ET8 6e ethernet backhaul as node, 6e clients won't connect

[outlaw78]

I have an Aimesh network, with RT-AXE16000 as main router and two ET8 hardware version 1, running latest stock firmware on the ET8 and Merlin on the AXE-16000. I am having a problem with 6e clients connecting to the ET8's. They will only connect to the main router. The ET8's are connected via 2.5gb Ethernet backhaul (with Ethernet backhaul turned off as I also have two other nodes, an RT-5300 and GT-5300 on 5ghz-2 as dedicated wireless backhaul). Site survey on the router UI page shows the two ET8's mac addresses as available for 6e(ax), however my wifi scanner on my phone will not show the ET8's but only the main router, but none of my 6e will connect to the ET8's, only the main router. When I try to "link" the device to one of the ET8, it looses its 6e connection until I un-link them.

I've read multiple threads on this specific issue, tried all the suggestions, but nothing has worked. It seems that my 6e devices used to at some point.

Any additional suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Additional note I should probably add... The RT-5300 is in my theater room that has all the theater equipment hooked to it via ethernet cables for all the devices (although the router itself is on the dedicated wireless backhaul as described above. The other GT-AC5300 is in the kitchen with nothing hard wired to it and on the dedicated wireless as well..)

 

[bbunge]

Does it work with Asus firmware on the AXE16000?

 

[outlaw78]

Does it work with Asus firmware on the AXE16000?

No, it does not work there either.

 

[bbunge]

Ah! It is likely the AC5300 connected as an AiMesh node that is blocking the 6 GHz. Remove the AC from the mesh and set it up as an AP.

 

[outlaw78]

Ah! It is likely the AC5300 connected as an AiMesh node that is blocking the 6 GHz. Remove the AC from the mesh and set it up as an AP.

Should I remove both ac5300? I have two. An rt and a gt. But it seemed that it was working at some point even with those connected. But I'll just unplug them, reboot the network and see what happens.

 

[bbunge]

No, remove them from, the AiMesh first. I have found that the bandwidth and channels in an AiMesh will be limited by the least capable device, if that makes sense. Setting older devices as AP's will not degrade newer devices in a mesh.

 

[outlaw78]

No, remove them from, the AiMesh first. I have found that the bandwidth and channels in an AiMesh will be limited by the least capable device, if that makes sense. Setting older devices as AP's will not degrade newer devices in a mesh.

I'll try this this weekend. It just seems strange that my devices used to connect in this same configuration and I would hate to give of the features of the axe-16000 as the main router and I've heard the only reliable way to use the ET8 is hardwired and since one of my AC-5300 is driving hardwired theater devices I may have to just forgo getting 6e out of my et8's (which was the purpose of purchase), but I thank you for all your assistance.

 

[outlaw78]

No, remove them from, the AiMesh first. I have found that the bandwidth and channels in an AiMesh will be limited by the least capable device, if that makes sense. Setting older devices as AP's will not degrade newer devices in a mesh.

Ok, so I had a chance to mess with this this weekend. I completely removed all my wireless backhauled nodes, turned on the ethernet backhaul only switch in the system settings under AI mesh. The hardwired ET8s still aren't broadcasting the 6e. I know I had other routers in the aimesh though. I just turned them off and they disappeared completely from the AImesh screen (and not just as offline). When I turned them back on, they still didn't connect to the mesh. Is there a way to complete reset the main router AI mesh settings to ensure its reset without having to factory reset the main router? I have custom names for all my devices (over 85 of them) and a factory reset resets the names as well. I'll re-add the nodes again after the aimesh reset. It should be easy since they are hardwired.

Question though, do I need to turn WPS back on when the routers are connected via wire to get them back in the mesh?

Just a thought, are the ET8's as powerful as the axe-16000 for range on the 6e? I do have the 6e defaulted at 160mhz only since all my devices are 160 mhz compatible. Sometimes they show up on the site survey screen in the AXE-16000 but they have have two entries for each ET8 Wifi 6.... (ax) and (a).