RT-BE96U - MLO vs network with “WiFi7 mode” with “MLO Fronthaul for Clients”

[soccerjoshj07]

I have MLO currently disabled (seems to be disabled by default) on my RT-BE96U. I was considering enabling it and testing it out.

Is it recommended to create an entirely separate network (an MLO SSID) for it using guest network pro?

Or can I check the “WiFi7 mode” (already checked) and MLO Fronthaul for Clients” to enable MLO on my main SSID? Or does it not quite work with that.

Honestly I’m finding the MLO feature a tad confusing on how/if I should enable it. Probably just have 2 devices (iPhone 16 pro for me + spouse) that would support it.

TIA

 

[RogerSC]

That's how I have my RT-BE96U configured. Only 5GHz. and 6GHz. bands in my main network, with MLO enabled there. To enable MLO, enable first in the Wireless tab, then in the Network tab as you mention. Both places need to be enabled. When I had all three bands in my main network, and enabled MLO for that, it was unstable when also using the IoT 2.4GHz. band at the same time. I do use the IoT 2.4GHz. band for security cameras, and various other clients, including an HDhomerun, and a couple of routers (one in media bridge mode, and the other in repeater mode). It's all stable and is working well. Have over 3 weeks of uptime at this point.

 

[soccerjoshj07]

That's how I have my RT-BE96U configured. Only 5GHz. and 6GHz. bands in my main network, with MLO enabled there. To enable MLO, enable first in the Wireless tab, then in the Network tab as you mention. Both places need to be enabled. When I had all three bands in my main network, and enabled MLO for that, it was unstable when also using the IoT 2.4GHz. band at the same time. I do use the IoT 2.4GHz. band for security cameras, and various other clients, including an HDhomerun, and a couple of routers (one in media bridge mode, and the other in repeater mode). It's all stable and is working well. Have over 3 weeks of uptime at this point.

That's helpful, thank you!

So you didn't create a special "MLO" network under guest network pro, you used your main network and checked the MLO box. Makes sense. Thank you!

 

[baller54]

That's how I have my RT-BE96U configured as well. Before the most recent firmwares with the architecture changes, I had a separate MLO network and things were never really stable. Now (last couple months) I have MLO on the.main ssid with all 3 bands, and it's been rock solid.

 

[soccerjoshj07]

That's how I have my RT-BE96U configured as well. Before the most recent firmwares with the architecture changes, I had a separate MLO network and things were never really stable. Now (last couple months) I have MLO on the.main ssid with all 3 bands, and it's been rock solid.

Thank you!

 

[zabolots]

Forgive me for the likely "basic" question, but if you want to have multiple bands (e.g. 5GHz & 6GHz) using MLO, do they need the same SSID?

 

[soccerjoshj07]

Forgive me for the likely "basic" question, but if you want to have multiple bands (e.g. 5GHz & 6GHz) using MLO, do they need the same SSID?

I think so? At least when you create a new MLO network, you need all bands, so assuming that if you have an existing network defined, it needs to use SmartConnect/broadcasting on all bands.

Or just create a new MLO network separately

 

[RogerSC]

Forgive me for the likely "basic" question, but if you want to have multiple bands (e.g. 5GHz & 6GHz) using MLO, do they need the same SSID?

Yes, the bands that you want to use in the same MLO group have to use the same SSID. I was using a main network with just the 5GHz. and 6GHz. bands with MLO enabled and turned on just for the two bands. I'm not totally happy with the way that Asus is doing this now, that you indicate that you want "smart connect" by putting multiple bands under the same SSID rather than actually turning on smart connect. for an SSID. I found when I wanted to take my main network apart that had MLO turned on, and create 3 separate networks (2.4GHz., 5GHz., and 6GHz.) that things pretty much fell apart and I had to start over from a reset to factory defaults. In fact, in the process the router went incommunicado, and I had to use the Asus Router app to bring it back. Rather time consuming. Now I save settings for each new configuration that I make so that I can go back to each one easily if I need or want to do that.