Asus AX-GT6000 vs TP-Link EAP 670

[drousch]

Hello,

I've been browsing your great forum for some time now and I really appreciate seeing the relevant advice given on different subjects.
You can tell that people have experience with products, which is increasingly rare on the Internet.

Details :

Me, the user: computer enthusiast, developer by profession. I'm precise and demanding about what I want, without losing too much money.

My house: modern house (2020) - 150m², 1 ground floor + 1 upper floor with concrete in between.
I have cat 5e ethernet ports in every room.
+- 20 wifi clients and +- 5 wired clients.
Outside, I have a 3x Netatmo Presence camera. Good device, but disastrous wifi reception.
To give an example, a TP Link RE650 at 3-4m outdoors with no objects in between, the camera is only at 3 bars out of 4 at wifi level.

My internet :
download = 100mbps
upload = 40mbps

A bit more context:
I'm well aware that my internet is weak, so the product's performance will be used mainly
for transfers between my synology (10gbs) and pc clients (2.5gbs)
I appreciate Asus products for their quality and a little less for their firmware, but thank you Merlin for the good job.
Thanks to this forum, I've already been able to decide on the GT-AX6000, which I've been using for over a year now, and it's a real winner.
I recently tested some deco xe75s, good range but not enough performance compared to the asus.
I'm currently testing the eap 670 (with omada controller under docker) and I'm impressed by the product's speed.
I know I'll need 1 device per floor to be very comfortable.
I've already had 2 AX-92U, nice performance for the size of the product but totally unreliable (client disconnection) even with the Gnuton firmware.

My problem/need:

- have as few devices as possible (stop repeater for these cameras)
- have performance of at least 70MBytes - 80MBytes everywhere
- That it costs me as little as possible.


Solutions:

A) add a GT-AX6000 upstairs and put it in aimesh with the one downstairs.
But I'm afraid / not confident of stability.
Do you have experience aimesh with 2x Asus GT-AX6000?
The format makes it complicated to hide in a room.
And I'm stuck for outdoor solutions (even if I don't necessarily need them).
In terms of cost, I can find this device second-hand for 150€.

B) add an EAP 670 upstairs and put it in onemesh + an EAP225 (for the cameras) outside also in onemesh
In terms of cost, I'm looking at a minimum of 150€ + 80€ = 230€ (and I haven't counted the 150€ for the 1st).


Conclusions :
Solution B seems to me to be the most upgradeable, but also the most expensive.
Whereas solution A is affordable for me, but if the stability isn't there, I've made a bad choice and I'll have to change it anyway.

So I'm coming to you to take your advice and see what you think

Thank in advance

 

[Tech Junky]

The AP solution should provide better coverage. I just picked up an eap783 and wbe660s to play with. However, my nwa210ax has been good for the past couple of years.

 

[Tech9]

- That it costs me as little as possible.

Another GT-AX6000 router in AiMesh then and it is what it is. You basically excluded all better options with this requirement.

 

[drousch]

Thank you for your answers

The AP solution should provide better coverage. I just picked up an eap783 and wbe660s to play with. However, my nwa210ax has been good for the past couple of years.

Personally with the EAP 670 the coverage is a little bit less good.

Another GT-AX6000 router in AiMesh then and it is what it is. You basically excluded all better options with this requirement.

Do you think I'm eliminating good solutions because of price?
The question would be, is AIMesh really reliable?

 

[Tech9]

Do you think I'm eliminating good solutions because of price?

You want 70-80MB/s everywhere. This means 5GHz band, close to maximum PHY rates and signal level around -52/54dBm everywhere. You are in Europe. Your APs Tx power will be limited to 20dBm on 2.4GHz band and 23dBm on 5GHz non-DFS band due to regional limits. In order to achieve what you want 3-4 low power APs are needed spread evenly around and using different channels (hopefully you have clear DFS range). You also need to balance the up/down PHY rates, your clients are in 14-16dBm power range. With 2x max power APs you may get good download speed and nowhere near good upload speed. The clients with weaker radios have to penetrate the same obstacles back to the AP. Using the same channels you may get 70-80MB/s to one client only, the rest have to be inactive. Channel bandwidth is shared between all the clients. AiMesh works, but you have very little control over it (no individual units Tx power adjustment, the same channels) and 2x APs will have zones with lower than -60dBm signal level (guaranteed).

Based on prices I see in Europe I think you need to spend >600€ in equipment to do it right. Otherwise you have to adjust your requirements.

 

[Piotrek]

You want 70-80MB/s everywhere.

