Replacing an RT-AX88U.

[archiel]

As a result of needing to upgrade my package with my ISP to avoid being moved onto CGNAT I am now on 2.5 Gbps symmetric (from 1Gbps), and am wondering what would be a good replacement.

Our home is a small 1930s terrace house on 3 floors. Both routers are on the middle floor and for full coverage I have the AX88U is right at the front and the AX58U right at the back (tried running the AX88U in the middle on its own, but the nature of the wall and floors resulted to various devices failing to connect.

Looking for suggestions on what would be best to replace the AX88U as the primary router - will probably then run it as the AiMesh point instead of the AX58U, unless the replacement router will cover the whole area.

Thanks Archie

 

[heysoundude]

hEX S (2025) | MikroTik

A compact, affordable wired router featuring a 2.5G SFP port, 5x Gigabit Ethernet, PoE out, USB, and a fast dual-core CPU – ideal for homes, offices, or underfunded labs that need reliable performance.

mikrotik.com

Or

hAP ax S | MikroTik

Our most cost-effective Wi-Fi 6 access point yet. Triple-chain 5 GHz radio (up to 900 Mbit/s throughput), dual-band Wi-Fi 6, 5x Gigabit Ethernet ports, and a 2.5G SFP. Powered by a dual-core ARM CPU, with PoE-in/PoE-out flexibility, a standard DC jack, USB, and a sturdy high-end enclosure that...

mikrotik.com

Use the asus machines as APs.

Seeing your signature, you may be reluctant to lose the scripts, but you’ll soon see that the core functionalities can be found elsewhere

 

[John Fitzgerald]

Look at this: https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-RT-BE88U-Dual-Band-Extendable-Performance/dp/B0D55SWRSM?tag=snbforums-20

 

[Tech9]

and am wondering what would be a good replacement

You don't need to change anything, but get 2x GT-BE19000AI to make ASUS happy.

 

[archiel]

You don't need to change anything, but get 2x GT-BE19000AI to make ASUS happy.

If you would like to provide the funds, I would be happy to place the order

 

[Tech9]

Use the asus machines as APs.

Whats the point in replacing Gigabit ASUS with Gigabit MikroTik? Both can’t make 2.5GbE speed test anyway…

 

[archiel]

Look at this: https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-RT-BE88U-Dual-Band-Extendable-Performance/dp/B0D55SWRSM?tag=snbforums-20

Not in any rush, but the BE88U and AX88U Pro are both around the same price (in the UK). basically I would want 2.5Gbps on WAN and LAN (one port to connect to QNAP dumb switch). Could move to different hardware, but that means learning new OS and configuration. the BE88U does offer Wifi7, but then again no other devices in the house support that, so the most I would be using it is WiFi 6 (ax) mode on 5.0 Ghz anyhow, with a lot of n devices. 0n 2.4Ghz I still need to support both ac and g.

Most of the time the WAN just ticks over, but from time to time it does run at full speed (effectively 0.92 Gbps symmetric) so 2.5 is nice to have but not needed right now. Thinking more about what if the AX88U falls over or rmerlin stops supporting it (or if Santa is feeling generous).

Edit: does anyone have an BE88U or AX88U Pro and if so what is the maximum steady throughput achieved on the WAN?

 

[Tech9]

Thinking more about what if the AX88U falls over or rmerlin stops supporting it

What if RMerlin had enough and decides to retire and live happy life without supporting anything? I see you worry in advance and just giving you something to worry about.

 

[heysoundude]

Not in any rush, but the BE88U and AX88U Pro are both around the same price (in the UK). basically I would want 2.5Gbps on WAN and LAN (one port to connect to QNAP dumb switch). Could move to different hardware, but that means learning new OS and configuration. the BE88U does offer Wifi7, but then again no other devices in the house support that, so the most I would be using it is WiFi 6 (ax) mode on 5.0 Ghz anyhow, with a lot of n devices. 0n 2.4Ghz I still need to support both ac and g.

Most of the time the WAN just ticks over, but from time to time it does run at full speed (effectively 0.92 Gbps symmetric) so 2.5 is nice to have but not needed right now. Thinking more about what if the AX88U falls over or rmerlin stops supporting it (or if Santa is feeling generous).

Edit: does anyone have an BE88U or AX88U Pro and if so what is the maximum steady throughput achieved on the WAN?

Then think about this from the client perspective: do you (or will you) have more AX clients or BE clients during the lifespan of the router?

 

[archiel]

Then think about this from the client perspective: do you (or will you) have more AX clients or BE clients during the lifespan of the router?

For the next few years, AX though that said, the current routers are both almost 6 years old

 

[archiel]

What if RMerlin had enough and decides to retire and live happy life without supporting anything? I see you worry in advance and just giving you something to worry about.

No worry - I am glass half-empty by inclination

 

[davidwford]

I’ve just upgraded my AX88U for a BE88U, mainly because i had a offer i could not refuse and will hopefully future proof my network a bit more over the coming years.

 

[archiel]

I’ve just upgraded my AX88U for a BE88U, mainly because i had a offer i could not refuse and will hopefully future proof my network a bit more over the coming years.

In the absence of such an offer (or at least until it comes along) have you been able to test how fast the WAN (and 2.5 Gbps LAN) interfaces will actually run?