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.

 

[Perpend1cular]

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

Thanks for pointing this out.
Will keep searching.

 

[jzchen]

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.

It is my understanding that 3.0.0.6 is ASUSwrt 5.0.

For some reason ASUS documentation on setting up AiMesh refers to preferred wired backhaul and not Ethernet Backhaul mode. From personal experience once in a while in this EBM if a node somehow loses connection upon reestablishing Ethernet connection it no longer reconnects as an AiMesh node. BUT yes it releases bandwidth that is dedicated backhaul to use with WiFi devices.

Another setting to try to improve WiFi performance/distribution is WiFi Agile MultiBand. (It is not enabled by default that I am aware). This is probably worth a try say if you set nodes as Access Points vs AiMesh nodes, or if you've added non-ASUS routers/range extenders to your network.

 

[Perpend1cular]

It is my understanding that 3.0.0.6 is ASUSwrt 5.0.

For some reason ASUS documentation on setting up AiMesh refers to preferred wired backhaul and not Ethernet Backhaul mode. From personal experience once in a while in this EBM if a node somehow loses connection upon reestablishing Ethernet connection it no longer reconnects as an AiMesh node. BUT yes it releases bandwidth that is dedicated backhaul to use with WiFi devices.

Another setting to try to improve WiFi performance/distribution is WiFi Agile MultiBand. (It is not enabled by default that I am aware). This is probably worth a try say if you set nodes as Access Points vs AiMesh nodes, or if you've added non-ASUS routers/range extenders to your network.

Thanks!
The backhaul alternatives in the UI are all named “preferred” as you point out.
With “1G WAN first” set I always thought this ment that if wired connection failed the router would revert to wireless backhaul as opposed to “auto” that would switch between the two based on some optimisation algorithm.

Will look in to Agile Multiband setting and try it out.

 

[jzchen]

Thanks!
The backhaul alternatives in the UI are all named “preferred” as you point out.
With “1G WAN first” set I always thought this ment that if wired connection failed the router would revert to wireless backhaul as opposed to “auto” that would switch between the two based on some optimisation algorithm.

Will look in to Agile Multiband setting and try it out.

I believe your understanding is correct. Preferred sets Ethernet as "preferred" but allows self healing, if you accidentally disconnect an Ethernet connection the dedicated backhaul that is kept in reserve immediately keeps AiMesh working between the disconnected node and network. If you enforce Ethernet Backhaul Mode it no longer keeps this emergency WiFi connection available and the node just drops if connection is disconnected.

Auto does choose. I remember on rare occasion the AXE11000 "would choose" WiFi backhaul over my 2.5 Gbps Ethernet backhaul in the Auto setting, I guess because their performance is close, (it was noting PHY in the 4xxx Mbps range to my AXE16000).

 

[jzchen]

You may or may not be aware that both models that you mention GT-AC5300 and RT-AX92U have been included in ASUS' EOL list, meaning officially losing support.

I believe Ethernet Backhaul mode will allow you to use the bandwidth that is otherwise reserved for backhaul with the caveat noted, but it is a good idea to also replace the AX92Us because they are EOL.

 

[Perpend1cular]

You may or may not be aware that both models that you mention GT-AC5300 and RT-AX92U have been included in ASUS' EOL list, meaning officially losing support.

I believe Ethernet Backhaul mode will allow you to use the bandwidth that is otherwise reserved for backhaul with the caveat noted, but it is a good idea to also replace the AX92Us because they are EOL.

That is exactly the reason for this thread,
getting a reasonable replacement for the two AX92U.
Just trying to get my head around trashing two perfectly well functioning units, but as @Tech9 put it in another post “these consumer products are disposables”.

 

[jzchen]

Well I do have a partial solution to your issue. (Within the last few months I replaced an EOL RT-AC68U with a RT-AX5400). If you knew my collection of routers you would find no duplicate of the same model. (I am willing to break this rule for TP-Link as their Versions get different firmwares)...

It may not sound like a real solution but I am not likely to get two different models added to the EOL list at the same time, so at worst (hopefully) I'd need to replace one at a time...

 

[jzchen]

BTW- CONSUMer goods are CONSUMables.

 

[Perpend1cular]

BTW- CONSUMer goods are CONSUMables.

 

[Tech9]

so at worst (hopefully) I'd need to replace one at a time...

You rely too much on Asus marketing claiming full AiMesh compatibility between different models.

 

[jzchen]

You rely too much on Asus marketing claiming full AiMesh compatibility between different models.

Well, there's another side to that...

I am supporting their efforts to make AiMesh universal among their products. I estimate I purchased my RT-AC68U some time in 2016, and it is now 2024. That's roughly 8 years of service that I didn't even expect would work as a mesh node when I first upgraded to a Linksys Hydra (6E router). By some fluke accident I had accidentally created a LAN loop and the Linksys did not work well at all in response, so I returned it to Costco. I then got the GT-AXE11000 and was surprised I could still use my RT-AC68U as node.

(Now that's something I want to support as much as possible)...

 

[Tech9]

RT-AC68U was the most popular and successful Asus router. Many people had or still have one of the many variants. The newly introduced AiMesh had to sell more routers, old ones had to be made compatible. The reason for the unusual long support - marketing. New routers won’t have 10 years support. Not needed anymore. The reason again - marketing.

 

[jzchen]

Turns out the AC adapters of the RT-AC68U era were also immune to simulated sine wave UPS output, which I've finally found to be the cause of all my (more) recent WiFi headaches it seems...

 

[Tech9]

This is an interesting find worth mentioning when other folks search help for strange Wi-Fi related issues. Unfortunately, true/pure sine wave UPS device may cost more than the router it is powering. Many people don't even know USP devices are different types.