RT-BE96U

The 10Gb backhaul worth the trouble? I’m running a RT-BE96U main with two ET12’s as nodes on 1Gb backhaul. Only have a 1 gig fiber plan so think my 1Gb backhaul is fine but I can just move the ports around and get 10Gb I’m thinking

Pickup 3x Ausus BE96u and spread them around the house with AI Mesh. Connect one to the WAN and then the remainder to each other with CAT 6. You will have an amazing network. They are on sale for $399 each now. Run Merlin firmware...

Never had a problem. But, use wired vs wireless to connect.

Having 10GbE ports and actually being able to provide 10gbps throughput are very different things. I refuse to recommend TP-Link Deco. The system relies on TP-Link servers for management, has a dumbed-down admin interface with only basic config options, frequently fails to deliver advertised features or function reliably, and overstates their performance capabilities (of course the latter isn't unusual in the market). I have no experience with Netgear Orbi, but note they have only a single 10GbE port, so you can't do wireless backhaul at 10gbps across nodes or to wired devices (don't expect above 3-4gbps via WiFi). Asus has the BE996U meshable router with a pair of 10GBE ports and BE19000 support, so could support 10gbps wired backhaul and (with a 10GbE switch) wired devices. I'd rank Asus above TP-Link Deco but nowhere near a system like UniFi. Do you really want 10gbps or even 5gbps throughput? Do you even have any devices that could support 10GbE, or even 2.5GbE? Run lots of CAT6A cable and get a UniFi UCG-Fiber (5gbps), UDM-Pro-Max (5gbps), or EFG (12.5gbps), or a Firewalla Gold Pro (10gbps), or a TP-Link Omada ER8411 (5gbps) router and add a 10GbE switch. Use UniFi U7-Pro-XG or TP-Link Omada EAP773 access points connected via 10GbE to the switch. I could design you a network that, on paper, would be expected to provide up to 10gbps across the wire and probably around 3-4gbps via WiFi (to devices that support WiFi 7 and 6GHz). But you'll have to spend around $5K in equipment, at least $2K for professional cable installation, and my time to do the up-front site assessment and planing for a project this size wouldn't be free. And even then, at the end of the project you'll be able to run speed tests and smile at your network throughput, but it will make very little difference in your day-to-day experience vs 1gbps.

I have an ASUS Mesh. Primary node/router is a RT-BE96U. The satellite remote node is a RT-BE86U. I am linking the two on a 10Gb wired backbone. So far so good.

Go for a WIFI 7 Mesh system. I Love ASUS, excellent software,frequent firmware updates. Good Luck!