RT-AX92U Wifi6 Across the Board

[adelphiaUK]

Recently, I had an issue connecting to my server (web and email) which in the end, turned out to be an issue with my host blocking my public IP.

However, prior to being informed as such, I thought it was a setting I had changed which was causing the issue.

So I backed up my settings thinking that checking that box about the password if it was to be shared, would remove the password.

After saving these settings, I went ahead and carried out a factory reset. All's well so far.

Anyway, now we come to post reset and I tried to load the configuration back in but once complete, it rebooted the router and low and behold, when it resumed it asked for a username and password which, of course, I didn't have as it wasn't the same as the one I was currently using.

Therefore, the settings file was no good to me and as a result, I had to do another reset.

Now comes the part I am stuck on. DHCP, port forwarding and all that is fine and dandy as I remember how to configure that.

What I cant remember is how to get WiFi6 across the board; 2.4 ghz, 5 ghz and 6 ghz. So please, could someone enlighten me as I know this router does it as that's what I had it set on before this escapade.

Thanking you in advance if you could tell me what settings I need to change, and where I find them to get this functionality back.

Chris

Please excuse misspellings and anything that may not make sense or cause offence as the medication I take can have an adverse effect on my mind.

 

[Tech9]

What I cant remember is how to get WiFi6 across the board; 2.4 ghz, 5 ghz and 6 ghz.

This model doesn't have 6GHz radio. It has a single 5GHz-2 Wi-Fi 6 capable radio.

RT-AX92U - Tech Specs｜WiFi Routers｜ASUS Canada

Detailed specification of RT-AX92U Tech Specs，Network Standard :IEEE 802.11a|IEEE 802.11b|IEEE 802.11g|WiFi 4 (802.11n)|WiFi 5 (802.11ac)|WiFi 6 (802.11ax)|IPv4|IPv6、Network Standard :IEEE 802.11a|IEEE 802.11b|IEEE 802.11g|WiFi 4 (802.11n)|WiFi 5 (802.11ac)|WiFi 6 (802.11ax)|IPv4|IPv6、Network...

www.asus.com

 

[adelphiaUK]

This model doesn't have 6GHz radio. It has a single 5GHz-2 Wi-Fi 6 capable radio.

RT-AX92U - Tech Specs｜WiFi Routers｜ASUS Canada

Detailed specification of RT-AX92U Tech Specs，Network Standard :IEEE 802.11a|IEEE 802.11b|IEEE 802.11g|WiFi 4 (802.11n)|WiFi 5 (802.11ac)|WiFi 6 (802.11ax)|IPv4|IPv6、Network Standard :IEEE 802.11a|IEEE 802.11b|IEEE 802.11g|WiFi 4 (802.11n)|WiFi 5 (802.11ac)|WiFi 6 (802.11ax)|IPv4|IPv6、Network...

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I don't know why I said 6ghz. I know it only has two bands of 5ghz, if you can call them bands. Anyway, my point of the message was, how do I get the 2.4ghz and 5.0-1ghz performing using WiFi6? I know they do it as they previously showed the little 6 in the top right of the signal indicator on my phone.

I really wish I paid more attention to what it said in that little box when it spoke about sharing your configuration.

 

[ColinTaylor]

Go to the Wireless - General settings and set 802.11ax / WiFi 6 mode to Enabled.

NB Depending on the firmware version this option may have been moved to the Wireless - Professional page.

 

[Tech9]

how do I get the 2.4ghz and 5.0-1ghz performing using WiFi6?

According to hardware specifications this model doesn’t have Wi-Fi 6 support on 2.4GHz and 5GHz-1 radios. The only Wi-Fi 6 capable radio is 5GHz-2.

 

[adelphiaUK]

Go to the Wireless - General settings and set 802.11ax / WiFi 6 mode to Enabled.

NB Depending on the firmware version this option may have been moved to the Wireless - Professional page.

Thanks. I'll take a look.

EDIT #1: OK, I had a look in both locations and the only place I can see any reference to 802.11ax is for the 5ghz-2. I know this router supports Wifi6 across all 3 modes, even Google's AI says it can do it...

