5Ghz GUEST Network not propagatng to AiMesh nodes?

[jksmurf]

What is the latest wisdom on getting the 5Ghz (Guest Wifi) band to actually work on the GNP Nodes, using AiMesh (in addition to the 2.4Ghz band).
I do not wish to create APs atm.

My Guest Network (GNP) is working, but clients (iPhones and iPads) all seem to be served 2.4Ghz only (on Guest) and not 5Ghz w.e.o.
(a) when connected to Guest Wifi the MAIN router (where they can get EITHER)
OR
(b) if I connect the devices AT the Node to the Primary Wifi (subnet 47) they get 5Ghz straight away i.e. NOT Guest Wifi.

This suggests that for 2.4Ghz the Wifi propagates MAIN and GUEST but for 5GHz it propagates just the MAIN Wifi to each node?
See example below for XD6 Annex Node, which shows on subnet 47, there is a 5GHz connection; but on 52 (Guest) only 2.4GHz.
Ths pattern is repeated on all nodes. Very frustrating.

In the past (forum search) folks have variously said (and I have tried all these):

- Update FW MAIN and Nodes
- "YES" DO use Ethernet Backhaul Mode Setting
- "NO" do NOT use Ethernet Backhaul setting (in EITHER place, System Settings "Ethernet Backhaul Mode" Management, "Backhaul Connection Priority", use Auto
- Switch on and off the 5Ghz Band on each node, under "Enable Radio"
- Reboot Node, reboot main, reset nodes, re-attach.

Setup:

• RT-AX86U Pro Main, 2 x XD6 and 1 RT-AX58U Nodes
• Merlin 3006.102.5 on Main, latest stock FW (3.0.0.4.388_23813) on XD6s and 3004.38.10 beta on the RT-AX58U Node
• Two GNP Setups, GUEST (2.4GHz+5Ghz) and IoT (2.4 Ghz only)
• GUEST on own VLAN 52, IoT uses MAIN subnet 47.
• For Guest I selected ALL Nodes for AiMesh. Once I had done that IoT was limited to Primary Router only (X's) as expected, non 3006 GNP Nodes.
• Ethernet Backhaul on all nodes but Ethernet Backhaul Mode OFF (AiMesh System Settings) AND
• WPA2/WP3 on the Guest Wifi
• WPA2 on the IoT Wifi
• The Nodes all connect just fine (Ethernet Backhaul is great).

I am starting to wonder if having the IoT Network (subnet 47) on the same subnet as the Main has anything to do with it but surely that is not logical, it should not affect Wifi on subnet 52, right?

Just frustrated,

ASUS Docs:

• https://www.asus.com/us/support/faq/1045327/
• https://www.asus.com/support/faq/1045327/

"This feature can only be configured on the AiMesh router. Guest network is currently designed to allow the first set of each band (2.4G, 5G, 5G-1) available to the AiMesh node. Only one set is available for each band. "

Cryptic as all get up, but I read that BOTH 2.4G and 5G (one SET) is available to the node.
So absent IoT 24 (which i KNOW does not get to the node) at least I should see 2.4Ghz AND 5Ghz GUEST Wifi BOTH getting there, right (as well as Main 2.4 and 5 of course)?

 

[bennor]

Just frustrated,

As are various others who are trying to use 3004.388.x firmware AiMesh nodes with a 3006.102.x firmware main router. There have been other past discussions where people express frustration with inconsistent WiFi and or Guest Network Pro propagation from the 3006 to 3004 AiMesh node. Everyone is pushing the boundaries trying to figure out exactly how things work and interact and finding sometimes things don't work as expected. For what ever reason Asus hasn't provided much details (if any) on how 3006 firmware interacts with 3004 AiMesh nodes and what the limitations are on the 3004 nodes.

 

[Tech9]

Just frustrated,

Your level of frustration will only increase if you continue with this mix-and-match AiMesh strategy.

 

[bennor]

Asus does indicate the following with respect to syncing Guest Network features to AiMesh nodes:

[Wireless Router] How to set up Guest Network features to Sync to AiMesh node? | Official Support | ASUS Global

2. This feature can only be configured on the AiMesh router. Guest network is currently designed to allow the first set of each band (2.4G, 5G, 5G-1) available to the AiMesh node. Only one set is available for each band.

