How to Upgrade ASUS RT-ACRH17 to Custom Merlin Firmware
I have been using the ASUS RT-ACRH17 for nearly two years, sticking with the official ASUS firmware. While it is stable, it lacks many desired features, such as SS/V2 support. Recently, I found a firmware for the RT-ACRH17 on the Right.com.cn forum that includes all the features I need, so I decided to give it a try.
Difference Between Official ASUS Firmware and Merlin Firmware
The interfaces of the official ASUS firmware and the Merlin firmware are almost identical. The official firmware is open-source, and the Merlin firmware builds upon it with optimizations and feature upgrades to make it more user-friendly. — Content from the internet
Downloading the RT-ACRH17 Merlin Firmware
The RT-ACRH17 uses a Qualcomm chip, which is not officially supported by the Merlin firmware team. Therefore, a community member has compiled and released a custom version. The firmware source is: Global Premiere! Original Qualcomm Merlin RT-ACRH17 Released! Built-in Fullcone and Software Center. Please use it at your own discretion.
The forum provides a Baidu Netdisk link, but without a Baidu Netdisk membership, the download speed is painfully slow. I have saved a copy for you, and you can download it via the links below:
Starting the Upgrade
Since the Merlin firmware and the official ASUS firmware share the same foundation, the upgrade process is very simple. Extract the downloaded RT-ACRH17_3.0.0.4_982_Merlin_v1.3.2.rar file to get RT-ACRH17_3.0.0.4_982_Merlin_v1.3.2.trx.
Then, go to the ASUS router's WEB management interface: Advanced Settings > System Management > Firmware Upgrade. Select the new firmware file RT-ACRH17_3.0.0.4_982_Merlin_v1.3.2.trx and upload it to start the upgrade, as shown below.
During the upgrade, please ensure the router remains powered on. The process usually takes about 3 minutes. After the upgrade is complete, your account, password, and configuration information will remain unchanged. To ensure better compatibility, you may also choose to reset the router to factory settings after the upgrade.
User Experience
This firmware provides several features not available in the official version, such as SSR, DNS acceleration, and Baidu Netdisk download support. Personally, I feel the web console operation is smoother than before. Signal strength and stability will need further observation over time.
Troubleshooting Failed Upgrades
ASUS provides tools and firmware downloads for the RT-ACRH17. If you encounter a failed upgrade, do not panic. You can download the ASUS Firmware Restoration tool from the official website: https://www.asus.com.cn/Networking/RT-ACRH17/HelpDesk_Download/ to restore the router. I have not tried this myself, so please refer to the official instructions or search online for specific usage details.
Summary
- Download the firmware, extract it, and upgrade directly via the router's backend.
- After upgrading, you can choose whether to reset to factory settings based on your needs.
- If the upgrade fails, you can use the official ASUS Firmware Restoration tool to recover.
- Upgrading the RT-ACRH17 to Merlin firmware offers richer features and a smoother backend interface.
- Note that the Merlin firmware does not officially support the RT-ACRH17; the firmware mentioned above was compiled and released by a community member.
- Purchase link for RT-ACRH17: https://item.jd.com/5186619.html