Spoiler: Google's AI

To enable Wi-Fi 6 on your 2.4 GHz network on the ASUS RT-AX92U, you'll need to configure the router's settings to use the 2.4 GHz band specifically with Wi-Fi 6. Here's how:

and then it goes on to not tell you how to do it.

EDIT #2: OK. I must have been dreaming when I thought I saw this because everywhere I'm looking now suggests it's only the 5ghz-2 which uses it which means it's a bummer for my 2 RP-AX58s trying to get them to use the Wifi6; it's wasted being assigned to the wireless backhaul when I'm using ethernet backhaul.

I guess I should close this and start a new one for the 58s as it's a totally different topic, but still for the same problem(ish).

 

[Tech9]

I know this router supports Wifi6 across all 3 modes

No, it doesn't. Why you ask Google AI when Asus have specifications for their product?

it's wasted being assigned to the wireless backhaul when I'm using ethernet backhaul.

Shared with clients wireless backhaul is allowed on this device. In wired configuration you have to select tri-band smart connect mode or unhide the 5GHz-2 radio in settings so clients can connect there. It is a bit tricky, but doable. You were seeing the "6" in connection because the mobile devices were connected to the 5GHz-2 radio and your router was running single SSID.

 

[adelphiaUK]

No, it doesn't. Why you ask Google AI when Asus have specifications for their product?



Shared with clients wireless backhaul is allowed on this device. In wired configuration you have to select tri-band smart connect mode or unhide the 5GHz-2 radio in settings so clients can connect there. It is a bit tricky, but doable. You were seeing the "6" in connection because the mobile devices were connected to the 5GHz-2 radio and your router was running single SSID.

I really wish I'd taken a screenshot, if only for my own sanity, but I could have sworn, when scanning for connections, all 3 (i don't use smart connect because of some older light bulbs which make you have to use 2.4gz on your device, and with smart connect, I never know how to connect to 2.4mhz when they all have the same SSID.

You say it's "doable" to get the RPs to use the 5-2 network to obtain a better use of the Wifi6 band. Would you xare to enlighten me, or should I just delve deeper into the cesspit of knowledge that I seem to be lacking.

 

[Grumpy_Geoff]

everywhere I'm looking now suggests it's only the 5ghz-2 which uses it which means it's a bummer for my 2 RP-AX58s trying to get them to use the Wifi6; it's wasted being assigned to the wireless backhaul when I'm using ethernet backhaul.

Unhiding the 5GHz-2 band for fronthaul -

[AiMesh] How to use RT-AX92U's Wi-Fi 6 band on AiMesh mode? | Official Support | ASUS Global

 

[adelphiaUK]

Thanks for the link. I'd already completed this as soon as I set up my mesh. But it still does not boost the 5G-2 signal, as far as I can tell, as the signal bars are diminished at 4/5, but it fluctuates when I'm outside the flat; sometimes it isn't picked up at all.

It's getting my RP-AX58s sending out the 5G-2 instead of 5G-1 I need to sort.

 

[Grumpy_Geoff]

Thanks for the link. I'd already completed this as soon as I set up my mesh.

Sorry, I misunderstood.

But it still does not boost the 5G-2 signal, as far as I can tell, as the signal bars are diminished at 4/5, but it fluctuates when I'm outside the flat; sometimes it isn't picked up at all.

The RT-AX92U spec here for us Aussies has the 11ax/5GHz-2 radio of the RT-AX92U, operating on the higher-powered channels 149-165 (whereas the 11ac/5GHz-1 radio operates on the lower channels 36-64).
I think you're in pommie-land, in which case I don't believe you get access to channels 149-165, perhaps your 5GHz-2 radio is restricted to using the DFS channels 100-144? I think those channels have lower transmit power.

Is that what you see for 5GHz-1 and 5GHz-2 channel ranges?

 

[adelphiaUK]

Thanks for the link. I'd already completed this as soon as I set up my mesh. But it still does not boost the 5G-2 signal, as far as I can tell, as the signal bars are diminished at 4/5, but it fluctuates when I'm outside the flat; sometimes it isn't picked up at all.

It's getting my RP-AX58s sending out the 5G-2 instead of 5G-1 I need to sort.

I don't mean to sound rude and if I do, I apologise. However, for all the doubters out there that said it's not possible...

