AI mesh with different firmware

[Bvanma28]

Will AI mesh work if one router is using Merlin firmware and the other is using standard ASUS firmware? I’m looking at the GT6 mesh routers, which don’t currently have Merlin support and expanding with my preexisting ASUS routers that run Merlin.

 

[RMerlin]

Will AI mesh work if one router is using Merlin firmware and the other is using standard ASUS firmware

Yes.

 

[drinkingbird]

Will AI mesh work if one router is using Merlin firmware and the other is using standard ASUS firmware? I’m looking at the GT6 mesh routers, which don’t currently have Merlin support and expanding with my preexisting ASUS routers that run Merlin.

Generally the recommendation is run Merlin on the main router and factory firmware on the nodes. Just keep them on the same code base like 386 or 388 on all (not technically a requirement but a best practice).

 

[Tech9]

This tri-band GT6 set may or may not be a good fit to existing routers. What models are the existing routers? Wired or wireless AiMesh?

 

[128bit]

Generally the recommendation is run Merlin on the main router and factory firmware on the nodes. Just keep them on the same code base like 386 or 388 on all (not technically a requirement but a best practice).

well, my ax86u is using merlinware's 388 and the meshed ac86u is using stockware at 386. so far, ok except the ac86u's 2.4 radio has very poor throughput although showing a strong connection. if the mesh code is "locked," how can we be aware of any changes?

 

[OzarkEdge]

well, my ax86u is using merlinware's 388 and the meshed ac86u is using stockware at 386. so far, ok except the ac86u's 2.4 radio has very poor throughput although showing a strong connection. if the mesh code is "locked," how can we be aware of any changes?

If an AC86U 2.4 radio is not working well, I'd suspect hardware failure.

OE

 

[128bit]

If an AC86U 2.4 radio is not working well, I'd suspect hardware failure.

OE

that makes sense. but damnit! now i'm gonna have to do break it out and do a standalone test. with the exception of hdd, not sure i've ever seen a hdw problem in some 40+ yrs. still, a good point as i'm not sure what else is left.

on another note, i have a couple end points bound to the 5g band on the meshed router. in rethinking this, even though the backhaul is wireless, perhaps it's better to allow the sw to do its work and not do that. in one case, i have a tv that's literally 2' away from the meshed box. so i decided to bind it to minimize any conflict. mind you, these are 5g devices that don't have the same problem as the 2.4 and each band has a dedicated ssid.

thanks