Q on using Asus EBG15 as router and AX86U Pro as AP

[routerq]

I just snagged a EBG15 on the cheap and am planning to use the Asus EBG15 as router and AX86U Pro (FW 3.0.0.6)as AP.

I have had challenges running 3 Guest SDN on the AX86U Pro with internet blocking etc not working on the AX86U Pro.

I plan to replicate the same setup with EBG15 and AX86U. Now EBG15 is ExpertWiFI Small Business series and AX86U Pro is consumer series.

Any thing that I should keep in mind , any tips etc before I jump in.

NOTE: My AX86U is my current wifi Router and PA, so I will have to reset it.

 

[Tech9]

I just snagged a EBG15 on the cheap and am planning to use the Asus EBG15 as router and AX86U Pro (FW 3.0.0.6)as AP.

There is absolutely no point doing this since RT-AX86U Pro is the better hardware device. Both run basically the same firmware under the hood with different GUI. There is no much Small Business in EGB15 at the moment. What you are doing is a hardware downgrade.

 

[routerq]

There is absolutely no point doing this since RT-AX86U Pro is the better hardware device. Both run basically the same firmware under the hood with different GUI. There is no much Small Business in EGB15 at the moment. What you are doing is a hardware downgrade.

I have AX86U Pro running 3 Guest SDN. 1 for IOT (no intranet, Google DNS) and 1 for Wife (she does not like Pihole) and 1 for Kid (safe DNS).

In current FW (3.0.0.6) series you can't block access or use time scheduling to mange your kids usage and mange ITO devices access to internet etc. Asus has no time frame to fix it, so I am panning to try EBG15 as a stop gap.

Q on ASUSWRT 5.0, AX86U Pro app vs GUI settings for access control

RT-AX86U Pro, Firmware Version:3.0.0.6.102_34336 I installed the Asus Android app and I can see many per device settings like block internet access etc.. I cant find them on the Web GUI, i think I remember that on my RT-AC86U with Merlin FW, i could do that in the network map client list...

www.snbforums.com

Q on ASUSWRT 5.0, AX86U Pro limiting Bandwidth for a time slot

RT-AX86U Pro, Firmware Version:3.0.0.6.102_34336 Running a Customized Network for my Kids devices. I want to bandwidth limit the speed for this network to say 5Mbps from 10.00PM to 8AM everyday (enough for study, woefully inadequate for games) Network runs on a VALN with a different subnet wrt...

www.snbforums.com

Hope is in few months Asus will release fix and may be Asus will give Merlin blobs to release a FW for it.

 

[Tech9]

Asus has no time frame to fix it

What makes you think EBG15 running 3006 will solve the problem with RT-AX86U Pro running 3006? It's just an extra complication and hardware downgrade. If you need single AP only, AX-class and up to Gigabit - get an UCG-Ultra + U6-Mesh and it does everything you need out of the box plus extras. It's $308 total. Range about the same. Sell whatever you don't need to offset costs.

 

[routerq]

Thanks for the suggestion. I am comfortable with Asus so plan to stick with it. Kind of known devil is better than an unknown one I tried Omada and like it but it has its own issues and I am sure UCG has its own challenges..

I think since EBG15 is directly marketed toward SMB, I am assuming is FW fork may / will be more robust...

 

[bbunge]

I have AX86U Pro running 3 Guest SDN. 1 for IOT (no intranet, Google DNS) and 1 for Wife (she does not like Pihole) and 1 for Kid (safe DNS).

In current FW (3.0.0.6) series you can't block access or use time scheduling to mange your kids usage and mange ITO devices access to internet etc. Asus has no time frame to fix it, so I am panning to try EBG15 as a stop gap.

Q on ASUSWRT 5.0, AX86U Pro app vs GUI settings for access control

RT-AX86U Pro, Firmware Version:3.0.0.6.102_34336 I installed the Asus Android app and I can see many per device settings like block internet access etc.. I cant find them on the Web GUI, i think I remember that on my RT-AC86U with Merlin FW, i could do that in the network map client list...

www.snbforums.com

Q on ASUSWRT 5.0, AX86U Pro limiting Bandwidth for a time slot

RT-AX86U Pro, Firmware Version:3.0.0.6.102_34336 Running a Customized Network for my Kids devices. I want to bandwidth limit the speed for this network to say 5Mbps from 10.00PM to 8AM everyday (enough for study, woefully inadequate for games) Network runs on a VALN with a different subnet wrt...

www.snbforums.com

Hope is in few months Asus will release fix and may be Asus will give Merlin blobs to release a FW for it.

The WIFI scheduling does not work on the guest WIFI?

Dump the guest WIFI for the wife and kids. Manually assign IP addresses for the wife and assign just the router DNS (use a filtering DNS on the router such as Quad9 or Cloudflare Security).
Manually assign IP addresses for the kids and assign "family friendly" DNS or set up groups on the Pi-Hole and assign your own block list. Then the parental controls should work!
You can also do many of these processes using the Android or iOS Asus router app.
As for the Pi-Hole, I would recommend not upgrading from version 5 to version 6 as I've had some issues. Start with a fresh RPI OS and a fresh Pi-Hole 6 install.

 

[Tech9]

I am comfortable with Asus so plan to stick with it.

Your choice. You have to be patient then and stop wasting money on experiments.

 

[gabzprime]

What makes you think EBG15 running 3006 will solve the problem with RT-AX86U Pro running 3006? It's just an extra complication and hardware downgrade. If you need single AP only, AX-class and up to Gigabit - get an UCG-Ultra + U6-Mesh and it does everything you need out of the box plus extras. It's $308 total. Range about the same. Sell whatever you don't need to offset costs.

I've always wanted to use Ubiquiti stuff but what made me stick with Asus is the range. I can't run cables so Im always dependent on the range of my AP. I don't live in the US so I can't buy and return. Is the range between AX86u Pro vs U6 mesh about the same?

 

[Tech9]

Is the range between AX86u Pro vs U6 mesh about the same?

Yes. UCG-Ultra + U6-Mesh is the better working UniFi version of RT-AX86U (Pro). The two devices make complete mini UniFi system with Gateway, Controller, Switch and Access Point. PoE injector is included with U6-Mesh. And it can do what @routerq wants on single SSID, something Asus with Asuswrt can't. High build quality with Qualcomm hardware inside.

 

[Tech9]

I can't run cables so Im always dependent on the range of my AP.

I can help you with this if more information about environment and expectations is provided. Single AP in challenging environment is a wrong Wi-Fi planning. The clients may hear a strong AP, but may not be able to reply back. See this post for details. In the mean time try reducing the 5GHz band channel bandwidth to 40MHz and you'll get ~3dB better signal to distant clients.

 

[gabzprime]

I can help you with this if more information about environment and expectations is provided. Single AP in challenging environment is a wrong Wi-Fi planning. The clients may hear a strong AP, but may not be able to reply back. See this post for details. In the mean time try reducing the 5GHz band channel bandwidth to 40MHz and you'll get ~3dB better signal to distant clients.

Kinda hard without the floor plan. Its essentially a 2-storey concrete house. The router is at the 2nd flor. The problem is signal reaching the first floor. With my asus the first floor is served by the 2.4ghz band which is ok as I don't work that much on the first floor.

 

[Tech9]

We can discuss this situation and possible options in another thread.