Advice on moving from TP-Link to ASUS

[nikaidoboss]

I am moving houses to a new place and have some Tapo Floodlight Cameras outside
The new place is 185m2 / Current is 120m2
I currently have 2x AX53 TP-Link Routers wired backhaul mesh. they work fine but the RSSI signal to most cameras behind brick/plastered walls have horrible signal 70-80 RSSI including the ring doorbell.
I need to upgrade to accommodate the bigger house / all walls are brick&plaster.
I initially thought about the BE800 or GE800 TP-Link as main routers and wire backhaul to the AX53s then now thought about going the ASUS Route with 2 decent routers
my options on the ASUS side is GT-AX6000 / RT-AX88U Pro / RT-BE88U Pro / AX89X Pro
I did purchase one GT-AX6000 today as a test first but I can still return and go a different route
GT-AX6000 is the cheapest of the bunch at almost 200$ the RT-BE88U is 411$ and the GE800 is the most expensive at 470$
I dont really need any VLAN stuff I dont know personally what people use Vlans for in home networks.
I also have a wired connection to each room in the house.
I could find the VPN Fusion option (using VPN on specific applications while rest of network is not behind a VPN usefull for some things) thus leaning towards ASUS but its not a deal breaker

 

[bbunge]

If you do not need WIFI 7 stay with a WIFI 6 AX router/mesh. The GT-AX6000 is a great router. With Ethernet to each room it will be easy to add another Asus AX class router as an AiMesh node. You do not need another AX6000 or a pro version unless you need all the guest network pro features.

 

[Tech9]

The new place is 185m2 / Current is 120m2

Your questions have no answer without region information.

I also have a wired connection to each room in the house.

Don't waste your time with consumer "mesh", go Omada or UniFi.

 

[nikaidoboss]

Your questions have no answer without region information.



Don't waste your time with consumer "mesh", go Omada or UniFi.

South Africa

It's not really a mesh it's just 2 units in a flat 185 house.
I would do an Omada or Ubiquiti setup if it was like a long term perma house but it's not like that.
For Ubiquiti I thought about getting a DR7 and a U7 Lite AP instead of GT-AX6000 but i felt 2x GT-AX6000 would be way better than that setup and potentially cheaper or am I mistaken ?

 

[Tech9]

South Africa

Power limit of 100mW or 20dBm on 2.4GHz band for any router or access point you purchase. Your current TP-Link routers' range is perhaps close to what you can get. Depending on how many wireless cameras you have - you need more APs on different channels to provide higher throughput. Your ASUS experiment and eventually AiMesh may turn into waste if money dead end project.

 

[nikaidoboss]

I only have 3 cameras , my issue is not throughput it's signal strength outside walls

 

[nikaidoboss]

Power limit of 100mW or 20dBm on 2.4GHz band for any router or access point you purchase. Your current TP-Link routers' range is perhaps close to what you can get. Depending on how many wireless cameras you have - you need more APs on different channels to provide higher throughput. Your ASUS experiment and eventually AiMesh may turn into waste if money dead end project.

Would it be wise to buy an Asus router from amazon.com (US market) potentially getting one with higher power limits like an AX-11000 PRO or BE88U they are decently priced compared to local market

 

[Tech9]

my issue is not throughput it's signal strength outside walls

Both are connected. Low signal translates to low throughput. You perhaps need outdoor AP with line of sight to the cameras. UniFi or Omada with 2x indoor APs most likely won't do it, the same power limit per AP.

Would it be wise to buy an Asus router from amazon.com (US market)

No, this is illegal. In addition high power AP doesn't improve the signal back from your cameras. Wi-Fi is 2-way communication and the cameras have to penetrate the same walls with their much weaker radios.

 

[nikaidoboss]

Both are connected. Low signal translates to low throughput. You perhaps need outdoor AP with line of sight to the cameras. UniFi or Omada with 2x indoor APs most likely won't do it, the same power limit per AP.



No, this is illegal. In addition high power AP doesn't improve the signal back from your cameras. Wi-Fi is 2-way communication and the cameras have to penetrate the same walls with their much weaker radios.

Would I have a better experience (without advanced settings) on 2x GT-AX6000 or Ubiquiti Ultra + 2 or 3 U6+ APs

 

[Tech9]

All you need is perhaps an ER605 wired router (under $100) at your Internet entry point and your existing AX53 routers in AP Mode (supported) in right places around the house. With the low power limit in your country most likely no 2x units system will replace your 3x units existing equipment. The 3x cameras are perhaps positioned around the house, an AP on the other side of the wall as close as possible to each one may work best for indoor APs. Break the "mesh" (whatever it is, most likely EasyMesh) and run 2.4GHz radios on different channels so the routers don't wait for each other to transmit/receive data. Add another AX53 if needed, add a switch if needed. You can get the best possible results under $200 with some proper planning and re-using what you already have.

