Can ExpertWiFi routers be used with non-ExpertWiFi routers in a mesh/AP scenario?

[maxbraketorque]

Not sure where to put this question - As the title says, can ExpertWiFi routers be used with non-ExpertWiFi routers in a mesh/AP scenario, specifically, do I get the same level of integration as using two non-ExpertWiFi routers in a main/mesh or main/AP scenario? This would be for a non-ExpertWiFi router running 3006.

 

[jzchen]

I have some experience with this setup per my signature. Currently testing SDN VLAN capability with EBG15 as primary Access Point with AiMesh.

You get a single primary network/SSID which surprisingly works with WPA2/WPA3-Personal, (meaning 6 GHz bands, of which I have 2), get properly set to WPA3-Personal. There's a lot more SDN/Guest Network Pro profiles while in Router mode (EBG15), but it is underpowered with USB HDD (4 TB) connected that I switched it to AP, which leaves 4 to choose from...

 

[Tech9]

do I get the same level of integration

There is actually no level of integration documented by ASUS. Two different product lines running different branches of 3006 firmware with most likely separate development teams at ASUS. Right now users confirm AiMesh is there and similar to what we know from consumer products, but further down the road this may change. ASUS in theory may want to separate the product lines and make your consumer components incompatible with single firmware update.

 

[Ripshod]

On the othrt hand, the pure AP scenario, there's no documented reason why that wouldn't work.

 

[jzchen]

On the othrt hand, the pure AP scenario, there's no documented reason why that wouldn't work.

The EBG15 is purely Ethernet based, (no WiFi). As such it does have provisions (there are pre-set graphs for channel utilization) for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz-1, 5 GHz-2, and 6 GHz. (The graphs are annoyingly non-functional). There is no 6 GHz-2 integration with the other 4, which appear to be smart connected, but I am able to see it and devices can connect to it. Prior to purchasing the EBG15 I had two AiMesh networks, one based on the GT-AXE16000 and the other the GT-BE98 Pro. This left me always grumpy because I have been loyal to ASUS for being able to AiMesh everything. In this case I was not. The GT-BE98 Pro as primary router/AP does not allow control/management nor use of the GT-AXE16000's 5 GHz-2...

So to answer as directly as I can, in AiMesh you gain somethings but mostly lose out on a lot of things. In a router AP setup, you'll lose quite a bit of functionality on the APs.

I have another cheap (this time Level 3) managed switch which is supposed to arrive tomorrow. I hope to fix the LLDP error with it, (2 errors every 12 seconds pop up on the System Log currently)...

 

[Tech9]

The graphs are annoyingly non-functional

I believe this part of EBG15 router UI will come alive only when EBA63 access point is used. At least this is what I have seen in some limited number of reviews online here and there. And this is an example of incompatibility between ExpertWiFi and consumer RT/GT/TUF/etc. products. Unfortunately, ASUS currently offers one single ExpertWiFi EBA63 access point and it requires PoE, so EBG15 has to be connected to the single available ExpertWiFi EBP15 switch, or to PoE injector, or the router has to be changed to EBG19P... even if someone really wants to use ASUS in SMB setup the options are limited to one from... one.

 

[jzchen]

Thank you @Tech9 . I've made a friend at ASUS and he told me after looking into it that that EBA63 is the answer. I thought about getting one, but it's really just for graphs that are still missing 6 GHz-2. Thinking about it more just now, that just means it will exclusively monitor the EBA63, which is not what I want. My planned next round of upgrades will be to nodes that have 10 GbE WAN/LAN ports, so I've withheld acquiring an EBA63...

@maxbraketorque It's kind of hard to describe the answer to your question/concern. There are added features in router mode that I liked. There was a DNS server speed comparison list, which ranked servers in order from fastest to slowest. You could add custom DNS to compare, which I was using the AT&T provided one. I realized from that that Google was the quickest, and as best as possible switched over. There are a lot of SDN profiles to choose from in router mode. Also I can connect my USB HDD without fear of (severe) WiFi speed degradation, as there is no WiFi on the EBG15 model that I chose.

It really is underpowered for the tasks, as I believe @Tech9 or was it @RMerlin mentioned the specs somewhere. (My apologies dementia runs in the family and my memory doesn't seem that good as I get older. I also have a lot on my mind lately). My best suggestion is to purchase from a dealer that allows returns, and try it out. I felt $89.99 was reasonable for what I tried to accomplish with it, so I kept it. I would say my biggest concern is how weak the output is from 6 GHz bands. If I stick my phone right up next to the antennae of the RT-BE92U or others the Network Analyzer app that I use shows -30 dBm on 6 GHz while it can say -5 dBm for 2.4 GHz. (I'm referring to the single main SSID that I am allowed to create).

 

[Tech9]

I believe it's time for you to make some network planning and build a proper easy manageable and expandable network with SMB components, preferably from the same vendor for guaranteed compatibility and integration. The chaotic purchases of mixed equipment is going nowhere.

 

[jzchen]

I believe it's time for you to make some network planning and build a proper easy manageable and expandable network with SMB components, preferably from the same vendor for guaranteed compatibility and integration. The chaotic purchases of mixed equipment is going nowhere.

Thank you.

It's kind of interesting to see these "new" brands that popped up seemingly as TP-Link has been investigated...

I have kept looking for bargains and this helps me to get a long better with the significant other.

I found trying those otther brand products (at a discount) enlightening. For example the Tenda router has a toggle switch for MLO, so you create an SSID for 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and toggle then toggle MLO on. So it seems I can have an exclusively MLO channel. I did not like that TP-Link makes you have a separate channel for each and then add MLO on top, seemingly splitting the bandwidth...

 

[maxbraketorque]

Thanks for the comments everyone. I ended up passing on a mixed Expert/non-Expert scenario.