RT-BE88U Main Router and Single BT10

[gfd52]

Greetings,

I purchased an Asus RT-BE88U router. The wired throughput is excellent. However, it is only dual band, and I wanted to future proof myself with the third band. I had the option of purchasing the top line ROG quad band, but it has a lot of features I'll never use. I ended up buying a single ZenWiFi BT10. together, they cost less than the TOG quad band, and it gives me an additional broadcaster.

I setup the BT10 as an aiMesh node. So far, so good. Was able to bind clients to one router or the other. One thing though. I can't access the 6Ghz band on the BT10. When I attempt to add a network in the firmware for the RT-BE88U, I get a message saying that would exceed the rules.

My other option is to setup the BT10 as an access point. My understanding is I would be able to use the router's firmware to customize the device.

So, stay with aiMesh and lose the third band, or setup as an access point.

Your guidance would be most appreciated.

Graham

 

[Brad H]

Greetings,

I purchased an Asus RT-BE88U router. The wired throughput is excellent. However, it is only dual band, and I wanted to future proof myself with the third band. I had the option of purchasing the top line ROG quad band, but it has a lot of features I'll never use. I ended up buying a single ZenWiFi BT10. together, they cost less than the TOG quad band, and it gives me an additional broadcaster.

I setup the BT10 as an aiMesh node. So far, so good. Was able to bind clients to one router or the other. One thing though. I can't access the 6Ghz band on the BT10. When I attempt to add a network in the firmware for the RT-BE88U, I get a message saying that would exceed the rules.

My other option is to setup the BT10 as an access point. My understanding is I would be able to use the router's firmware to customize the device.

So, stay with aiMesh and lose the third band, or setup as an access point.

Your guidance would be most appreciated.

Graham

Pretty sure in AiMesh, the main router determines everything, meaning if the main router is dual band, only two bands will be on the mesh. Only way to get that 3rd band is make the BT10 an AP or the main router.

 

[gfd52]

Thanks Brad

Are there any major drawbacks to going the AP route?

 

[Brad H]

Thanks Brad

Are there any major drawbacks to going the AP route?

If everything being transferred between the router & the BT10 is confined to those two bands, I'm not sure there is any advantage of that third band with an AP.

If having that third band is important, you'll need to make that BT10 the router. Personally, I would save some money, get another dual band and use that as my AiMesh node.

I have used both dual & tri bands and in my setup, about 60 devices, I really didn't notice any difference.

 

[jzchen]

In AP mode you'll lose configuration options, but you will gain access to 6 GHz settings...

 

[Brad H]

Both are Wifi 7 so I don't think 6Mhz is the issue. His router has one 5Ghz band while the BT10 has two. I don't think that extra band on just the AP will make any difference.

 

[gfd52]

Hi Brad. The BT10 is tri band. 2.4, 5 and 6. When I was in mesh mode, the BE88U was the main router and it is dual band. I couldn't create a 6ghz network, I'm guessing, because the 88U is dual band. I want the 88U as the main router due to its excellent wired throughput and lots of fast ports. I set the BT10 up as an access point. That took care of the 6ghz band.