[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Bit of a noob when it comes to finding a router - any budget recommendations?

Hi,

Looking to buy a new router due to random disconnections/slowness I've been experiencing on both my WiFi and Ethernet devices (it's really annoying!). So I'm currently using the ISP provided EE Smart Hub+ - it's an FTTP connection and appreciate that it's probably very poor (had a replacement which improved nothing). FTTP line has been checked and is now good after an engineer visit.

Looking to spend up to around £100

Any recommendations please?

[Assistant]
rachaelt123 said:
Any recommendations please?

I would get one Asus TUF Gaming AX3000 V2 for £88, Amazon UK.

This is basically RT-AX58U V2 with 2.5GbE WAN port and some Gaming marketing around it.

Runs on stock Asuswrt 4.0, has Asuswrt-Merlin fork available for it in case you are interested in 3rd party firmware.

Broadcom BCM6756 quad-core 1.7GHz CPU, 512MB RAM, 2-stream 2.4GHz + 2-stream 5GHz built-in SoC radios.

Product Page:
TUF Gaming AX3000 V2｜WiFi Routers｜ASUS Global
ASUS gaming routers provide the very best gaming experience, with an arsenal of features and tools designed to improve online gaming performance and give you the competitive edge you need to win.
www.asus.com

If you are in a small place then 1 wireless router will work. Anything bigger start moving into a small business class system with multiple APs.

coxhaus said:
If you are in a small place then 1 wireless router will work. Anything bigger start moving into a small business class system with multiple APs.
Small is relative. I have full coverage from a single router in a 1900sqft single story house. Some of the back yard and front yard also have useable coverage for web browsing and videos/music.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Synology WiFi 6e or 7 Router?

Does anyone know if Synology is planning to release a WiFi 6e or 7 router this year? I recently upgraded to fiber internet and need to replace my old Netgear router. I have a Synology NAS and like the options/features that appear to be available in SRM and it seems to have a similar interface to DSM. I've researched the RT6600ax and it seems to have generally positive reviews from people like Dong Ngo, but I'd prefer to get a 6e or 7 router so as to not need to upgrade again as soon.

Along with the RT6600ax the other that I have been considering is the Asus RT-AX88U Pro, but it is also not 6e or 7. I have been following the Asus RT-BE88U and it looks like it was just added to Amazon (want to use points to buy) although it is listed as out of stock. I may just pay the extra hundred or so and get the BE88U when available, but would like to know if anyone has info on a new Synology router that may be coming soon. Thanks.

[Assistant] Probably too early to buy right now as Wi-Fi 7 is beta for both hardware and software. If you buy it now, I doubt it will be for long term. Wi-Fi 7 is a product for play now not long-term investment.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: RT-AX88U Pro vs ZenWiFi Pro XT12

I'm getting 1000/500 FTTH installed soon. My ISP also offers 2500/500 and 10000/2500 though it's not something I'm buying right away due to the fact that almost no device in my home would benefit from these fast speeds.

I've been working my way with Linux servers for a few years, but I'm no networking expert, hence I'm interested in ASUS routers as they seem technically competent and extremely easy to set up and maintain.

I read my way through the forums, and it seems the GT-AX6000 and RT-AX88U Pro are the most recommended models nowadays - though I've been put off by the design of the first one, so I'm leaning towards the latter.

I make use of the BitTorrent often and would appreciate a usable QoS service that would let me deprioritize some ports over other service or perhaps just an automatic option that would deprioritize P2P and not SMB as I often access my server remotely and upload/download files.

While checking routers supported by Merlin, I saw the ZenWiFi Pro XT12, while the design looks very different the specs seemed quite similar to me so I wanted some clarification. XT12 has 10x internal antennas vs the external ones of the RT. Which ones do you believe will have better coverage and stronger signal? I read the XT12 is tri-band but is not something I will use, in case I notice one router doesn't provide enough coverage I plan on wiring them with ethernet anyway.

What about CPU and other internal components? They're listed as the same on ASUS website but they're quite vague about it ("2.0 GHz quad-core"). I guess the XT12 also doesn't have a USB and is missing 2x LAN compared to the RT. Also on their comparison page the XT12 is missing VPN Instant Guard and Wireguard, though perhaps is just the website lacking on details?

I'd really appreciate some advice from you!

Thanks in advance

[Assistant]
Implement3443 said:
I'm getting 1000/500 FTTH installed soon. My ISP also offers 2500/500 and 10000/2500 though it's not something I'm buying right away due to the fact that almost no device in my home would benefit from these fast speeds.

I've been working my way with Linux servers for a few years, but I'm no networking expert, hence I'm interested in ASUS routers as they seem technically competent and extremely easy to set up and maintain.

I read my way through the forums, and it seems the GT-AX6000 and RT-AX88U Pro are the most recommended models nowadays - though I've been put off by the design of the first one, so I'm leaning towards the latter.

I make use of the BitTorrent often and would appreciate a usable QoS service that would let me deprioritize some ports over other service or perhaps just an automatic option that would deprioritize P2P and not SMB as I often access my server remotely and upload/download files.

While checking routers supported by Merlin, I saw the ZenWiFi Pro XT12, while the design looks very different the specs seemed quite similar to me so I wanted some clarification. XT12 has 10x internal antennas vs the external ones of the RT. Which ones do you believe will have better coverage and stronger signal? I read the XT12 is tri-band but is not something I will use, in case I notice one router doesn't provide enough coverage I plan on wiring them with ethernet anyway.

What about CPU and other internal components? They're listed as the same on ASUS website but they're quite vague about it ("2.0 GHz quad-core"). I guess the XT12 also doesn't have a USB and is missing 2x LAN compared to the RT. Also on their comparison page the XT12 is missing VPN Instant Guard and Wireguard, though perhaps is just the website lacking on details?

I'd really appreciate some advice from you!

Thanks in advance
Click to expand...

The GT-AX6000 and RT-AX88U routers are top choices for gaming. Typically, you start with one for your setup, then upgrade to a more powerful one, repurposing the old router to create a mesh network. Asus's XT8, XT9, XT12, ET12, and other ZenWiFi systems are designed with whole-house mesh networks in mind, offering a complete set with sleek designs. Personally, I prefer tri-band routers. For instance, I utilize an Ethernet cable for backhaul in my mesh network setup (consisting of one XT8 and two RT-86U routers), allocating the extra band to manage additional WiFi devices or to establish a guest network. Similar to XT8 and XT9 models, XT12 and ET12 routers should feature WireGuard VPN and Instant Guard in firmware versions later than 3.0.0.4.388.xxxxx. With 10x internal strength, XT12 and ET12 routers boast impressive coverage and signal strength. In my experience, I've detected XT8 signals from the front of my garage to my third-floor bedroom near the backyard. Despite lacking USB ports and having only three LAN ports, XT12 and ET12 routers meet my needs, as I already own a NAS and utilize additional switches for more than three hardwired devices.

busyman said:
The GT-AX6000 and RT-AX88U routers are top choices for gaming. Typically, you start with one for your setup, then upgrade to a more powerful one, repurposing the old router to create a mesh network. Asus's XT8, XT9, XT12, ET12, and other ZenWiFi systems are designed with whole-house mesh networks in mind, offering a complete set with sleek designs. Personally, I prefer tri-band routers. For instance, I utilize an Ethernet cable for backhaul in my mesh network setup (consisting of one XT8 and two RT-86U routers), allocating the extra band to manage additional WiFi devices or to establish a guest network. Similar to XT8 and XT9 models, XT12 and ET12 routers should feature WireGuard VPN and Instant Guard in firmware versions later than 3.0.0.4.388.xxxxx. With 10x internal strength, XT12 and ET12 routers boast impressive coverage and signal strength. In my experience, I've detected XT8 signals from the front of my garage to my third-floor bedroom near the backyard. Despite lacking USB ports and having only three LAN ports, XT12 and ET12 routers meet my needs, as I already own a NAS and utilize additional switches for more than three hardwired devices.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the report! Ordered one XT12 for my 180 square meters home. Will report if it's enough to cover the whole place

Here's another suggestion: If you opt for the ET12 and utilize ethernet for backhaul, you'll liberate the 6GHz band, typically reserved for backhaul. This grants you access to three frequency options: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz, catering to various devices. It's worth noting that the 6GHz band has a shorter range compared to 5GHz.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Mesh system for large home, outdoor patio, and detached shop

I'm needing to upgrade my 4 node Orbi mesh system, which I've had for a few years, to something that works better on my patio and detached shop building. I have Sonos in every room, on patio, and in shop. I also have TV on patio. Connection is hit or miss on patio and in shop. The system needs to penetrate brick walls to reach patio and at two to three exterior walls (house and shop) to reach shop. I've studied Asus and TP-Link devices, but can't settle on one. It seems that WiFi 6 might be better than WiFi 6E because of the wall obstacles and distance. The best service coming to my home is ATT Internet 100, so that's probably the bottleneck on speed. I have about 30 total devices. Any ideas?

[Assistant]
MemphisNoWire said:
The system needs to penetrate brick walls to reach patio and at two to three exterior walls (house and shop) to reach shop.

Perhaps none of home "mesh" sets will be significantly better than your Orbi. If it really works through 4-5 walls - it's very good. For something better you need entire new network with indoor and outdoor access points placed in right locations, perhaps wired infrastructure expansion, etc. This can't be done with messages in a public forum. Someone has to come to your place, see what it is, listen to your requirements and suggest proper equipment you don't have to replace every few years. It all depends on the budget and how much free time you have. Testing home "mesh" sets may continue forever.

