Asus WiFi 7 and WiFi 6E routers

[xiaofan]

IPQ9574/9570, score 42240, used in TP-Link EB810v, Archer BE800, Deco BE85

MT7988A, score 34560, used in TP-Link Archer BE805

BCM4916: score 24000, used in ROG GT-BE98, ZenWiFi BQ16, RT-BE88U and RT-BE86U

BCM6764L/6765/6766: score 15200, uses in ZenWiFi BT10 and RT-BE92U

IPQ5322, score 13800, used in HB710 and Asus TUF-BE6500

Reference:
https://mao.fan/socpk.html

 

[kashix]

Wah now I tempted to get a model with 6Ghz support

Only problem is most 6GHz models don't have the exact WAN/LAN port config that the BE88U has

So now have to decide between 6GHz models (that also happen to be more expensive) or just BE88U first then change again when 6GHz becomes the norm (is it the norm already?)

If You already have BE88, buy 1 U7 Pro XG/XGS use as AP to do broadcast

 

[kashix]

Wah now I tempted to get a model with 6Ghz support

Only problem is most 6GHz models don't have the exact WAN/LAN port config that the BE88U has

So now have to decide between 6GHz models (that also happen to be more expensive) or just BE88U first then change again when 6GHz becomes the norm (is it the norm already?)

UCG Cloud Fibre + U7 Pro XG/XGS, don’t look back liao.

 

[darkarn]

Much much worse.

Omg thanks for the heads up. To think the pricing almost the same

Looks like I really need to decide if having the 6Ghz is that important or just up budget sua

 

[darkarn]

If You already have BE88, buy 1 U7 Pro XG/XGS use as AP to do broadcast

Haven't buy yet, am planning to use these Asus routers as wireless APs and a bit of switching duty that are also backup router in case the pfSense machine fails etc

Also AiMesh is Asus to Asus only right? How would this Asus to U7 setup work?

 

[xiaofan]

Haven't buy yet, am planning to use these Asus routers as wireless APs and a bit of switching duty that are also backup router in case the pfSense machine fails etc

Also AiMesh is Asus to Asus only right? How would this Asus to U7 setup work?

If you have pfSense as the main router, I will actually suggest you to go with the cheaper Archer BE805 as AP and then also backup router. No point paying too much for the triband Asus WiFi 7 router.

I am using Mini PC running as OpenWRT as the main router. Then Archer BE805 is the 10G Capable wireless router to show off WiFi 7 speed, but I also treated it as a 10G capable backup router. I actually run it in router mode (Double NAT) as most of the time it is OFF. Rather I use Asus TUF-BE6500 and Asus RT-AC86U in AP mode behind the main OpenWRT router most of the time for my SingTel 5Gbps plan (manually bridged ONR).

 

[kashix]

Haven't buy yet, am planning to use these Asus routers as wireless APs and a bit of switching duty that are also backup router in case the pfSense machine fails etc

Also AiMesh is Asus to Asus only right? How would this Asus to U7 setup work?

If you using BE88, then the U7 XG is just to use as AP only ~ if you already shelling the money out for BE88. Why not just buy UCG Cloud Fibre? What’s the enticing part of the BE88? More ports?

BE88 only 10G uplink via RJ45
You going to power your AP. Unless you use SFP+ if not limited to 2.5Gbps.
And Wi-Fi only 2 bands, a bit pointless leh. Honestly I don’t see the appeal of BE88. AX88 still okay but now I feel like it’s in a very weird placement.

 

[darkarn]

I see hmm. Reason why I want an Asus wireless AP or router is having the option to do MerlinWRT and familiarity I guess?

Before I went into Orbi (and will most probably not go for it again), I was using Asus routers with Merlin firmware and quite happy with it

BE88 tempting due to the price I can get right now via the November offers

ngl I am thinking to get that first to tong since I need something 10gbps ready, then when the dust settles down for 6GHz then (since it still seem up in the air right now?) decide on proper tri-band models

 

[darkarn]

If you have pfSense as the main router, I will actually suggest you to go with the cheaper Archer BE805 as AP and then also backup router. No point paying too much for the triband Asus WiFi 7 router.

I am using Mini PC running as OpenWRT as the main router. Then Archer BE805 is the 10G Capable wireless router to show off WiFi 7 speed, but I also treated it as a 10G capable backup router. I actually run it in router mode (Double NAT) as most of the time it is OFF. Rather I use Asus TUF-BE6500 and Asus RT-AC86U in AP mode behind the main OpenWRT router most of the time for my SingTel 5Gbps plan (manually bridged ONR).

Hmm. what's the current price for this model? Maybe I need to do this just to see if I really need to go for Wifi 7?

 

[xiaofan]

Hmm. what's the current price for this model? Maybe I need to do this just to see if I really need to go for Wifi 7?

Below S$300 BNIB from Carousell, dumped by M1 users.

 

[darkarn]

Below S$300 BNIB from Carousell, dumped by M1 users.

Gonna have to be the guy and ask ah, how come they are dumping that model too? I thought it is better than whatever TP-Link models Starhub will give with their 10gbps plans

 

[xiaofan]

Gonna have to be the guy and ask ah, how come they are dumping that model too? I thought it is better than whatever TP-Link models Starhub will give with their 10gbps plans

Mainly to offset the subscription price.

