WiFi 7 routers (including WiFi 7 routers without 6GHz band support)

[xonix]

Hi, anyone know why Asus BE92u is cheaper than Asus BE86u even though BE92u is triband? Is it because BE92u has a slower cpu?

Look at the theoretical wifi speeds between the 2 models and you will see why. And yes the CPU is also a factor.

 

[tsammyc]

This kinda obscure linkage information you also can find
How/Where can i check whether the other Singtel plan's issued 'ASUS RT-AX86U WiFi 6 gaming router' also has its FW controlled by Singtel?

For my learning, what's the implication of having FW controlled by ISP when you one day decide to switch ISPs? since other ISPS also doing this with their own model of routers

If a random customer goes to buy this router from retailer, wouldn't they also be subjected to the Singtel FW control since all SG TP-Link HB810 has to use this FW or else risk warranty void. Does the retailer version uses the generic firmware which cannot be used to overwrite this in the event of an ISP switch?

It gets even more complicated as different ISP's may use the same model. In Singapore, both Starhub and My Republic sell the HB710. On the TP-Link Website, it was listed as two separate models HB710 (SH) and HB710 (MR), although that distinction seems to now have been removed on the website. When I bought my HB710 from the Starhub shop at NEX, it was actually labelled as the My Republic version. Has been suggested that perhaps it's because Starhub acquired MR about two years ago, although they still operate separately. So who controls the firmware? Starhub or My Republic?

Who controls the firmware is not actually easy to find out. Unlike Singtel's HB810, where you can find a link to a Singtel page, the HB710 updated its firmware when I first installed it, not even asking me whether I wanted to do it and I don't know where from. It is possible to initiate a firmware upgrade through the web interface, but I have a feeling it was pushed out by the ISP in my case when I turned it on and connected to the internet. But who pushed it out? My Republic, Starhub or perhaps and most likely imho TP-Link.

So why bother with these service provider routers? Its price quite simply. The HB710 is $192. The next cheapest router at retail with two 10Gbps ports is the Archer GE800, which is $699. The HB710 also seems to work well on various ISP's in Singapore and even supports Singtel VLAN. I use the HB710 as an easymesh node and it has been working flawlessly for a month. No disconnects whatsoever. So why not take a chance on a router, which has pretty much all the capability of much more expensive routers at 27% of the price! It also has a 4-year warranty directly from TP-Link, not Starhub, which is one year longer than normal.

 

[DaBaiCai]

It gets even more complicated as different ISP's may use the same model. In Singapore, both Starhub and My Republic sell the HB710. On the TP-Link Website, it was listed as two separate models HB710 (SH) and HB710 (MR), although that distinction seems to now have been removed on the website. When I bought my HB710 from the Starhub shop at NEX, it was actually labelled as the My Republic version. Has been suggested that perhaps it's because Starhub acquired MR about two years ago, although they still operate separately. So who controls the firmware? Starhub or My Republic?

Who controls the firmware is not actually easy to find out. Unlike Singtel's HB810, where you can find a link to a Singtel page, the HB710 updated its firmware when I first installed it, not even asking me whether I wanted to do it and I don't know where from. It is possible to initiate a firmware upgrade through the web interface, but I have a feeling it was pushed out by the ISP in my case when I turned it on and connected to the internet. But who pushed it out? My Republic, Starhub or perhaps and most likely imho TP-Link.

So why bother with these service provider routers? Its price quite simply. The HB710 is $192. The next cheapest router at retail with two 10Gbps ports is the Archer GE800, which is $699. The HB710 also seems to work well on various ISP's in Singapore and even supports Singtel VLAN. I use the HB710 as an easymesh node and it has been working flawlessly for a month. No disconnects whatsoever. So why not take a chance on a router, which has pretty much all the capability of much more expensive routers at 27% of the price! It also has a 4-year warranty directly from TP-Link, not Starhub, which is one year longer than normal.

Need to be SH user or anyone can buy HB710?

 

[tsammyc]

Need to be SH user or anyone can buy HB710?

Many here have bought without them checking if you are a Starhub customer. But it depends on the salesman.

 

[xiaofan]

Need to be SH user or anyone can buy HB710?

Different Starhub shops and different staff may be different in this case, YMMV.
1) Require to show that you are an existing Starhub 5Gbps/10Gbps customer. This is the official policy from Starhub.
2) Require to show that you are an existing Starhub customer, but no need to be 5Gbps/10Gbps customer.
3) Not even checking if you are an existing Starhub customer or not.

In my case, it is Case 2 in Starhub Jurong Point shop. The staff had to check with his manager to be sure that he could sell me the HB710.

Reference: official policy from Starhub: Broadband Routers FAQ
https://www.starhub.com/personal/support/article.html?id=LfNB5odcBt0mTG6Pr7GSB7

6 Can I purchase the TP-Link HB710 without getting the 5Gbps/10Gbps plan?
No. The TP-Link HB710 router is only available for purchase for StarHub 5Gbps/10Gbps broadband customers.

 

[xiaofan]

Challenges for WiFi 7 router users.

