How to Configure Internet Circumvention on Merlin Routers Using the Fancyss Plugin

Configure internet circumvention on Merlin routers by installing the Fancyss plugin from the hq450/fancyss repository, importing a V2Ray or Shadowsocks subscription URL, and activating a node with your preferred routing mode.

Merlin routers running ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware can bypass internet censorship through the Fancyss scientific-access plugin. According to the bannedbook/fanqiang repository, this integration allows routers to tunnel traffic through V2Ray or Shadowsocks protocols directly at the network level. The configuration process involves installing an offline package and importing subscription nodes via the router's web interface.

Prerequisites for Merlin Router Setup

Before installing the circumvention tools, verify your hardware compatibility. The Fancyss plugin supports specific ASUS router models that run ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware, such as the RT-AC68U and similar architectures. You must download the offline package matching your exact router model from the Fancyss GitHub repository, as documented in router/Merlin.md lines 3-8.

Installing the Fancyss Plugin on Merlin Routers

The installation uses the router's Software Center rather than package managers.

Downloading the Correct Offline Package

Navigate to https://github.com/hq450/fancyss and locate your router model using Ctrl+F. The repository organizes packages by architecture in the "Related Links" section. Download the Scientific-Access Offline Package (a .tgz file) corresponding to your device.

Installing via the Software Center

Access your router's Web UI and navigate to the Software Center. Upload the downloaded .tgz file and confirm the installation. Once complete, the plugin appears under Applications → Fancyss, ready for configuration as noted in the router/Merlin.md installation instructions.

Configuring Internet Circumvention with Node Subscriptions

After installation, you must import proxy nodes through subscription URLs.

Adding a V2Ray Subscription URL

Open Applications → Fancyss and click the "Add Subscription" tab. Paste your V2Ray or Shadowsocks subscription URL—available from services documented in the bannedbook/fanqiang wiki—and click "Save & Subscribe". The router fetches the node list automatically, which may take several minutes according to the subscription import steps in router/Merlin.md lines 10-21.

Selecting and Activating Nodes

Navigate to Client → Node List to view available nodes. Select a node marked as "available" and click "Save & Apply" to activate it. This configures the router to route traffic through the selected proxy endpoint.

Optimizing Traffic with Routing Modes

Fancyss provides multiple routing strategies to balance performance and circumvention.

The China whitelist mode routes only non-Chinese IP addresses through the proxy, using an IP list to bypass domestic sites and reduce latency for local services. Alternatively, Game mode optimizes for low-latency connections. Configure these under the Mode section before toggling the Fancyss switch to ON, at which point the UI displays "ShadowsocksR Plus+ Running".

Automating Configuration via CLI

For advanced users, the Merlin CLI allows programmatic configuration through NVRAM variables. The following shell commands replicate the web UI actions:

# Install and start Fancyss

nvram set rc_service="fancyss"
nvram commit
service start_fancyss

# Configure subscription URL

nvram set fancyss_sub_url="https://example.com/subscription.txt"
nvram commit
service restart_fancyss

# Select node (0 = first node)

nvram set fancyss_node_index="0"
nvram commit
service restart_fancyss

# Set routing mode (0=whitelist, 1=game, 2=global)

nvram set fancyss_mode="0"
nvram commit
service restart_fancyss

These commands manipulate fancyss_sub_url, fancyss_node_index, and fancyss_mode variables that the plugin reads on startup, enabling automated deployment across multiple routers.

Summary

• Configure internet circumvention on Merlin routers by installing the Fancyss plugin from the appropriate .tgz offline package via the Software Center.
• Import V2Ray or Shadowsocks subscription URLs through the plugin's subscription page to populate available nodes.
• Select routing modes like China whitelist to proxy only foreign traffic, or Game mode for optimized latency.
• Automate setup using NVRAM variables (fancyss_sub_url, fancyss_node_index, fancyss_mode) and service commands via SSH.
• Verify functionality by browsing blocked sites after the "ShadowsocksR Plus+ Running" status appears.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Fancyss plugin and where do I download it for my Merlin router?

The Fancyss plugin is a scientific-access tool that integrates V2Ray and Shadowsocks cores directly into ASUSWRT-Merlin firmware. Download architecture-specific offline packages from the hq450/fancyss GitHub repository by searching for your exact router model (e.g., RT-AC68U) and selecting the corresponding .tgz file as instructed in router/Merlin.md.

How do I obtain a V2Ray subscription URL for the Fancyss plugin?

Subscription URLs are provided by proxy service providers (often called airports). The bannedbook/fanqiang project wiki lists free and paid V2Ray nodes, accessible through registration links documented in router/Merlin.md lines 23-28. After registering with a service, you receive a personal subscription URL to paste into the Fancyss subscription tab.

Can I configure internet circumvention on Merlin routers without using the web interface?

Yes. You can automate the entire configuration through SSH using NVRAM commands. Set fancyss_sub_url for the subscription, fancyss_node_index to select a specific node (starting at 0), and fancyss_mode to specify routing (0 for whitelist, 1 for game mode), then restart the service with service restart_fancyss.

Why should I use China whitelist mode instead of global proxy mode?

China whitelist mode maintains an IP list of Chinese destinations, routing only traffic to foreign addresses through the proxy tunnel. This reduces latency for domestic services while still bypassing censorship for international sites, whereas global mode would tunnel all traffic including local Chinese websites unnecessarily.

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