Which WRT 5 mesh node for RT-AX88U Pro (RT-AX86U PRO, GT-AX6000 or other)?

[Perpend1cular]

New poster, long time lurker.
I first want to thank everyone here for many hours of excellent reading and advice.

I’ve just installed an AX88U Pro as replacement for a GT-AC5300 as main router for our Aimesh system with two AX92U as nodes with wired backhaul.
The result is that 5G coverage and speed is worse with Aimesh than with just the main router in some rooms. I guess it’s an effect of the nodes hiding/reserving the ax-band for wireless backhaul.
As I understand it from a number of initiated posts by @leerees, @Tech9 and others, sadly it isn’t possible to unlock and use that band.
I realise that I need to start looking for a replacement for the two AX92U and with Black Friday coming up I’d like to decide on which router to get.

I really would like to use the WRT 5 stuff like grouping IoT and other clients with separate VLAN.
Form factor is sort of important since both AX92U are built in, I know there’s no casing to match the 6x6” but some ASUS stuff are really humungous.

Question:
Are the AX88U Pro and the AX86U Pro close enough in HW to minimize potential Aimesh problems?
Is GT-AX6000 an alternative?

 

[bbunge]

If you want to use the VLAN features across the AiMesh nodes, use any of the Asus Pro models. Using a non Pro router can limit the functionality. Also, if you are using Ethernet backhaul it is advisable to let the system detect the settings and not force Ethernet backhaul. Don't put the nodes too close to the router or another node. Too much WIFI can mess up the setup!

 

[Tech9]

Question:
Are the AX88U Pro and the AX86U Pro close enough

Close enough in price as well. Get another RT-AX88U Pro and call it a day. I wouldn’t invest in AiMesh when wires are available, but it was your choice.

 

[Perpend1cular]

If you want to use the VLAN features across the AiMesh nodes, use any of the Asus Pro models. Using a non Pro router can limit the functionality. Also, if you are using Ethernet backhaul it is advisable to let the system detect the settings and not force Ethernet backhaul. Don't put the nodes too close to the router or another node. Too much WIFI can mess up the setup!

Thanks!
I thought that all routers that use FW 3.0.0.6.102+were able to run WRT5?
When checking ASUS homepage they list non-PRO router GT-AX6000 as VLAN-capable, but you mean it isn’t working well in AiMesh?
This is exactly the info I’m looking for, not listed in official documentation.

Regarding forcing ethernet backhaul, I thought that was the whole idea to keep the router from using the ax-network as backhaul.
What would the reason be for not forcing wired backhaul in settings?

The nodes are definitely not too close and/or properly attenuated by walls and interference, that’s why I need the mesh.

 

[Perpend1cular]

Close enough in price as well. Get another RT-AX88U Pro and call it a day. I wouldn’t invest in AiMesh when wires are available, but it was your choice.

Thanks for the input.

The price is quite close but the somewhat smaller size of the 86U PRO would fit the current installation better.
Would the 2.4G difference between 3x3 and 4x4 interfere with mesh performance, for instance?

Your reflection re wired network is interesting.
I have read some posts where users have set up nodes as AP and put identical names/PW on the SSIDs. However I see others pointing out that roaming can be slow and I have not read anyone with this setup using VLAN.
Any experience or info on that?

 

[Tech9]

All the questions you have above were discussed already multiple times.