Somehow the top WiFi 7 download and upload speed achieved in this forum are all from TP-Link WiFi 7 routers (except for dual band WiFi 7 router without 6GHz band --> that one is from Asus TUF-BE6500).
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/wifi-7-device-speedtest-and-wifi-7-adapters.7048233/

1) Record download speed by jasonho --> 4886Mbps
Router : Qnap Qhora-302 <—double NAT—> Archer BE805 TPLink wireless router. <--Wifi 7 MLO--> Oppo Find X8 Pro
ISP : MyRepublic 10Gbps plan

Phone is 1.5m away from TP-Link Archer BE805. Surrounded by other wireless routers (Qhora Wifi, Asus GT6)
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...d-deco-wifi-6e-7-mesh-solution.6953682/page-7

2) Second best in this forum for overall best WiFi 7 Speed, by kashix, using TP-Link Archer BE550 Pro and Xiaomi 14.

https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...wifi-7-adapters.7048233/page-4#post-154024186

3) Best WiFi 7 speed using Dual Band WiFi 7 router without 6GHz band, by deepakmayekar, using Asus TUF-BE6500 router, Intel BE200 WiFi 7 adapter.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...and-tuf-be3600.6952409/page-10#post-153501129

4) Best upload speed at 3978Mbps.

SpeedTest done by @seowbin withTP-Link Archer BE800 and Intel BE200.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...200-vs-ax210-vs-be200-got-difference.6978264/

 

[xiaofan]

Interesting perspective and my take on it.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/threads/asus-wifi-7-and-wifi-6e-routers.6952409/page-40

personally i feel for home user, you do not need to buy the "higher price" fastest and most powerful router, a mid-range like TUF-BE6500 (from China) would be good enough, with the money saved now, probably you can buy newer mid-range router every year on and on, instead of spending higher (2x more) cost on the most powerful router and wait every 3yrs to upgrade.

what are your views?

I kind of use your strategy for my mobile phone purchase --> buy only mid-range Androdi phones at about S$400 and then use it for about two years.

Router is a bit different and the progress is much slower than mobile phone. So I think very few people will use your strategy.

People change router for a few reasons.
1) WAN speed change due to Fibre internet plan changes. Eg: 1Gbps --> 2.5Gbps --> 10Gbps

1Gbps was the norm for many years. Only starting from last year XGS-PON based plans start to be popular. Suddenly there is a need to get 10G or at least 2.5G capable router to fully utilize the bandwidth provided by the Fibre internet plans.

This is probably one of the main reason why people change the main router now.

2) LAN speed change due to the use of wired device. This is related to #1 but can be a bit different.

For example, RT-AX86U has single 2.5G port (WAN/LAN). So technically people can use it for 2.5Gbps internet plan. But then wired device is only able to reach 1Gbps. Some people would then like to upgrade the router to able to consume 2.5Gbps bandwidth.

Same for Asus RT-BE86U which has single 10G WAN port and quad 2.5G ports. It is actually an okay choice for 5Gbps/6Gbps/10Gbps plan, as long as you are okay with the limitation that wired device can only reach 2.5Gbps.

3) WiFi standard spec change. Eg: WiFi 5 (AC) --> WiFi 6 --> WiFi 6E (many people skip this upgrade) --> WiFi 7

This is another major reason why people upgrade.

4) Old router EOLed by the provider -- no more security updates

An example is that Asus has EOLed all the WiFi 5 consumer routers. So it is better to upgrade to avoid security concerns.

5) To improve wireless coverage --> to add one more AP or mesh node

 

[ferdddy]

Just wondering if we are able to use another brand’s router to mesh via Ethernet backhaul?

currently have an Asus BE6500 as main router. Thinking if I could just use the TP link WiFi 7 that I received for free with Myrepublic sign up as Ethernet backhaul just to boost WiFi signal in MBR.

Is it possible?

 

[ov2rey]

https://einfoldtech.com/2025/01/tp-link-archer-be400-be6500-dual-band-wi-fi-7-router/

TP-Link release another afforable router. BE400

 

[ov2rey]

Just wondering if we are able to use another brand’s router to mesh via Ethernet backhaul?

currently have an Asus BE6500 as main router. Thinking if I could just use the TP link WiFi 7 that I received for free with Myrepublic sign up as Ethernet backhaul just to boost WiFi signal in MBR.

Is it possible?

Cannot....

 

[froztheart]

Just wondering if we are able to use another brand’s router to mesh via Ethernet backhaul?

currently have an Asus BE6500 as main router. Thinking if I could just use the TP link WiFi 7 that I received for free with Myrepublic sign up as Ethernet backhaul just to boost WiFi signal in MBR.

Is it possible?

Not compatible at all.

 

[MRC]

Anybody used TP-Link wireless AP in their house? I am thinking of using it in my entire house so that the signal will be good. Any comments?

https://item.taobao.com/item.htm?sp...YHoUlVLi5hX6VsCYT7EUP3AdisbRFt1ZhhCAMWrLYztkG

Option is this 超千兆WiFi7✪5台5100M面板+9口千兆POE主机

 

[pototakoala]

Hi I recently signed up for the $29.55/month 5Gbps StarHub plan but opted not to go for the EB810v router as I read about many stability issues online. Could anyone recommend me a WiFi 7 router? Will need it to have one 10GbE WAN port and at least two 2.5GbE LAN ports (or better). Budget around S$600, don't mind splurging tbh...

