Converting RT-AC5300 to AiMesh

[RosieTosie]

Complete newbie non-techie here. We currently have two RT-AC5300 we are using as standalone access points. We also have an older than dirt LinkSys as our primary router located at our ISP modem. Modem and primary router are located in a closet in our master bedroom. This results in us having three different SSIDs in house. We are considering going to AiMesh node and are looking at what new router we could replace the LinkSys with that would be compatible with our RT-AC5300. We have all these routers because our house is 3200 sq. ft constructed of Hardie Board which is basically concrete. We spend a lot of time on our porches so we kept adding wifi aps to extend the signal. We hardwired our primary TV and the one gaming computer in the house. Other devices are Apple phones, watches, and macbooks or miniMac, HP printers and then lots of home smart devices (ring doorbells, Lutron light switches, Arlo security cameras, Sonos, nest thermostats, weather station).

In doing a speed test in different locations, we seem to have enough signal strength where we need it. Now our problem is all the SSIDs and not being able to "roam". We have to use wifi calling with our cell phones because of the metal roofs and can't move from room to room while on the call since the call will drop when we are out of range. Will having one SSID with AiMesh solve this problem?

So two questions:
Recommended replacement for Linksys that would work with our RT-AC5300 in a mesh mode?
Will AiMesh and one SSID help the wifi calling?

 

[OzarkEdge]

Complete newbie non-techie here. We currently have two RT-AC5300 we are using as standalone access points. We also have an older than dirt LinkSys as our primary router located at our ISP modem. Modem and primary router are located in a closet in our master bedroom. This results in us having three different SSIDs in house. We are considering going to AiMesh node and are looking at what new router we could replace the LinkSys with that would be compatible with our RT-AC5300. We have all these routers because our house is 3200 sq. ft constructed of Hardie Board which is basically concrete. We spend a lot of time on our porches so we kept adding wifi aps to extend the signal. We hardwired our primary TV and the one gaming computer in the house. Other devices are Apple phones, watches, and macbooks or miniMac, HP printers and then lots of home smart devices (ring doorbells, Lutron light switches, Arlo security cameras, Sonos, nest thermostats, weather station).

In doing a speed test in different locations, we seem to have enough signal strength where we need it. Now our problem is all the SSIDs and not being able to "roam". We have to use wifi calling with our cell phones because of the metal roofs and can't move from room to room while on the call since the call will drop when we are out of range. Will having one SSID with AiMesh solve this problem?

So two questions:
Recommended replacement for Linksys that would work with our RT-AC5300 in a mesh mode?
Will AiMesh and one SSID help the wifi calling?

You could play with what you have until you get a new AiMesh router:

ISP modem <wire> Linksys <wire> AiMesh AP <wire/wireless> AiMesh node

OE