Asus WiFi 7 and WiFi 6E routers

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endrue

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Sharing my experience with latest GT-BE98 firmware (3.0.0.6.102_34372 - release date 2024/04/23). Warning, do not upgrade unless you hit some bugs or issue with previous firmware. Upgraded just to try if any improvements or new features. It has MLO and I don’t have Wifi 7 MLO compatible device.
- It breaks my Aimesh with Smartconnet enabled. Solved by disabling smartconnect. But it was stable before.
- Firmware change log mentioned about “Introduced AURA Night Mode”. But it was already there and not something new. Make me wonder if this firmware only for certain region. But it shows in Asus apps notifications as new firmware.
- Speedtest drop significantly. Tried many channel combinations. Give up 😅

Restore back to previous Firmware version and back to normal. Burn whole day to troubleshoot but fun 😂
 
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HiHelloBye

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endrue said:
Sharing my experience with latest GT-BE98 firmware (3.0.0.6.102_34372 - release date 2024/04/23). Warning, do not upgrade unless you hit some bugs or issue with previous firmware. Upgraded just to try if any improvements or new features. It has MLO and I don’t have Wifi 7 MLO compatible device.
- It breaks my Aimesh with Smartconnet enabled. Solved by disabling smartconnect. But it was stable before.
- Firmware change log mentioned about “Introduced AURA Night Mode”. But it was already there and not something new. Make me wonder if this firmware only for certain region. But is shows in Asus apps notifications as new firmware.
- Speedtest drop significantly. Tried many channel combinations. Give up 😅

Restore back to previous Firmware version and back to normal. Burn whole day to troubleshoot but fun 😂
Click to expand...
Asus has been infamous for publishing updates with little signifance improvements, or sometimes make your Router go haywire. i've personally experienced that before:spin:.

i'll stick with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it:s22:'...
but should anyone goes with the update, it's best to 'hard-reset' the router after updating succesfully.
and remember to back-up your custom configs beforehand, so that you can save time!

if all fails, just hope that you can revert to the previous firmware version LOL

also, you can rely on this useful ASUS wireless router forum (sometimes people give feedbacks with the new firmware updates, etc)
https://www.snbforums.com/forums/asuswrt-official.51
 
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HiHelloBye said:
Asus has been infamous for publishing updates with little signifance improvements, or sometimes make your Router go haywire. i've personally experienced that before:spin:.

i'll stick with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it:s22:'...
but should anyone goes with the update, it's best to 'hard-reset' the router after updating succesfully.
and remember to back-up your custom configs beforehand, so that you can save time!

if all fails, just hope that you can revert to the previous firmware version LOL

also, you can rely on this useful ASUS wireless router forum
https://www.snbforums.com/forums/asuswrt-official.51
Click to expand...
Totally agree 😄. All good now, restored my custom configs. I know one day I will have this issue due to this itchy hands 🤣
 
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HiHelloBye said:
Asus has been infamous for publishing updates with little signifance improvements, or sometimes make your Router go haywire. i've personally experienced that before:spin:.

i'll stick with "if it ain't broke, don't fix it:s22:'...
but should anyone goes with the update, it's best to 'hard-reset' the router after updating succesfully.
and remember to back-up your custom configs beforehand, so that you can save time!

if all fails, just hope that you can revert to the previous firmware version LOL

also, you can rely on this useful ASUS wireless router forum (sometimes people give feedbacks with the new firmware updates, etc)
https://www.snbforums.com/forums/asuswrt-official.51
Click to expand...

I was using Asus official FW for my RT-AX86U for a while but eventually change to Merlin. It seems to be more stable.

I am also using Merlin FW for RT-AX82U (gnuton fork of Merlin).

So far I have not encountered firmware upgrade issues and have never need to use so called hard-reset. I usually go with the firmware update at least one week after the release.

No Merlin FW support yet for Asus WiFi 7 routers though. The WiFi 6E routers supported by official Merlin are GT-AXE11000 and GT-AXE16000. The only WiFi 6E router supported by gnuton fork of Merlin is ZenWiFi ET8.

Link to Asus Merlin
https://www.asuswrt-merlin.net/

Link to gnuton fork of Asus Merlin
https://github.com/gnuton/asuswrt-merlin.ng
 
omelet

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Not sure if anyone noticed, but on the GT-BE98, the integrated 4x 2.5Gbps switch has a single 2.5Gbps internal uplink.
Was testing downloading game on my PS5 (Connected to the 2.5Gbps port), I have another PC that has a 2.5Gbps and the download speed on it was reduced to 1.3Gbps. Until I stopped the download on PS5, then the PC regain it's full 2.3Gbps download speed.

I then switched the PS5 to the single 1Gbps port, and repeated the above test. This time both my PS5 (On 1Gbps port) and PC (On 2.5Gbps port) can reach it's max speed.

So it is probably best to still get a 10Gbps switch to go with it if you have like more than 3 wired devices since you can treat it as having just 1x 1Gbe, 1x 10Gbe and 1x 2.5Gbe LAN port.
 
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omelet said:
Not sure if anyone noticed, but on the GT-BE98, the integrated 4x 2.5Gbps switch has a single 2.5Gbps internal uplink.
Was testing downloading game on my PS5 (Connected to the 2.5Gbps port), I have another PC that has a 2.5Gbps and the download speed on it was reduced to 1.3Gbps. Until I stopped the download on PS5, then the PC regain it's full 2.3Gbps download speed.

