One major issue in wireless AiMesh configuration - wireless node discovery doesn't work. This makes the setup procedure different than described by Asus. The nodes must be wired first and then they fail back to wireless after dosconnection. If AiMesh stops working (and it does from time to time) the procedure has to be done again. Tested on 386 base with all popular models AC68U, AC86U, AX58U, AC86U, AX88U and later on 388 base with AC86U and AX86U. Perhaps related issue is lost node and unable to reconnect. Observed with AC68U and AC86U as nodes - one of the reasons I don't recommend mixed generations AiMesh setup. Wired AiMesh with all the same routers works well with Asuswrt or Asuswrt-Merlin on main and node, excerption 388.1 with GUI bug. I've spend hours playing with different configurations and have reported my findings in 2-3 release threads, but nothing can be done because AiMesh is a black box. Some of the changes in Asuswrt-Merlin breaks it. There were reports WPS is broken too and perhaps related to the issue.
This is a well known nuisance issue yet an addition to the Merlin readme and/or a message when tying to join a node would address it for those that are new to Merlin code.
I have not seen the WPS issue reports yet this dose not mean there not real. I wonder if that problem follows certain devices?
I'm also getting constant worse Wi-Fi stability/compatibility from Asuswrt-Merlin, but can't say if the changes on top are the reason or the GPL used. Almost always the GPL number is different than stock Asuswrt official firmware release number and this is the case with 388.1 release. I know for sure the driver had an issue in 386.7 because 386_49447 had the same issue at the time. Asus fixed it quickly with 386_49599, the driver was reversed to something else in 386.7_2, performance still worse than 386_49599 and older 386_46061 though. Over time I found some more quirky wireless clients to test Wi-Fi with and use them for stability/compatibility testing. They all work in Asuswrt releases with exception 386_49447, but fail in Asuswrt-Merlin above 386.5_2 release. I see differences in Asuswrt releases as well - best one with no Wi-Fi issues whatsoever including connecting to the network time is 386_49599.
Device compatibility has been an issue since the early days of WiFi. The WiFi consortium has mostly made this a non issue via compatibility testing. For the problem devices, are the WiFi consortium tested and approved?
I'm using the advantage of not having the routers as part of my main network and can do whatever with no harmful effects. There were days my currently available AC86U and AX86U were reset multiple times and run few different firmwares for testing purposes. I usually try 2-3 times and if something fails I move on. All routers start fresh and all clients are associated with new connections after boot for cleaner results. I did find many complaints in release threads user created and know how to fix, but the questions are repeated so often that I need to hire an assistant to answer them all 101 times. No intentions to waste my time testing current 388_22068 due to multiple user complaints in first few pages of the release thread. AX86U can relax a bit.
I just spend some time with two of the more frequent people reporting issues. In once case the issue is that he is unhappy with with witch AP devices are connecting. The devices are connecting and working and the best I could tell fine. This is not an issue
The other person has serious issues. Those issues are caused by a combination of a very difficult environment and a WiFi design that makes the situation worse. This is not a code issue
I agree the amount of effort to resolve everyone's issues is large and I agree with Merlin that most WiFi related issues are environmental and/or client issues. Forum members can help these people yet they get advice from both experts and others and this can be confusing for them. Add to the fact that a lot of people don't want to go through the through iterative testing that you and I do and they get no ware. One of the things I like about the Asus routers is how configurable they are yet this leads to more issues, particularly for the less experienced.
Merry Christmas @Morris!
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Morris