’t hear from you by 3:30 pm September 4, 2022, a new winner will be selected.
Update 2 (September 3 at 3:00 pm): The contest has ended. This is a scheduled update to close the comment section. Hidden comments will be published all at once soon. Check back soon for the result which will also be sent out via another email notification. Have a great weekend, everyone! Stay cool!
Update 1 (September 2 at 9:25 am): All new contest-entry comments on this page are now held until the contest’s end. Make sure your entry email is confirmed with the subscription.
{Below is the original contest}
You’re in for a chance to win this Asus RT-AX86U giveaway. This router is the real deal, not the stripped-down RT-AX86S version.
This model has been one of my favorites. It’s an easy recommendation and will work out well for almost anyone, gamers and general users alike.
But you need to act fast. Time is running out.
Asus RT-AX86U giveaway: The Details
I reviewed the Asus RT-AX86U in August 2020 and found it “Arguably the Best Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Router to Date”. It’s been that way since.
This router is excellent for a medium home, and you can quickly scale up the Wi-Fi coverage using extra AiMesh hardware. And in certain combo, you can even have it as part of a Multi-Gig wired backhauling mesh system.
The point is that it’s great! Since launch, due to the demand, the router has always been sold for more than its suggested retail price.
You can buy it now on Amazon for about $270 or enter for a chance to it from Dong Knows Tech here for free.
Asus RT-AX86U: Hardware specs
| Name | ASUS RT-AX86U AX5700 Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 Gaming Router |
| Wi-Fi Technology | Dual-Band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) AX5700 |
| Chipset | Broadcom BCM4908 |
| 2.4GHz Wi-Fi Specs | 3×3 Wi-Fi 6: Up to 861 Mbps |
| 5GHz Wi-Fi Specs | 4X4 Wi-Fi 6: Up to 4804 Mbps |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11a/b/g/n/ac |
| AP Mode | Yes |
| Mesh-ready | Yes (AiMesh) |
| 160MHz Channel Support | Yes |
| Gigabit Port | 4x LAN, 1x WAN |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 2.5 Gbps LAN/WAN |
| Link Aggregation | Yes (LAN 1 and LAN 2) |
| Dual-WAN | Yes (WAN + LAN4 or USB) |
| USB | 2 x USB 3.0 (storage, modem, printer) |
| Mobile App | Asus Router |
| QoS | Yes (Excellent) |
| Parental Control | Yes |
| Processing Power | 1.8 GHz quad-core CPU, 256MB Flash, 1GB RAM |
| Built-in Online Protection | Yes (AiProtection powered by Trend Micro) |
| Dimensions | With antennas: 9.52 x 3.93 x 12.79 inc. (242 x 100 x 325 mm) Without antennas: 9.52 x 3.93 x 6.45 inc. (242 x 100 x 164 mm) |
| Weight | 1.8 lbs (814.5 g) |
| US Price (at launch) | $250 |
How to enter the contest—Please read this part carefully!
To enter the contest for the chance to win, you must be(come) a subscriber to Dong Knows Tech’s new post notification.
I hope that you subscribe more because you want to stay in the loop than you want to win!
Leave a contest entry, which is a new comment — not a reply to an existing comment—that meets the following criteria:
- The comment must start with a number, which is your best guess for the total number of all published comments on this page by the end of the contest.
- You must use a valid email address that has never been unsubscribed before* and follow the comment rules. (Hint: Be nice!)
- If you’re not yet a subscriber, check the box that reads “Notify me of new posts by email.” to subscribe. You will receive an email and need to confirm the subscription via the instruction on that email—you only have to click on a link. (Feel free to check the other two boxes, but that’s not required, and note that they are separate subscriptions that are not qualified for this contest.)
(*) If you have unsubscribed, you need to use a new email address. The previously unsubscribed address might no longer work.
The screenshot below shows an example of a valid entry. Feel free to help yourself to some creativity with the optional text. Or not.
Please note:
- Each person can leave up to five guesses by replying to their initial entry as a thread. In that case, your latest guess, per the time stamp, will be your official guess—all previous ones will be ignored.