I suspect @drousch is thinking about 70-80 Mbps (not 70-80MB/s)

 

[Tech9]

I suspect @drousch is thinking about 70-80 Mbps (not 70-80MB/s)

No, the goal is clearly in MB/s.

the product's performance will be used mainly for transfers between my synology

For this thing to happen - 2x APs per floor covering 1-2 rooms with a light wall in between worst case. Signal level no worse than -54dBm for high PHY rates. The reinforced concrete slab in between the floors will attenuate the signal with minimum 30db and measured at 90-degree through it. More on a diagonal. Individual AP power adjustment and 802.11k/v/r support is a must for somewhat adequate roaming with high minimum RSSI cutoff (like -60/65dBm). Wi-Fi is math. One can do it right first time with proper planning and hardware or rely on luck few times with some consumer "mesh".

 

[Piotrek]

No, the goal is clearly in MB/s.

Yes, but

My internet :
download = 100mbps

and

I have cat 5e ethernet ports in every room.

and

for transfers between my synology (10gbs) and pc clients (2.5gbs)

Wi-Fi 6 is not 2,5 Gbps.

 

[Tech9]

WAN speed doesn't matter. If the only goal is transfers over Ethernet on LAN - the "router" is not even involved. What is needed is a 2.5GbE switch. One or more with the number of ports depending on needs. Over Wi-Fi with single AP - the same room or one over may get 70-80MB/s, to AX client may get >100MB/s in clear Wi-Fi environment. Further away, other busy networks around, etc. - less and on upload much less. I did mention link rates balancing importance somewhere above. Single AP per floor shouting around on max power is just increasing the noise level.

 

[Piotrek]

I think @drousch should clarify their requirements and provide information on the number of walls on the floor and the material they are made of.

For 2-3 walls I usually get 200-300 Mbps (not MB/s) speed without any problems.

It can be really dense with wooden walls

 

[Tech9]

For 2-3 walls I usually get 200-300 Mbps (not MB/s) speed without any problems.

70-80MB/s is 560-640Mbps.

 

[drousch]

Hello everyone,

Thank you for your answers and sorry for the delay in my response.
To clarify the units and measurements. Here is what I get next to the GT-AX6000 : see attachment.

So I would like to get 70-80 MBytes (in column transfert)

For the house info, I have attached the files.
Currently, with the EAP 670 at the RGT (level0) point, I have speeds that suit me everywhere but the cameras have 1/5 in terms of connectivity on the 2.4Ghz

 

[Tech9]

Can you get an Ethernet connection outside for an outdoor AP mounted on the external wall?

 

[drousch]

Ethernet for outdoor are not possible. Currently I put a RE650 outside for 2 cameras. I use the network extension and the creation of a specific ssid for the cameras. I have 1 of the cameras left and I can't put a repeater or external terminal on it.

I know that the best thing to be satisfied is to have 2 eap670 + 1 eap225 outdoor. The question is whether it is worth it.

 

[Tech9]

If EAP670 reaches the goal on Wi-Fi - I would definitely do it along with Omada SND Controller and perhaps the needed PoE switch. Your Asus can continue working as Router, but with current Asuswrt-Merlin your configuration options will be limited - no VLAN support. Stock Asuswrt supports user configurable VLANs, but in somewhat strange way and I can't predict if it will be compatible or working properly to/with your Omada behind it.

I would move to full Omada system going further with Omada SDN integrated router. ER707-M2 is the Router with 2.5GbE ports, SG2210XMP-M2 is perhaps the matching PoE with 2.5GbE ports Switch, OC200 is good enough hardware Controller (for better reliability, also PoE powered).

 

[drousch]

Thanks for your réponse. Yes I am satisfied but the cost is still significant. Was Aimesh reliable with the same 2 models or is it a bit of a lottery?

 

[degrub]

You trade some upfront cost versus set and forget. i went from consumer grade hardware to SMB grade over a decade ago. Replaced a router and AP after a lightning strike nearby elevated ground potential and fried them slowly. Haven't had to touch configuration except when security updates came out for firmware or i needed to update a device whitelist. Otherwise, just works. i too, struggled with the initial cost. But once you make the switch.....
Power supplies and occasional device will fail. But that is true of consumer gear as well. Perhaps, more so.

 

[Tech9]

Was Aimesh reliable with the same 2 models

AiMesh woks best with the same model routers and wired. In your case I would run stock Asuswrt on both units. It's a newer 3006 code base with extra features and Asus made one of the latest firmware releases minimum required. All 3004 and older 3006 were removed. Still limited control to AiMesh node, the same channels, perpetual work-in-progress firmware, etc. AiMesh is a marketing name, no AI and no much "mesh" there.

You trade some upfront cost versus set and forget.

Everyone is free to make own choices.

 

[degrub]

AiMesh woks best with the same model routers and wired. In your case I would run stock Asuswrt on both units. It's a newer 3006 code base with extra features and Asus made one of the latest firmware releases minimum required. All 3004 and older 3006 were removed. Still limited control to AiMesh node, the same channels, perpetual work-in-progress firmware, etc. AiMesh is a marketing name, no AI and no much "mesh" there.



Everyone is free to make own choices.

Always. i just post based on my experience. Either way can work.

 

[Tech9]

My own experience is similar to yours. Some say you get what you pay for.