Mesh network router (but not Asus) for over 100 devices

[CyberDynamite]

Here is my current setup:
GT-AX11000 Main Router (bridged with my ISP router)
5 RT-AX92U nodes
Aimesh System with Smart Connect on
All devices have the latest firmware.

I have over 100 devices on my network. Here is an idea of some of my devices:
5 Ring Floodlights Pro (on 2.4 GHz)
16 TP-Link Smart Switches (on 2.4 GHz)
3 TP-Link Smart Plugs (on 2.4 GHz)
6 Sinopé Smart Thermostats (on 2.4 GHz)
6 Globe Smart bulbs (on 2.4 GHz)
16 Govee devices like LED strips, and other kind of light devices (on 2.4 GHz)
16 cameras (Reolink E1 Pro) (on 5 GHz)
4 iPhones (on 5 GHz)
2 iPads (on 5 GHz)
2 Apple TV (on LAN)
5 laptops (2 on LAN and 3 on 5 GHz)
4 Smart TVs (2 on LAN and 2 on 5 GHz)
4 nVidia Shield Pro (on LAN)
1 Google Home and 1 Google Home Mini (on 5 GHz)
2 Nest smoke detectors (on 2.4 GHz)
2 NAS hard drives (on LAN)
1 smart washer/dryer (on 2.4 GHz)
1 Oculus Quest 2 (on 5 GHz)
etc.

Please don't make any suggestions to fix my connection problems with the 2.4GHz band because I have read many topics on the forum and found that I am far from being the only one having problems with the 2.4GHz band. The symptoms are as follows: No problem with all my devices connected on the 5GHz band. My devices on the 2.4GHz band connect and disconnect frequently, making it impossible to control them via my applications on my phone, such as Kasa, Google Home, Globe Suite, Govee, etc.

I have tried most of the solutions proposed on the forum but nothing has yet solved my problem. Thus, I have decided to give up with Asus by turning to another brand more efficient in terms of the 2.4GHz band.

What I am looking for as an answer is rather advice to get a similar system (mesh network) from another brand than Asus, because I have a large residence with a huge lot, a backyard of over 300 feet and an in-ground pool on it. This is why I need nodes to extend the signal reception as much as possible and I want to have a single network name (SSID).

I would like to get your advice on buying an excellent router with a Mesh network system, which would do the job and manage the 2.4GHz band much better than Asus does.

 

[Tech9]

Thus, I have decided to give up with Asus by turning to another brand

For business class solutions like lower cost UniFi or Omada you need Ethernet infrastructure. They will allow fine tuning of the network per AP for power, channel, VLAN, etc. with spread around devices to multiple radios with higher aggregate throughput. None of them offers wireless uplinks with dedicated radios like home mesh systems though. Common issue with home mesh systems is use of the same channels network wide. Same channels means shared bandwidth and increased noise levels. The more nodes, satellites, pods, etc. you have the worse it gets.

 

[degrub]

How close are the neighbors ?
Your indoor may well be suffering from too much RF signal and overlap.
Outdoor should be straightforward.
Were your IOT clients set with static addresses ?
Were your mesh APs restricted to one static channel ?
The most reliable system is likely to be SMB hardware with wired ethernet backhaul.
Ubiquiti should be reasonable choice for a product line.

 

[Crimliar]

I think such an extensive site, with so much high value and demanding equipment, would probably benefit from getting in a networking professional in. Personal opinion is that you might get away with a properly spec'ed Ubiquity setup, but otherwise you'll be unsatisfied with consumer grade equipment!
*Not being a snob, I use consumer grade equipment!

 

[Tech9]

would probably benefit from getting in a networking professional

The best solution.

I want to have a single network name (SSID)

I'm running single dual-band SSID to multiple APs carrying separate VLANs with private keys. This means Client A with Password A goes to main network VLAN1, Client B with Password B goes to guest network VLAN10, etc. All of them connect to 2.4GHz or 5GHz radios depending on client capabilities. This is possible with the system in my signature, but... wires, wires, wires! Ethernet infrastructure comes first.

 

[OzarkEdge]

I'm running single dual-band SSID to multiple APs carrying separate VLANs with private keys. This means Client A with Password A goes to main network VLAN1, Client B with Password B goes to guest network VLAN10, etc. All of them connect to 2.4GHz or 5GHz radios depending on client capabilities.

Same SSIDs but different keys to manually VLAN steer?... does this trip up some clients trying to connect? on some gear?

OE

 

[Tech9]

Same SSIDs but different keys to manually VLAN steer?

Yes, here is an example:

You make a QR Code for Guest Network, when someone scans it the device connects to Guest Network VLAN10 with different DHCP server and let's say Family content filtering. Some people may come with kids... Safe Mode search, YouTube, etc. Your own devices use different password and connect to the Home Network VLAN1 with different DHCP server again and less filtering. They both on a gateway level security may be run through IDS/IPS, geo-blocked, malicious IP filtered, with/without ad-blocking, etc. They can also be assigned to different APs and radios, band steering is activated automatically when more than one different band radios broadcast the same SSID. With UniFi it can be done with one single SSID network wide.

This is what is Asus doing in the later Asuswrt 3006 versions after 37xxx, the same logic at least.

does this trip up some clients trying to connect?