I appreciate your advice. Wiring to the shop from the house is not practical based on the quotes I've gotten, the cheapest being $7,000 just for that one segment. Even internal wiring is difficult as my ATT modem is on the second floor and most devices are on the first floor. I may not can solve it with wireless, but nonetheless wanted some informed opinions. Thanks again.

The problem with wall penetration - the client devices will have to penetrate the same obstacles back to the router. Wi-Fi is 2-way communication. You may find a system with higher power or slightly better antennas, but your clients are the limit. It may be somewhat better, but another temporary solution. In my experience Orbi systems shout pretty loud and it's going to be hard to find something similar in size and price and better. If wires are not possible for outdoor and greater distances there are wireless bridges available as well as outdoor access points with higher gain antennas. What brand and model will work well for you - I don't know. Someone has to do assessment on premises. This type of equipment is not on display in hardware stores.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Mediatek router with Apple Myth of Fact

I have been in the market for a router recently and ones that caught my eye had mediatek filogic 830 chip and most likely 2.4 and 5 ghz chips will also be mediatek too. Then I have seen multiple comments about compatible issues with mediatek chip router and apple devices. Most of our devices are apple, so this would make the router useless

Honestly i checked and a lot of devices had mediatek chips, that would make a lot of routers just bad with apple devices? But then no one seems to have mentioned it specifically when you see the reviews. So it must be a myth right? but a lot of people mention it randomly in posts or comments in general for mediatek. I also checked my previous routers and none of them were mediatek, it was either qualcom or broadcom. Honestly if the mediatek thing is likely true, purchasing a router is a nightmare. Not only do you have to look at the cost/performance then if chip is mediatek that all means nothing?

[Assistant]
Welcome to the forums @arthelinus.

Buy, test, and return if necessary within the return period.

That goes for any router you're considering.

Searching for things online is great and all. Nothing beats actually testing in your own environment though.

I have no Apple products, but my experience is that MediaTek products (WiFi adaptors and routers) is kind of a last-ditch option for wireless reliability and dependability.

returning is a bit difficult here and not an option.

In that case, don't buy a product with potential issues with your client devices.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Large house Mesh system

We have a fairly large house (~5,000 sf) with drywall and wood stud walls. 2 Story plus basement. We presently have a surfboard modem (I'm guessing the 686Mbps variety) and an 800 Mbps ISP plan.

We were using a TP-Link Deco system with 3 nodes that tested to about 320Mbps close and 220Mbps far, vs a newer Asus ZenWifi XT9 with 2 nodes. (I thought it was interesting that both main and satellite nodes rated in the 800s close by, but the main node tested to 350 or so at 30 ft, while the satellite node tested to 600Mbps at 30 feet.) We're having trouble with random disconnects that seem to be more common on the main node, not the secondary router. I'll be searching for a better control channel (although it's an intermittent problem so hard to "test") tonight when nobody is working.

We have the money to spend if needed but want to limit our expenditures on this. Everything seemed ok but not great with the Deco routers. Occasionally slow but not horrible. MUCH better with the Asus until the random disconnects started happening. Our gamer son was especially aggravated because the lapses got him kicked on multiple occasions. They were significantly worse with the routers after we moved the satellite about 5 feet. After going back to the old routers, we realized the spacing issue may have been the cause. However, with them reinstalled closer together, the momentary (10 seconds or less) disconnects are still happening. It's a big problem because my wife and I have both had business calls affected by the disconnects.

Do we need a 3rd router? Seems like it's not reception related since close clients are being disconnected. Defective router? Or is this system not up to our use, or not reliable/stable?

Looking for buying (if replacement/addition is needed) and troubleshooting advice. We are open to getting the 1200 Mbps plan and a gigabit modem (Surfboard S33) but don't want to if it isn't necessary.

[Assistant]
adder70 said:
We have the money to spend if needed but want to limit our expenditures on this.

Then you have to live with what this "trash can" design units can do. Some are better, some are worse, none with wireless backhaul are great. Paying for faster ISP line won't help. Paying for professional installation of needed number of wired access points is the only great solution. You get what you pay for. You can save some money if you know how to do it yourself. Otherwise will cost you few thousands and you have great Wi-Fi in your great home.

adder70 said:
Do we need a 3rd router? Seems like it's not reception related since close clients are being disconnected. Defective router? Or is this system not up to our use, or not reliable/stable?

Looking for buying (if replacement/addition is needed) and troubleshooting advice. We are open to getting the 1200 Mbps plan and a gigabit modem (Surfboard S33) but don't want to if it isn't necessary.
Click to expand...
We have a fairly large house... not 5000sqft large, but I ended up with a pretty interesting setup. I didn't want to lose the capability of being able to play with my Asus-Merlin router running custom scripts, but I certainly didn't want to deal with Asus's horrible implementation of AiMesh. So what I ended up doing is using my Asus router as the main border router (connected to our ISP modem), and have a 4-node Google Nest Wifi Pro system sitting behind it. This is the main home network that my family uses, and provides those great smart Google Home capabilities with our IoT devices, and gives people control with the Google Home app to manage devices. This setup provides a stable network for our family, while I can play, tweak, protect, and funnel selected traffic from our home network over a whole-home VPN.

So in short... I highly recommend the Google Nest Wifi Pro system... It's plug and play. It just works. You plug it in, and don't have to touch it. It updates itself... no downloading firmware yourself. There's not a lot of options or ways to do any kind of custom stuff... but it's really good with the basics if you just want something that works. We have no problem with drops or speed... you probably want to use a good 4 or 5 nodes to adequately cover your house. They say their 3 node setup could cover 6600sqft, but I prefer strong signal strength. Good luck with your situation!

https://store.google.com/product/nest_wifi_pro?hl=en-US

One of the best home "mesh" systems indeed, but not cheap.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Aruba vs Cisco vs TP Link Omada vs Unifi Access Points

Hi all,
I need your help, based on my requirements I want please suggestion of network gear.
I want access points that I can connect all of them with ethernet cable (sort of cluster) then control on all of them in 1 place.
I prefer company who don't everyday make a new firmware, looking for stable software, and prefer if I control on all of them in 1 place to upgrade them once in one click.
I prefer company who don't need to pay monthly subscription to use their services or connect to my access points.
What's prefer, external on internal controller?

I still don't decide if control them via web/phone (from anywhere) it's good or not? (open to hack)
What do you think about it? it's prefer or not? Or just control on them locally?

Not all the models sell here in Israel, but there are various companies like,
Aruba (Aruba AP22/AP25 and more), Cisco (150AX), TP Link Omada (EAP610 etc), Ubiquiti (U6-LR, U6+ etc), Netgear (WAX610, WAX615 etc)

The APs will be connect to POE Switches so I have more LAN ports for other wired gear.
The router will be something like Deco X20/X50 or so, just to connect to ISP internet and transfer to the APs (PPPoE connection)

Regards.

[Assistant]
You have to be careful with an external controller and not let it be on a bottle neck network segment or you will choke yourself if you push your network hard. Internal would be better in my way of thinking.

I would not buy Omada. But I would not use TP-Link either.

coxhaus said:
You have to be careful with an external controller and not let it be on a bottle neck network segment or you will choke yourself if you push your network hard. Internal would be better in my way of thinking.

I would not buy Omada. But I would not use TP-Link either.

I know that Omada have external,
who have internal?

I've been reasonably happy with the Ubiquiti U6 Enterprise APs I bought six months ago. UniFi APs require a controller (yeah, there's a configurator phone app, but it's really bare-bones). You can run the controller software on dedicated hardware bought from Ubiquiti, or on bring-your-own gear such as a Raspberry Pi, or in a VM on some machine you own. Or you can use their cloud services, but it sounds like that option is a no-go for you. One thing to note is that the controller app doesn't need to run 24x7 once the APs are configured, unless you want continuous monitoring or a wifi guest portal (that is, something guest users get redirected to before they can access the internet). The only downside I'd mention is that you have to be a little careful about which firmware version you choose. Plenty of info available in their community forums. (While reading those, bear in mind that only people encountering problems bother to post.)

I cannot recommend Netgear's APs --- you have no control over firmware updates with them, at least per my experience with Orbi units a couple years ago.

I don't have experience with the other makes you mention, but I believe @coxhaus is a strong Cisco proponent, and there are several people here who like Omada.

Also, if you've not seen it already, do check out Evan McCann's website. He's got a ton of information about several of these product lines.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: 3 pack ASUS ZenWiFi XT8 vs. 3 AX86U?

They will be used as AP only with an Ethernet backhaul. I have a seperate FW/router. I know the AX86 can run Merlin firmware and is well-liked. I am considering the ASUS ZenWiFi XT8 for atheistic reasons, but are there any other advantages of going with a 3-pack AX6600 rather than three AX86Us in mesh config?

Their specs look similar enough. The XT8 has two 5Ghz. How does its six internal antennas compared to the AX86U's three external + 1 internal antennas? How about the range?

I'd appreciate any input.

[Assistant]
Please provide full model names, as AX6600 could be anything. The first Google result for AX6600 points me at a TP-LINK Archer AX90 | AX6600.

RMerlin said:
Please provide full model names, as AX6600 could be anything. The first Google result for AX6600 points me at a TP-LINK Archer AX90 | AX6600.

Thank you, @RMerlin. I didn't know there were other devices with the same name. I was talking about the "ASUS ZenWiFi XT8 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System".

snovvman said:
Thank you, @RMerlin. I didn't know there were other devices with the same name. I was talking about the "ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System".
That would be the Asus ZenWifi XT8 then:

ASUS ZenWiFi AX (XT8)｜Whole Home Mesh WiFi System｜ASUS Canada
ZenWiFi Systems blanket your home with WiFi, for seamless roaming with no dead zones. They only take a few steps to set up, and offer easy, hassle-free management. Their modern design blends with any style of home.
www.asus.com


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Best Omada APs for Gigabit ethernet network and sub-gigabit WAN

Hi

I'm looking to set up a TP Link Omada wireless network in my home.

