Best Firmware Combo for Primary GT-AXE1100 (Wi-Fi 6) + AP RT-AC66U_B1 (Wi-Fi 5)

[garycnew]

Hi All:

I'm trying to confirm the best firmware combo for a Primary Router GT-AXE1100 (Wi-Fi 6) + Access Point RT-AC66U_B1 (Wi-Fi 5)?

I understand that the Wi-Fi 6 technology won't be available via the Wi-Fi 5 devices, but I intend to slowly sunset the Wi-Fi 5 devices.

Is it best to use the latest firmware available for each device? OR Is it best to use the same version of firmware available for both the Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5 devices?

Thanks, again.


Gary

 

[Tech9]

Use the latest available for both - it contains security patches for recent malware. You perhaps want Asuswrt-Merlin on the Router, current version is 3004.388.8_4. For the Access Point stock Asuswrt is good enough, latest version is 3.0.0.4.386_51722.

Asuswrt-Merlin - Browse /GT-AXE11000/Release at SourceForge.net

Alternative firmware for Asus wireless routers

sourceforge.net

Asuswrt-Merlin - Browse /RT-AC68U/Release at SourceForge.net

Alternative firmware for Asus wireless routers

sourceforge.net

RT-AC66U B1｜WiFi Routers｜ASUS Global

ASUS has a range of wireless routers suitable for every purpose. Whether it's for your home, for business trips, or for any other need or environment, there's an ASUS router for you.

www.asus.com

 

[garycnew]

Use the latest available for both - it contains security patches for recent malware. You perhaps want Asuswrt-Merlin on the Router, current version is 3004.388.8_4. For the Access Point stock Asuswrt is good enough, latest version is 3.0.0.4.386_51722.

Asuswrt-Merlin - Browse /GT-AXE11000/Release at SourceForge.net

Alternative firmware for Asus wireless routers

sourceforge.net

Asuswrt-Merlin - Browse /RT-AC68U/Release at SourceForge.net

Alternative firmware for Asus wireless routers

sourceforge.net

RT-AC66U B1｜WiFi Routers｜ASUS Global

ASUS has a range of wireless routers suitable for every purpose. Whether it's for your home, for business trips, or for any other need or environment, there's an ASUS router for you.

www.asus.com

@Tech9

That raises an interesting question... Will Asus continue to support the Official Asuswrt, beyond Asuswrt-Merlin?

I need to execute jffs scripts on the Access Points, so I will need to continue to use Asuswrt-Merlin on them.

I realize the security implications of not using the latest firmware. My primary question is whether the compatibility/usability between GT-AXE1100_3004.388.8_4.zip (2024-11-17) and RT-AC68U_386.14_2.zip (2024-11-17) is the same or better than the compatibility/usability between GT-AXE1100_386.7_2.zip (2022-07-24) and RT-AC68U_386.7_2.zip (2022-07-24)? In a Perfect World, I would prefer Security and Usability. In an Imperfect World, I have a tendency to favor Usability over Security.

Thank you for responding. I was hoping that you would weigh in on this question.

Respectfully,


Gary

 

[Tech9]

Will Asus continue to support the Official Asuswrt, beyond Asuswrt-Merlin?

No, it happens the other way around - Asuswrt-Merlin support stops some time after Asus support stops.

My primary question is whether the compatibility/usability

The routers are different hardware platform and the same Asuswrt-Merlin release is not the same firmware. They run different firmware with the same version Asuswrt-Merlin changes on top. You'll be running Router and AP - compatibility is almost guaranteed. The AP may be different than Asus router and will still work. If you are asking about AiMesh - I don't know if AiMesh part is the same in Asuswrt-Merlin 386.7_2 (or any other the same version) for different routers. They were built on top of different Asuswrt GPL and AiMesh is closed source.

And the "good" news:
GT-AXE11000 is 2 generations behind in hardware (CPU/radios) as of 2024. It is in fact the same GT-AX11000 router from 2018 with one radio tuned for 6GHz band. Don't be surprised if you see it on Asus EoL list in 1-2 years time. The life cycle is shorter now.

 

[Tech9]

In an Imperfect World, I have a tendency to favor Usability over Security.

I don't know if what you'll be using is going to be compatible with latest firmware releases. I know you have special requirements and you have to find out what works, what doesn't or what needs to be adjusted to make it work. For me your original question has one answer - latest available firmware. RT-AC66U B1 is not the best AP and you have to run it light and on different channels. Otherwise it may negatively impact the performance of your main router. AiMesh - not the best node as well. The one with the most issues reported (RT-AC68U all variants) starting from adopting it into AiMesh system. Asuswrt-Merlin on it and wireless - good luck.

BCM4360 radios used in RT-AC68U variants - really old early AC Wave 1 and started as Draft version, not sure if they ever met the standard fully with driver updates. They may struggle with multiple active clients and will slow down whatever is working on the same channels.

 

[garycnew]

No, it happens the other way around - Asuswrt-Merlin support stops some time after Asus support stops.

I thought that might be the case, but I appreciate you confirming it.

The routers are different hardware platform and the same Asuswrt-Merlin release is not the same firmware. They run different firmware with the same version Asuswrt-Merlin changes on top. You'll be running Router and AP - compatibility is almost guaranteed. The AP may be different than Asus router and will still work. If you are asking about AiMesh - I don't know if AiMesh part is the same in Asuswrt-Merlin 386.7_2 (or any other the same version) for different routers. They were built on top of different Asuswrt GPL and AiMesh is closed source.

My firmware compatibility questions are more general in scope. Per your recommendation, I'm planning on moving away from AiMesh in favor of AP's.

And the "good" news:
GT-AXE11000 is 2 generations behind in hardware (CPU/radios) as of 2024. It is in fact the same GT-AX11000 router from 2018 with one radio tuned for 6GHz band. Don't be surprised if you see it on Asus EoL list in 1-2 years time. The life cycle is shorter now.

"Good" Times for 'Good' News. The GT-AXE1100 is what I have available. It should be reasonably better than the RT-AC66U_B1 and sufficient for my needs. I'll just have to expect to do this, again, in a couple of years--which isn't a bad thing--right?

 

[garycnew]

I don't know if what you'll be using is going to be compatible with latest firmware releases. I know you have special requirements and you have to find out what works, what doesn't or what needs to be adjusted to make it work. For me your original question has one answer - latest available firmware. RT-AC66U B1 is not the best AP and you have to run it light and on different channels. Otherwise it may negatively impact the performance of your main router. AiMesh - not the best node as well. The one with the most issues reported (RT-AC68U all variants) starting from adopting it into AiMesh system. Asuswrt-Merlin on it and wireless - good luck.

BCM4360 radios used in RT-AC68U variants - really old early AC Wave 1 and started as Draft version, not sure if they ever met the standard fully with driver updates. They may struggle with multiple active clients and will slow down whatever is working on the same channels.

I'm not too concerned about this as I don't really use the RT-AC66U_B1's as AiMesh Nodes and more for my "Special" needs. However, I do need the RT-AC66U_B1's to work well with the Primary Router in other ways (i.e., NFS, OpenVPN, Wireguard, Tor, etc).

 

[Tech9]

OpenVPN, Wireguard, Tor

Not available in AP Mode. No WAN and no routing there.