No issues so far. Running like this for >1 month. I just keep the devices to their respective bands by adjusting the AP power per band and having "Prefer 5GHz" enabled. My 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands have approximately the same range, 5GHz capable devices never change the band.

 

[OzarkEdge]

This is what is Asus doing in the later Asuswrt 3006 versions after 37xxx, the same logic at least.

Yes, seems so, but I doubt that what I have here is ready to stress test so I'm leaving it be until their new Network arrangement comes out... I hope they hold it until it's ready... I'm tired of troubleshooting their work... AiMesh was a multi-year ordeal... they need to do better than that, imo.

OE

 

[Tech9]

I don't know how it is going to work with AiMesh to nodes, Asus have to figure it out somehow. For this to work the nodes have to be fully VLAN aware and remotely configurable. With the mix of AiMesh Compatible devices out there... I don't know. Only time will tell.

The way Ubiquiti does it is user transparent wired or wireless uplink with all the devices speaking the same configuration language. If the wired uplink disappears for some reason affected APs will switch to wireless uplink with the same VLAN, Tx/Rx, SSID, etc. configuration and the user may not even notice the change. It was designed to work this way from the ground up. AiMesh came as catching up with competition add-on.

 

[CyberDynamite]

I agree that Ethernet is the best possible connection and believe me, the more items I can connect this way, I do. However, for some accessories, Wifi is the only possible solution such as smart switches, smart bulbs, etc. It is therefore utopian to believe that we can connect everything in Ethernet...

A member asked me if I had neighbors. The answer is no. As I mentioned I live on a large isolated lot and my closest neighbor is maybe a mile from me! Also, my environment is a family one and not commercial.

I agree, however, that with my configuration, I would probably benefit from calling on a networking professional.

Nevertheless, can no one recommend a brand other than Asus, for an extended mesh network with the kind of configuration that I have? Do you think I would still have the same kind of problem? However, I read on the forum that several members have solved their problems, simply by changing the brand of router.

 

[degrub]

Many of us use a wired backhaul instead of wireless as it is usually more stable with solid performance.
It is helpful that your situation is isolated geographically. That being said, all you can do is try one of the mesh systems. Look for one that has a dedicated radio for the mesh link if you need higher throughput. WIFI6 is probably the sweet spot now for both cost and actual performance. WIFI7 is basically in public beta testing. Takes at least a year to get all sorted.

If at all possible wire (ethernet CAT6 or coax RG6 (moca) your network backbone. Then use APs to deliver WIFI6. One advantage of SMB APs is that you can control the power levels better and accommodate larger number of clients as this is what they are designed for. Consumer gear is basically a blast them out approach and fewer clients. Obviously, that can work and meets most needs. Just make sure you can return the gear if it doesn't meet need.

BTW, we did make a recommendation.

WIFI is not magic as the their marketing would lead you to believe. It is engineering.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Nevertheless, can no one recommend a brand other than Asus, for an extended mesh network with the kind of configuration that I have?

You are asking us to recommend a significant investment for you to experiment with uncertain conditions. I can't do that in good conscience.

Do you think I would still have the same kind of problem?

Only you presume to know what the problem is.

However, I read on the forum that several members have solved their problems, simply by changing the brand of router.

There are pleny of other brands for you to "simply" try.

While you're thinking about it... I would rebuild your AiMesh one piece/step at a time, and don't add to it until what you have works like it should. Keep in mind... my two routers cover two acres... 2.4GHz travels the farthest... too much radio is not a good thing... and, ASUS recommends no more than 4 wireless nodes max, 2 daisy-chained max. You may have an AiMesh mess or just a defective piece of hardware somewhere... you can troubleshoot it (and learn) or keep replacing things.

OE

 

[Tech9]

It is therefore utopian to believe that we can connect everything in Ethernet...

Not everything. Your access points have to be wired. Otherwise you'll have limited control over your network and forced to use the same channels with radios sharing the same bandwidth. Your 6x routers wait for each other to receive/transmit data, one at a time.

 

[sfx2000]

I have over 100 devices on my network. Here is an idea of some of my devices:
5 Ring Floodlights Pro (on 2.4 GHz)
16 TP-Link Smart Switches (on 2.4 GHz)
3 TP-Link Smart Plugs (on 2.4 GHz)
6 Sinopé Smart Thermostats (on 2.4 GHz)
6 Globe Smart bulbs (on 2.4 GHz)
16 Govee devices like LED strips, and other kind of light devices (on 2.4 GHz)

Simple solution - a dedicated AP for the IoT 2.4GHz with it's own SSID

AsusWRT has a hard limit on client radios, and that is 32

As for AP's, one can do a lot of different approaches, but keep the IOT devices on an AP with it's own SSID

Problem solved...

 

[Tech9]

Problem solved...

No AP will solve the problem in a "large residence with a huge lot, a backyard of over 300 feet"? Sounds like higher value property to me, client devices in thousands of dollars, "and an in-ground pool on it"... perhaps few thousands in maintenance per year and up for the pool alone. A proper professionally installed network to support all the gadgets is way overdue. No consumer mesh will solve the problem and no additional APs as band-aid solution will guarantee satisfactory results in a long run.