Upgrade from Asus RT-AX88U (RT-BE88U / ROG Strix GS-BE18000 / ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI)?..

[JarleH]

Hi

Been running a Asus RT-AX88U as main router with a RT-AX1800U as access point (AP for better range wifi). I had to do something because the main router could not cover the whole house, so set up a second cheap router as AP. What I have noticed lately, is that my work computer has the last 2 weeks started to disconnect from wifi in on second floor in the house (I guess this is a laptop issue, not router), also wife has experienced disconnects at one place on the second floor a few times.

For a long time, I have been thinking of upgrading to the Asus RT-BE88U, but never go around to it. When I looked for options now, the ones I found that are interesting are as follows:
1 Asus RT-BE88U
2 Asus ROG Strix GS-BE18000 (more 2.5GB ports, newer)
3 Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI (very new, also got its own little 'secondary AI/docker/apps device', but 2x the price of the BE88U / BE18000)

One of the main reasons to upgrade is better wifi (range, signal strength), newer hardware and minimum at least a few 2.5GB ports.

So;
1 Are there any other routers that should be on this list?
2 Which ones have better wifi then the old, and how would people rank these (I know 19000AI is spanking new, and may have issues still)?
3 The reason for going for the Asus ROG Rapture GT-BE19000AI is to put more 'home server' features on the router, instead of other PC / device.

Open for advices...

 

[degrub]

Going from AX series to BE series is not likely to increase range or signal strength. Those are primarily limited by country regulation.
If you have or can reasonably install either CAT 6 or use coax RG6 with MOCA ( unused existing or shared with OTA TV) you will have to\he ability to start using SMB grade APs that have better control over TX power and can be placed where you need more signal without significant overlap that causes issues with consumer level gear like ASUS which is really designed to be blast it out with one set of radios only.

Your existing system is basically the sweet spot for consumer gear now. WIFI 7 is a work in progress ( remember all the issues with WIFI 4 - N ?) .

 

[JarleH]

Going from AX series to BE series is not likely to increase range or signal strength. Those are primarily limited by country regulation.
If you have or can reasonably install either CAT 6 or use coax RG6 with MOCA ( unused existing or shared with OTA TV) you will have to\he ability to start using SMB grade APs that have better control over TX power and can be placed where you need more signal without significant overlap that causes issues with consumer level gear like ASUS which is really designed to be blast it out with one set of radios only.

Your existing system is basically the sweet spot for consumer gear now. WIFI 7 is a work in progress ( remember all the issues with WIFI 4 - N ?) .

I have cat6a installed in the house, to most rooms. Which brands / models are you referring to?

 

[degrub]

Take a look at Ubiquity and TP LINK OMADA for a start. i recall that Ubiquity has some APs that are wall mount and somewhat innocuous. Use 5GHz band only to further limit signal extent if needed.

 

[JarleH]

Take a look at Ubiquity and TP LINK OMADA for a start. i recall that Ubiquity has some APs that are wall mount and somewhat innocuous. Use 5GHz band only to further limit signal extent if needed.

If going TP-Link, I guess also going TP-Link router is the way?..

 

[Piotrek]

If going TP-Link, I guess also going TP-Link router is the way?..

I usually prefer complete solutions (Gateway, controller, switches, APs), but it's not necessary.
For various needs in my installations I used Ubiquiti, Tp-Link Omada, Mikrotik etc.
My latest choice is UCG-Fiber and a few U7 Lite APs.
@Tech9 uses UCG-Ultra and U6 Mesh.
Of course, pick your gateway and APs etc. based on what you actually need.

 

[degrub]

Roaming is better with a controller that coordinates between APs. i'm using CISCO SMB AC class APs for my home. The APs coordinate amongst themselves with one acting as the controller. Otherwise, you can do a mixed system - ASUS router and brand X APs. The advantage of staying within one ecosystem is more straightforward management of the network. But, you can start mixed and grow into to it if you want. If you are using VLANs to isolate certain devices/users, then single vendor is simpler, but mixed can work. @Tech9 thoughts ?

 

[Tech9]

@Tech9 thoughts ?

