GT-AX6000 with ET9 nodes

[karmadillo]

I recently picked up four Wifi 6e Asus ZenWifi ET9s for cheap. I'm currently running a Wifi 6 GT-AX6000 as my primary router with a couple RT-AX3000 nodes. I had planned on keeping the GT-AX6000as primary and using the ET9s as nodes. It works but there doesn't seem to be a way to configure the 6ghz band on the ET9s since the GT-AX6000 doesn't support the 6ghz band.

Do I have to make an ET9 as the primary? I didn't really want to do that as the GT-AX6000 has two 2.5gb lan ports while the ET9 only has the wan 2.5gb port so I can't back haul 2.5gb to the rest of my network. I'd also have to carry over a bunch of DHCP reservations. I'm guessing I can back that up and still restore it on the ET9 maybe? Does Merlin firmware offer any additional config options?

 

[degrub]

Without any details of your physical wifi environment , we can't really help you.

1) How large of an area are you trying to cover with wifi ? Unless you have a large space, that many radios may cause issues with the wifi.
6GHz will usually only work well in the room that it is located.

2) retire all the gear you have and use 2-3 of the ET9s. The coverage will be about the same as your existing and you will be able to use the 6GHz band. A 4th ET unit is not likely to help anything.

3) do screen captures from your existing reservations . Do not try to upload config from existing to ET9s.

4) 2.5 Gb/s ports - A little planning and research would have helped. See if you can return the gear if you really have to have 2.5 GHz LAN. Either way, you won't see any real change in client experience , certainly over wifi between the AX units and the ET units. IF you really need the 2.5 GHz backbone, get a switch to connect all the LAN clients for LAN only transfers. Internet will still be limited to 1 GHz cumulative.

 

[karmadillo]

Without any details of your physical wifi environment , we can't really help you.

1) How large of an area are you trying to cover with wifi ? Unless you have a large space, that many radios may cause issues with the wifi.
6GHz will usually only work well in the room that it is located.

2) retire all the gear you have and use 2-3 of the ET9s. The coverage will be about the same as your existing and you will be able to use the 6GHz band. A 4th ET unit is not likely to help anything.

3) do screen captures from your existing reservations . Do not try to upload config from existing to ET9s.

4) 2.5 Gb/s ports - A little planning and research would have helped. See if you can return the gear if you really have to have 2.5 GHz LAN. Either way, you won't see any real change in client experience , certainly over wifi between the AX units and the ET units. IF you really need the 2.5 GHz backbone, get a switch to connect all the LAN clients for LAN only transfers. Internet will still be limited to 1 GHz cumulative.

I wasn't really looking for advice on placement. I have plenty of experience in wireless networks. I have a 3,000 SF L-shaped ranch style house plus 2,500 SF of basement. 3-4 APs is about right. I also cover some outdoor space. I'm not looking to utilize the old AX3000 units any longer. Probably looking at 3 ET9's and the one GT-AX6000. Might stick an ET9 in a sheltered outdoor area.

Anyway, my problem seemed to solve itself. I just noticed that another SSID was being broadcast by the ET9's with "_6G" added to the existing SSID. I guess I assumed it wasn't going to function without setting it up manually so I never looked to see what SSID's were being broadcast. I was able to locate some node settings for the ET9's in the GT-AX6000 that included the ability to turn the 6ghz radio on/off. I could disable the radios on the GT-AX6000 to use it as a wired only router and the ET9's for all wifi.

I largely wanted to retain the 2.5gbit WAN and 2.5gbit LAN on the GT-AX6000 as my cable internet can exceed 1gbit. I will be putting a separate 2.5gb switch in for my ethernet connected devices.

 

[Tech9]

I wasn't really looking for advice on placement. I have plenty of experience in wireless networks.

AiMesh doesn't have much network tuning options and the placement or router and nodes is essential. Otherwise you'll get common sticky clients with no way to resolve. With your experience in wireless networks choosing a system using all the same channels and no power adjustment per AP was self-limiting step. Band incompatibility complication between intended router and nodes on top. The only benefit is cheap.

I'm guessing I can back that up and still restore it on the ET9 maybe?

In theory - Yes. In reality - No, it may mess it up enough so you have to do Reset anyway.