PS: And as the screen shots above for extending Guest Network Pro to the 3004.388.x AiMesh nodes indicate: "* For older AiMesh nodes, there are limitations on syncing all bands." Really seems like for the best compatibility, make sure all devices are running the same firmware branch, in other words all running 3006. Which likely means means swapping out old AiMesh nodes for 3006 firmware supported AiMesh nodes.

 

[jksmurf]

As are various others who are trying to use 3004.388.x firmware AiMesh nodes with a 3006.102.x firmware main router. There have been other past discussions where people express frustration with inconsistent WiFi and or Guest Network Pro propagation from the 3006 to 3004 AiMesh node. Everyone is pushing the boundaries trying to figure out exactly how things work and interact and finding sometimes things don't work as expected. For what ever reason Asus hasn't provided much details (if any) on how 3006 firmware interacts with 3004 AiMesh nodes and what the limitations are on the 3004 nodes.

I agree. The thing is it's a retrograde step. I do not wish to revert, but this USED to work on the old Guest Network Setup, at least GN1 (of the three) could reliably do both.
What is also frustrating is how opaque ASUS are with describing what works or not. This is terrible. Just poor. Be up front about it.

Your level of frustration will only increase if you continue with this mix-and-match AiMesh strategy.

I know. Actually I have now bought a replacement 3006 VLAN-capable Main and a 3006 VLAN Node and I will use the current 3006 VLAN-capable Main Router as a node.
In the meantime I am trying my luck; was really scoping to see if anyone had got it working with a 3006 Main/3004 Node combo similar to my setup.

 

[jksmurf]

Asus does indicate the following with respect to syncing Guest Network features to AiMesh nodes:

[Wireless Router] How to set up Guest Network features to Sync to AiMesh node? | Official Support | ASUS Global

I know (added in the message above before you posted); so what does it mean?

As above, where I asked "Cryptic as all get up, but I read that BOTH 2.4G and 5G (one SET) is available to the node. So absent IoT 24 (which I know does not get to the node) at least I should see 2.4Ghz AND 5Ghz GUEST Wifi BOTH getting there, right (as well as Main 2.4 and 5 of course)?"

 

[bennor]

so what does it mean?

Don't know... maybe ask Asus? Or maybe @RMerlin?

 

[Tech9]

so what does it mean?

This means AiMesh is work-in-progress moving target and you are the beta tester. Your 3rd party firmware with zero AiMesh visibility to the developer is not making it any better. If you want to test AiMesh current capabilities - use stock Asuswrt only so the experience is as close as possible to the Asus design and intentions. If something is extremely frustrating for you - ask Asus.

 

[jksmurf]

Don't know... maybe ask Asus? Or maybe @RMerlin?

OK I just asked ASUS. I think it was Tech9 who actually asked RMerlin a while back how it all worked with 3006/3004 combinations and the answer at that time was (IIRC) effectively "I don't know it's all with ASUS"

This means AiMesh is work-in-progress moving target and you are the beta tester. Your 3rd party firmware with zero AiMesh visibility to the developer is not making it any better. If you want to test AiMesh current capabilities - use stock Asuswrt only so the experience is as close as possible to the Asus design and intentions. If something is extremely frustrating for you - ask Asus.

OK fair point and I have asked ASUS; actually I was asking here becasue I thought someone else had (perhaps mistakenly, surely I cannot be the only one?) actually set it up with a 3006/3004 combo and had it working with BOTH bands, so I was trawling for details of what made it work for them. If no-one else has got it to work, then it's going to be a long walk...

 

[Tech9]

Actually I have now bought a replacement

Continuous investments in Asus development and consecutive testing of the results is very nice of you.

On behalf of the community - thank you!

 

[jksmurf]

Continuous investments in Asus development and consecutive testing of the results is very nice of you.

On behalf of the community - thank you!

Well that’s not super helpful but I’ll take it with a grain of salt.

What is useful is the original thread from August last year where @visortgw confirmed (to you no less) that 3006/3004 worked and propagated guest networks for both bands. See that post and the subsequent ones.

So it did or does work and I’m sort of wondering what I could do to make mine behave the same way.

 

[Tech9]

Use Asus provided information about Guest Network Pro compatibility. Everything else is not guaranteed to work.