Not Another One! But yes, AX or BE Question

[CaptnDanLKW]

I've read a lot but still not sure from a cost perspective. The RT-AX86U PRO is down to $185 on Amazon for an early black Friday deal. The RT-BE86U is still $385. This has piqued my interest.

My RT-AC86U Mesh Pair have done me solid. My Merlin specific needs are light. OpenVPN, router monitor stuff, logging enhancements. I probably won't have any BE/Wifi7 clients for a while.

I do have multiple PCs with 2.5GB LAN, which the BE86U has ports, but a cheap 2.5GB easily outweighs the cost difference for that feature alone.

The big variable is I'm starting a house expansion & remodeling project adding about 1800sq/ft with significant linear distances and will be wiring (as much as I can) Cat6a back to a central location. I would like to re-use my main AC86U in my garage/workshop (cinder block, very wi-fi unfriendly), and my other will remain in my shed on the other side of the property. I will need the Wired VLAN feature for my security system & camera plans.


Main question - how well the legacy AiMesh 2.0 in the last of the 386.14_x firmware works with the AX's 388.8_x code base vs. the newest BE's 102_x codebase. Anyone running one of these configs want to chime in?

Any other thoughts on not getting the AX86U PRO now? Or heck, 2 of them.

Thanks for entreating the rehashed question, albeit with some very specific questions.

 

[DJones]

I can’t speak on the real world differences since I don’t own a BE router on the 3.0.0.6 codebase. However if you’re running a mixture of older and newer routers for AIMesh how well they work together will be dependent on the radios they use 2.4Ghz, AC/AX/BE, 5/6/Ghz AC/AX/BE the newer standard wireless protocols are backwards compatible to a point, but the drawback if the older routers don’t support the new wireless protocols features the newer router will have to accommodate by using previous generation wireless protocols.

This can have an overall impact on wireless performance not reaching advertised specifications according to the newest or fastest router.

As far as I know It should work but isn’t an ideal solution to mix router generations. Worst case consider not using AIMesh mode.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Any other thoughts on not getting the AX86U PRO now? Or heck, 2 of them.

If possible, this trade-in offer by BestBuy can shave another 15% off the sale price... for example, that brings an AX88U Pro on sale for $220 in the US down to $187.

OE

 

[KevTech]

AX86 pro only has one 2.5 port.