For a while, it seemed like AiMesh was nothing but trouble, many recommended just sticking with Repeater setups. Has AiMesh stabilized in the this year's updates?
How is AIMesh working for you? Do you have your nodes wired back to the primary or via wireless?
I was going to start a new thread to post about my AiMesh experiences, but since others have replied here, I'll post here.
Prior to AiMesh, I experimented with using media bridges & connecting old routers to be used as access points. The media bridge was connected on a guest network, and then I tried re-broadcasting the main SSID on the APs. Very clunky... and didn't work very well.
(This experience all comes form running Merlin-base software.)
AiMesh came along - had an RT-AC68P as my primary router at the time. I bought a few used RT-1900P units to use in the Mesh. I had continual problems... a lot of it, though, involved finding where to put the nodes. Too close, and node would "lock up". Got it working to the point where it was fairly stable, but would still have to reboot a node every week or so. After running for a few months, bought a used RT-AC86U (which just burnt out last month) & set it as my main router.
When 386 codebase came out, I had heard that many improvements were made to AiMesh (v2) - indeed there was! On the GUI side, the ability to reboot a node has come in very handy! Guest networks were now allowed, and the stability was much improved over v1.
As has been noted in other threads, though - I had issues adding nodes to my RT-AC86U (and now my RT-AX86U) wirelessly. Performing hard-wired works fine.
I think AiMesh is fantastic - I do wish that ASUS would (partially) open up the code for it, though. And I'll be the first to admit that I do not have it setup optimally... I presently am using Wi-Fi as the backhaul & only on a dual-band router. I'm hoping to hardwire a node or two in the next few months.