Question on Asus mesh setup

[xiaofan]

But honestly can you guys tell the real world difference between eg 300 and 500 mbps for a single device considering that the max bandwidth of 1gbps for most fibre broadband subscriptions at home is shared between 10s of devices? Without using speed test - I'm not sure the additional cost for 160mhz is justified.

Which router do you have in mind? There are many low cost routers which support 2*2 160MHz, for example, Asus RT-AX58U, or the sub-S$100 Huawei AX3 Pro.

I went with China version of Asus RT-AX82U (4*4 160MHz) which costs less than S$200 but no local waranty.

 

[rAcEr]

The physical size of the router / node is also a consideration. Currently thinking of getting 3 x XD4 or 2 x XD6 + 1 x ax58u. Cost difference would be close to 300 and that's why I'm thinking whether I need the 160mhz band or not.

 

[Gymrat76]

My XT8’s arrived today! Will setup late tonight once everyone’s asleep (and no complaining about no internet) lol

 

[Gymrat76]

I've completed the setup and wanted to confirm I did it right.

1. Plugged in the AX55 in the DB closet - reset to factory default and setup as new network using the Asus Router app
2. Booted up first XT8 unit and setup as AiMesh node (living room)
3. Booted up second XT8 unit and setup as AiMesh node (study) - did this close by to the other XT8
4. Moved 'study' XT8 to the location and turned on
5. Connected both XT8's to the LAN point which both connect back to the AX55 in the DB closet
6. Both XT8 shows connected via ethernet
7. Turned off radio for the AX55

So far all looks to be running well. Have slowly moved all my more accessed devices (iPhones, iPads, laptops) to 5G and the rest to 2.4G

 

[xiaofan]

I've completed the setup and wanted to confirm I did it right.
1. Plugged in the AX55 in the DB closet - reset to factory default and setup as new network using the Asus Router app
2. Booted up first XT8 unit and setup as AiMesh node (living room)
3. Booted up second XT8 unit and setup as AiMesh node (study) - did this close by to the other XT8
4. Moved 'study' XT8 to the location and turned on
5. Connected both XT8's to the LAN point which both connect back to the AX55 in the DB closet
6. Both XT8 shows connected via ethernet
7. Turned off radio for the AX55
So far all looks to be running well. Have slowly moved all my more accessed devices (iPhones, iPads, laptops) to 5G and the rest to 2.4G

Looks correct to me. You can always check the wireless performance using SpeedTest. Then check roaming performance as well.

If your clients support 5GHz, you can always put them in the 5GHz band, the two XT8 should be able to handle all your 5GHz clients.

BTW, are you able to activate the 5GHz-2 band of the XT8? I do not have XT8 myself so I am just curious.

Ref: you at be able to use smart connect as well but it might be a bit tricky to set up. So yes it is probably easier to separate the 2.4GHz band with the 5GHz band.
https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1012132/

 

[xiaofan]

The physical size of the router / node is also a consideration. Currently thinking of getting 3 x XD4 or 2 x XD6 + 1 x ax58u. Cost difference would be close to 300 and that's why I'm thinking whether I need the 160mhz band or not.

No issues to go for 3*XD4 if you have budget constraints.

Still you may consider 2*XD4 + RT-AX58U or even RT-AX82U/RT-AX86U.

Courts have very good offer for RT-AX86U Special Edition (S$320.8) and RT-AX82U (S$248).

 

[Gymrat76]

BTW, are you able to activate the 5GHz-2 band of the XT8? I do not have XT8 myself so I am just curious.

Ref: you at be able to use smart connect as well but it might be a bit tricky to set up. So yes it is probably easier to separate the 2.4GHz band with the 5GHz band.
https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1012132/

I was wondering about this actually. First time having a tri-band setup. Am I supposed to be able to see 3 different SSID’s for each band?
I looked at the options on the Asus router app and didn’t see any option to activate 5Ghz-2, only the usual 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
There’s also a Smart connect radio button on the app which is by default off, I haven’t turned it on. Will read up if it’s worth activating it

 

[jonleelk]

I was wondering about this actually. First time having a tri-band setup. Am I supposed to be able to see 3 different SSID’s for each band?
I looked at the options on the Asus router app and didn’t see any option to activate 5Ghz-2, only the usual 2.4GHz and 5GHz.
There’s also a Smart connect radio button on the app which is by default off, I haven’t turned it on. Will read up if it’s worth activating it

Currently u see 1x2.4Ghz SSID and 1x5Ghz SSID, correct? If u are able to free up the "hidden 5Ghz band", u will see 2x5Ghz SSID.

