AiMesh - AC86U vs Lyra

[Dan Nelson]

I just received feedback from Asus that the Lyra product is AiMesh technology - therefore, should be able to work with my new Asus Ax11000 router.

Has anyone tried that configuration? Any luck? What are the pros/cons of using the Lyra nodes in an AiMesh? I'm assuming they need to be "fairly close" to the router to really provide that mesh coverage vs the big boy cousin AC86U.

I'm just trying to get a good - cost effective - way to extend my wifi in my house using AiMesh vs having to run cabling (very expensive).

I also am trying to validate the best way to go - should I use the Lyra nodes or get the beefy AC86U? Love to hear what people's experience is and what kind of coverage each of those would get (in a typical American home - thinking about the typical walls, and with a second story in the mix) - my house kinda sprawls (4,000 Sq Ft).

Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Dan

 

[OzarkEdge]

I just received feedback from Asus that the Lyra product is AiMesh technology - therefore, should be able to work with my new Asus Ax11000 router.

Has anyone tried that configuration? Any luck? What are the pros/cons of using the Lyra nodes in an AiMesh? I'm assuming they need to be "fairly close" to the router to really provide that mesh coverage vs the big boy cousin AC86U.

I'm just trying to get a good - cost effective - way to extend my wifi in my house using AiMesh vs having to run cabling (very expensive).

I also am trying to validate the best way to go - should I use the Lyra nodes or get the beefy AC86U? Love to hear what people's experience is and what kind of coverage each of those would get (in a typical American home - thinking about the typical walls, and with a second story in the mix) - my house kinda sprawls (4,000 Sq Ft).

Thanks in advance for your feedback.
Dan

A 2xRT-AC86U AiMesh would likely cover your house. Install the AX11000 and use a WiFi Analyzer app to observe the signals around your house. After you have discovered the AX11000 range in your spaces, then consider if and where to add a node.

OE

 

[Dan Nelson]

A 2xRT-AC86U AiMesh would likely cover your house. Install the AX11000 and use a WiFi Analyzer app to observe the signals around your house. After you have discovered the AX11000 range in your spaces, then consider if and where to add a node.

OE

Thank you!!!!! What is the optimal strength from a distance perspective? I just ordered the AC86U - So we'll see how this all goes.

 

[OzarkEdge]

Thank you!!!!! What is the optimal strength from a distance perspective? I just ordered the AC86U - So we'll see how this all goes.

Well, a 100% signal everywhere you want it would be optimal.

When you setup your node, look for the wireless backhaul signal in the router webUI to be 3-4 bars. Look for the 5.0 wireless backhaul MAC RSSI in the router Wireless Log to be more positive than -68 dBm... more negative/less strong works but interference may increase and connection link rate speeds may decline, resulting in less throughput over time and all that that entails. Also, the wireless backhaul rates fluctuate over time so ballpark your node deployment and let it operate there for some time to see how it settles in.

In addition to Smart Connect node band steering, AiMesh has Roaming Assistant node steering... the mesh system encourages wireless clients to roam to a 'better' node signal/band/WLAN at signal power RSSI thresholds. The 86U default thresholds are 2.4 GHz -55 dBm and 5.0 GHz -70 dBm, so look for those signal power levels around the point at which the 5.0 signal range overlaps... roughly speaking since you have crude tools and it's radio which can be inexact in a given environment. Focus on the 5.0 signal since it has the best AC performance and the shortest range and is the highest common denominator in your mixed AX/AC mesh... I'm not familiar with AX performance and what it might mean here.

See my notes for some baseline AiMesh install suggestions. Try using the same SSID for all bands... I think this can improve the node steering and node band steering transitions... make them a bit more seamless, depending on each wireless client's behavior.

I recommend you install the AX router first and use it standalone with your clients for a week or more to get a feel for it before experimenting with AiMesh. You are building a system with new (and experimental) parts... you want to ease into it to keep track of what is happening where... controlling and observing performance/response over time is a key diagnostic tool.

OE

 

[Dan Nelson]

I received my AC86U today. Too excited to just let this beautiful piece of hardware sit in the box.

There are so many GREAT things I can say about this setup already. Setup for both the AX11000 and the AC86U was SUPER simple. Not immediately intuitive, but easy. I set them each up independently. The AX11000 was set up 3 days before my AC86U. The setup process was very similar for both of them. So I'll quickly summarize before I get into the performance of the AiMesh network.

- I plugged them into my CAT6 from ISP and plugged them into my main office switch
- Neither were reachable via hardwire connection with my laptop (out of the box and turning them on). NOTE: I called Asus tech support to help me figure out why hardwire connection wasn't happening. They went down a path that seemed very strange/wrong - said I needed to join some network/service or something. SMH.... so tried wifi while they were talking (not because they recommended it) (and it worked - so I closed the call)
- Neither router automatically connected to my ISP network
- Initial connection happened via wifi to the router (as I mentioned earlier). I had to set up a new network, connection to ISP then happened automatically.
- Both routers immediately recognized they needed firmware update - so that happened automatically.
- Both routers come with default network of 192.168.50.1. I have several devices on my existing network using static IP, so I changed that.

- The GUI and options on the AX11000 are crazy amazing! So impressive on all the different options. It's laid out so nicely as well. Very easy to navigate and easy to find things. At least it all clicked for me - things that I was looking for and needed.
- The AX11000 is the fastest router (interface/processing) that I've ever used (even in my professional career). Just wicked fast. No lag at all. Just BOOM - you're at the page. I was not expecting that kind of processing speed.
- When I set up the AC86U as a node it was simple - setting up new network and say what it is. I made sure it was up and ready, then I disconnected the ISP network from the AC86U router and moved it back to my AX1100 router and turned it back on. I connected to the AX11000 router, then added the node. It was recognized! YEAH!
- I then moved it to where I wanted the node - No problems. The AiMesh was alive! So I started testing.

Testing
- I turned off data on my cell and only used wifi
- I used the Google Speed Test.
- AX11000 router in my home office
- AC86U node in the family room (not direct line of sight)(Approx 60ft away)(4 bars of connectivity with router) - backhaul to main router exclusively wifi
- Tested in my office (I have 200Mb circuit) - I was able to get 200Mb in the office (as expected)
- I tested in my family room where the AC86U is - I was able to get 170Mb (SHOCKED!!!!!)
- I then went to my garage (30ft further)(more walls) - 150Mb
- Let's REALLY test this - I then went to my guest house 70 ft from my AC86U (brick/walls/etc) - I was getting 140Mb (WHAT!!!???)
- I then went 60ft to another part of the house (where I thought I might need another node) - I was getting 130Mb! Why would I need another node with that speed? Rock solid!
- I finally tested the connectivity in each of my second floor rooms - I never went below 100Mb!

At this point I have between 60+ devices connected at one time on my network (some only come on to the network when powered). I have 10 wifi security cams running 1080p streaming. No issues or lagging on any of it. Most of my devices are wifi. The AC86U node shows 18 devices actively connected to it now. No issues.

The Asus router/AiMesh network are super impressive! I was considering having a professional cable company run physical cables across my house for additional WAPS. However, based on the AX11000 & AC86U performance as a team my house is sufficiently covered with wifi - No longer need to worry about that cost. Pretty exciting!

I can't say enough about these routers. Really impressive!

Thanks OzarkEdge for your guidance! I really appreciate it.