Network architecture is something like this:

2x 5G wireless internet connections --> TP Link Omada ER 605 router --> PoE switch --> 3x TP Link Omada APs

Also connected to the switch will be:

1. TP Link Omada OC 200 (via PoE)
2. Apple TV (via cat 6)
3. NAS (via cat 6)

All of the above will be gigabit ethernet connections - and the 2x WANs are obviously very sub-gigabit lines.

I'm not quite sure which APs to get.

The leading options seem to be:
1. TP Link Omada EAP 610 (USD 82)
2. TP Link Omada EAP 650 (USD 117)
3. TP Link Omada EAP 670 (USD 135)

The main difference between the three seems to be the 5GHz max data rate (1201, 2402 and 4804 Mbps respectively).

You can see a table setting out all the specs here: https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/...Feb+2023)+-+6+-+US+Model+APs.png?format=2500w

My questions are:

1. since everything will only be connected by gigabit ethernet (and not 2.5gb ethernet), is there any point getting the EAP 650 or 670? It seems the ethernet backhaul could be a bottleneck - but if real world wifi speeds aren't anything like the package, then perhaps this won't be such a bottle neck and there is some benefit of having the more expensive APs?

2. does the answer change if one of the APs might be connected by wireless backhaul (not ethernet)? I believe the Omada system uses the shared 5GHz band for backhaul - so would this suggest more capacity is better? In this case, what combination of APs would you suggest?

Many thanks in advance!

[Assistant]
Brockwell said:
The main difference between the three seems to be the 5GHz max data rate (1201, 2402 and 4804 Mbps respectively).
2(antennas)x2(streams)@80(MHz bonded channels, typical)=1201, 2x2@160 (or 4x4@80)=2402, 4x4@160=4804. Didn't peruse the 2.4GHz specs, and you certainly won't have any such clients individually capable of a 4x4 connection anyway, but if you opt for one or more APs which are so capable in that band, the performance will most usually be better with a 4x4 AP. It'll only be using whatever the client maxes out at, but the AP has two extra antennas / streams from which to pick the best two to use for that client (it can and sometime does make a difference), but that in and of itself broaches extravagance.

Whether or not you /can/ use 160MHz bonded 5GHz channels in your locale will be the primary consideration in your selection. In every case but one, which I believe is impertinent given the hardware choices, using "160" will require DFS channel employment. If you can even obtain "160", and have clients which also can (this includes the proposed "wireless connection" to the one AP), then the extra expense may be worthwhile. If not, it'd be a waste of funds for any hardware which can't do all it's capable of otherwise (someplace else).

Brockwell said:
1. since everything will only be connected by gigabit ethernet...
Again, if possible to even do 160MHz channel bonding, then conceivably the 1Gb ethernet would be a bottleneck between two such clients on separate APs. It ain't a terrible loss, though it would present /some/ loss in capability.
Brockwell said:
2. does the answer change if...
Using a wireless feed to an AP will result in a minimum of 2x loss (half available speed) to any 5GHz client associated to said AP. In this case it would (could) be advisable to use (again, if even available to do so) 4x4 units on both ends of that connection. Though if at all possible an ethernet-fed AP is /always/ preferred.

Sounds like no matter which APs you opt for, you'd have a capable and fun to use system.

Brockwell said:
I'm not quite sure which APs to get.

For home installation I would prefer smaller size 160x160x33mm ceiling mount APs AX1800/AX3000 class or wall plate APs. They are 2x2, some up to 160MHz, most likely will be used at 80MHz. EAP610/620 for example or EAP615-Wall and the number of APs will be determined after real environment testing. Roaming will work better with more APs on lower power. I know a place with EAP615-Wall units only, very clean and invisible installation, Wi-Fi is excellent. Wall plate APs also have Ethernet ports for wired devices. A system like this can do about 500Mbps on Wi-Fi to common 2-stream AC client and about 800Mbps to AX client.

Are you planning all this for the rented apartment, by the way? You have much bigger challenges there...

Dual WAN and mesh Wifi - what's the best way to increase internet bandwidth and wifi coverage?
I have problems with internet bandwidth and wifi. My main questions is: is it better to buy a dual WAN mesh network, or to buy a cheap dual WAN router and connect this to my preferred wifi solution? -Background- I live in a 60 year old 2000 sq ft apartment with THICK walls. There are also...
www.snbforums.com


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Upgrade from asus RT68U

My old Asus RT-AC68U can't be reached unless from the app, not via ip-number. And it sometimes reject to give me full internet speed. I think there is time for a new one, but which one - in the same price level? I have used Asus for over 20 years, and would prefer them further.

There is no need for mesh as already use some router satelites and have cabled all over the house.

I can see that Asus don't give more updates on my old one and that tells me to buy av rather new model, when I buy.

[Assistant]
xlarge said:
My old Asus RT-AC68U can't be reached unless from the app, not via ip-number. And it sometimes reject to give me full internet speed. I think there is time for a new one, but which one - in the same price level? I have used Asus for over 20 years, and would prefer them further.

There is no need for mesh as already use some router satelites and have cabled all over the house.

I can see that Asus don't give more updates on my old one and that tells me to buy av rather new model, when I buy.
Click to expand...

RT-AX86U Pro or RT-AX88U Pro. Only Pro models will run next gen ASUSWRT 5.0 firmware.

OE

Thanks, OzarkEdge.
I just bought RT-AX86U and spite minor problems it is up and go now.
The manual says use the pw on back on the router, but I was never asked for pw. Quite dirty and dangerous from Asus. I of course instead used cable and spite Firefox was one preferred, it don't worked. But Edge did.

It came up with dual wifi but I found that 5G worked better and changed.

I used to have the merlin software and have downloaded last version, but it seems that the real asus version is newer. Should I still upgrade to merlin?

So far I use the default values but hope for suggestions for what critical to change.

xlarge said:
Thanks, OzarkEdge.
I just bought RT-AX86U and spite minor problems it is up and go now.
The manual says use the pw on back on the router, but I was never asked for pw. Quite dirty and dangerous from Asus. I of course instead used cable and spite Firefox was one preferred, it don't worked. But Edge did.

It came up with dual wifi but I found that 5G worked better and changed.

Click to expand...

Did you get a Pro model?

I would install current ASUSWRT firmware, Hard Reset it to its default settings, and then configure it however you want. Once you're satisfied with the new router hardware, use whatever firmware you want.

FW Reset FAQ

Reset button/webUI Restore/node removal clears settings in NVRAM; reboot restores fw defaults from CFE

Hard Reset via WPS button/webUI Restore+Initialize also clears data logged in /jffs partition

My install notes may give you some ideas for a basic configuration, US region.

OE


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Advice Needed

Hi, I’m after some advice. I very recently got gigabit fibre installed, I am with Squirrel Internet in the UK, very good support from them. I have been through loads of router and WiFi systems over the years.
With my gigabit fibre I thought I’d try WiFi 7, so I got a TP Link Deco BE65 system, fantastic design, fast, but it would drop IPV6 after 30 minutes, well the online IPV6 tests would not work, and so I’ve sent it back.
The ISP Zyxel router works perfectly fine with IPV6. I spoke to one of the support chaos at Squirrel and he said he uses Mikrotik Hex and Ubiquiti AP’s with no issue. I did look at them but want something a bit better.
So I am split between waiting to see what the Asus BQ16 is like, and if it works with IPV6 properly. Or a pair of Alta Labs Pro access points and a router which will plug into my ONT, have POE+ ports, and have ports of 2.5GB at least, have at least a gigabit throughput on the router with security features enabled. And it must be no bigger then a 8 port router, I would get a Ubiquiti Dream Machine Pro but it is far too big for the location although maybe I could mount it with its back against the wall? Behind ur table in the hallway, that’s where my ONT is.

At present I’ve got my Squirrel router plugged in, then a pair of Eero Pro 6 routers set up in bridge mode so they only act as AP’s, seems to be working, but I then lose the Ethernet ports I need upstairs as I use an Ethernet backhaul, and I am stuck with gigabit speeds, the TP Link gave me just over gigabit, I also lose 6GHZ WiFi. I did try my Eero’s directly connected to the ONT but then none of my devices even got a Router IPV6 address so naturally all IPV6 tests failed.

I’ve had Ubiquiti before and found it a real chore to setup the Unifi AP’s and get them working properly, I gave up in the end. So maybe the Asus will be better but I don’t know if it will work with Squirrel’s IPV6, although they have a lot more settings to try. Any advice appreciated.

[Assistant]
MarkyR74 said:
spoke to one of the support chaos

Question, why do you need IPv6? Especially on your LAN, it's just harder to work with when you want to find your devices on the network.

TheLostSwede said:

Question, why do you need IPv6? Especially on your LAN, it's just harder to work with when you want to find your devices on the network.

Because it's 2024 and in the UK ISP's have supported IPV6 for several years now, and so I'd like to use it. Plus some gaming services benefit such as any Xbox service as they are built to use IPV6. I don't see why a router in this year shouldn't be able to support IPV6 especially over DHCP.