Then they can keep using their own 2.5G capable router (eg: ROG GT-AX6000 from M1 previously), or even 1Gbps capable router.

Then some users prefer higher end ones like Ubiquiti Unifi.

 

[darkarn]

Mainly to offset the subscription price.

Then they can keep using their own 2.5G capable router (eg: ROG GT-AX6000 from M1 previously), or even 1Gbps capable router.

Then some users prefer higher end ones like Ubiquiti Unifi.

Ah I thought it is because M1 also go "lock down" the firmware like what Starhub does

Am wondering, how would the Starhub models compare with this particular M1 model (or anything else they have) and Asus models?

 

[xiaofan]

Ah I thought it is because M1 also go "lock down" the firmware like what Starhub does

Am wondering, how would the Starhub models compare with this particular M1 model (or anything else they have) and Asus models?

StarHub EB810v has better HW spec (2.5G ports, faster CPU), but worse Firmware features than Archer BE805. It also lacks firmware updates (but situation may change now that a new FW is out after one year plus of complaints from the users).

Asus RT-BE92U has only one 10G port and has weak CPU.

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 has limited ports and has a weak CPU.

So in the end I choose to go with Archer BE805 as I am not that concerned about the lack of certain Firmware features.

I feel that Archer BE805 is probably the best at the S$300 price range.

 

[darkarn]

I see, so let me see if I understand my options correctly or not ah

1. BE88U only: Got all ports I need but will eventually need to change out to a 6Ghz capable wireless router/AP later on

2. BT10/BE92U + Hasivo switch: Use them strictly as APs only, cannot use them as backup routers

3. Ubiquiti + POE ready switch: Did consider this but POE ready switch a bit on the pricey side. Got consider power injector too but 10gbe ones not readily available. Somemore it means cannot use pfSense right?

4. Archer BE805 + Hasivo switch: Have to get from Carousell if wanna save money but unsure of aftersales support. No option to go MerlinWRT in case of no more official firmware support. But at least got 6GHz

5. BE98/BQ16 + 1gbe Switch: Priciest option here but checks all boxes (i.e. 6GHz, Merlin support etc)

6. EB810v/HB710 + Hasivo switch: Slow firmware support from Starhub

 

[cstanhwz]

Update on post #1096/#1105 regarding the RT-BE58U.

I have tested another set of RT-BE58U V2 (FW updated to latest and reset) and same thing, after a few hours, the unit will become unstable and WEB GUI will become difficult to access and the 2.4Ghz devices (IoT network) will no longer be connected. 5GHz seems still can access. So both these V2 units very unstable for me as router. Not sure why the Viewquest users never feedback any of these issues. Maybe just me only . Will try to use the V2 as nodes instead.

Put back the A1 version and has been running well. Solved the 2.4GHz LED/network turning off after a while too. This was because I set the TX power adjustment to lower settings and also OFDMA/802.11ax MU-MIMO to DL/UL OFDMA + MU-MIMO. Once I revert to Performance and OFF respectively, the 2.4GHz never turn off again. But the unit somehow still steer most of the 2.4GHz IoT devices to the nodes (XD5 and AX3000P) instead. Haiz, at least better than cannot connect. Only left 2 devices to switch to the IoT network. The XT8 never had this issue when set to power saving and DL/UL OFDMA + MU-MIMO (or DL/UL OFDMA only).

Update 19th Nov :-

Enabled WIFI7 mode (did not enable MLO) and encryption was automatically set to WPA2/WPA3-PSK AES. Now most of my IoT devices correctly connect to the RT-BE58U A1 unit instead of my nodes. Will experiment more with lesser power tx etc for the 2.4GHz to see if it still shut down the 2.4GHz on the RT-BE58U A1.

 

[darkarn]

Is the BE96U still in Singapore market? It looks suitable for me (aka triband Wifi7 that has 2 10GBe ports)

 

[xiaofan]

Is the BE96U still in Singapore market? It looks suitable for me (aka triband Wifi7 that has 2 10GBe ports)

RT-BE96U has never been launched in Singapore market.

 

[darkarn]

RT-BE96U has never been launched in Singapore market.

Thanks hmm. Just a check then, what's the exact effect on band splitting for wired backhaul'ed wireless APs?

 

[hyperfuse]

I see, so let me see if I understand my options correctly or not ah

1. BE88U only: Got all ports I need but will eventually need to change out to a 6Ghz capable wireless router/AP later on

2. BT10/BE92U + Hasivo switch: Use them strictly as APs only, cannot use them as backup routers

3. Ubiquiti + POE ready switch: Did consider this but POE ready switch a bit on the pricey side. Got consider power injector too but 10gbe ones not readily available. Somemore it means cannot use pfSense right?

4. Archer BE805 + Hasivo switch: Have to get from Carousell if wanna save money but unsure of aftersales support. No option to go MerlinWRT in case of no more official firmware support. But at least got 6GHz

5. BE98/BQ16 + 1gbe Switch: Priciest option here but checks all boxes (i.e. 6GHz, Merlin support etc)

6. EB810v/HB710 + Hasivo switch: Slow firmware support from Starhub

hi what is this Hasivo u switch u mentioned? From aliexpress?

Can i have the model please