After a lot of hard research and wangling with tools, I have managed to get my original configuration back on my RT-AX92U. And, unless my phone is lying, my original thoughts were correct. The RT-AX92U is capable of sending out WiFi 6 across the board; I've attached a couple of pictures to prove it.

 

[Tech9]

I don't mean to sound rude

I don't want to repeat myself, but your phone is connected to 5GHz-2 radio - the only one with Wi-Fi 6 capabilities.

2.4GHz + 5GHz-1 radio BCM4352, a/b/g/n/ac
5GHz-2 radio - BCM43684, a/n/ac/ax

 

[Grumpy_Geoff]

And, unless my phone is lying, my original thoughts were correct. The RT-AX92U is capable of sending out WiFi 6 across the board; I've attached a couple of pictures to prove it.

Could be bollocks reporting by the phone. Only one of the three radios is 11ax/Wi-F 6 capable.

Use WiFiMan wireless analyser app (or similar) on your phone and scan your network. Pick your 2.4GHz SSID, then select the access point. What does 'PHY Mode' for the access point show as?
Similarly for the 5GHz-1 SSID.

On the RT-AX92U, in System Log - Wireless Log does your phone show as connecting with '(n)' or '(ax)' when you are connected to the 2.4GHz SSID?
Or in the 'low level details' popup screen if you're on Gnuton/Merlin, under 'Stations List' what is the PHY mode for the phone's connection - 'n' or 'ax'?

 

[adelphiaUK]

I don't want to repeat myself, but your phone is connected to 5GHz-2 radio - the only one with Wi-Fi 6 capabilities.

2.4GHz + 5GHz-1 radio BCM4352, a/b/g/n/ac
5GHz-2 radio - BCM43684, a/n/ac/ax

So the pictures lie? I'll check it out tomorrow, it's too late now. Oh, by the way, it's not just my phone that reports all 3 on WiFi 6, but my tablet too. Perhaps it's a Samsung thing. Of course, it could be the RP-AX58s, but I don't know about that.

 

[bennor]

So the pictures lie?

The pictures posted don't show the specifics of the WiFi bands it has found. Sure you have a 5 GHz band, but the pictures posted doesn't tell you if that 5GHz band is WiFi 5 (802.11ac) or is WiFi 6 (802.11ax). You need to dig into the specifics of the band the devices are finding to know if it's 802.11ac or 802.11ax. Depending on the firmware one is running on the router they may be able to see in the Wireless Log section if a wireless device is connecting at (ac) or (ax).

 

[Grumpy_Geoff]

I wonder if it's the radios of the RP-AX58s, being 11ax on both bands, that are the reason the 'adelphiaUK.Smart' and 'adelphiaUK.Smart5G.1' show as 'Wi-Fi6'?

 

[Tech9]

Of course, it could be the RP-AX58s, but I don't know about that.

Not very important anyway because phones/tablets will be perfectly fine with Wi-Fi 5 speeds.

 

[adelphiaUK]

I wonder if it's the radios of the RP-AX58s, being 11ax on both bands, that are the reason the 'adelphiaUK.Smart' and 'adelphiaUK.Smart5G.1' show as 'Wi-Fi6'?

Which is what I said at the end of my last post.

 

[adelphiaUK]

The pictures posted don't show the specifics of the WiFi bands it has found. Sure you have a 5 GHz band, but the pictures posted doesn't tell you if that 5GHz band is WiFi 5 (802.11ac) or is WiFi 6 (802.11ax). You need to dig into the specifics of the band the devices are finding to know if it's 802.11ac or 802.11ax. Depending on the firmware one is running on the router they may be able to see in the Wireless Log section if a wireless device is connecting at (ac) or (ax).

The picture clearly show the 6 in the top right of each band which indicates Wifi6, doesn't it?

To all. I'm not trying to argue here, although it might sound like it, I'm trying to understand. I normally add a disclaimer to each of my messages about things I may say/do but on other forums I was asked not to put it, but in this instance, I will post it once so people can, hopefully, understand why it may sound like I'm arguing.

Chris
Please excuse misspellings and anything that may not make sense or cause offence as the medication I take can have an adverse effect on my mind.