MarkyR74 said:
Because it's 2024 and in the UK ISP's have supported IPV6 for several years now, and so I'd like to use it. Plus some gaming services benefit such as any Xbox service as they are built to use IPV6. I don't see why a router in this year shouldn't be able to support IPV6 especially over DHCP.
Sure, for your router, not a problem, but why would you not run NAT like a sane person and use IPv4 for your LAN?
Support is not the same thing as it'll work well, especially not when implemented by a company like TP-Link that offers a massive three firmware updates for most of their routers, before making a new hardware revision and dropping the older one like a hot turd.
You expect too much from the companies that make these devices as well as the companies that makes the chips that goes inside them.
And yes, I used to work for one of them some years ago, so I know how the industry works. Just because the chip vendor says something works, doesn't mean that it actually does when you deploy it in the real world.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Advice to change wifi 6 / 7 router (asus)

Hi all,

Currently I'm using GT-AC 5300 aimesh with 2 RT-AC 5300 internet speed 500Mbps (maybe will upgrade to 1Gbps) in double story 1920sqft each floor. I have 2 laptop and 2 android compatible wifi 6. Besides, 2 smart tv and ds220+ nas. I'm think that should I upgrade to wifi 6 router or directly to wifi 7?
Which asus model should I get?

Thanks

[Assistant]
With no other information provided whatsoever:

- 3x GT-AX11000 Pro, closest Wi-Fi 6 new model replacement for your current 3x tri-band models.

If you want to become a beta tester with early Wi-Fi 7 products on early firmware:

- 3x GT-BE96U, similar tri-band with 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 radio, you must be patient and hoping for the best.

Tech9 said:
With no other information provided whatsoever:

- 3x GT-AX11000 Pro, closest Wi-Fi 6 new model replacement for your current 3x tri-band models.

If you want to become a beta tester with early Wi-Fi 7 products on early firmware:

- 3x GT-BE96U, similar tri-band with 6GHz Wi-Fi 7 radio, you must be patient and hoping for the best.
Click to expand...
Thank for the reply.

Actually I'm not a heavy gamer or internet expert. I'm just wish to have a stable wifi at most of the corner. Usually there will be around 3 devices streaming video at the same. After all I'm just thinking should I plan to change to wifi 6 since wifi 7 already out there. If 3x GT-AX11000 Pro will abit overkill for my situation?

I saw few post mention AX88U Pro worth to get it, but I'm not sure its support in MY because it's not release yet. If I bought from oversea will it be supported in MY?

Daniel W said:
If 3x GT-AX11000 Pro will abit overkill for my situation?

Getting 3x tri-band "gaming" routers was your previous choice for some reason.

Daniel W said:
I'm not sure its support in MY

I don't know what MY is, but buying routers from a different Wi-Fi region is not a good idea.

Daniel W said:
since wifi 7 already out there

Early Wi-Fi 7 routers are out there, most not even Wi-Fi 7 certified yet with Draft specifications.

Daniel W said:
I'm think that should I upgrade to wifi 6 router or directly to wifi 7?

What is your current setup not doing well for you? If it's working properly - just continue using it.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Asus XT12 or ET12

Hello,

We would like to purchase a mesh WiFi system and are torn between the ASUS XT12 Pro and the ET12 Pro.
The XT12 has two 5 GHz bands, the ET12 has a 5 GHz and a 6 GHz band.

Does it make more sense to take the ET12 with the new 6 GHz band (backhaul)?
The 5 GHz band would then also transmit in the upper channels (with 1000 mW),
whereas with the XT12 one band transmits in the lower band (channels 36-48) and one band in the upper band (from channel 100 - backhaul)).

For example, with an iPhone, do you benefit from the higher transmission power in the upper band? Or can the iPhone not transmit back at 1000 mW?
Are there devices that can only transmit in the lower band or can all WLAN devices transmit in all 5 GHz ranges?

What I also don't understand: Isn't it possible for both 5 GHz bands to work in the upper band from channel 100 on the XT12? Or are there overlaps then?

Does it make sense to give the backhaul a dedicated band or does it make more sense to open all 3 bands?

I have the XT12 here to test, and I also have a question about the channel setting:
If I have activated 5Ghz / 80Mhz, I can choose between channels 36/40/44/48, but according to the specifications, channel 42 or 50 is available at 80Mhz.
Does he then choose this channel internally? If I activate 160 MHz, I can also choose between these 4 channels, although that should actually be channel 50?

Thank you for your answers,
Michael

[Assistant]
Micha-NRW said:
If I have activated 5Ghz / 80Mhz, I can choose between channels 36/40/44/48, but according to the specifications, channel 42 or 50 is available at 80Mhz.

Ch. 42 is 80MHz wide 36-48.

Ch. 50 is 160MHz wide 36-64.

Micha-NRW said:
Isn't it possible for both 5 GHz bands to work in the upper band

No, the 5GHz band will be split on lower and upper channels to 5GHz-1 and 5GHz-2 radio.

Tech9 said:
Ch. 42 is 80MHz wide 36-48.

Ch. 50 is 160MHz wide 36-64.
Thanks for the reply.

When I display the WLAN options on my Macbook, it says: Channel 36, 160 MHz. Isn't that wrong then?

If I scan the available networks with a WLAN scanner, channel 36 is also shown to me...

Greeting, Michael

Micha-NRW said:
Channel 36, 160 MHz. Isn't that wrong then?

This is channel 50 with control channel 36. The router will switch automatically to channel 42 with control channel 36 when DFS range is not available. The channel numbers for wider than 20MHz channels are rarely used in consumer electronics to avoid the confusion. Most list the control channel and channel bandwidth in MHz.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: New wireless router - not too expensive

Grateful for any advice.

I used an Asus RT-N66U for many more or less trouble-free years with John's firmware. But times move on - I have FTTP from a new ISP and it came with a shiny new router. But I suspect the shininess is skin-deep only: I'm now getting some regular dropouts when using Zoom and gaming even over my wired connection and I blame the router - seems more likely to be that than the fibre. Maybe it's time to buy a proper replacement.

So the main requirement is stable and totally reliable wired forwarding. Not even at high speeds - consistency and low latency is what's needed. Everything else is secondary. Obviously reasonably good wireless coverage is useful but I have a wired connection to a second AP in the house so I think that doesn't need to be anything too special. Similarly I'd like to hope for a reasonable lifetime of security updates - and/or an upgrade path to an open firmware, but in practice, as long as I get few good years out of it ... I don't need QoS or VPNs or fancy features.

I'm inclined towards an Asus and I see the RT-AX86U recommended. But that seems quite a lot of money for my rather basic requirements. I'm willing to pay for a good quality CPU if it guarantees the forwarding performance but I'm sure that's overkill. Maybe I should be looking at one of the cheaper ones in the Merlin supported models.

Any suggestions?

[Assistant]
strubbly said:
I see the RT-AX86U recommended

Go for the current updated hardware version RT-AX86U Pro instead.

This router just received the new Asuswrt 5.0 firmware with new features:

Release - ASUS RT-AX86U Pro Firmware version 3.0.0.6_102_34312 - 2024/05/09
ASUS RT-AX86U Pro Firmware version 3.0.0.6_102_34312 2024/05/09 - Release Note - New features for ASUSWRT 5.0: - Kids' Wi-Fi: Create a separate network specifically for children, complete with scheduled controls. This is suitable for children who use multiple network devices that have enabled...
www.snbforums.com

strubbly said:
Any suggestions?

RT-AX86U Pro is the cheapest model compatible with Asuswrt 5.0 and it will perhaps have longer support.

Announcement: 3006 progress report - it's a go
Hi everyone, I have been working on the 3006 integration for a couple of weeks now, and I am finally at a point where I am able to confirm that Asuswrt-Merlin will proceed with integrating the 3006 code in the future. That will include the full VLAN and SDN integration (which has been the...
www.snbforums.com

As pointed out above, the RT-AX86U Pro might be your best bet, even though the price isn't super low. That said, the GT-AX6000 and the RT-AX88U Pro are sometimes the same price or cheaper, which makes it worth keeping an eye out on those two models as well.

What router did your ISP provide? FTTP isn't a guarantee for perfect internet, far from it, especially with third party services like what you've described. However, it does in general provide a more stable connection, but keep in mind that anything past your ISP, they have no control over and it might just be something outside of their network that is affecting you.

The Pro models from Asus do look like the best bet right now in terms of support.

VPN is actually one of those handy things that I didn't think I needed either, until I set it up and realised I can access my NAS from anywhere with an internet connection and it doesn't cost me any monthly fee.

The lower-end Asus models sadly have pretty meh hardware and it's unknown how long they'll be supported. The weird tri-core Cortex-A7 CPU's from Broadcom in them are very old tech by now and personally I couldn't recommend them to anyone.

There's the TUF-AX6000 as well, which sadly isn't much cheaper either, but it's not supported by Merlin.
Alternatively the TUF-AX4200, as both are based on the same MediaTek platform with a decent quad-core SoC.
Both are seeing regular updates from Asus.

If the budget is tight I would look at TUF Gaming AX3000 V2. Currently £88 on Amazon UK*. GNUton Asuswrt-Merlin fork is available for it. It's an RT-AX3000 V2 with different marketing and usually on excellent sale price. For basic needs may do well even with stock Asuswrt features. A bit ugly yellow skin WebUI, but acceptable.

