The ASUS RT-AC88U is a pretty awesome router. However, out of the box, it’s a bit finicky if you try to print to it via WiFi or Apple’s AirPrint. It doesn’t seem to want to maintain the connection. I stumbled across this somewhat cryptic post and the suggested changes have solved my issues–at least so far. Here are the steps with a little more detail:
1. First log into the router’s settings.
2. Choose Wireless > Professional tab
3. Make the following changes:
-Modulation Scheme: Up to MCS 9 (802.11ac)
-Airtime Fairness: Disable (NOTE: According to one reader, this is the only change that matters, so try this first. Thanks Dan CC!)
-Multi-User MIMO: Disable (Note that this was already disabled by default for me)
-Explicit Beamforming: Disable
-Universal Beamforming (5 GHz only): Disable
Click Apply button.
4. Each of the Bands (i.e., 2.4GHz and 5GHz) have their own independent set of settings on this page. So, change the Band and repeat Step 3.
5. Finally, change the Control Channel to a specific channel (i.e., something other than Auto). Again, apply the change for one band, change the Band setting, and apply the change for the other band. (NOTE: as hellojohnbuck points out in the comments, printers generally only use 2.4GHz, so you probably only need to change for that band.)
I’m not sure what real-world impact changing these settings has on the router’s performance; however, I haven’t really noticed any significant difference…other than my printer works wireless now ;-)
NOTES:
Matt S commented below that he disabled a new setting, “Target Wake Time” (Wifi > General), that was causing his printer connection to timeout.
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Thanks for the article! It was just what I needed. Now, I can use both my Asus RT-AC3100 and my new Brother printer! As you noted, I only changed the Airtime Fairness setting (both 2.4 and 5GHz), and all is well. Whew, I am relieved.
You’re welcome Bill.
Legend!!!! Quick google search bought up this page. Made the change and worked straight away. Somthing that would have normally taken hours/days….solved in minutes. Many thanks
You’re so welcome Russell.
OMG it worked …. just disabled Airtime Fairness and now my airprint printer stops flickering off and on the network. Hours of trying everything in printer, mac and router settings – nothing worked till i chanced upon your INCREDIBLE piece of “trivia”!! THANKS VERY MUCH!!
you’re welcome mk
6 hours, I did everything, from resetting my printers to factory settings, setting my router to factory settings, delete all printer drivers… and I found this web-page…can’t believe this work!!!! I lost all my printers on my network when I changed routers. I going mad!? And this little setting Airtime Fairness fix everything! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! All my network printer disappear, but I could see them as clients on my router. I can actually ping my printers as well as access the web interface… but none of pcs, macs, mobile devices could see these printers… I was loosing my mind… trying to get working until 2 am in the morning… THANKS AGAIN!
I know just how you feel Ariel. So glad this helped. You’re welcome.
Thanks a lot! Just changed Airtime Fairness and Control Channel for 2.4 GHz and both my printer and my uhoo (air quality device) are now working. <3
You’re welcome!
Yes, changing the Airtime Fairness worked for me too! Thanks!!!
You’re very welcome Jeff.
With an AC88U, HP 8600 and Iphone 11 (13.3.1) I had to only make the following changes on 2.4 ghz to get the printer to show on my phone. Modulation Scheme, Airtime Fairness and MU-MiMO
DH’s iPhone SE (ios 13.3.1 ) worked by only changing Modulation Scheme. Thanks for posting this!
You’re welcome Sheryl
Hero! Thanks!
I changed airtime fairness and region.
Happy it worked for you Alex!
Great collaborative detective marriage saving work spice3d. One note. Printers only use 2G so there’s no need to apply the Airtime Fitness to the 5g. And the Airtime was all I needed.
Haha. Happy to save your marriage. Good point on 5GHz. I’ll make a note of it.
You saved my marriage. I am naming my first born Spice3d. Naw, I would if I could though!
That is hilarious! Happy to help.
OMFG, thank you for this! I had been pulling my hair out(that’s my excuse for why I’m balding now) trying to get Airprint to work on my Brother MFC-J835DW for ages now. I gave up so many times when I just needed to print something off my phone. I knew that I it had worked a long time ago once, but now I realize that must have been before I got my AC88U router. Since I need to airprint so seldom, I never made the connection. Of course, it was the Airtime Fairness setting for me as well. I’m even running the Merlin firmware, so can confirm it works with that as well. I’m the type that can’t stand when something doesn’t work as intended and often can’t let it go until I find a solution. This had me stumped bigtime. Glad it was such an easy fix, but 100% would have never discovered it without your help. Seriously trivial, but again, thank you SO much!
You’re welcome Keith. I’m the same way. Happy it helped you.
Many thanks for the post. Disabling Airtime Fairness on the 2.4 Ghertz band fixed my RT-AC5300 from dropping my Brother printer connection. I do notice the occasional glitch in streamed music on that band since making the change, but a small price to pay!
Thanks again.
You’re welcome Rick.
Chiming into say, Thanks!
AirPrint was problematic after setting up the router, and it’s now working (so far) on multiple devices after making the single change you mentioned at the top:
-Airtime Fairness: Disable (NOTE: According to one reader, this is the only change that matters, so try this first. Thanks Dan CC!)
You’re welcome Ken.
Thank you so much for this. One of the four RT-AC5300’s I setup just kicked every printer off and now it works. I couldn’t figure it out. Thanks again.
You’re welcome Steve
Thank you! I was pulling my hair out for the past 4 hours trying to figure out why I couldn’t properly print from my new Brother printer. I have the RT-AC86U however the menu options are near identical and my computer could detect the printer after I made the changes outlined in the article.
You’re welcome Niro
After 3 hours of searching to fix this problem, I found your solution and the issue wasfixed in 10 minutes. Thank you so much to post this solution.
You’re welcome Andreas. Glad it worked.
A million thanks!!! I was able to print and scan with HP Smart app using direct IP configuration but every time I re-start the app printer was shown as offline. I had to delete and reconfigure the printer repeatedly.
I blamed HP, Windows 10, Windows Firewall but never thought that my beloved Asus RT-AC88U would be the problem.
If it wasn’t your post, I was about to replay the famous printer destroying scene from the movie ‘The Office’ :-)
You’re quite welcome… I’m sure your printer is relieved.
Thank you so much. I can now use my HP Printer with this awesome router. THANK YOU.
You’re welcome Mark!
many thanks! after 1yr of trying, I can use Airprint on my Dell Printer. THANKS!!!
I know the feeling Daniel. It’s like magic. You’re welcome.
Finally! Wireless printing with my HP printer – Thank you! It’s been years! Like Jeff and John I bought (and returned) two printers before giving up. Thank you for revealing this setting. Under “MAC Filter Mode” I thought I was white-listing my printer and accidentally blocked EVERYTHING else. Figured that out, and now up and running!
You’re welcome Paul. I totally understand the feeling.