I then switched the PS5 to the single 1Gbps port, and repeated the above test. This time both my PS5 (On 1Gbps port) and PC (On 2.5Gbps port) can reach it's max speed.

So it is probably best to still get a 10Gbps switch to go with it if you have like more than 3 wired devices since you can treat it as having just 1x 1Gbe, 1x 10Gbe and 1x 2.5Gbe LAN port.
Click to expand...

Hmm, that is interesting to know.

Need to wait for tear-down article of GT-BE98 to know the 2.5Gbe swtich chipset used and how it is linked to the Broadcom BCM4916 CPU.
 
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xiaofan

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Interesting block diagram for BCM4916 (CPU used in Asus ROG GT-BE98 and RT-BE96).
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/gt-be98-wifi-7.82741/page-7

screenshot-2023-07-08-at-9-51-20-pm-png.51583
 
omelet

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xiaofan said:
From RMerlin (Lead Developer of AsusWRT Merlin)

https://www.snbforums.com/threads/gt-be98-wifi-7.82741/page-22

They (ROG GT-BE98 Pro and ROG GT-BE98) are the same device, but sold in different regions depending on whether that region allows 6 GHz frequencies or not. You don't chose between the two, you get whichever is available in your region.
Click to expand...
There is also the ROG GT-BE25000 currently bundled with MyRepublic 10Gbps Gamer plan.:ROFLMAO:
https://rog.asus.com/networking/rog-rapture-gt-be25000/
 
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From here:
https://www.snbforums.com/threads/gt-be98-wifi-7.82741/page-21

ROG GT-AXE16000 is okay for 8000M/8000M Fibre internet but you need to disable QoS and other features related to Trend Micro (eg: AIprotection Pro).

ROG GT-BE98 should be a bit better but you may still have to disable QoS and other features related to Trend Micro (eg: AIProtection Pro) to use for the 10Gbps plans.

But let's see the reports from the 10Gbps users to see how it goes. Maybe AIProtection Pro is okay.
 
omelet

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MR Gamer 10Gbps + ASUS GT-BE98 (3.0.0.6.102_34372)
Does not seem to make any different on or off for AiProtection

AiProtection Off:


AiProtection On:


Also updated my BE98 to latest firmware which support MLO. Asus's implementation feels different from Tp-Link. Whereas Tp-Link will create a ton of SSID, both the non-MLO SSID and MLO SSID. Asus consolidate all band into a single SSID. So far tested with Pixel 8 Pro and it connects fine with 2.4Ghz+5Ghz or 2.4Ghz+6Ghz depend on distances.
When I connect further away, it will connect to 2.4Ghz+5Ghz and when I move to the same room as the BE98, the 5Ghz switches to 6Ghz.
Non WiFi 7 devices (Such as the S23) connects fine to the MLO network and will use the fastest band available.


pCLCq4y.png


R9TicRk.png
 
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omelet said:
MR Gamer 10Gbps + ASUS GT-BE98 (3.0.0.6.102_34372)
Does not seem to make any different on or off for AiProtection

AiProtection Off:


AiProtection On:


Also updated my BE98 to latest firmware which support MLO. Asus's implementation feels different from Tp-Link. Whereas Tp-Link will create a ton of SSID, both the non-MLO SSID and MLO SSID. Asus consolidate all band into a single SSID. So far tested with Pixel 8 Pro and it connects fine with 2.4Ghz+5Ghz or 2.4Ghz+6Ghz depend on distances.
When I connect further away, it will connect to 2.4Ghz+5Ghz and when I move to the same room as the BE98, the 5Ghz switches to 6Ghz.
Non WiFi 7 devices (Such as the S23) connects fine to the MLO network and will use the fastest band available.


pCLCq4y.png


R9TicRk.png
Click to expand...

Thanks a lot for the sharing. It is good to know that AIprotection Pro does not affect the throughput.

As for MLO, Asus has published a FAQ recently. There is a good catch if people want to AImesh Asus WiFi 7 router with WiFi 6E mesh nodes -- you may have to disable MLO if you want the WiFi 6E AImesh node to broadcast 6GHz band. I think one easy work-around is not to use AImesh at all, just use the WiFi 6E router in AP mode.

Asus FAQ on MLO.
https://www.asus.com/sg/support/faq/1053342/

MLO supported models:

ASUS Wi-Fi 7 series, with firmware version later than xxxxxx.

GT-BE96 3.0.0.6.102_33844
RT-BE96U 3.0.0.6.102_34488
GT-BE98 3.0.0.6.102_34372

MLO networks:

You can create up to 2 MLO networks at the same time.

(1) Connect your computer to the router via wired or WiFi connection and enter router URL http://www.asusrouter.com to the WEB GUI.

(2) Enter your login username and password on the login page and then click [Sign In].

(3) You can navigate to http://www.asusrouter.com/MLO.asp for MLO settings.

AiMesh with WiFi7 MLO supported device and WiFi6E without MLO devices:

If MLO is enabled on AiMesh Primary router, the node without MLO will not broadcast 6GHz WiFi. If you want to disable MLO, please go to: http://www.asusrouter.com/MLO.asp

Then disable MLO.
 
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