* - @strubbly mentioned BT in one of the previous posts.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Switching from Asus AIMesh

I currently have an Asus RT-AX86U with a couple of RT-AC68Us configured as an AIMesh using ethernet/wired backhaul which provides whole-house WiFi coverage, which I'm happy with given that my boradband speed is 70Mbps maximum. At some point, my home will be able to get FTTH / FTTP 1Gbps broadband and so my current setup won't be able to make the most of it, mostly because of the RT-AC68Us which (in my testing using iPerf) don't achieve anything above around 400Mbps. When connected to the RT-AX86U, I get speeds of around 820Mbps, which would be acceptable for a 1GB broadband service, so one way forward would be to replace the RT-AC68s with AiMesh-capable AX routers but it seems a bit wasteful to use a router as a mesh node (I've used the RT-AC68s as I had one going spare and came across another for not much money) so I'm wondering about switching to a "proper" system that supports a wired WiFi mesh?

I've looked at Ubiquiti UniFi gear but testing a borrowed UniFi AC Lite AP showed poor performance compared with the Asus RT-AC68Us which puts me off; also I understand that UniFi APs aren't very smart when it comes to WiFi roaming. I've also seen mention of TP-Link Omada kit, what are people's opinions on those and the UniFi gear?

Thanks in advance.

[Assistant]
The weak link in your mesh is the AC68U's. They are limiting the AX86U to non-DFS channels and possibly limiting the 5 GHz to only 80 MHz. Going to an Asus AX class router as an AiMesh node will improve things.
I would recommend an AX86U Pro as a main router and use the AX86U as an AiMesh node. With Ethernet backhaul you will have no bandwidth issues. I have both routers and have recently tested the AX86U as a node to the AX86U Pro with the new Asus firmware. Works really well but I really do not need the extra WIFI in my house. The AX88U Pro is also recommended but for the additional cost you will not see a WIFI performance increase. And the AX86U Pro goes on sale from time to time.

Johno said:
also I understand that UniFi APs aren't very smart when it comes to WiFi roaming

Then you don't understand well how roaming works and you perhaps have never seen how controller managed multi-AP networks encourage better roaming.

Tech9 said:
Then you don't understand well how roaming works and you perhaps have never seen how controller managed multi-AP networks encourage better roaming.
You're right, I don't.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Which mesh device to purchase for 4500sq ft house?

Greetings,

I just noticed that my Zenwifi CT8 model is EOL with Asus. I thought about replacing it with an XT8 or something, but I don't feel great about the zenwifi series itself. I love the Asus interface (and love if it supported merlin). I don't actually need the Wifi backhaul because the 2 nodes I have now are connected via Gig-Ethernet.

So what should I get to replace this? I just want something that will be somewhat futureproof for a while, not super expensive, and gives me at least the same bandwidth/support that the CT8 did. We still have lots of older devices in the house so Wifi6+ isn't totally necessary, but 5ghz is.

Thanks!

[Assistant]
RT-AX88U Pro.

There is nothing more bang-for-the-buck than this today.

L&LD said:
RT-AX88U Pro.

There is nothing more bang-for-the-buck than this today.
Yea, but that's $270 for just one.. Is that what I should expect for a 2-node mesh network? Around $500 to match a CT8

The RT series is superior to the ZenWiFi series for a reason.

Wait for a sale?


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: ASUS TUF-AX4200 vs TP-Link Archer AX55

Wi-Fi for 5 bedroom home + basement (4500 + 2500 sq ft)
Cat 6 points in most rooms.

Presently, 3x routers + a modem with each having an ethernet connection.

1x Archer C7 top floor
1x Bell Modem middle floor (switching to Distributel)
2x Archer C7 on either side of basement.
---
Plan is to hook the new modem up to a switch.

Then I can place a router centrally in the main floor.
Main deadspots are corners of basement, upper floor, backyard & garage.
Higher throughout of AX vs AC should resolve most of this.
---
At a minimum I just need 5ft more coverage than what I have.
Ideally, I can replace some of the extra routers, but not required.

With a budget of about $150 some of the options I've found in Canada:

Archer AX55 for $100 CAD (amazon)
Asus TUF-AX4200 for $120 (staples)
D-Link DIR-X3260 for $80 (amazon)

No problems installing 3rd party firmware.
The Archer's AVIVO gives me security concerns.
Not sure if it's better than the ASUS, but those seem like the 2 options below 200.

Going to hop on Netspot & make a heatmap - will update thread when done.

---
Asus TUF-AX4200
A superb Wi-Fi 6 router if your needs are modest
www.pcgamer.com
Claims the 2.4ghz speed is low.

[Assistant]
jatt47 said:
With a budget of about $150 some of the options I've found in Canada:

As I told you in your other thread a single budget class router is unlikely to cover this house.

jatt47 said:
The Archer's AVIVO

What is Archer's AVIVO? If you are thinking about HomeShield - the same as Asus's AiProtection.

Tech9 said:
As I told you in your other thread a single budget class router is unlikely to cover this house.

What is Archer's AVIVO? If you are thinking about HomeShield - the same as Asus's AiProtection.
Click to expand...
The Archer C7 almost did Tbh.
Also, I'm OK with keeping the other routers.

I just need this to reach out to the end of the garage - so literally 4 feet more.

Yeah, Archer home shield was supposedly sending data even when off.

TP-Link routers apparently share traffic data with third-party providers
Several users report that TP-Link routers share data about traffic and browsing behavior with third-party providers even without explicit consent. Especially the HomeCare function, which is operated together with the anti-virus software provider Avira, apparently collects and shares a lot of...
basic-tutorials.com

All I'm looking at is which of the two has better range. The Asus or the Tp Link.

There is no much of a choice for CAD150. I would try Archer AX55 first. HomeShield is TrendMicro engine. It activates with multiple firmware features. On the Archer it's an optional subscription service. Must be off by default. On the Asus it's built in. It will start collecting data the moment you activate Adaptive QoS, Web History, Traffic Analyzer, Apps Analyzer, AiProtection and on some models Game Boost (still QoS). Also off by default. It's the same thing basically with different marketing.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: New device to expand wifi

Hi guys,

I'm looking for another router to expand my wifi (wired to main).

Here are my options, used device (low cost) and flashed with ddwrt on day one.

Netgear Nighthawk X6 R8000
Netgear Nighthawk R7000
D-Link DIR-882
D-Link DIR-890
Asus RT-AC3200
Asus RT-AC68u
Linksys WRT1900ac
Linksys MR9000
TP-Link Archer C7

Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks!

[Assistant]
For use as an Access Point you don't need to flash 3rd party firmware. There is no routing there and 3rd party compatibility limits your hardware choices. Some routers have Access Point mode in firmware, many others can be converted with DHCP disabled and LAN port connection to the Router. Most of the models on your list are with outdated Broadcom BCM4360 radios, early AC Wave 1 draft compliant from around 2012. I understand you look at low cost, but this is >12 years old hardware.

I would rather get a new TP-Link Archer A6. It's small in size, AC Wave 2 radio, adequate range, Access Point mode available in firmware.

The price above is in Canadian Dollars, CAD45 is around USD33. I don't know where do you live, but look around. It's "fresher" hardware at least.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: TP-Link AXE5400 (XE75 Pro) WiFi 6E triband vs BE10000 (BE63) WiFi 7 triband

Because aesthetics will be an issue, I'm considering between these two for a lakehouse (single floor ranch, maybe 1500 sq ft., streaming TV will be wired ethernet to the router, mid to low single digits of wireless clients, phones usually). I've searched and other than a successful recommendation for the AXE5400, there doesn't seem to be much else out there.

Is this because there is another manufacturers mesh that is better or is it just because traditional format routers are better and thus preferred here?

Thanks in advance for any info on these two, or competing manufacturers product, provided!

Chuck

[Assistant]
Both of those seem to be massive overkill for your situation ... do you have 1Gbps-or-better internet service at this lake house?

chucky2 said:
streaming TV will be wired ethernet to the router, mid to low single digits of wireless clients, phones usually

Any wireless router even older AC-class will do all of the above no problem. Archer AX55 for about 80$ will perhaps die of boredom.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: upgrade from ac86u

Hello everyone,

I am considering upgrading my ASUS AC86U router due to its lack of WireGuard support. Unfortunately, the selection of ASUS routers available in my country is quite limited, so I’m seeking advice on the best alternative.

RT-AX53U: This model may be somewhat dated, but it comes at an attractive price point and supports OpenWRT. I believe it also supports the latest Merlin firmware. However, my primary concern is whether it offers WireGuard support, as this is a crucial feature for me.

Asus TUF Gaming AX3000 v1: Priced at roughly twice that of the AX53U, this router is another option I’m considering.

RT-AX5400: Comparable in price to the TUF AX3000, the RT-AX5400 boasts superior Wi-Fi speeds. My concern with this model is whether it is compatible with Merlin firmware. I came across a discussion which seems to suggest that support might be forthcoming, but I am not certain if it pertains to the RT-AX5400.

I would greatly appreciate any insights or recommendations regarding these models, particularly concerning their support for WireGuard and compatibility with Merlin firmware.

Thank you in advance for your assistance.

[Assistant]
If compatibility with Merlin firmware what you want, simply check the AX routers mentioned at https://asuswrt-merlin.net/

Figure out what best fits your price/preformance ratio.

If you can afford it, maybe AX86U Pro or simular.

Regards

I would wait for wi-fi 7 technology to get matured and then change router as you can use one for 10years.

pinkfloyd210 said:
I am considering upgrading my ASUS AC86U router due to its lack of WireGuard support.

RT-AC86U does have WireGuard support via Asuswrt-Merlin custom firmware and WireGuard Session Manager custom script.

The router models you are looking at actually have slower CPU than your old RT-AC86U. If it works well - just continue using it.

Asuswrt-Merlin firmware for RT-AC86U:
Asuswrt-Merlin - Browse /RT-AC86U at SourceForge.net
Alternative firmware for Asus wireless routers
sourceforge.net

WireGuard Session Managed in AMTM:
amtm - the Asuswrt-Merlin Terminal Menu - Diversion
diversion.ch


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Asus Mesh or Amplifi Alien

Hi, I have an existing Asus RT-AC88U and it performs great for the most part, except rarely when I need to reboot it to get things working.

