Looking to buy a new router to complement my AC86U (for mesh system)

[bkselly]

I live in a 3 floor 1700 sqft home where the networking is on the top floor (I can't move the router to the middle floor)

I am looking to add a router to the bottom floor in a mesh set up so that my devices switch seamlessly between them

I have a 300 down/300 up FIOS connection and I stream 4K video and (rarely) play FPS multiplayer games

My main pain point with the currently router is that if I close the (wooden) door in the room it is in, and also close the (wooden) door in the room the laptop is in (all on the top floor), the speeds do drop significantly (on 5 GHz)

I don't know if a new router would be better about that particular issue, but I would like to make the new router my primary router on top floor (and demote the AC86U to the bottom floor as secondary)

Any recommendations on an ASUS router that meets my needs?

TY!

 

[Rocketboy235]

How many devices do you have on the network normally and how many of them are WiFi 6 capable? What is your budget?
I think getting another AC86U (can get a used one for pretty cheap) would be pretty good. I'm not sure if a newer router will fix your speed data rate issue with the wooden door closing. Maybe WiFi 6 routers would possibly help like the AX86U Pro. Is there a hallway on the top floor you can move the router to so closing the door won't impact it?

 

[degrub]

Pushing 5Ghz signal through a couple doors/walls or through a single floor/ceiling, the result is not going to change. Ordinary building materials will attenuate 5GHz signal power significantly and 6 GHz even more. 2.4 GHz will fare better. Changing or adding additional radios is not going to help that issue and can easily make it worse.

You may see a small gain by changing from AC class to AX class equipment. WIFI 7 (BE) won't help.

What are you trying to accomplish ?

 

[bbunge]

May be a great idea to just replace the AC86U as they are know to suddenly fail.

 

[Rocketboy235]

May be a great idea to just replace the AC86U as they are know to suddenly fail.

I always wonder if this is for the early year models of the AC86U or this goes for all year models? I remember hearing the reliability issues in regards to the 2018/2019 models coming from China(?) but the ones from Taiwan/Vietnam were more reliable? Not entirely sure if that is true but I remember seeing several people touting that.

I know my AC86U (bought used) I'm using had one ethernet port completely fail and the WAN port deteriorate to 100 mbps after using it for 1-2 years (forced me to use one of the regular LAN ports as a WAN now) though to be fair, I did not put it in easy environment to begin with so that may have taken its toll on the router . Trying to see how long it will last though! I bought are still going very strong though are EOL so I'm trying to move away from them.

 

[bkselly]

How many devices do you have on the network normally and how many of them are WiFi 6 capable? What is your budget?
I think getting another AC86U (can get a used one for pretty cheap) would be pretty good. I'm not sure if a newer router will fix your speed data rate issue with the wooden door closing. Maybe WiFi 6 routers would possibly help like the AX86U Pro. Is there a hallway on the top floor you can move the router to so closing the door won't impact it?

I'd say there are somewhere between 20 to 30 devices (roughly 1/3 computers and phones, 1/3 home security cameras/base station/chime/etc, and 1/3 other IoT items)

Not a great sense for what is WiFi 6 compatible but most WiFi using devices purchased within the last 3-5 years

Unfortunately the router is locked into that one room (can't take out to hallway)

Main goal is the mesh network so for seamless transition (for phones and laptops between top floor wifi and bottom floor wifi), but any boost through the 2 doors would be helpful (and would pay more for it - although it sounds like new tech doesn't necessarily help with that)

 

[degrub]

How will you get from the main router on floor 2 to the basement router ?

If you indicate by wireless, then do you get strong wireless 5GHz and 2.4 GHz signal in the basement ? It sounds like if the door to the room where the existing wifi router is located is closed, maybe not.

If by wire - do you have ethernet cable (CAT 5e or 6) or coax (RG6 or RG59 assuming US) from top floor to basement ?

 

[bkselly]

I have a wire running down - ethernet, but not certain whether 5e or 6 (although imprint states CAT .6 with the dot)

 

[degrub]

So what you want is good wifi on floor 2 and basement. Not concerned for floor 1, just the transition from basement to floor 2 ?
Is the layout a single stairway from top to bottom or is it offset significantly as you go through floor 1 ?

