Apologies if this post is inappropriate here - I looked at forum rules but I might have missed something. If so please move/delete this thread.
My time with my somewhat-loyal RT-AC88U is coming to a close, and having run Merlin on this and previous routers for many years, I'd like to buy a replacement. I have a MacBook Pro arriving and it would be nice ideally to run this and future devices at faster speeds, and continue with a supported Merlin release. I'm trying to decide what model to buy and would really value practical experience-led advice.
The most obvious choice seems to be the RT-BE88U. I need the larger number of ports ideally (BE88U +) and would benefit from more/faster ones. Alternatives would be the RT-BE92U (I don't want to spend more than roughly this unless I get a big upgrade at a higher price bracket) or fall back to an RT-AX88U if the BE models have some serious instability issues or other problems. I note the BE92U supports 6GHz which the BE88U doesn't, but I'm never in the same room as my router, and although I get 5GHz fine through my thick Victorian stone wall with my current setup, I doubt 6GHz would reach. Or am I wrong?
I notice also that the BE92U is 2x2 while the BE88U is 4x4 - better range? Ideally I'd like to get better range than my current setup but with mysterious blackspots in my house I'm facing facts that I'm likely to still need an AiMesh addon for a blackspot, so I'd like the new router to work nicely with an old RT-AC86U (or my current router) albeit accepting much lower speeds for clients there, especially as I have to operate AiMesh via wifi for now.
I don't honestly understand why ASUS would market a faster but dual-band Wifi 7 router with 4x4 and a slightly cheaper slower tri-band Wifi7 with 2x2, but oh well. If anyone has any insights or general advice in my situation, very appreciated!
My time with my somewhat-loyal RT-AC88U is coming to a close, and having run Merlin on this and previous routers for many years, I'd like to buy a replacement. I have a MacBook Pro arriving and it would be nice ideally to run this and future devices at faster speeds, and continue with a supported Merlin release. I'm trying to decide what model to buy and would really value practical experience-led advice.
The most obvious choice seems to be the RT-BE88U. I need the larger number of ports ideally (BE88U +) and would benefit from more/faster ones. Alternatives would be the RT-BE92U (I don't want to spend more than roughly this unless I get a big upgrade at a higher price bracket) or fall back to an RT-AX88U if the BE models have some serious instability issues or other problems. I note the BE92U supports 6GHz which the BE88U doesn't, but I'm never in the same room as my router, and although I get 5GHz fine through my thick Victorian stone wall with my current setup, I doubt 6GHz would reach. Or am I wrong?
I notice also that the BE92U is 2x2 while the BE88U is 4x4 - better range? Ideally I'd like to get better range than my current setup but with mysterious blackspots in my house I'm facing facts that I'm likely to still need an AiMesh addon for a blackspot, so I'd like the new router to work nicely with an old RT-AC86U (or my current router) albeit accepting much lower speeds for clients there, especially as I have to operate AiMesh via wifi for now.
I don't honestly understand why ASUS would market a faster but dual-band Wifi 7 router with 4x4 and a slightly cheaper slower tri-band Wifi7 with 2x2, but oh well. If anyone has any insights or general advice in my situation, very appreciated!
