Asus RT-AC86U for Wi-Fi Sensing

The Asus RT-AC86U is a popular dual-band AC2900 Wi-Fi router that can be modified to extract Channel State Information (CSI) for Wi-Fi sensing applications. Using the nexmon_csi framework, this router can be transformed into a capable Wi-Fi sensing device.

Advantages

Dual-band operation: 2.4GHz and 5GHz sensing support
Multiple antennas: Up to 4 antennas for spatial diversity
Research-grade data: Detailed CSI information suitable for sensing applications
Established platform: Well-documented nexmon_csi support for BCM4366C0 chip
Network integration: Can function as both router and sensing device

Disadvantages

Cost: Higher initial investment compared to ESP32 or Raspberry Pi
Firmware modification: Requires flashing custom firmware
Technical complexity: More complex setup process
Power consumption: Higher power requirements for continuous operation

Use Cases

The RT-AC86U with nexmon_csi is suitable for:

Research projects: Academic Wi-Fi sensing research
Prototype development: Testing sensing algorithms and applications
Home automation: Smart home sensing applications
Security monitoring: Intrusion detection and monitoring systems
Network analysis: Combined routing and sensing functionality

Getting Started

To use the RT-AC86U for Wi-Fi sensing:

Install nexmon_csi firmware: Follow the installation guide in the nexmon_csi repository
Configure CSI collection: Set up the router to extract and transmit CSI data
Collect data: Use the provided tools to gather CSI measurements
Process and analyze: Apply signal processing and machine learning techniques

For detailed setup instructions and technical documentation, visit the nexmon_csi repository .