Wifi 6 vs Wifi 6e/7 options NBN Down Under

[Captain_Haddock83]

Hi, or should I say G'day. First timer & not a tech head on networking, so bear with me! Between an incoming speed bump on our local NBN,("Speed" being a relative term with our network Down Under!), from 100mbps/20 to 500mpbs,& finding my D'link AX1800 reception spotty with my PS5 Wifi on the other side of a plasterboard wall,(Drywall to overseas cousins), where router & it's NTD connection is centrally located in our house,(single storey).
Whilst looking at the mesh options of Netgear Orbi,(Pricey & some configuration features paywalled),& TP Link,(Not as extreme, yet...& lots of reddit posts on reliability), seemed overkill & expensive. So, still believe on using a traditional router. Which leaves mostly TP-Link & Asus,& the Asus options feel vastly better than my old D'link ones in terms of firmware support & options of port forwarding etc,to optimise things if needed.
Which then brings me Asus options. In theory Asus RT-BE92u,BE-86u, & BE-88u all ranging in upper $480 - $600 odd locally,& though "futureproof", still feel pricey when barring a PC Upgrade later, or a newer TV would be struggling for Wifi 6e devices for current lot of mobile phones, TV's, PC & consoles we have here. Did see the Asus RT-AXE7800 with some discounts similar in price to Asus RT-AX86u pro....but though the older model, the RT-AX86u pro at $400 at present looking better option. Did see the Asus TUF-Gaming AX6000 on discount, but reading here looks like it's already verging on End of Life updates,(& finicky current firmware).
Pro's & cons regardless which way one goes...realise the RT-AX86u pro probably doesn't have many more security/software updates left in it despite being on later firmware.
Alternatives at top end of budget would be the BE-92u & BE-86u,but both obviously still immature on software/firmware,& the BE92u sounds like it's sacrificed some 2.4/5ghz performance to squeeze in a 6ghz band? In comparison there is a TP Link BE550 Pro (BE9700) about $30 cheaper than the Asus BE-86u...& Archer GXE75 (AXE-5400), "pyramid" style router is on a clearance but bit stingy on LAN ports for 1-2 PC's, VOIP adapter & suspect I'd might end up "getting what I paid for". Could look at powerline adapters shorter term for the PS5 Wifi issue, but obviously the likes of the RT-AX86u,BE-92u & BE-86u would likely improve things vs the current D'link...interested in other's opinions. Cheers!

 

[Treadler]

Hi, or should I say G'day. First timer & not a tech head on networking, so bear with me! Between an incoming speed bump on our local NBN,("Speed" being a relative term with our network Down Under!), from 100mbps/20 to 500mpbs,& finding my D'link AX1800 reception spotty with my PS5 Wifi on the other side of a plasterboard wall,(Drywall to overseas cousins), where router & it's NTD connection is centrally located in our house,(single storey).
Whilst looking at the mesh options of Netgear Orbi,(Pricey & some configuration features paywalled),& TP Link,(Not as extreme, yet...& lots of reddit posts on reliability), seemed overkill & expensive. So, still believe on using a traditional router. Which leaves mostly TP-Link & Asus,& the Asus options feel vastly better than my old D'link ones in terms of firmware support & options of port forwarding etc,to optimise things if needed.
Which then brings me Asus options. In theory Asus RT-BE92u,BE-86u, & BE-88u all ranging in upper $480 - $600 odd locally,& though "futureproof", still feel pricey when barring a PC Upgrade later, or a newer TV would be struggling for Wifi 6e devices for current lot of mobile phones, TV's, PC & consoles we have here. Did see the Asus RT-AXE7800 with some discounts similar in price to Asus RT-AX86u pro....but though the older model, the RT-AX86u pro at $400 at present looking better option. Did see the Asus TUF-Gaming AX6000 on discount, but reading here looks like it's already verging on End of Life updates,(& finicky current firmware).
Pro's & cons regardless which way one goes...realise the RT-AX86u pro probably doesn't have many more security/software updates left in it despite being on later firmware.
Alternatives at top end of budget would be the BE-92u & BE-86u,but both obviously still immature on software/firmware,& the BE92u sounds like it's sacrificed some 2.4/5ghz performance to squeeze in a 6ghz band? In comparison there is a TP Link BE550 Pro (BE9700) about $30 cheaper than the Asus BE-86u...& Archer GXE75 (AXE-5400), "pyramid" style router is on a clearance but bit stingy on LAN ports for 1-2 PC's, VOIP adapter & suspect I'd might end up "getting what I paid for". Could look at powerline adapters shorter term for the PS5 Wifi issue, but obviously the likes of the RT-AX86u,BE-92u & BE-86u would likely improve things vs the current D'link...interested in other's opinions. Cheers!

FWIW, BE88U going gangbusters here on FTTP 1000/50.

 

[2301]

As you say that the router is on the other side of a plasterboard wall it is not possible to lay an ethernet cable connecting the router with PS5? Not an investment and success guaranteed!

 

[Captain_Haddock83]

As you say that the router is on the other side of a plasterboard wall it is not possible to lay an ethernet cable connecting the router with PS5? Not an investment and success guaranteed!

In theory, yes it's possible...but the cost of a professional cabler,& a couple ports even if short distance between walls,(There are already aerial sockets in same region where ethernet ports would need to go too),still wouldn't fix an older slower router. So rather try that first. If new, better performed router didn't work, then would consider powerline adapter or that as options later.

 

[Captain_Haddock83]

FWIW, BE88U going gangbusters here on FTTP 1000/50.

After initially seeing reddit,Whirlpool & similar forums dismissing Wifi 7 stuff missing that 6ghz band, noted the comments that the extra ports & better support on 2,4/5Ghz channels the BE-88u features (& the extra LAN ports),more than made up for it. Might take a bit longer to save for it or the BE-86u,but getting that sort of idea how they handle NBN & typical aussie homes, are the sort of experiences. Part of me is very tempted to go with the RT-AX86u,but the seed of doubt with these BE models superseding them just has me conscious what the extra 100-$200 might give longer term in terms of firmware support. And haven't even looked in depth at the Merlin stuff yet either...would be a bit wary not bricking things &/or being able to go back to vanilla Asus if I got bit lost...