- If you leave more than 5 guesses in a thread, the 6th and later will be ignored—they are just regular comments (Hint: Don’t do it!)
- If you create multiple threads—separate comments as contest entries—your earliest will be your official guess. (Don’t do it!)
- All comments that don’t violate the comment rules will be published right away, or after a brief hold for moderation, and counted towards the total number. They include general questions/commentaries, replies, those that don’t start with a number and disqualified contest entries.
- A day before the contest ends, all new contest-entry comments (new guesses) will be held until the end of the contest to be published simultaneously. That’s to ensure everyone is on the same level playing field. (If you wait till this phase, you generally can only leave a single guess.)
- Everyone is free to leave as many normal non-contest-entry comments as they’d like, or answer questions of existing comments.
Check out the previous contest if you want to know how the process pans out.
Important: Contest duration and winning criteria
This contest will last until 3 PM (Pacific time) Saturday, September 3, 2022.
At that time, the comment section will be closed. The winner will be determined by:
- Having made the correct or the closest guess of the total published comments. And
- Their email address is active with the specific subscription**.
- In a draw, the earliest entry wins.
(**) If you receive notifications of a new post or have replied to confirm with the opt-in email, then your email address is active. If you don’t, you need to re-enter the contest with a different email address. The current one might have been blocked for one reason or another (such as when you have unsubscribed before.)
The winner’s winning entry will be highlighted. They will be notified (together with everybody else) via the email subscription and have 24 hours to respond via the Contact page. A runner-up will be selected if there’s no appropriate and timely response.
The final winner will have the option to show a personal message in this post, with or without a photo (of themselves and the item.) Or they can choose to remain anonymous.
Make sure you read and agree with the terms below before participating. (They won’t bite.)
Important: Rules, disclaimers, and shipping
Official Rules
We play by the honor system here:
- One entry per person—don’t use multiple emails!
- Participate only if you intend to use, or gift the item, and not to sell it. This is not about monetary gain.
- This giveaway is available only to those living in the United States—the intended locale of the hardware.
Disclaimers
This giveaway transaction, if taken place, doesn’t make Dong Knows Tech the seller nor the winner the buyer. Dong Knows Tech takes no responsibility for the functionality, quality, or physical condition of the item it gives you.
Specifically:
- You understand that you’re getting a giveaway that’s intended to carry no monetary value, even when brand-new. You’re doing this for fun and not for financial gain.
- There’s no guarantee that the item will work according to your expectations.
- You might or might not be able to register it with the vendor for support or warranty.
- Dong Knows Tech will not provide tech support or warranty. The only thing you can expect to get from this website and its owner if you win the contest is the item itself, and nothing else.
- There’s no return.
Shipping
The items will be delivered to a valid residential address within the lower 48 states in the US of the winner’s choosing via standard shipping. No insurance will be included in the shipping. Dong Knows Tech is not responsible if the item is damaged or lost during transit and will not ship a replacement.
If you want:
- Faster or better shipping. Or
- The item to be shipped to a territory outside of the US’s contiguous states (Hawaii, Alaska, etc.). Or
- Take care of the shipping cost because think you should.
Then:
You’ll need to pay for the shipping cost which will be provided to you together with the method of payment. You have the option to do that after having received the item.
No non-residential address or P.O. box is accepted. Failing to provide a US residential address in a timely manner will disqualify a winning contestant.
By participating, you explicitly agree with the rules and disclaimers mentioned here. You understand that your chance of winning is low, and you don’t receive anything when you’re not the winner. At any time you want to change your mind, please contact Dong Knows Tech to have your entry permanently removed. You can also decline to receive the item if you’re the winner.
176
130 comments
Can’t wait.
I can’t wait to be declared the winner of this giveaway 😁🙌🏻
230 comments
so after chancing upon the Dong knows site – it’s great! having a source of IT reviews and info that is relatively impartial is a rear find today, get onboard folks but don’t let all the accolades go to your head, Dong!
great info source – keep ‘it’ coming – Charlie
uhh I meant rare!!!!
haha
“Relatively” impartial? Come on, Charles! 🙂
why after entering the give away i do not get any email(or some other sort of notification) confirming if my entry has been received successfully or not?