Not sure in this case. Seems like @JarleH prefers ASUS hardware and I can't recommend any in BE-class. They all have unresolved issues and aggressive false advertising involved. I personally would do UCG-Max with U6-Mesh or U7-Pro Wall on stands. I like upgrades in reliability and user experience and not specs on paper. The ASUS models above are insane waste of money in my books, but everyone is free to make own decisions.

 

[Tech9]

It actually makes me sad to see how people stick to single vendor, pay crazy money based on aggressive marketing or just select totally wrong hardware for the task. Two GT-BE19000AI gaming spiders from ASUS for $1800 may not provide better experience than Deco XE75 AXE5400 2-pack for $150. The latter is set-and-forget good quality Qualcomm Wi-Fi 6E home mesh set. It will self-adjust the mesh, has super easy control with phone app. Place it where it needs to be, turn it on... use the rest of the money for vacation.

 

[tgl]

It's not silly to choose a single-vendor solution when you are installing multiple APs. You will not get great roaming behavior unless the APs provide 802.11k/v roaming support, and as @degrub said, that is not going to happen across APs from different vendors. But @Tech9 is also correct that it's possible to choose totally wrong gear for this. The mantra for multiple-AP installations is "use lots of low-power APs". Top-dollar "gaming" APs are overkill, maybe even counterproductive.

 

[Tech9]

It's not silly to choose a single-vendor solution when you are installing multiple APs.

For multi-AP SMB class system - definitely single vendor with integration if possible. It doesn't mean though over the counter consumer mesh set with >5 satellites, nodes, pods (whatever they are called) is a good idea. Home mesh sets work best with up to 3 units and the user has to be aware of capabilities and limitations. There is a person in another thread with 5 wired XT12 units... waste of money for limited capabilities result.

 

[JarleH]

Not sure in this case. Seems like @JarleH prefers ASUS hardware and I can't recommend any in BE-class. They all have unresolved issues and aggressive false advertising involved. I personally would do UCG-Max with U6-Mesh or U7-Pro Wall on stands. I like upgrades in reliability and user experience and not specs on paper. The ASUS models above are insane waste of money in my books, but everyone is free to make own decisions.

I have been focused on Asus due to my Asus routers have been very good for years, and able to run Merlin.
This one? https://www.prisjakt.no/product.php?p=13770235

Which mesh boxes?

And how are TP-Link in comparison? Their 'top router' is even more expensive then Asus.

 

[CornfieldWin]

I have an AX88U Pro and older AX5400 and way too many IOT devices (>50) like lights, cameras, and other action that each router could appear to cover spread out over 2,000 sq ft on three floors, but not for long. Devices would stop working by dropping out like with indoor and outdoor lights frozen on and off due to no longer responding. Some might come back on their own, some might not. Then I set up AIMesh with the two routers on the opposite side of the ground floor back hauled by a Cat 8 ethernet cable (theoretically up to 40 GB) because 5 years ago I though that Cat 8 would be the next big thing. But hey, excess is excess and I enjoy using Cat 8. All devices now stay connected. But I did notice while still running in Router Mode that they would shift between which router they connected to. Overall these are stationary devices. So local conditions, neighbors, outside temperature, and of course Sunspots for those old enough to get the reference, might have contributed to this. I don't care. AIMesh works when independent networks or vanilla repeater would not. Let the AIMesh black magic decide who talks directly and enjoy the continuous connections. I have no plan to upgrade for many years with zero risk either Spectrum or Frontier will drag fibre closer to here so I am stuck in the mid-gigabyte speed for Internet service. When I do, it will be probably be an Asus router running in AP/AIMesh mode for reliability, its pretty GUI, and total freedom to swap out the Opnsense server or any of the home routers without disturbing the others. Alll of this is to set a home lab like environment with NAS, Internet and Over-The-Air TV media servers, (all hardware purchased) and whatever I want to help decouple from dependency on real time streaming (Homeassistant compatible devices are a big part of this) and other external Internet dependencies. Not fond of external servers and clouds, being surveilled by either the NSA or Chinese spooks, nor having them inside my network. I view this as second stage cord cutting and self defense in dangerous times. And oh how I want to undercut the manipulator algorithms that tracking everything. Time will tell how fancy I want to get with Vlans and such.