Any way to force an AIMesh node to broadcast a certain SSID?

[OldManBrodie]

I have an RT-BE92U, and have an IoT wifi network setup. However, none of my nodes are offering it. I suspect it's because they're older routers (three RT-AX1800S's and one RT-AX55). They're all running the latest stock firmware for their model, except the main router, which is running Asuswrt-Merlin. They're all on an ethernet backhaul.

Is there any way to force a mesh node to offer a specific SSID, instead of the two default 2.4 and 5 GHz SSIDs?

 

[bennor]

I have an RT-BE92U, and have an IoT wifi network setup. However, none of my nodes are offering it. I suspect it's because they're older routers (three RT-AX1800S's and one RT-AX55). They're all running the latest stock firmware for their model, except the main router, which is running Asuswrt-Merlin. They're all on an ethernet backhaul.

Is there any way to force a mesh node to offer a specific SSID, instead of the two default 2.4 and 5 GHz SSIDs?

The 3006 Guest Network Pro features generally doesn't flow down to AiMesh nodes that are not running the 3006 firmware.

[Wireless Router] How to set up Guest Network features to Sync to AiMesh node?
[Wireless Router] How to setup Guest Network Pro (SDN) across AiMesh and managed switch?

If you use the forum search feature you'll find a number of past discussions on 3006 main router with 3004 AiMesh nodes. People are still discovering what the limitations are when mixing different firmware versions (3006 with 3004 nodes).

 

[bbunge]

The Guest Network Pro SSID will propagate to an older AiMesh node. However, I have found on my setup that only one band, in my case the 2.4 GHz band, will go to the node. There is a check box in the Guest Network Pro setup to enable the band(s) on the nodes.
Should be the same for your Asus WIFI7 router.

 

[OldManBrodie]

The Guest Network Pro SSID will propagate to an older AiMesh node. However, I have found on my setup that only one band, in my case the 2.4 GHz band, will go to the node. There is a check box in the Guest Network Pro setup to enable the band(s) on the nodes.
Should be the same for your Asus WIFI7 router.

All four of my nodes say "The WiFi interface has reached the maximum (2.4GHz / 5GHz)"

The IoT network doesn't even have an AiMesh tab.

 

[Tech9]

What you need is not possible with your mix of routers. If you really need 5x APs and have Ethernet available - look at something better than consumer products for the next upgrade.

 

[bennor]

Asus claims the following in the [Wireless Router] How to set up Guest Network features to Sync to AiMesh node? link.

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.

As always YMMV and one may experience something different.

On a side note, there is a limit to how many Guest Network Pro Profiles (WiFi) one may be able to create on the main router. On a RT-AX86U Pro running Asus-Merlin 3006.102.4 with no AiMesh nodes, I could create six GNP WiFi profiles before the system gave a warning message: "The WiFi interface has reached the maximum. (2.4GHz / 5GHz)". See my post here for more: https://www.snbforums.com/threads/n...on-asuswrt-merlin-rt-ac86u.95025/#post-959989

 

[OldManBrodie]

What you need is not possible with your mix of routers. If you really need 5x APs and have Ethernet available - look at something better than consumer products for the next upgrade.

"Need" is a strong term. I've accumulated various routers over the past few years from upgrades and friends and family getting rid of stuff. So I've just kind of stuck them where we had signal dropouts. Looking at more professional/pro-sumer level stuff down the road is definitely part of my plan.

On a side note, there is a limit to how many Guest Network Pro Profiles (WiFi) one may be able to create on the main router. On a RT-AX86U Pro running Asus-Merlin 3006.102.4 with no AiMesh nodes, I could create six GNP WiFi profiles before the system gave a warning message: "The WiFi interface has reached the maximum. (2.4GHz / 5GHz)".

I've only got the one guest network in addition to the IoT one.

 

[bbunge]

All four of my nodes say "The WiFi interface has reached the maximum (2.4GHz / 5GHz)"

The IoT network doesn't even have an AiMesh tab.

Choose just one band. The 2.4 GHz band has more power but lower bandwidth and for IoT clients and guests should be OK.