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Some are quite unique, such as Wake-on-LAN, or the support for Merlin firmware. There are also tons of networking settings and tools that you can use via the web interface. So if you pick a gaming router as your primary AiMesh node, you’ll get yourself, well, a gaming mesh system - something Netgear has been working on via a premium add-on for its Orbi line. In short, AiMesh is the only way to have a mesh that gives you the same feature set as even the most feature-rich standalone router. And since Asus routers currently offer the most features on the market, none of the other home Wi-Fi systems can compete on this front. All the features you’d need and moreĪgain, an AiMesh system has all the features and settings of the primary router. The ZenWiFi ET8 is one of the first Wi-Fi 6E mesh systems on the market.
You’ll find more information on this below, but I also wrote a separate detailed post on picking the right AiMesh combo that explains more. Generally, all AiMesh routers will work with one another, but certain combos will perform better than others unless you choose to use wired backhaul. And, of course, you can also mix routers of different tiers. Or get two high-end ones to create a high-performing system. You can get two affordable Asus routers and build a budget mesh. It’s also an excellent way to re-use your old Asus router as a node when upgrading to a newer one.īest of all, AiMesh allows you to pick and choose a mesh system that fits your needs and budget. You can start with a single router then, later on, add a satellite or two.
Dual-band (Wi-Fi 6): RT-AX88U, RT-AX89X, RT-AX3000 / RT-AX58U, RT-AX56U, ZenWiFi XD4, RT-AX86U, RT-AX82U, RT-AX68U, RP-AX56, GS-AX3000, GS-AX5400, ZenWiFi XD6, GT-AX6000, ZenWiFi AX Hybrid XP4, and more.įirst of all, AiMesh enables you to scale up your Wi-Fi network as your needs grow. #INSSIDER REVIEW CNET PRO#
Traditional Tri-band (5GHz + 5GHz + 2.4GHz): GT-AX11000, RT-AX92U, ZenWiFi AX, ZenWiFi Pro XT12, and more. These non-complete lists only include the latest broadcasters already covered on this website. Wi-Fi 6/6E (802.11ax) AiMesh broadcasters Tri-band: GT-AC5300, RT-AC5300, Lyra, and ZenWiFi AC. Most of these are legacy broadcasters that might not support the latest version of AiMesh. In a home wired with network cables, generally, it makes sense to use Dual-band Wi-Fi 6/5 or Tri-band Wi-Fi 6E hardware. There are tri-band and dual-band broadcasters.Īs a rule, for best performance, in a Wi-Fi mesh system, you want a tri-band for a wireless setup. And thanks to that an AiMesh system can offer a lot more than virtually all other home mesh brands on the market, for now. Like most mesh systems, you use one as the primary router (or primary node, per Asus), and the rest will be satellites (or satellite nodes).Īt the very basic, an AiMesh satellite automatically replicates the Wi-Fi settings of the primary router and extends the coverage, either wirelessly or via network cables.Īfter that, the router unit determines the features and settings of the entire network. Most Asus routers have this feature, but that’s also where the trouble starts - there are just too many combinations. To take advantage of AiMesh, you need to get a couple of supported broadcasters. But if you don’t mind tinkering with your hardware, chances are you’ll love it. It requires some work - or maybe even a lot of work in certain situations - before you get it the way you want. Still, AiMesh is not a plug-n-play Wi-Fi solution like other canned systems on the market. For a couple of years now, it’s been the most important part of the company’s core router features. Initially released as an add-on update, AiMesh has proven to be Asus’s most impactful home networking feature over time. Tri-band primary router + dual-band satelliteĪsus AiMesh: A robust mesh approach like no othersĪvailable in all Asus Wi-Fi 6 (and later) routers and most of its Wi-Fi 5 routers, AiMesh combines two or more hardware pieces into a single mesh network, similar to the many other mesh brands. Tri-band and Dual-band mix: It can be a bit of a mess. #INSSIDER REVIEW CNET HOW TO#
How to manage the dedicated backhaul band (5GHz-2).How tri-band routers work in an AiMesh system.What you can expect from an AiMesh system.Wi-Fi 6/6E (802.11ax) AiMesh broadcasters.Asus AiMesh: A robust mesh approach like no others.