Anyway, looking to get a mesh system (and intending to use a wired backhaul) with performance no less than the existing RT - AC88U. Have 1 Gbps internet.
These below are the two I was looking at, trying to decide on which one. Any thoughts/suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Asus ROG Rapture GT6 AX10000
Amplifi Alien

[Assistant]
Roz said:
and intending to use a wired backhaul

Why are you looking at tri-band models then? They have third radio for dedicated wireless backhaul.

yes, realized that later. So now I am looking at the ROG Rapture GT-AX6000. Any thoughts on that?

Roz said:
Any thoughts on that?

RT-AX88U Pro is the same hardware router and getting more popular lately. It's newer and has better firmware support.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Asus Rog GT-AX6000 Decision / RT-AX88U Pro

I like the RT-AX88U Pro; issue is the vents on top. I have two dogs and vacuum every day, lots of dust! I have been looking at the GT-AX6000 - specs look really good. How would both of these compare to the RT-AX86U Pro? Thinking long term, distance and speed. I do a lot of streaming - Nvidia Shield/Apple TV. My son does gaming. Home is appx 2000 sq ft/two story home.

[Assistant]
They all share the same CPU and the same radios, so expect similar performance.

Just went through a similar decision, although the RT-AX88U Pro is not available where I live so it came down to a choice between the GT-AX6000 and the RT-AX86U Pro. I picked the RT-AX86U Pro. It's a newer model and it was substantially cheaper. I also find the GT-AX6000 breathtakingly horrifying to look at, but that's very much a personal preference.

The RT-AX88U Pro is newer again, and it also offers an extra 2.5GbE port over the RT-AX86U Pro. I've been very happy with the RT-AX86U Pro but really, you can't go wrong with any of the three models you're considering. For streaming and gaming, you won't notice any difference.

GreyHawkz said:
How would both of these compare to the RT-AX86U Pro?

If you don't need 2x 2.5GbE ports RT-AX86U Pro is your best choice.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: ax86u vs ax88u Pro vs GT-ax6000 vs GT-ax11000

Since my ISP is providing 1.6Gbps/950Mbps I'm looking into replacing my ax88u with a router that has a 2.5G WAN port.

My actual setup is ISP -> AX88U -> aimesh -> AX88U

From the following models: ax86u vs ax88u Pro vs GT-ax6000 vs GT-ax11000
What would be the recommended one?

Before this scenario I tried using a 2.5G USB adapter without success. Speed stayed below 1Gbps.
This is why I'm planning to switch my main router.

Thanks

[Assistant]
Helder Santos said:
What would be the recommended one?
RT-AX86U (non Pro) and GT-AX11000 are an older CPU (1,8GHz) - choose one of CPU 2GHz.

Note that not all of them have 2 ports 2,5GbE - if you may need them, choose one with 2 ports 2,5G.

Higher bandwidth is not everything it is promised. You may be disappointed. If the AX88U works well for you keep it and don't spend extra for the bandwidth you do not use.
Anyway, the AX86U Pro is a good router. I use the 2.5 GB port for backhaul to the AX86U because it is an extra port and it works!

The best bang for the buck, hands down, is the GT-AX6000.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Wifi router specs affecting congestion

I've got a duplex where I rent out the other half, and I'm thinking of sharing a gigabit fiber uplink with my tenants via wifi as an included amenity. The floorplans are mirror-images with 930 sq. ft. and 2BR on each side, and I'd be placing the wifi router as near as practical to the middle of the common dividing wall on my side.

Since I don't know what usage patterns my tenants might have, I'm most concerned about overall usability, such as mitigating potential congestion along with adequate speed for typical modern uses, rather than maximizing absolute speed for any single or limited number of client devices; my own usage is pretty minimal, just one lappy, occasional streaming, no gaming.

I'm familiar with and really like using Asus routers with FreshTomato firmware, and while an AX3000 or AC5300 router might be ideal, I wonder whether that might be overkill for my use-case if an older, cheaper model might do the actual job about as well.

Here's a few other WiFi 5 Asus router options I'm considering; which would be your pick for this use-case? Also open to other suggestions.

Router CPU GHz RAM Bands MIMO WiFi 5
RT-AC3100/-AC88U 1.4 x2 512 Dual 4x4 AC3100
RT-AC3200 1.0 x2 256 Tri 3x3 AC3200
RT-AC1900P 1.4 x2 256 Dual 3x3 AC1900

Or would none of the boons bolded in that chart really matter much for me, if a 1.0 GHz dual-core, 256 MB, dual-band, 3x3 MIMO, AC1900 or AC1750 unit would meet my needs about as well?

[Assistant]
I think you need to think about this plan in terms of "what could go wrong?". Some bad days you could wake up to:
Some random hacker manages to break into your tenant's laptop and cleans out their bank account. Tenant sues you for not providing adequate firewall protection. (Hardly matters if that's true or not, you'll still be out big bucks for lawyers.)
Tenant spies on your internet traffic (not exactly hard in this setup) and cleans out your bank account.
Tenant decides to run an illegal file sharing server. It's you that gets hit with the DMCA takedown notices.
Tenant puts child porn on that server. Now you are really in trouble.
In the days of landlines it was very thoroughly established that tenants should have their own independent phone lines. That lesson applies just as much to internet connections. If you want to be a friendly landlord you could get your ISP to run a separate fiber connection to the tenant premises, but I would not go further than that.

SubGothius said:
Since I don't know what usage patterns my tenants might have

You understand as the owner of the account you are responsible for all their activities online, correct? Congestion is not an issue, but authorities knocking on your door because of your tenants may be potentially an issue. About the routers - they can run FreshTomato, but all are old models with no manufacturer support on End-Of-Life list.

To clarify, I'd be setting up my and tenants' access on different VLANs, each assigned to their own separate LAN subnets and SSIDs, which I've done before to set up guest wifi on my current Asus router I'd be upgrading from, so I'm no stranger to that procedure. There's a lot of apt. complexes around here offering free on-site community wifi that don't even seem to do that.

I'm not real concerned about these older models being EOL'd since I'd be running my own firmware that's still actively maintained, so I'm not dependent on the mfr. no longer offering firmware updates, and if the unit dies I can just get a replacement pretty quick and cheap.

Part of the appeal here is that I could write off half the cost of my gig fiber service as a business expense.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Modern recommended wireless router

Helping out someone. They're currently using a RT-AC3200 as the router for their small business. Most devices are connected via a switch connected the to RC-AC3200. Few wifi devices as well. They've had this router for a long time.

Recently having connectivity issues, requiring network reboots etc. Spectrum has come a few times and two different technicians have suggested that the router should be upgraded/replaced.
They tried putting a Spectrum router in there, seems fine, but their router does not allow port forwarding and 1 of the devices on the network does require ports forwarded to it.

So the question is... what is the current recommended router?

I see a lot of recommendations for the RT-AX86U Pro but many of those comments are aging and at this point there may be a better one available.

Stability/reliability is most important. Not being used for tinkering or anything crazy. No one is gaming.

Thank you for your help

[Assistant]
Many similar threads come almost every day.

Wi-Fi Buying Advice
Not sure which wireless router or card to buy? Ask for advice here.
www.snbforums.com

Royal2000H said:
Helping out someone. They're currently using a RT-AC3200 as the router for their small business. Most devices are connected via a switch connected the to RC-AC3200. Few wifi devices as well. They've had this router for a long time.

Recently having connectivity issues, requiring network reboots etc. Spectrum has come a few times and two different technicians have suggested that the router should be upgraded/replaced.
They tried putting a Spectrum router in there, seems fine, but their router does not allow port forwarding and 1 of the devices on the network does require ports forwarded to it.

So the question is... what is the current recommended router?

I see a lot of recommendations for the RT-AX86U Pro but many of those comments are aging and at this point there may be a better one available.

Stability/reliability is most important. Not being used for tinkering or anything crazy. No one is gaming.

Thank you for your help
Click to expand...
Well yes, the AX86U Pro is still one of the most recommended led by the AX88U Pro. The GT-AX6000 also receives good recommendations. From time to time the AX86U Pro goes on sale and you can save $30 or more. I own an AX86U Pro and I would use it in a small office if I were still working for people.

Tech9 said:
Many similar threads come almost every day.

Wi-Fi Buying Advice
Not sure which wireless router or card to buy? Ask for advice here.
www.snbforums.com
Click to expand...
Sorry didn't see this subforum. Thanks for moving the topic! I'll also browse it too. Totally missed it.

bbunge said:
Well yes, the AX86U Pro is still one of the most recommended led by the AX88U Pro. The GT-AX6000 also receives good recommendations. From time to time the AX86U Pro goes on sale and you can save $30 or more. I own an AX86U Pro and I would use it in a small office if I were still working for people.
Thank you for your response!

Only 20 dollars more for AX88u Pro, would you say that ax88u Pro is better than the ax86u Pro then? Asked differently, for the same price would you go with the 88?

I looked at the GT-AX6000 too but figured it's marketed toward gamers and wouldn't really fit in their office as nicely. But again also only $40 more than the 86 ($20 more than the 88), if the performance is noticeably better --- or it's more likely to stay reliable for longer, then it's worth the added cost.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Best Logging Router ?

Can anyone tell me what the best, preferably ASUS but any really, Router would be for Logging full url's which clients visit.

