@megalomalaka, considering that the WiFi 6 specs will be finalized sometime in
late 2020, I do think you're more than a little impatient today, even if the router itself has been available for sale for far longer.
You are also giving us the details of your network piecemeal. I didn't know you were using AiMess on your setup.
To properly test the RT-AX88U, use it on its own after a full reset to factory defaults and configured minimally and manually to secure it and connect to your ISP.
After testing the above for a reasonable time-frame (I would test for at least a day or more), add more customizations one at a time (with AiMess being last) and test to find the additions either stable or not.
Right now the possible issues I see are many. Some of the more important ones that may make your network environment more stable is:
- Use a new/never before used SSID that is 8 characters long with only alphanumeric characters and no punctuation, special characters or smiley faces. Use a 16 character password with the same limitations too.
- Perform a full reset to factory defaults on the router, flash the same firmware you already have installed and do another full reset again. Make sure to check the box that says 'Initialize all settings...' too.
- Make sure you change the defaults of a few recommended options like disabling Universal Beamforming, etc. Please see my signature for a link to the M&M Config and Nuclear Reset guides for a start on best practices for the important settings that need changing immediately after a reset. Please also search for more specific settings on the RT-AX88U too (i.e. disable the 'Agility' option, for one).
- Make sure that you only have a single router on and running when doing your testing. You don't want random interference (WiFi signals and old/known SSID's) from your previous router. You may find that you don't need a second AP in your environment at all (or when enabled, it is actually detrimental instead of beneficial).
- When/if you do get to the point of actually wanting to test AiMess, the best suggestions on this forum are to do a full reset to factory defaults on all routers and connect them in AiMesh mode 'fresh'. Search for the many posts on that too.
- Recommend doing all the above and testing with RMerlin firmware too (on both of your routers). The Alpha builds are usually better than the stock Asus builds by a noticeable margin.
The RT-AX88U router is not perfect today, I agree. But try to minimize any self-inflicted sabotage to your network and you may find like many others have, including me, that the RT-AX88U is still the best router Asus has offered so far with RMerlin support.
In the end, you may have a faulty unit. That still remains to be seen though.
