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

[xiaofan]

Yeah I think so too. Cause both use the same latest firmware for both models. I am only curious if there is any locking of the router to MR network or stuff like that. I think will call MR to check.

I believe it is not locked to MR. But please update us when you get the confirmation from MR. Thanks.

There may be some differences in terms of warranty handling -- you might need to contact MR for RMA support (1:1 exchange) and not Asus Singapore. Just my guess.

 

[tmster]

What is your current mesh model? What is the WiFi 7 router model you are looking at?

Currently with Starhub using ASUS TUF-AX5400 and another older model ASUS AC2900 to build an AiMesh. I plan to get a 2nd line with another provider. So either M1, Singtel or VQ.

Reason for considering Wifi 7 is to have one router cover the whole house. But if this can't be done, then i will just get another Asus Wifi 6 to play around with my current setup.

Btw i realise that my AiMesh node delivers better wifi speed after midnights and early mornings, almost 40% faster than during peak hours for example btw 8 to 11pm. Has this got anything to do with the bandwidth channels? Is it better to set them on auto and not use the DFS channels?

 

[morimorimori]

Do a site survey and try to pick an unused channel?

 

[tmster]

Do a site survey and try to pick an unused channel?

I used the wifi analyzer app test before, so i configured the settings based on those test results. Ironically i played around with the router wireless settings moments ago, put everything back to auto and...... Voila! the wifi speed went back to normal. So i really have no idea what's going on, all the while i have been wasting my time looking for the best settings when leaving them at auto works the best.

 

[joesph]

Xiaomi funan still no international version of Wi-Fi 7 router in stock


Read HWZ Forum Rules!

 

[xiaofan]

Xiaomi funan still no international version of Wi-Fi 7 router in stock

As far as I know, Xiaomi does not have any international model true WiFi 7 router now (eg: with 6GHz band).

So you cannot buy one anywhere in the world.

 

[gerard_matthews]

Unfortunately Asus only provides two high end quad-band options for the local market. But if you are keen, you can go with either of them to pair with your existing ZenWiFi XT8. Both have two 10G ports.

Asus ROG GT-BE98 at around S$1099
https://rog.asus.com/sg/networking/rog-rapture-gt-be98-model/

Asus ZenWiFi BQ16 at around S$899
https://www.asus.com/sg/networking-...ystem/zenwifi-wifi-systems/asus-zenwifi-bq16/

This is what I did. Paired a BQ16 with XT8

 

[nemo_ng]

Hi all, have been looking at the Chinese wifi 7 routers as they seems to be pretty good value, I am just wondering if chinese routers have the capability of running wireguard or openVPN? if not, are most of these routers available/will be available to install openWRT in the future?

I'm running wireguard on Asus RT-BE88U ... setup was easy. Tried connecting my phone + laptop back home while chilling at Starbucks. Was stable and no visible lag when browsing web. Youtube was ok as well.

 

[kero89]

Not sure if this is relevant, but for those using RT-BE88U or routers with SFP port, any recommended 10G SFP-RJ45 adapters to buy and any compatibility issues to look out for? Thanks!

 

[xiaofan]

Not sure if this is relevant, but for those using RT-BE88U or routers with SFP port, any recommended 10G SFP-RJ45 adapters to buy and any compatibility issues to look out for? Thanks!

10GTek Taobao Shop Links for your reference. They specifically mention models compatible with Asus. But you may need to contact them to confirm.

RMB 49 for the SFP+ optic module
RMB 198 for the SFP+ copper module

【淘宝】https://m.tb.cn/h.g7XEtoSg3NG0kJo?tk=QxU83bDr2Xv CZ3452 「10G万兆多模光模块 SFP-10G-SR 双纤SFP+光纤模块 光口模块 兼容华为H3C锐捷思科Ubiquti华硕超聚变OMXD30000」
点击链接直接打开 或者 淘宝搜索直接打开

【淘宝】https://m.tb.cn/h.gidRUBBGOiiuzVK?tk=K9EA3bDIU4k CZ8908 「万兆SFP+电口光模块RJ45光转电转换10G光口转电口模块自适应兼容5/2.5/1.25G锐捷思科华为H3C小米10Gbase-T」
点击链接直接打开 或者 淘宝搜索直接打开

 

[ayaamane]

Just got 2x Asus BQ16 to replace 2x Asus XT12 setup.
Placement remains the same (5rm HDB: router inside living room TV console, satellite at 2nd bedroom). Not the ideal placement but for WAF purpose.
I only have a single WiFi 7 client (Pixel 8) and observed no speed difference between 6GHz vs 5GHz.
XT12 might even excel better if to compare purely 5GHz signal strength.

Currently letting go the XT12 in pristine condition. Msg me if anyone interested.

 

[Kyubi]

Anybody using be98 ASUS? It looks huge. How do u all fit it in your db box?

 

[xiaofan]

Anybody using be98 ASUS? It looks huge. How do u all fit it in your db box?

I tend to think people do not usually put such a large router in the DB box.

1) You can use the Option 2 below to put it in a central location: to have two LAN ports close to each other, and then put a switch inside the DB box.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...home-networking.6653421/page-3#post-149431568

2) Put it just outside of the DB box, you may need to drill a hole which allows at least two Ethernet cable to go through.

 

[morimorimori]

 

[OralMaster]

In that case, you have to choose Asus, like Asus RT-BE88U. The Asus Chinese modeles will have Wireguard and OpenVPN support, they also have English FW.

As for OpenWRT support for WiFi 7, I do not know how soon it will come.

