Replaced XT12 with BQ16 (UK) Wifi Issue with iPhone/iPad

[garysteel]

Morning All, replaced my 2xXT12 with 2xBQ16 and am having issues with ipad and iphone (both mine and the wife's) appearing connected to wifi but not getting any internet love - everything just hangs like its searching. All on the LAN appears fine.

I've tried various resets (including network settings on one iPAD - issue still occurring). One moment all great and the next bang...like its forgotten how to talk to internet. I've tried to replicate same settings as XT12 wwhere appropriate. MIssing merlin wrt as vanilla settings and look are different ever so slightly but so used to merlin.

I know there a millions of factors and settings, and I've provided none here - I am initially just seeing if others had a similar issue and if they resolved it (without going back to old working XT's). Trying to search on this returns poor results as I've not managed to phrase it correctly so get useless search results about unrelated wifi connectivity.



Thanks for reading
Gary

 

[Stepalex]

Have you updated your firmware? There was a known issue for Apple devices on earlier releases

 

[garysteel]

Ahh I've updated to the latest available ZENWIFI_BQ16_3006-102-36104, which I'd done as soon as I powered them up with access. I'm on a daily basis checking asus website for an updated version but nothing as yet and it's very thin on the ground with comments on the BQ16 and issues...hence my post . Thanks for reaching out though

 

[garysteel]

Ps I've now diabled oll wifi 7 mu-MIMO option, disabled all MLO and any 6ghz to get to a reliable ipad Iphone capability...it's painful...the wife is getting ansy with buggering about with her wifi and getting ready for considering putting the OLD XT's up until i get a firmware update but that will cause me even more hassle....I've not seen any comments ref the apple issue..if you have a link - greatly appreciated.

 

[garysteel]

Pps my xt8 is 3004 merlin and i just read ….

Your issue is related to having 3004 firmware on the nodes. I've tested a few different 3006 routers and all had problems if you connected a node with 3004 firmware. I saw issues like no internet on certain devices, to constant reboots of the main router when the node connected. Once a node with 3006 firmware was used, all those issues stopped-Calkulin

could this be an issue ?

 

[garysteel]

Update, this morning I effectively factory reset both BQ16s, Initialised setup with only the BQ16s wired backhaul, and connected to Modem. Used app to set up, immediately switched off Wifi7 and the MLO option under wireless settings, resulting in a single wireless network - all default settings using 1 wireless SSID across 2.4, 5-1 and 6Ghz bands with 5-2 reserve (i assume for Backhaul)

This time around I did not then connect my XT8 on the older 3.0.0.4 Merlin wrt.

Went through my standard DHCP macs to IP setup.

So far everything running ok and snappy and iphone and ipads immediately responsive.

Will update again if all goes pete tong...or indeed if no further issue. (Edit - noticed as well that IPv6 disabled even though supported by Community Fibre - will leave disabled for time being)

 

[ScriptK1d]

Update, this morning I effectively factory reset both BQ16s, Initialised setup with only the BQ16s wired backhaul, and connected to Modem. Used app to set up, immediately switched off Wifi7 and the MLO option under wireless settings, resulting in a single wireless network - all default settings using 1 wireless SSID across 2.4, 5-1 and 6Ghz bands with 5-2 reserve (i assume for Backhaul)

This time around I did not then connect my XT8 on the older 3.0.0.4 Merlin wrt.

Went through my standard DHCP macs to IP setup.

So far everything running ok and snappy and iphone and ipads immediately responsive.

Will update again if all goes pete tong...or indeed if no further issue. (Edit - noticed as well that IPv6 disabled even though supported by Community Fibre - will leave disabled for time being)

How has it been?

 

[garysteel]

Hi going to try the ap mode as still impacting wife with drops outs and connection issues, uses the wifi more aggressively than i..grr…going to factory reset my node (that i currently use in aimesh on ethernet backhaul) and set it up as ap leaving it connected as is …… i think from advice here its that simple…but not sure if i can at some point connect an xt8 aimesh to main bq16 too?

 

[Plak]

One thing i learned about the bq16 pro is that it literally must be run with ethernet backhaul, not wireless and MLO disabled which you have done. Also it does not play well with other asus routers unless its connected via ethernet. I haven't tried connecting my be98 pro to it yet and I rather not anyway. These routers need a lot of work still to be running normal in stock form out of the box.

I seperated the 5 ghz and 6 ghz bands. 5 ghz is on wpa2/wpa3. No issues. 6ghz on wpa3. I had a lot of headaches too getting things setup but all has been running great once MLO was turned off. I am still using the bq16 pro for a while. Have till end of January to return them anyway so we'll see if they finally release afc for the be98 pro by end of this year. With the way asus releases one firmware a decade i highly doubt well see much updates anymore.