RT-AX58U with RT-AC68U AiMesh node - all devices dropping from all networks regularly

[dangkhoa]

Hi folks,

I've been pulling my hair out for a while trying to figure this one out. All of my devices on all of my networks (main network, media device network, IoT) will regularly drop out simultaneously. This has been going for months now, and seems to happen once or twice a day for anywhere between 1-5 minutes before devices begin reconnecting.

I was able to catch a log of this event occurring, which I've attached and can't show inline due to post character limitations.

My network setup is as follows:

* Main router: RT-AX58U, running AsusWRT-Merlin 3004.388.10
* AiMesh node: RT-AC68U, running AusWRT-Merlin 3004.386.14_2 (connected to main router via wireless backhaul)
* YazFi 4.4.8
* YazDHCP 1.2.1

I did see this thread regarding a similar error message (wlceventd_proc_event(662): wl0.2: Disassoc D4:9C:DD:78:F4:31, status: 0, reason: Disassociated because sending station is leaving (or has left) BSS (8), rssi:0) but this error is happening for basically all devices it seems.

Looking for any help here - wondering if my AiMesh node is the culprit here, but loathe to give it up since I don't have great coverage on the first floor of my house without it, and unfortunately my house isn't wired up with Ethernet so I have to use wifi backhaul.

 

[bbunge]

While it should be OK to run Merlin on the AC68U the Asus firmware for it is newer. You should give the Asus firmware a try on the node.
Do you have all the Aimesh settings on Auto or at the defaults?
Do you have the router WIFI on fixed channels and bandwidth? Also, avoid the DFS channels as the router switching channels can cause the problem you mentioned.

 

[dangkhoa]

While it should be OK to run Merlin on the AC68U the Asus firmware for it is newer. You should give the Asus firmware a try on the node.
Do you have all the Aimesh settings on Auto or at the defaults?
Do you have the router WIFI on fixed channels and bandwidth? Also, avoid the DFS channels as the router switching channels can cause the problem you mentioned.

The node's Backhaul Connection Priority is set to 5GHz Wifi First, and Ethernet Backhaul connectivity is disabled; other than that, all other AiMesh settings are default/auto.

Router itself is also on auto for channels/bandwidth for both (2.4GHz: 20/40MHz bandwidth; 5GHz: 20/40/80MHz bandwidth). At one point I had them manually set, but I've read conflicting information about whether it's better to manually or automatically set channels, as well as using channels other than 1/6/11 on 2.4GHz.

I will try putting a newer AsusWRT (non-Merin) firmware on the node router.