Make sure you read the post.
ok, but if I have subscribed and haven’t unsubscribed then checking the ##Notify me of new posts by email.## is not necessary?
Read the post in its entirety!
ok, have a nice weekend
good luck to everybody
75 comments
Dong really does know tech! I am grateful for the great reviews and helpful information. I used Dong’s advice to create my own AI mesh network at my house and it works flawlessly! I only wish I had found this information a few years ago before I wasted money on other technology that often disappointed.
which was the technology that didnt work for u?
138 Comments
366 comments
111 Comments for the win.
I kind of knew any ASUS router or product would ramp up comments and excitement. Glad everyone is trying to help Dong clean out his closet.
Dong show us this closet. I know your better half probably doesnt like a closet full of stuff that isn’t theirs. Hahahaha.
Got me thinking maybe do an article on e-waste. Many of us Tech lovers keep so much stuff. We have boxes or closets of old keyboards, mice, towers, hard drives, floppy disks, etc. Please dont put them in the landfill my Tech friends!
Mahalo Dong for what you do.
Taz
170
154 responses
162
162
Thanks, Dong.
The AX86U was one of the WiFi routers that I’ve been looking based on your review in part (AX86U gets high marks on various retailer websites too.)
I’ve enjoyed the tech reviews on your site.
Thanks!
156
142 comments
145
333 comments
Dong, I’ve enjoyed your router reviews for many years.
Thank you!
238 comments.
I do use your thread as reference and to upgrade my knowledge.
If I may provide feedback: Sometimes your reader wants a straight black-white winner when asking which router is better
106 is my guess.
And thank your for all your work and sharing your knowledge and insights. VERY informative! There is so much I never knew and still don’t. Thanks to this site I can make a better choice in my next router purchase. I’ve now realized why my network has always been lacking!
159 comments 🙂
326 comments
450 Comments!
345
2.5 Gbps port is definitely a +! I guess 150 responses.
Make you read the post, Jesse. 2.5Gbps is A+ indeed but this comment is not a qualified contest entry. 🙂
316
166
177. Thank you for all Insights to the myriad of WiFi devices. Definitely appreciate it.
Scott
666 comments
149 comments
0013
no whammies!
I could definitely use something like this!
Shout out to Dong for creating this resource and sharing his expertise on the equipment that comes out.
143 comments
stumbled on your site at a good time!
Dong, I do have the AX86U as a wired mesh node to my GT-AX6000. I love both of these routers. Best WiFi 6 duo for sure. I wouldn’t mind winning another one though, I can use it as another wired backhaul node in another corner of our house. Thanks for the great reviews and this opportunity. Cheers 🍻
That’s a great combo, P. Feel free to enter, and good luck! 🙂
888 comments
Thank you.
How does this thing compare to an eero?
There’s no comparison, Jon. Here’s my review of the RT-AX86U and here’s my take on the latest eero.
You seem to have an answer to every question before it’s even asked. Sounds like I gotta win this one!
Someone is gonna win for sure. Good luck!
41
Great Router!
190 Comments.
Can’t reply to my previous comment in a thread as: Update (September 2 at 9:25 am): All new comments on this page are now held until the contest ends.
You already did by replying to your first comment’s preview, Conor. But yes, generally you need to comment BEFORE this phase to do that. This entry, by the way, is disqualified per the rule above, which is why it’s published.
151 comments
397
1 Comment Dong.
Had to. Never been on the Price is Right; this felt like my best chance to pull that off.
185 comments.
117
I found your page while looking for a Dual WAN, Failover & Load Balancing set up for my handicapped daughter, she uses voice control of smart devices. Great articles!
250
Make sure you read the entire post, Ryan. Don’t just leave comments as contest entries willy-nilly.
225
200
201
Dong,I appreciate your very insightful reviews without any bias. Thank you!!
370 comments
130 comments
346 Comments
Where would we be without marketing?
125 comments
I’m a very lucky guy!
