Ax88U or AX86U Pro

[Katy]

I am have a asus RT-AX88U and will be adding RT-AX86U Pro. Which one should be my main router? I will use the other as wireless node.

 

[bennor]

It may help if you expand on your needs and use case to provide more context and help others provide their own opinions.

On the surface, without any more information, the RT-AX86U Pro should be used as the main router due to it being newer (4 years newer than the RT-AX88U) and able to run the 3006.102.x firmware which supports several newer features (Guest Network Pro/VLAN). Where as the older RT-AX88U is on the 3004.388.x firmware, which does not have some of the features found in the 3006 firmware.

 

[Katy]

Thanks for the reply. Will be connecting 3 firesricks in different locations in the house, 4 apple air macs, 4 iPhones at one time. Do I need to have Merlin on both routers? I have a spot about 30 feet from the main router that I am having issues with.

 

[degrub]

That would be too close to put a node unless you have significant walls / furniture / etc blocking the signal from the main router.
Your use case is very light, normal residential.

Test using just the Pro version first and see if that clears your drop out area some. Too much wifi signal is just as bad as not enough.

 

[bbunge]

I recommend the Asus firmware. Use the AX86U Pro as the router. 30 FT may not be too close but, if you can, use Ethernet backhaul and use the Asus default WIFI settings including Dual Band SmartConnect.

 

[Katy]

Thanks for the information. I have a lot of windows between router and node. I will try to use ax86 pro by itself and see if I have any issues and if I have to add the ax88u, then I will have to reinstall asus firmware to run node.

 

[bennor]

Do I need to have Merlin on both routers?

Most recommend using stock Asus firmware on the AiMesh node due to most of the Asus-Merlin specific features being disabled when node is put into AiMesh node mode.

 

[Tech9]

Contrary to all the suggestions above I would keep RT-AX88U as main router and without any system disturbances will just add the new RT-AX86U Pro as AiMesh node on stock Asuswrt firmware. RT-AX88U has better range on both 2.4/5GHz radios and runs more stable firmware. Since the new router will be wirelessly linked - no much performance is expected and the OP just needs extended range. There is no need to reset and reconfigure anything for no apparent benefits. RT-AX88U as node won't be compatible to GN Pro anyway.

 

[Katy]

Most recommend using stock Asus firmware on the AiMesh node due to most of the Asus-Merlin specific features being disabled when node is put into AiMesh node mode.

Can I have asus stock in main router and Merlin in node? What features are disable?

 

[Tech9]

What features are disable?

All features including the GUI. Wireless AiMesh node is a Repeater.

 

[VANT]

Can I have asus stock in main router and Merlin in node? What features are disable?

Why have Merlin in the node if nothing Merlin adds will be used? Besides, Merlin recommends AsusWRT firmware for the nodes.