The following is just my personal opionion.
1. Most of the mid-range BE6500 and BE7200 rated Chinese WiFI 7 routers are based on Qualcomm IPQ5322 and MediaTek Filogic 860 and I think they will NOT have OpenWRT support any time soon.

2. And those BE3600/BE5000 rated router based on AN7563PT CPU will most likely NEVER have OpenWRT support.

3. ZTE and Huawei modles with their own CPU will also NEVER have OpenWRT support.

4. My reasoning:
1) Qualcomm IPQ5000 and Qualcomm IPQ6000 -- no official OpenWRT support until now.
--> Qualcomm IPQ5322 will likely not get official OpenWRT support

2) Qualcomm IPQ807x has not very good official OpenWRT support (eg: XIaomi AX3600/AX9000)-- IPQ9570/9574 (Xiaomi BE10000) may have OpenWRT support in the future but not any time soon and the support may not be so good.

3) MediaTek Filogic 820/830 have good OpenWRT support -- but not so sure about Filogic 860. I tend to think it will not have the support any time soon.

4) MediaTek Filogic 880 platform may be the first platform to have OpenWRT support for WIFi 7 -- but none of the current Chinese WiFi routers are based on this platform.

thank you very much for your insight, i have learned alot. Would you recommend the Asus TUF BE6500 as an alternative? Reason being I find the price for RT-BE88U too steep and I am only on the 2.5G Whizzcomms Plan.

 

[xiaofan]

thank you very much for your insight, i have learned alot. Would you recommend the Asus TUF BE6500 as an alternative? Reason being I find the price for RT-BE88U too steep and I am only the 2.5G Whizzcomms Plan.

Hard to decide between Asus TX-AX6000 (proven version with MediaTek Filogic 830 chipset, good OpenWRT support) or Asus TUF-6500 now since there seems to be some firmware issues with TUF-6500.

But I think it is okay to go with TUF-6500 in the end and the firmware issues will probably be resolved later (eg: no Asia region in wireless settings, no Asus DDNS support, no Asus Instant Guard VPN server support).

 

[Kyubi]

I tend to think people do not usually put such a large router in the DB box.

1) You can use the Option 2 below to put it in a central location: to have two LAN ports close to each other, and then put a switch inside the DB box.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...home-networking.6653421/page-3#post-149431568

2) Put it just outside of the DB box, you may need to drill a hole which allows two Ethernet cable to go through.

Ya thought of this.. but too bad.. Reno last time did not include an extra port in living room.. so that option is out.. oh well

 

[xiaofan]

Ya thought of this.. but too bad.. Reno last time did not include an extra port in living room.. so that option is out.. oh well

I see.

Option 3 using VLAN switch is expensive for you since you are on Starhub 10Gbps plan. You need two 10G VLAN capable switches.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...home-networking.6653421/page-3#post-149431568

I guess the last resort is to drill a hole on the DB box and then put the router outside of the DB box. The hole needs to be big enough to house two or more CAT6 cables.

XGS-PON ONT in DB box -- CAT6 cable -- Asus ROG GT-BE98 (outside of DB box) 10G WAN port
GT-BE98 10G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- 10G switch -- patch panel room LAN ports

Or more cables needed if you do not want to add the 10G switch.
GT-BE98 10G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- patch panel -- living room LAN port
GT-BE98 2.5G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- patch panel -- main room LAN port
GT-BE98 2.5G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- patch panel -- bedroom 1 LAN port
GT-BE98 2.5G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- patch panel -- bedroom 2 LAN port

 

[Kyubi]

I see.

Option 3 using VLAN switch is expensive for you since you are on Starhub 10Gbps plan. You need two 10G VLAN capable switches.
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...home-networking.6653421/page-3#post-149431568

I guess the last resort is to drill a hole on the DB box and then put the router outside of the DB box. The hold needs to be big enough to house two or more CAT6 cables.

XGS-PON ONT in DB box -- CAT6 cable -- Asus ROG GT-BE98 (outside of DB box) 10G WAN port
GT-BE98 10G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- 10G switch -- patch panel room LAN ports

Or more cables needed if you do not want to add the 10G switch.
GT-BE98 10G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- patch panel -- living room LAN port
GT-BE98 2.5G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- patch panel -- main room LAN port
GT-BE98 2.5G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- patch panel -- bedroom 1 LAN port
GT-BE98 2.5G LAN port -- CAT 6 cable -- patch panel -- bedroom 2 LAN port

More protruding cables and my layout doesn’t suit it as well. No choice then.. means when I looked for wifi7 routers, I have to ensure the size fit my db box.. unless this be98 can be wall mounted.. maybe can fit the space lol

 

[xiaofan]

More protruding cables and my layout doesn’t suit it as well. No choice then.. means when I looked for wifi7 routers, I have to ensure the size fit my db box.. unless this be98 can be wall mounted.. maybe can fit the space lol

Some people are very creative with Wall Mounting. Hopefully they can chime in and help.

But high end 10G capable WiFi 7 wireless routers are all pretty big now.

You can actually consider wired router in the DB box, and then use WiFi 7 APs outside.

Wired router options -- Ubiquity UDM SE, MikroTik, TP-Link Omada, Mini PC based, etc. They will have better features than Asus.
WiFI 7 AP -- using TP-Link EB810v (locked to Starhub), TP-link Archer BE805 (both at around S$400 from Carousell), TP-Link Omada AP, Unifi U7 Pro, etc

One example using TP-Link China version wired router and AP (in-wall and ceiling mounted)
https://forums.hardwarezone.com.sg/...etwork-upgrade.6341518/page-11#post-153048874