Adding the AC5300 to the Zen Wi-Fi XT8 Mesh

[Sunny Unni]

Hi. I am getting my Zen Wi-Fi XT8 mesh system with 2 routers by tomorrow and it will replace my existing mesh system which is an AC5300 and an AC68U connected via Ethernet forming a mesh system. My question is that once the new Zen wifi xt8 system gets installed can I add the existing AC5300 wirelessly to this mesh system to fill in dead spots ? For example the zen wifi system routers will be placed at 2 corners of my home connected via Ethernet (backhaul). In the Center of our home is the kitchen where I wanted to place the AC5300 router but it would be connected wirelessly as I don’t have the provision to run an Ethernet cable. Will this system work together as a mesh and would there be any issues using the Zen wifi 6ghz system and the ac5300 5ghz system together ? Hope my question was clear ? Illustration attached for clarity.

Thanks.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Hi. I am getting my Zen Wi-Fi XT8 mesh system with 2 routers by tomorrow and it will replace my existing mesh system which is an AC5300 and an AC68U connected via Ethernet forming a mesh system. My question is that once the new Zen wifi xt8 system gets installed can I add the existing AC5300 wirelessly to this mesh system to fill in dead spots ? For example the zen wifi system routers will be placed at 2 corners of my home connected via Ethernet (backhaul). In the Center of our home is the kitchen where I wanted to place the AC5300 router but it would be connected wirelessly as I don’t have the provision to run an Ethernet cable. Will this system work together as a mesh and would there be any issues using the Zen wifi 6ghz system and the ac5300 5ghz system together ? Hope my question was clear ? Illustration attached for clarity. View attachment 40886 Thanks.

There can always be issues, so keep it simple, if you can... I would install the wired Zen AiMesh and evaluate coverage. If you need more WiFi, add the 5300 as a wireless node... but beware having too much WiFi for your space and the admin overhead of maintaining different models. I have no tri-band experience, but I suspect you will want to use the 5-2 WLANs as dedicated wireless backhaul for the 5300... and not daisy-chained through the Zen node, if this can be avoided.

OE

 

[Sunny Unni]

Thanks OE. You are right. I will take it one step at a time. Will first connect the XT8s via Ethernet and see the coverage. Then will check adding the AC5300 if it’s even required. Thanks again.

 

[Raven76]

The XT8 can use mesh connections only onto these two wifi:
- 2.4Ghz
- 5.0Ghz on channels 100-140
The other 5.0ghz network (channels 36-64) is NOT usable by mesh system

So, beware... if AC5300 cannot use 5.0Ghz from channel 100 to 140 it will connect to the mesh using the 2.4Ghz wifi

 

[Sunny Unni]

Thanks for that info. Will keep in mind. Hopefully I won’t even need to use the AC5300 at all. I am getting the XT8 mesh system tomorrow and will install then take a call on the AC5300 addition.