Wired AiMesh vs two separate AP when network managed by other router

[gommm]

My network is managed by a separate router (a mikrotik). I have a GT-AX11000 (used to be my router a long time ago) and a Zenwifi ET8. For now I have the GT-AX11000 setup as an AiMesh master and then ET8 as an AiMesh node.

But, I've noticed that the ET8 doesn't seem to be using the 6ghz radio (at least I can't see it with my laptop) and it seems that the both APs use the same band. So I'm trying to figure out what is the point of using a wired Aimesh mode versus just configuring them as two separate APs? Is the only advantage that the settings sync between each other making management easier? Or is there a reason besides that?

And is using the same bands for the SSIDs on both APs important to have better handover when a device travel between APs or is that not a requirement and using the same band just increases interference with no practical benefits?

 

[Tech9]

So I'm trying to figure out what is the point of using a wired Aimesh mode versus just configuring them as two separate APs?

Just 2x APs on the same channel are usually okay. They'll share the channel available bandwidth with little user experience degradation unless there is active high bandwidth demanding client on the network. AiMesh configuration is not needed and introduces additional limitations. Potentially bigger problem is your home routers as APs have no VLAN support and your only option out of the box is flat one subnet network. If you need Guest Network or IoT Network you may want to search for custom scripts in Asuswrt-Merlin firmware binding VLAN to interface.

And is using the same bands for the SSIDs on both APs important to have better handover when a device travel between APs or is that not a requirement

Not a requirement. Multi-AP systems usually work on different channels. I have a network with 4x APs on 4x different 40MHz wide channels for example. The roaming is excellent.

 

[gommm]

I've switched to setting them as two separate APs and removed Aimesh. It actually does work significantly better and now I see the 6Ghz radio fine (and my laptop automatically connects to it). I originally wanted to use smart connect but it's not possible to enable only for 5 and 6ghz (without 2.4ghz). So for now I have an SSID that for the ET8 maps to 6ghz wifi 6e and for the GT-AX11000, maps to the second 5ghz band. So far so good, laptop seems to be able to switch between both.

If you need Guest Network or IoT Network you may want to search for custom scripts in Asuswrt-Merlin firmware binding VLAN to interface.

Yes, I've been using a custom script for VLAN for a while and just switched to Mervlan which works really well so far.

 

[Tech9]

Excellent! Enjoy.