Recent content by chris2025

I have used the BE58 Go as well, both as a travel router (WISP and also as a standard double-NAT'd wired router) and as a regular home router in a family member's apartment. It performs well with Merlin firmware, including for VPN functions. I have not tried the switching mode though without...

I'm pretty sure you can run TAILMON on any Merlin supported Asus router, which allows you to install and run Tailscale right on the router itself. I haven't tried it on the BE58 Go yet, but I have run it on other Asus Merlin routers via the Tailmon entware app in amtm. You can then make the...

I recently bought an Asus RT-BE58 Go travel router, which is a quad CPU WiFi 7 dual-band router, and is also Merlin supported, for use on the road. It is pretty tiny to travel with, and it can be powered off of almost any cell phone USB-C power adapter/cord for convenience. If you're in the...

It's frustrating... I have been holding out for a decent AFC option for over a year... I was hoping perhaps the BE98 Pro would get it (as originally promised and FCC approved), but no luck so far. The BE19000 AI has it, but the price and color don't work for me. The GS-BE18000 (STRIX) has it...

I've been using a thumb drive for a few weeks to test out some merlin add-ons with my AX86U, specifically Tailmon, Diversion, Skynet, and AdGuard Home... so far no issues, but I'd like to switch to an SSD for long term stability. I checked out the recommendations provided in the above...

Yeah I held off on the GS-BE18000 for now. Interestingly enough, Best Buy has the ZenWifi BQ16 Pro 3-pack (AKA BE30000) on sale as the 'Deal of the Day' today for $850 total with the recycle discount... also a great price per-unit on another model that was 'promised' AFC support via firmware...

Looks like the STRIX GS-BE18000 just went on sale at Best Buy for $330… I’ve been watching this one for a while and this is the lowest price I’ve seen, plus can get another 15% off with trade-in/recycle. I really would like my next router to be AFC capable… the BE19000AI is just too expensive...

There was a lengthy discussion of it in this thread, along with FCC listings. https://www.snbforums.com/threads/bq16-is-afc-fully-working-now.95885/

As far as I could tell, the GS-BE12000 is the little brother to the GS-BE18000, with the main differences being the GS-BE18000 has 4x4 on the 6GHz band and AFC, whereas the GS-BE12000 lacks AFC and is 2x2 on the 6GHz band. The other specs seem to be the same. I could only find the GS-BE18000...

Much appreciated. Yes I saw some of your ROG forum posts… as well as the wifi calling issue thread here. I’m definitely not as expert as many of the technical users on these forums!

Yes I've actually closely/obsessively followed all of your posts and others' posts on snbforums for several years now... mostly for my AC and AX routers, but also the last couple of years trying to decide which BE model to buy for my next upgrades... it's all been really informative and the...

Thanks again for all the input… After some more deliberation, I returned my unopened BE98 Pro tonight for a refund. I’ll give it some more time and decide what I really need in terms of form factor and bands and range and whether AFC will be a dealbreaker. I’d like to kill two birds with one...

Yeah I think you may be right… I do have a few wifi 7 devices (all Apple) and it would be a great toy for me, but probably overkill for my immediate needs… I wish there were a better medium/high tier option that had 6Ghz and AFC without having ROG styling or a $500+ price tag. Merlin capability...

Thanks for the info everyone. I actually bought a BE98 Pro a couple of weeks ago with one of the trade-in deals and on sale for a “decent” price (under $500) - I figured it had time to mature a little bit and also was one of the few WiFi 7 routers that would run Merlin… however I didn’t open it...

Yeah, I was thinking because I live across the street from a hospital and police station and high-rise buildings that there may be conflicts. Maybe not. I definitely could use extra range in my residence though for 6ghz due to walls and distance, and I can’t run Ethernet to the other rooms...