Are the new RT-BE96U / GT-BE98_PRO really worth it over my current Asus RT-AX88U?

[Tech9]

Latest and greatest comes with firmware bugs chasing for quite some time.

 

[JarleH]

I get your points, but compared to most other PC hardware (except GPUs), the prices for these top models routers have really gone up drastically...

 

[Tech9]

Routers covering your needs start under $100. They will do about the same thing for you as $750 router.

 

[JarleH]

And the cheapest way to get to use 5.0 of the firmware is the get a Asus RT-AX88U Pro correct?

 

[JamesK]

And the cheapest way to get to use 5.0 of the firmware is the get a Asus RT-AX88U Pro correct?

The GT-AX6000 also has it. In the UK recently Amazon had that on sale for £70 cheaper than the RT-AX88U Pro. So worth looking at prices for both.

 

[JarleH]

The GT-AX6000 also has it. In the UK recently Amazon had that on sale for £70 cheaper than the RT-AX88U Pro. So worth looking at prices for both.

Ok, but the GT-AX6000 is a bit older and will maybe lose support a couple years earlier then the AX88U Pro I guess. Prices are a bit higher (20% or so) for the AX88U Pro here in Norway

 

[TheLostSwede]

And the cheapest way to get to use 5.0 of the firmware is the get a Asus RT-AX88U Pro correct?

No, that's the RT-AX86U Pro.

 

[maxbraketorque]

Ok, but the GT-AX6000 is a bit older and will maybe lose support a couple years earlier then the AX88U Pro I guess. Prices are a bit higher (20% or so) for the AX88U Pro here in Norway

The GT-AX6000, RT-AX88U Pro, and RT-AX86U Pro all use similar hardware. They'll likely all be EOL'ed at around the same time, so pick the one that best meets your needs.

 

[jerry6]

the AX 1100pro has the new FW as well , no?

 

[Plak]

One good reason to wait also is to let the newer router mature with their firmware. And then once you have wifi 7 clients go ahead and upgrade. Most newer routers i would give minimum 1-2 years to let asus release firmware updates. The be98 pro has been pretty lacking in firmware updates but that's not a surprise as asus is working on a new firmware across many new routers in the same time apparently.

One plus i do like about the newer routers is the 6ghz band and with afc about to be most likely turned on in next coming firmware (remains to be seen) it should help get better range with the 6ghz band. And that's if its not client dependent so not sure. But yeah most of my friends and relatives use a wifi 5 router still and they are ok.

 

[jerry6]

One good reason to wait also is to let the newer router mature with their firmware. And then once you have wifi 7 clients go ahead and upgrade. Most newer routers i would give minimum 1-2 years to let asus release firmware updates. The be98 pro has been pretty lacking in firmware updates but that's not a surprise as asus is working on a new firmware across many new routers in the same time apparently.

One plus i do like about the newer routers is the 6ghz band and with afc about to be most likely turned on in next coming firmware (remains to be seen) it should help get better range with the 6ghz band. And that's if its not client dependent so not sure. But yeah most of my friends and relatives use a wifi 5 router still and they are ok.

Range on the 6ghz band needs help , it is great from 20 or 30 feet takes no time to transfer 20 gb of files wireless if I'm in range

 

[Alaska99]

NO!

 

[junior120872]

I upgraded my network from eero Pro to the be96u with zenwifi pro ET12's in an aiMesh, because of the fact the eeros couldn't handle the amount of clients I was using very well. Guest Network Pro has been amazing as well since I have a lot of home automation devices. The 6e and guest network pro with AsusWRT 5.0 has been a great upgrade as well as stability and security. If the features of the ax88u are enough, I'd suggest sticking with it, especially with the smaller amount of hosts that you have.

 

[JarleH]

And just like that, we suddenly have other options to get over to the new firmware;
the RT-BE88U and RT-BE86U. So the RT-BE88U would be a small upgrade, and at the same time be able to run the new firmware

New models to be introduced with 3006.102.2

Hi, Two new models will make their official Asuswrt-Merlin debut with 3006.102.2: the RT-BE88U and RT-BE86U. There is no ETA as to the availability, as development isn't complete yet. The RT-BE88U development is currently based off an old 102_33xxx codebase, and the RT-BE86U is based off...

www.snbforums.com

 

[JarleH]

If I were to try out pfsense firewall, which model would be roughly the same as the RT-BE88U?
Edit:
Forget about it, these boxes do not have any wifi

 

[wrink]

If anyone in this thread is using BE-96u - can you please comment on whether the 6 GHz band is providing sufficient bandwidth (~> 1 Gbps) with reasonable latency across say 2 or 3 wooden walls - but only within 15 feet distance ?

I'm trying to figure if I can benefit from from the 6 GHz band (without AiMesh) when using my 2024 Macbook Airs that have Wifi 6E and 6 GHz capability (but not Wifi7 capability).

 

[Tech9]

You are talking about US location in older posts. Test the connection with your existing router on 5GHz higher range channels. They are close to 5.8GHz. If you get -60dBm of better signal to your client behind the walls - you have a chance. If you get -70dBm or worse - unlikely to get Gigabit speeds.

 

[wrink]

You are talking about US location in older posts. Test the connection with your existing router on 5GHz higher range channels. They are close to 5.8GHz. If you get -60dBm of better signal to your client behind the walls - you have a chance. If you get -70dBm or worse - unlikely to get Gigabit speeds.

Thanks, checked at worst-case locations across the walls and turns out the signal is right around -60 dBm.

Looks like its worth trying the BE96u then - given my neighborhood (yes, US-based) is quite crowded with 5 GHz - so 6 GHz may be a worthy investment.

(I was initially thrown off by reviews claiming that 6 GHz is only meaningful at like 5 feet from the router in the same room, and then found the measurements/reviews in Youtube for the Asus routers made up to 15 feet distance showing > Gigabit performance. Hopefully as the firmware improves, the latency wouldn't be too bad. I'm trying to choose a merlin-supported wifi 7 that's best for my home, long-term. Will form a AIMesh with a AX58u node on the 5 GHz - but since I now have 2 Macbook Airs supporting 6 GHz, figured that understanding any 6 GHz possibilities is worthwhile)

 

[Tech9]

is quite crowded with 5 GHz

I can get 480-580Mbps to 2-stream AC-client in a condo with multiple 5GHz networks around. Not sure if the cost of new router justifies the eventual speed increase to few clients only. Your choice, I wouldn't bother. You perhaps don't need >Gigabit speeds all the time either.

 

[wrink]

I can get 480-580Mbps to 2-stream AC-client in a condo with multiple 5GHz networks around. Not sure if the cost of new router justifies the eventual speed increase to few clients only. Your choice, I wouldn't bother. You perhaps don't need >Gigabit speeds all the time either.

This is more for the internal network improvement with long-term upgrade goals (moving to Asuswrt 5.0, 6 GHz and so on, as the home devices improve and move to Wifi 6E and then 7). I had initially thought of BE88u with 5 GHz to go down that path/strategy - but read merlin's comment that 80 MHz on 5 GHz is probably the only reliable, and your comments about DFS-induced instability. So looking at this from a long-term perspective, and hopefully the 6 GHz latency won't be a let-down.