 

[Tech9]

Would I have a better experience (without advanced settings) on 2x GT-AX6000 or Ubiquiti Ultra + 2 or 3 U6+ APs

Unlikely, expensive and waste of the equipment you already have. With your low requirements the AX53 routers are excellent for access points. They just need to be set differently and in right places. If an AP in the room right next to the camera outside through single wall still can't do it - you need outdoor access points.

 

[nikaidoboss]

Unlikely, expensive and waste of the equipment you already have. With your low requirements the AX53 routers are excellent for access points. They just need to be set differently and in right places. If an AP in the room right next to the camera outside through single wall still can't do it - you need outdoor access points.

well I can then I can return the GT-AX6000 and get a GE800 and use it in easy mesh with AX53s in wired backhauls
I was just worried people keep saying tp-link bad and asus good (easy mesh < ai mesh) also I aint paying for homeshield
my options are sell my 2x AX53s and get another AX-6000 or return the Ax6000 AND BUY A GE800

 

[nikaidoboss]

Unlikely, expensive and waste of the equipment you already have. With your low requirements the AX53 routers are excellent for access points. They just need to be set differently and in right places. If an AP in the room right next to the camera outside through single wall still can't do it - you need outdoor access points.

I think the AX53s are ok now but there is something weird happening with easymesh. I get better signal from the router that is further away from the camera than the one closest to it , it is very weird.
When the router is close to the cameras 1 room away it is fine but by fine I mean -70 RSSI

 

[Tech9]

something weird happening with easymesh

From this point on it's entirely your decision what you are going to do. I can only give you pointers how to save money and achieve what you need from a technical point of view. Anything with "mesh" in the name works okay with 2-3 satellites, pods, nodes, ets. whatever the manufacturer call them. You already have experience with 3x units "mesh" system. Changing the word before "mesh" won't give you what you want.

I was just worried people keep saying tp-link bad and asus good

Sure. You are on mostly ASUS users forum. I can waste your time and money with 2-3 ASUS routers or some AiMesh experiment if you like. This won't solve your problem though.

 

[nikaidoboss]

From this point on it's entirely your decision what you are going to do. I can only give you pointers how to save money and achieve what you need from a technical point of view. Anything with "mesh" in the name works okay with 2-3 satellites, pods, nodes, ets. whatever the manufacturer call them. You already have experience with 3x units "mesh" system. Changing the word before "mesh" won't give you what you want.



Sure. You are on mostly ASUS users forum. I can waste your time and money with 2-3 ASUS routers or some AiMesh experiment if you like. This won't solve your problem though.

I am following you I just suggested I get GE800 instead of that cheap 1G router and it can work with the AX53 as satellites ?
Would that be better than 2x GT-AX6000

the idea is that 2x routers with 4x4 MIMO on 2.4ghz would surpass the AX53s coverage wise

 

[degrub]

Your issue is not which router you pick, it is the signal loss through the brick wall to get wifi to and from the cameras. If the cameras can be next to a window, you have a better chance of improved signal from the camera to the router/AP. If not, then , you will have to live with whatever you can get, unless you are willing to install an outside AP or two in the area of the cameras.

There is no magic way to do this. Bricks and other concrete type materials absorb a lot of 2.4 GHz signal and wipe out most of 5GHz signal. The rules of RF physics do not change just by changing wifi AP/router.

Perhaps you can replace the cameras with wired cameras that are not vulnerable to wifi jamming and disabling if security is really important where you are. That also solves the wifi reach issue.

 

[nikaidoboss]

Your issue is not which router you pick, it is the signal loss through the brick wall to get wifi to and from the cameras. If the cameras can be next to a window, you have a better chance of improved signal from the camera to the router/AP. If not, then , you will have to live with whatever you can get, unless you are willing to install an outside AP or two in the area of the cameras.

There is no magic way to do this. Bricks and other concrete type materials absorb a lot of 2.4 GHz signal and wipe out most of 5GHz signal. The rules of RF physics do not change just by changing wifi AP/router.

Perhaps you can replace the cameras with wired cameras that are not vulnerable to wifi jamming and disabling if security is really important where you are. That also solves the wifi reach issue.

How does a router with better antennas and 4x4 MIMO on 2.4ghz wont be better than a lower end 2x2 Router ?

 

[Tech9]

You are focused on one side of the communication only and forget Wi-Fi is 2-way. Hundreds of dollars later you may see minimal improvements only. Based on the information provided so far I can't recommend trial and error approach. Challenging environment requires assessment and planning. If you see -70dBm signal through single wall only nothing indoor will help. BE-class tri-band gaming router is a total waste of money.

 

[nikaidoboss]

I just got the GT-AX6000 I will test it in solo mode and revert

 

[Tech9]

Hopefully it provides just enough improvement. Temporary location is additional complication.