102 comments
142
112 comments
93
328 comments
116
Hoping for a repeat of last time’s magic!
135
144
Hard to see where I am since my comments aren’t visible.
169
I guess this is my final guess.
That’s part of the game. 🙂
108 Comments
79 comments
168 comments
I hope.
112 comments
142
296 comments
It sure would be nice to get firmware upgrades again, unlike the WRT32X we currently use. Or maybe this will push me to go open source.
Been visiting your site for a while now. I find it very beneficial to have a single reviewer source. Thanks!
1,000
Since this Asus is the real deal…..count me in !
224 is the number
I have the alien AmpliFi. It has been consistently the lowest latency, fastest wifi and wired, and I have tried about 5 routers from $200 to $500 the past 4 years. Will it work with the alien for a mesh network?
I am also a widowed father of 3 looking for gainful employment after Covid caused layoffs a year ago.
You need another Alien for a mesh, SJ. More in this post.
146 comments
184
I love my ax86u and thank you for your website!
Wait, you already have this same router?? 🤔
1999 comments
Lets see if I win. 😉
199 comments
Oops. Typed in wrong the first time.
925 comments
685 Comments
128
133 comments
1,320 comments
160 comments
555
comment: Just lucked into your site. Awesome and informative. Thx
88 Comments
188 Comments
102 comments
I look forward to attempt a mesh setup with this Asus RT-AX86U long with my current router.
98 Comments
150 thank for your knowledge. I would like to know if I entered the RT-AC86U giveaway.
Thank you
97
216
222
I am picking up one of these even if I don’t win (old ac86u is getting a little tired. Thanks for the review!
103
Appreciate the way you share your knowledge!
177
256 comments
Totally stoked I’m the first horse to grab the bit by the mouth
252 Good articles.
111
Great articles.
450. Love the detailed articles.
101
222 comments
Great reviews!
83 comments
Good job!
126 comments
191 comments 🙂
123 Comments
387 comments
Keep up the great work!
74 Comments
77 Comments
I’m loving the page so far, very informative
270 Comments
Fingers crossed 🤞🏻
81 comments
Love the content as usual! Keep it up!
97 comments is my guess as we really need a better router 🤞
177 comments – looks like I needed to up my guess! 👍
155 comments
Keep up the good work on the tech reviews!
148.
74 comments
102 comments
127 comments
68
137
64 Comments
82 comments
Dong really like your content. It has created a new interest in Wifi tech for me.
113 comments
Updated my number 🙂
129 comments
153 comments
337 would be a wonderful opportunity, but I also appreciate the website
69 comments
133 comments
76 comments
110 comments.
57 comments
113 comments
It’s a beautiful day at the red pony
120 comments
151 comments
179 comments
127. Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge as well as this actual piece of equipment!
124 comments
My RT-AC86U just died, so I really could use this as a replacement.
169 comments
140 comments
are you able to tell which are ur next give aways in the near future?
Yes, but I won’t. 🙂
784 entries
106
328 comments.
Thanks for the RT-AX86U opportunity.
199 comments.
117 comments.
145 comments.
154 comments.
229 comments
Love your work! Thanks for everything you do, Dong!
456 comments
Happy to pay for the shipping on this one! Pretty please?
88 comments
112 comments
469 comments.
I traveled through time and confirmed this is the correct answer.
79 comments
Dong , love the work you put in to make tech more understandable.
60 comments
Thanks for the opportunity!
2,235 Comments
Thanks. Great router.
1200
Good times.
275
Awesome.
98
Mayy have responded off a most recent entry. Messy.
76
HopenIm doing this right.
160
Thanks.
You only have 5 guesses, John. The previous one, 76, is your final and official guess.
79 comments
Fingers crossed, thanks!
You need to start your own thread (comment,) Mike. Don’t reply to that of others. Also, you need to confirm the subscription. This entry is not qualified. Make sure you read the entire post.
56
73
31 comments
82 comments
95 comments
95 your final and official guess, Jaremy.
99 comments
Love your website, Dong, whether I win or not, but I hope I do!
93 comments