[Assistant]
whydoesmyhearthurtsomuch said:
Can anyone tell me what the best, preferably ASUS but any really, Router would be for Logging full url's which clients visit.
Build your own from an old PC. Use IPFire or pfSense.

bbunge said:
Build your own from an old PC. Use IPFire or pfSense.

Thanks, but to be honest I doubt I would know how to make one from PC . Those 2 ones you suggest yes may well be ok. Thanks

Your GT-AX6000 has Asuswrt-Merlin firmware available, AdGuard Home add-on is available in AMTM. It has pretty good DNS lookups logging and they can be sorted per client, but you'll lose interest looking at it in few days only. I don't know what your goal is, but reading few thousand records every day is going to be a full time job for you.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: ac87 upgrade?

hey there,

I've had this AC87U working almost flawlessly since 2018 or so, only issue being it fails to reboot as scheduled from time to time thus needing a manual reboot, and now I've noticed it stops logging network data usage kinda randomly and hangs the whole web UI until a manual reboot, apart from that it works great, but I'm guessing it might be nearing its end so I went looking for replacements,

so far the AC88U caught my eye, basically a steal of a deal just like my old 87U was, the AX86 gets all the praise but out of my budget, AX88 not-so-liked and about same price,

any other models I should consider? my current usage is a single desktop near it, a single phone on 5ghz and the occasional 2.4ghz visitor or the odd day I might need wifi down at the garage, I like the QoS thingy that magically kills lag on games regardless of other devices torrenting or whatever and thats about it for must-have features

interesting to note that my lumia 950 could get ~600-700mbps up/down on 5ghz whereas later phones hardly reach 200mbps

[Assistant]
You might try replacing the wall wart power supply to the unit. Pretty common failure that can result in weird issues.
Otherwise, i recall a lot of issues with the AC88u and it should be EOL and not supported by now. But confirm my memory.
Save up to upgrade to a better AX-yyy if you want to stay in ASUS. Range will be about the same.
What about using your ISP's wireless router since your needs seem limited ?

EspHack said:
any other models I should consider?

I don't know what country you live in, but RT-AX58U V2 (also called RT-AX3000 2V) or TUF-AX3000 V2 are usually under $140. They are good entry-level AX-class hardware build around BCM6756 SoC with quad-core 1.7GHz CPU and integrated 2x2 2.4GHz/5GHz radios. TUF model even has 2.5GbE WAN port for >Gigabit ISP. Both run Asuswrt 4.0 firmware (3.0.0.4.388 code base) and have recent Asuswrt-Merlin fork available from GNUton.

Releases · gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng
Extends the support of Merlin firmware to more ASUS routers - gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng
github.com

degrub said:
You might try replacing the wall wart power supply to the unit. Pretty common failure that can result in weird issues.
Otherwise, i recall a lot of issues with the AC88u and it should be EOL and not supported by now. But confirm my memory.
Save up to upgrade to a better AX-yyy if you want to stay in ASUS. Range will be about the same.
What about using your ISP's wireless router since your needs seem limited ?
Click to expand...
i hate the ISP and huawei enough that I went to the trouble of setting up a fiber modem from ubiquiti

so there are no worthwhile upgrades other than AX models?
Tech9 said:
I don't know what country you live in, but RT-AX58U V2 (also called RT-AX3000 2V) or TUF-AX3000 V2 are usually under $140. They are good entry-level AX-class hardware build around BCM6756 SoC with quad-core 1.7GHz CPU and integrated 2x2 2.4GHz/5GHz radios. TUF model even has 2.5GbE WAN port for >Gigabit ISP. Both run Asuswrt 4.0 firmware (3.0.0.4.388 code base) and have recent Asuswrt-Merlin fork available from GNUton.

Click to expand...

can't find that v2 on US amazon/ebay, v1 is a tricore it seems, also noticed the AX68 around that price with 3x3 radios but dual core, its a little newer so would that mean longer support?

AX86S is also around the same price with yet another 5g stream, seems like all decent models are bunched up around 100-140 usd


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Asus RT-AX5400 vs RT-AX82U

Hesitating between two Asus models : RT-AX5400 and RT-AX82U
https://www.asus.com/ca-en/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-wifi-routers/rt-ax5400/
https://www.asus.com/ca-en/networking-iot-servers/wifi-routers/asus-gaming-routers/rt-ax82u/

AX82U is cheaper, but the newer model (RT-AX5400) lists more features (VPN Fusion, WireGuard, Let's Encrypt, Safe browsing, DNS-over-TLS, New Device Connect Notification, etc.).

The latest AX82U firmware is adding some of missing features (like "VPN Fusion"). Could they both have all same features with latest firmware?

Besides the obvious (casing and LEDs), are there any performance or feature differences between the two? Any reason to chose one versus the other?

Jo S.

--------

Latest AX82U firmware : https://www.asus.com/ca-en/networki...s/rt-ax82u/helpdesk_bios/?model2Name=RT-AX82U

[Assistant]
Welcome to the forums @JoSmittyCan.

After using the RT-AX58U with the same Tri-Core CPU @ 1.5GHz, I cannot recommend anything on that same platform. Very weak processor.

If you must buy one of these, the newest one is nominally advisable (it will have the latest drivers, SDK, and other pertinent upgrades required for WiFi in late 2023). But I would suggest you keep saving instead.

Particularly if your area is bigger, your devices are many, and/or your ISP speeds are towards 1Gbps (or closer to that than 500Mbps speeds).

The same router with different marketing. Both versions run firmware with the same features.

L&LD said:
Welcome to the forums @JoSmittyCan.

After using the RT-AX58U with the same Tri-Core CPU @ 1.5GHz, I cannot recommend anything on that same platform. Very weak processor.

If you must buy one of these, the newest one is nominally advisable (it will have the latest drivers, SDK, and other pertinent upgrades required for WiFi in late 2023). But I would suggest you keep saving instead.

Particularly if your area is bigger, your devices are many, and/or your ISP speeds are towards 1Gbps (or closer to that than 500Mbps speeds).
Click to expand...
What model would you recommend? I put it on a low-profile shelf, so vertical models won't fit.

Also , in what circumstances (use cases) did you experience performance problems with that h/w platform? And what are the symptoms when that happens (loss of connections, data transfer rate drops etc.)?

Jo S.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: What to do?

I have 2 locations. One is currently using T Mobile Home Internet with the ASUS XT9 AX7800 (2 node mesh). The other location has “fibre 2000M” but a TP Link AC 1750 router. So I need a new router. Would you recommend getting a single XT9 or the ASUS RT-AXE7800 Tri-band WiFi 6E? Sooner or later I will no longer use the 2nd location and the new router will be added to the existing mesh system. Will the XT9 play well with the RT-AXE if it joins the mesh as a 3rd node?

The first location is a big house with lots of IOT items, cams and PC hardware. The 2nd location is a small apartment with maybe a total of 10 devices that need Internet. XT 9 cost is $200 RT-AXE is $244, both on AMZN. Both are steep in price to me but I am willing to spend if I get performance, especially at location 2.

ASUS ZenWiFi XT9、RT-AXE7800 Product different Compare｜ASUS Global
Comparison between ASUS ZenWiFi XT9ãRT-AXE7800 in Network Standard ãProduct Segment ãWiFi Data Rate ãAntenna ãTransmit / Receive ãProcessor ãMemory ãBoosts SpeedãOperating Frequency ãOperating ModeãI/O Ports ãButtonsãLED Indicator ãPower Supply ãPackage Content ãProduct Weight (g)ãProduct...
www.asus.com

[Assistant]
JEofMPK said:
The 2nd location is a small apartment with maybe a total of 10 devices that need Internet.

Now many need 2Gbps Internet speed, now many are wired, now many are AX and how many support 6GHz band?

Answer the questions for yourself and you have the answer what do you need there. You perhaps need nothing better than the existing router.

Tech9 said:
Now many need 2Gbps Internet speed, now many are wired, now many are AX and how many support 6GHz band?

Answer the questions for yourself and you have the answer what do you need there. You perhaps need nothing better than the existing router.
Its prob overkill for location 2. But for location 1, either would be beneficial. They seem similar spec (to a layperson like me) but is the 6E worth it? Will the antennas be beneficial over internal antennas when used at location 2? Will a 6R router play well with the XT9s where are WIFI 6 only when moved to location 1? Is the current $44 extra for the RT AXE 7800 worth it?

skip the AXE7800 weak cpu and low on memory , not worth the money . Big house is a term that does not mean much house construction and size would result in better advice . Both my houses get full coverage using a single router . . Good luck


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: A friend just bought an AXE 7800

AXE 7800 and wanted me to drop by and set it up . I looked at the specs and told him to return it weak CPU low in memory . As I am no longer working or monitoring hardware , Im asking the group here for a decent replacement for him . As far as I know his needs are simple he has 2 smart tv's a few tablets and 2 or 3 laptops and desktops and 4 security cameras . He has a 1.5 / 940 line bell fiber .
So which Asus router would be the best fit for under $400.00 Canadian play money ?
Thank you

[Assistant]
jerry6 said:
AXE 7800 and wanted me to drop by and set it up . I looked at the specs and told him to return it weak CPU low in memory . As I am no longer working or monitoring hardware , Im asking the group here for a decent replacement for him . As far as I know his needs are simple he has 2 smart tv's a few tablets and 2 or 3 laptops and desktops and 4 security cameras . He has a 1.5 / 940 line bell fiber .
So which Asus router would be the best fit for under $400.00 Canadian play money ?
Thank you
Click to expand...
Asus AX88U Pro and AX86U Pro are the most recommended in the Asus part of SNB.

bbunge said:
Asus AX88U Pro and AX86U Pro are the most recommended in the Asus part of SNB.
Thanks I will call and let him know to pick up one of the 2 , whichever is cheaper . I'll stick with Asus as it is the FW i am most familiar with , will make it easier to help him set up the system . Still don't get the AXE7800 , low specs on an expensive router , what is Asus thinking ?

jerry6 said:
AXE 7800 and wanted me to drop by and set it up . I looked at the specs and told him to return it weak CPU low in memory .

