Differences between router+AP mode and AiMesh mode?

[maxbraketorque]

I recently switched from a single router providing wifi to my house to two routers. I have the two routers working pretty well in standard main router+AP mode with the AP connected to the main by ethernet, however I am curious about what AiMesh has to offer. The ASUS literature doesn't seem to include any information that explains how AiMesh differs from the standard mode. I'd like to hear from people who have tried both how AiMesh is different. I've read enough stories about people having issues with AiMesh, that I'm not ready to jump in to find out for myself how its different. A few specific questions I have are:

1) Is hand-off from one router to the other more seamless with AiMesh?
2) Does AiMesh have built-in steering to the stronger signal AP, or is that still the job of Smart Connect?
3) If AiMesh has its own band steering is it any more effective than SmartConnect?
4) Do I still have control over what channel each router is using?

Thanks...

 

[baltik]

I am in the exact same boat, currently using a netgear router as a wired AP. Trying to better understand what I would gain in terms of handoff, if I replace the Netgear with another RT-AC68U and enable AiMesh....

 

[maxbraketorque]

I think that if you wait for the next revision of AiMesh, it will be debugged enough to be worth evaluating to see how it works and what it provides. At least, that's my plan.

 

[DummyPLUG]

1) When it work, yes, it suppose your device will roam between different AP instead of disconnect then reconnect to another AP
2) you device will switch to the stronger signal AP without disconnection, normally without AImesh you need to disconnect first and then reconnect to stronger signal AP, this is not a job of smart connect
3) Aimesh is not about band steering
4) No, currently all the node need to be the same channel.

p.s. It still quite buggy, that's why I said "when it work"

 

[DummyPLUG]

I am in the exact same boat, currently using a netgear router as a wired AP. Trying to better understand what I would gain in terms of handoff, if I replace the Netgear with another RT-AC68U and enable AiMesh....

If you don't need roam between different AP then you don't need the mesh.
For example I got some stock trading program which need to re login every time if I switch to another AP, with AImesh (or any mesh system) as it won't "disconnect" so I don't need to re login, this also apply to some online game and voip software.
But the downside is currently the Aimesh don't allow you to setup wifi mac filter or different ssid for individual node, that means you had no control which AP/node your device will connect to.

 

[maxbraketorque]

1) When it work, yes, it suppose your device will roam between different AP instead of disconnect then reconnect to another AP
2) you device will switch to the stronger signal AP without disconnection, normally without AImesh you need to disconnect first and then reconnect to stronger signal AP, this is not a job of smart connect
3) Aimesh is not about band steering
4) No, currently all the node need to be the same channel.

p.s. It still quite buggy, that's why I said "when it work"

Thanks for the info. Sounds like it will be worth trying after its a little less buggy.