Plan view layout of each floor might help us . The basement wifi router will likely need to be near the stair going up. Depending on what the floor/ceiling is made of between basement and first floor, you may get reasonable signal or not.

What is the construction of the walls ? gypsum board over wood studs or lathe and plaster over wood ?

If the floor/ceilings attenuate the wifi signal too much you may need an AP/wifi router on each floor. Just have to experiment.

For ASUS, in general, best setup is same wifi router for main and nodes. Since you have wired backhaul to main, that will help if using AX for main and AC for basement. There may still be some issues. Same generation firmware is a must. So that may push you to same AX devices for all. The basic physics of wifi attenuation will not be overcome by switching to AX wifi. So two closed doors will do the same thing as now.

 

[bkselly]

Floor 1 seems to be getting decent signal so it's about getting good signal to the basement. It is a single stairway from top to bottom

I think construction between the floors is gypsum board over wood studs, whereas between houses (townhouses) it's plaster

Understand that signal attenuation may not be fixed with new router, but that said, getting AX for main should be reasonable (and devices would transition seamlessly to AC in basement once I enter basement?)

 

[degrub]

You will want both to be the same spec and firmware if you want something approaching "seamless". Newer wifi6 devices would be my choice if you have to stick with ASUS or any other consumer devices. Dump the old ASUS. It may or may not be "seamless" ie no dropped calls or dropped video conference session with two newer devices.

Realistically, you have a much better chance of "seamless" if you use SMB equipment with a controller or APs that have built in controller for managing handoffs between radios. Ubiquity is one good choice for stand alone controller. i have been using CISCO RV371 APs (built in controller in APs) for a decade without issues. There are others.

 

[bkselly]

Dropped video conference session is less of an issue - I just want my portable items (phones and laptops) to automatically switch to the basement router if I move to the basement

Is the below a reasonable option for me?

https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1739652-REG/asus_rt_ax86u_pro_ax5700_dual_band_wifi.html/?ap=y&ap=y&smp=y&smp=y&store=420&lsft=BI%3A514&gad_source=4&gad_campaignid=21413747990&gbraid=0AAAAAD7yMh0HRNyA2Hgc-mxBlV8JHhFAL&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxL7GBhDXARIsAGOcmIPN4pal8N4lYMu5KF97Ihjq5WVigHq5TBdfXwRM-KKDW4yq-vLKFrkaAqChEALw_wcB

 

[Tech9]

Don't have high expectations for "seamless" roaming with AiMesh. It's only in Asus advertisements and if you get lucky with routers positioned in right spots. If you want better "mesh" with less maintenance - go for Qualcomm hardware based Eero, Nest or Deco.

 

[bkselly]

Understood - I think I will hold off on purchase then as I'm not ready to commit to getting a completely new system (e.g., the Qualcomm alternatives), and since it doesn't sound like AiMesh is that great

TY all for your help

 

[Tech9]

Your RT-AC86U router is in high risk of failure category and reached End-of-Life some time ago. It also runs older 3004.386 branch firmware not compatible with all AiMesh features available in current 3006.102 firmware. When the time is right - get a new system.

 

[bkselly]

I didn't realize it reached end-of-life -- does that mean Asus is no longer providing security updates? If so, what is a reasonable Asus replacement that's a good balance of future proof/not nearing end-of-life that would go around 200 USD? Is it reasonable to then move the old AC86U to the basement hardwired to the new primary router but broadcasting different SSID (instead of using mesh?)

 

[degrub]

AX version or AX Pro version.

Put it in AP mode and use it until it dies. You may have to turn down or off , the 2.4 GHz radio if it interferes with upstairs.

 

[bkselly]

I think I will go with the AX86U Pro (over the regular version). The regular version seems to be more expensive (unsure why), but I don't need two USB 3 ports so I think the Pro is a better deal. Please let me know if I'm missing something

 

[degrub]

Search the AX forums here for additional help. There is plenty.

And look for a sale with right of return. No hurry.