It's a fine device - he likely will be happy with it.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: GL.iNet worth a try? Any advantage over ASUS?

I'm considering replacing my ASUS AC router. I'd like to consider an alternative, and the GL.iNet is the only reasonable thing I've seen as a possibility. I'd target the soon-to-be released Flint 2 (GL-MT6000).

My main concerns are security, manufacturer support, and client management in the firmware. I can't find an emulator for the Flint, so I can't peruse the firmware UI. (I like the ASUS UI and feature set.)

Does GL.iNet provide any advantages with respect to my concerns over ASUS?

[Assistant]
Every home AIO router will have some quirks. Avoid brand new and pre-order products - you'll be the beta tester, guaranteed. You are asking similar questions for about 2 months already. Just replace your RT-AC68U with something like RT-AX86U Pro or better and continue with your familiar Asuswrt UI. Your few wireless devices and a single wired are good even if you do nothing. Your router is still supported and may be good enough for your needs.

The only possible advantage (depending on the model you get) it may have is the ability to be used in WISP mode. The ability to connect WAN via wireless.

Otherwise, the Asus routers are superior in every way (particularly with RMerlin firmware support).

Tech9 said:
Your few wireless devices and a single wired are good even if you do nothing.
I know this doesn't make much of a difference, but my net landscape is a bit more complex than that, not sure why I described it like that at first. I guess I was thinking of the typical load/activity at any given time. I do have more wired devices, more wireless devices, and some VMs (bridged).


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: GT-AX11000 Pro & 9 XT8 Nodes for business?

After about 7 years of semi hell with Linksys Velop, I'm looking to upgrade to an Asus Mesh for my business which has the following requirements:

Total land area is 4000 square meters of open garden with about 30 hotel rooms (mostly wood)
With Staff and Hotel Guest + Resturant and Bar would need a system that can support up to 300 devices.

I found online a business selling large amounts of cheap (ex company) second hand Asus XT8 AX6600 Tri Band Mesh 6 & Asus ROG GT-AX6000 WIFI 6 Dual Band Router

I presume these don't match well if the router is dual band and the nodes are Tri Band? So was looking into a new GT-AX11000 Pro for the main router and I read 9 is the maximum recommended number of nodes.

We managed to cover what area we needed previously with an old linksys 1 mesh router and 9 nodes so I presume I can invest and the coverage should not be worse that those? Am I correct that it is about 500 square meter per node?

I'm just looking for assurance before forking out in bulk for what will be a 10 piece kit, that this is a good setup to suit our needs.
Should there be any reason not to buy second hand? Seller has volume, good reputation and gives 1 month warranty.
Did anyone run 9 Asus nodes before? While the Velop could do it, every node added made the app slower, more difficult to log in and access the network settings and eventually not long after completing a setup it eventually becomes impossible to ever log in again. We just lived locked out of it until something required us to reset the entire system.

Thanks in advance for any advice

[Assistant]
MakeTheMostOfLife said:
With Staff and Hotel Guest + Resturant and Bar would need a system that can support up to 300 devices.

Definitely look for business grade gear. Minimum TP-Link Omada, Ubiquiti UniFi or better. You need high density access points. Seems like you need professional help building this system as well. What you are looking at is home routers with limited active clients per radio and perpetual beta firmware. It can ruin your business, literally.

From one home product with bad experience to another. It will be AiMesh semi hell experience. It was never designed to scale so much. Dead end project from the start.

Tech9 said:
Definitely look for business grade gear. Minimum TP-Link Omada, Ubiquiti UniFi or better. You need high density access points. Seems like you need professional help building this system as well. What you are looking at is home routers with limited active clients per radio and perpetual beta firmware. It can ruin your business, literally.

From one home product with bad experience to another. It will be AiMesh semi hell experience. It was never designed to scale so much. Dead end project from the start.
Click to expand...
Ok, thanks for that... Was working backwards from seeing all those second hand nodes for cheap. Will start the research from scratch for business grade gear

You need wired infrastructure first, wired controller managed high density access points working on narrow channels and utilizing the entire spectrum available, professional grade gateway/firewall and a managed switch with PoE to power the access points. This it to start. The network has to be VLAN segmented on business only and guests only parts. You may want further expansion for NVR and PoE IP security cameras. Leave room for expansion. This network needs planning and proper equipment. With a flat network design and home routers someone creative with access to your network may hit your business or your customers hard. All the units you are looking at have convenient LAN ports providing connection straight back to your main network. I guess, you have computers with business accounting, payroll information, bank accounts information, you run PoS terminals including hand-held wireless, you perhaps have some wirelessly controlled automation around the property. Do it right and protect your business.


[System] You are a professional Wi-Fi router support assistant; I will provide forum posts as background material, and you should learn from them while remaining aware that forum content may be incomplete, outdated, or incorrect — when uncertain, explicitly note that you are uncertain and refer the user to official documentation or other authoritative sources for verification.

[User]
Title: Mesh Vs. AP

Hi All,

I wanted to get some real life feedback from those to have experience with Mesh and AP systems (wired of course). The feedback I wanted is mainly focused on performance and stability/reliability between the two for the home setting. We can stretch out the setting to a very small business setting, but that may equate to a large house/household setting. The basis of this curiosity for me is, as I'm reading and learning about the different systems out there, I'm hearing really good things for both. But the requirements for both are vastly different, the big one being for the AP systems is requiring cabling.

To be clear, when I say Mesh system, I'm thinking of systems like Google Wifi, Mesh Force, Eero Pro, Orbi, etc. And when I say AP systems, I'm thinking of TP-Link Omada, Cisco CBW's, Aruba, etc.

Going back to my first paragraph, so I see post of really good speed test results, even my circle of friends get their full ISP bandwidth (200/400mbps) on their Mesh systems. I see post that people can roam fine, my friend who has Google, said he's never had to reboot his system in the last year. So if the Mesh appears to performs just as well as the AP's, what's the point of the AP system?

Thank you!

[Assistant]
I can tell about w Mesh systems.
1. Asus AiMesh - my opinion is not stable even v2, looks liek they still working to make it better. Sometimes you need to reboot it every day, week etc as Nodes are disconnecting, wi-fi performance if going down, no connection to internet, new clients cannot connect to wi-fi etc.
2. UniFi - I never have any issue with it. As router in this situation most times I am using ER-12, sometimes ER-4 or dream machine PRO. If you need additional soft to be installed on router dream machine is not a way you want to go. For AP you would need external PoE as ER-12 provide 24V PoE and it limit what AP you can use and supply power via PoE. It is very easy to configure.

AiMesh v2.0 in supported Asus routers is very stable and performs very well today when properly set up.

Wired backhaul is the vastly superior and recommended option (when/where possible). This is the option to consider when you have ISP speeds over 400Mbps up/down, and/or on a heavily used network with many devices in concurrent use (and you want to get as close to your ISP speeds as possible with appropriate clients).

Wireless mesh networks are no better than using repeaters in a network.

Wireless Asus mesh speed issues
Hello everyone, Just hoping for some help / advice please. I have just set up 500mb upload / download internet gigafast with Vodafone (Fibre to the premises). The access point for the fibre where it comes into the house is on the 1st floor near my desktop PC. Here, the modem is linked to my...
www.snbforums.com

Thanks for your responses.

Wired backhaul is the vastly superior and recommended option (when/where possible). This is the option to consider when you have ISP speeds over 400Mbps up/down

Why, and why specific to said speed? Please expound on that.

Let me turn my original post into an example....

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I move into a 2 storey home (~2500 sq ft) with cat6 drops in every room and area that you might put a network device, but i have no idea what it is other than it looks like a bigger phone jack. I want internet so i talk to all my circle of friends and colleague on what they use and how good it is. All of them don't have ethernet wired in their homes (like the vast majority of people) so they recommend the typical consumer stuff. Wifi router, mesh system because previously their ISP wifi router wasn't sufficient. And they tell me how great it is. They can "roam", they get their ISP speeds, they have lots of people on it, kids gaming, video streaming, yada yada yada. So I go and get a Eero (as an example) and hook it up like everyone else. Where ever my modem is, the main unit is wired to it and from there, plop the other nodes where ever the signal meter tells me to place it. And it really does work well for me too.
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If the wired backhaul is superior, what would I see differently if I replaced that mesh system with an AP one if the mesh was already working "well"? The mesh systems have wifi 5/6 backhauls, which is plently fast right?

Granted, all these feedback is anecdotal testimony but I believe they're working solidly for everyone (not literally of course). I had one colleague who bought a Linksys wifi 6 (forget model) mesh system and she eventually hopes to get her place wired and then will wire backhaul the nodes up. But at that point, that system becomes an "AP system" in my eyes. So I guess she would be a good real-life user to get feedback from. How did the system change/improve. I know some of you will say, the system will become more stable so does that mean in the mesh setup, it will never or rarely be stable?

Btw, I personally am not looking to buy something, I just dumped a lot of money for a Cisco CBW240 AP system and I came from a 1 RT-68U router system so this is more for my understanding and possibly ability to help others. I wasn't sure if I should post this here or in the General Wireless section so if it's the wrong area, please forgive me.

Thanks!