 

[Gymrat76]

Currently u see 1x2.4Ghz SSID and 1x5Ghz SSID, correct? If u are able to free up the "hidden 5Ghz band", u will see 2x5Ghz SSID.

Yes correct. I’ll need to see how to do this

I’ve just read that the AiMesh nodes will replicate what’s on the primary router. In this case the AX55 is only dual band. Need to see if I can enable tri-band on both XT8 nodes when the primary router is dual band

 

[Gymrat76]

Anyone knows?

 

[hairymonster]

Try ap mode. See if you can free the 2nd 5GHz.

Fyi you need to manually configure. If you screw up the connectivity can reset again.

 

[Apex]

Anyone knows?

If you log into the XT8 web ui. You should see 3 WIFI band. 2.4ghz / 5ghz-1 and 5ghz-2

* picture taken of the Internet. I sold my XT8 and switch the TP-LINk so cant navigate in the UI. Pretty sure u can use the 2nd 5ghz (default SSID is hidden)


Not sure your 5ghz-2 disappear because you added XT8 into mesh with AX55.

 

[Gymrat76]

If you log into the XT8 web ui. You should see 3 WIFI band. 2.4ghz / 5ghz-1 and 5ghz-2

* picture taken of the Internet. I sold my XT8 and switch the TP-LINk so cant navigate in the UI. Pretty sure u can use the 2nd 5ghz (default SSID is hidden)


Not sure your 5ghz-2 disappear because you added XT8 into mesh with AX55.

Thanks. I don't see that cos my XT8's are AiMesh nodes while the AX55 is the router. When I login to the web ui, it's for the AX55, so I only see 2.4GHz and 5GHz.

 

[Gymrat76]

Try ap mode. See if you can free the 2nd 5GHz.

Fyi you need to manually configure. If you screw up the connectivity can reset again.

Not sure I understand. AP mode for which device, the AX55 (router) or the XT8's (which are both AiMesh nodes)

 

[cloud77]

if you add XT8 as a mesh, you cannot log in to its native interface as you can only see the router's interface only. The router interface do not have the 5Ghz-2

 

[hairymonster]

Not sure I understand. AP mode for which device, the AX55 (router) or the XT8's (which are both AiMesh nodes)

Ap mode for both xt8. Need some knowledge of networking.

 

[Gymrat76]

if you add XT8 as a mesh, you cannot log in to its native interface as you can only see the router's interface only. The router interface do not have the 5Ghz-2

Yup that was what I was trying to say lol

So basically using the AX55 as a router for the two XT8 AiMesh nodes negates the use of the third band, which essentially makes having a tri-band AiMesh system redundant.. even though my AX55 purely just routing with the radio off. Not sure if switching to a tri-band router will solve this (but kinda pointless buying a tri-band router for this...

I also read older threads that mentioned that as long as AiMesh is used (even if it's ethernet backhaul), the 5.2GHz band disappears. Not sure if that was a firmward thing that was fixed, or an inherent issue here. If so, then changing to a tri-band router won't solve this

 

[Gymrat76]

Ap mode for both xt8. Need some knowledge of networking.

If they're in AP mode, they won't work as a mesh right? i.e. when I move from one part of the house to another the switch and handover from one XT8 to the other will not be seamless?

 

[cloud77]

Yup that was what I was trying to say lol

So basically using the AX55 as a router for the two XT8 AiMesh nodes negates the use of the third band, which essentially makes having a tri-band AiMesh system redundant.. even though my AX55 purely just routing with the radio off. Not sure if switching to a tri-band router will solve this (but kinda pointless buying a tri-band router for this...

I also read older threads that mentioned that as long as AiMesh is used (even if it's ethernet backhaul), the 5.2GHz band disappears. Not sure if that was a firmward thing that was fixed, or an inherent issue here. If so, then changing to a tri-band router won't solve this

i think your router with the 2 XT8 is really more than enough for whatever you are likely going to utilize. I am using AX88U with one XT8 mesh and i have more than 50 devices (including many smart home 2.4Ghz components) connected to my network at one time and it working ok too.

 

[Gymrat76]

i think your router with the 2 XT8 is really more than enough for whatever you are likely going to utilize. I am using AX88U with one XT8 mesh and i have more than 50 devices (including many smart home 2.4Ghz components) connected to my network at one time and it working ok too.

haha yes I have no issues. I'm just 'kiasu' cos I have two XT8's that are capable of tri-band but I'm not able to fully utilize it.

In the AX55 webui, when I go under AiMesh and select each mesh, > management > Enable Radio button, I can see that all 3 bands are activated. But there doesn't appear to be any activity at all on this band