 

[rAcEr]

Hi I recently signed up for the $29.55/month 5Gbps StarHub plan but opted not to go for the EB810v router as I read about many stability issues online. Could anyone recommend me a WiFi 7 router? Will need it to have one 10GbE WAN port and at least two 2.5GbE LAN ports (or better). Budget around S$600, don't mind splurging tbh...

Asus be88u or be92u should fit your requirements.

 

[pototakoala]

Asus be88u or be92u should fit your requirements.

Thanks. Very weird/specific question but would they both have better range than RT-AC88U in terms of the 2.4GHz band?

 

[Skypower]

Hi I recently signed up for the $29.55/month 5Gbps StarHub plan but opted not to go for the EB810v router as I read about many stability issues online. Could anyone recommend me a WiFi 7 router? Will need it to have one 10GbE WAN port and at least two 2.5GbE LAN ports (or better). Budget around S$600, don't mind splurging tbh...

Asus TUF-BE6500Pro (from Taobao), sgd600 can order ard 3/4 set for whole house coverage.

 

[xiaofan]

Thanks. Very weird/specific question but would they both have better range than RT-AC88U in terms of the 2.4GHz band?

This will be difficult to answer.

Many of the newer WiFi 6/6E/7 routers will not have improved 2.4GHz coverage than the old WiFi 5 routers.

I can only guess that RT-BE88U may well have better 2.4GHz band coverage than RT-AC88U, and RT-BE92U may well have worse 2.4GHz band coverage. Just a guess.

In the end, do not expect good 2.4GHz coverage or performance in Singapore due to the highly congested 2.4Ghz band, no matter which router you are going to use.

 

[xiaofan]

ZTE BE7200 Pro+ FW updates: V1.0.0.5B9:8000.

https://appstore.ztehome.com.cn/firmware-desc/ZXSLC-SPACE-SR7410-8000/all-V1.0.0.5B9.8000.html
更新内容为：
1.【新增】APP支持唤醒接入设备(WOL)
2.【新增】游戏加速与视频守护功能
3.【新增】接入设备限速功能
4.【新增】支持自定义优先路由节点
5.【新增】APP支持配置SAMBA
6.【新增】支持节点小宝插件
7.【新增】青少年保护增加网址黑名单开关
8.【新增】WEB页面USB管理增加“安全弹出”功能
9.【新增】APP支持离线设备&黑名单删除功能
10.【新增】WiFi高级特性设置
11.【优化】优化MLO性能和2.4G兼容性
12.【优化】UU插件支持IPv4/IPv6双栈WAN连接场景
13.【优化】增加青少年保护支持APP的种类
14.【优化】设备离线时间优化
15.【优化】APP支持显示次WAN的状态、速率信息
16.【优化】IPTV功能优化
17.【优化】WEB界面信息优化
18.【优化】其他已知问题优化

Previous version running on my ZTE BE7200 Pro+: V1.0.0.4B8.8000
https://appstore.ztehome.com.cn/firmware-desc/ZXSLC-SPACE-SR7410-8000/all-V1.0.0.4B8.8000.html
更新内容为：
BE7200Pro+版本更新说明：
1.青少年模式支持蛋仔派对
2.任意LAN口可以选用为WAN口
3.支持NAT66功能
4.APP展示设备的MLO接入方式
5.支持自定义Hosts
6.交换机下挂设备可以识别管理
7.支持中兴路由器组网场景下的IPTV功能
8.组网场景下的WiFi定时功能
9.支持组网场景下隐藏SSID功能同步到副路由
10.青少年模式&WEB上的URL过滤支持模糊匹配
11.青少年上网时长规则调整
12.IPv6状态防火墙增加独立开关功能
13.IPv6功能菜单优化
14.静态地址绑定支持新增自定义网关
15.增加备用DNS
16.DMZ与端口转发的设备选择方式优化
17.samba访问路径优化
18.已知故障优化
【注】：新版本IPTV进行升级，原有配置会被重置。升级前提醒您记录原有配置，升级后需重新设置IPTV功能。

 

[lee6mm]

I’m considering Asus BT10 but selling at around $850. Considering Asus BE92U is at $399 each. Buying 2 is cheaper and more ports. Much better solution ?

 

[xiaofan]

I’m considering Asus BT10 but selling at around $850. Considering Asus BE92U is at $399 each. Buying 2 is cheaper and more ports. Much better solution ?

I will say Asus ZenWiFi BT10 is a much better mesh soluton than Asus RT-BE92U, no matter using Ethernet backhaul or wireless backahul. You can try to negotate to get the price down to S$800 now that more sets are available.

Asus ZenWiFi BT10 --> dual 10G ports plus one 1G port. 2GB RAM, higher WiFi spec (triband BE18000)
Asus RT-BE92U --> single 10G port, quad 2.5G ports, 1GB RAM, lower WiFi spec (triband BE9700)

The main good thing about RT-BE92U is the quad 2.5G ports.