ASUS - ZenWiFi ET8

This is the kind of reason I stuck with Asus - they have more "semi-advanced" options like "reboot every X days". Or if they don't, the semi-offically supported Merlin firmware has it. There's dozens of similar not-primary-to-wifi-usage things like that which keep me from using simpler solutions like Google and TP-Link. But I'd love to get away from these underpowered asus ET8s! No range, no memory!

A good in-between are the TP-Link PLC (power line communications) adapters. I have 4 of the 1000mbps ones and for the most part they solved my need-to-run-ethernet-but-it-will-be-ugly problem. While I'd still rather have real ethernet between floors and rooms, this has at least brought sanity to the evenings where 2 laptops are playing online games while a tv or 2 stream shows + all the usual phone issues. I use the PLC devices to bridge my 2 Asus ZenWifi ET8 nodes and put them in hardwired backhaul mode. Much beetter than wireless backhaul. Once like every 6-8 weeks I have to replug them to fix some glitchyness but they reconnect quickly. Unlike my damn ET8 wifi boxes which need a kick in the pants every 2-4 weeks when usage has been high. [https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/powerline/tl-pa9020p-kit/](https://www.tp-link.com/us/home-networking/powerline/tl-pa9020p-kit/)

Asus? I thjink they are over priced but worth it. I've used both, Deco works when you got the right FW loaded. But asus has better funtionality for power users / home labbers. I personally have 2 xt12 and 2 et8

Hardwired is best. If you have extra phone lines or coax cable you can use that. If not you'll have to Go wireless. Ubiquiti is great. But, it's beyond most homeowners without really doing their homework. Therefore, I would recommend an Asus system. All of their stuff works. Just buy two, three, four of their routers in the AI mesh system will work perfectly.(Buy the exact same router for everywhere). You just need to make sure they are tri-band or quad-band routers (one band will be used exclusively for wireless backhaul). For example, et12, ET 8, et9, bt-10 are all recommended. Check out Dong knows--his website is great.

Backhaul is how the routers talk to each other. It's best to do it wired. But, if you can't they will use one of the channels on the router that becomes a dedicated circuit (band) where they talk to each other. That's why you need at least three bands. If you want Wi-Fi, 7 I would recommend the bt-10 or the expensive BE98 pro. If you just want Wi-Fi 6e, any of the routers I mentioned before would work.. et8, et9,xt9,xt12,et12. Additionally, avoid the BQ 16 and the be96u, the firmware on the routers is buggy and has not been updated. I have personally used the et8, xt9 and the be98 pro. They have all been fantastic.

If you have the XT8 and are satisfied with there performance you can always get the ET8 which is the 6E version. I would avoid the Orbi 770 series they have been firmware nightmares as of late. The Orbi 960 system is very solid and has insane range and speed. I have personally had the all 3 systems I mentioned the ET8 is my backup system just incase the my 960 fails at my summer house. The 770 I had for 3 weeks and returned it as it was very unstable and went back to my 960 series Orbi

Same but I use an Asus et12 and et8 combination system 2 of each model

If you already have Cat 5e or better in the home, it is best to get cheapest PoE+ switches (two PoE+ ports or more) and distribute them throughout the home along with either APs or Mesh infrastructure that work with wired or wireless backbone. I have five VLAN PoE+ eight-port switches along two SFPs ports on two of the switches. This allows me to get wired connections on many of the nearest switches. The reason for VLAN switches so I can separate the homeowner LAN from my infrastructure. The switches are configured the same way so one does need to know what port belongs to switch VLAN LAN. - Ports 1-4 are 1st VLAN and PoE+ - Port 5 for the 2nd VLAN - Port 6-7 are 1st VLAN - Port 8 is the trunk - Ports 9-10 (SFP) - 2nd VLAN - The ASUS ZenWifi ET8 mesh devices are on 2nd VLAN with four ports each and USB-A port. I use USB-A port to charge devices or it could be use as cellular backup. - The ASUS ZenWifi ET12 mesh devices are on 1st VLAN with four ports each. I also have Cradlepoint to allow multiple ISPs or cellular backup via SIMs or cellular router. I pick ASUS so I did not need to pay for additional security services subscription unlike other vendors. Additionally, if the Internet went down, one could still get into the devices. Amazon EERO were problematic, with the above, since it is associated with cloud configuration. The above is overkill but if one wanted to leave with existing equipment particular to a VLAN LAN, one does not need to reconfigured the switches or devices but replace the switches with low end PoE+ switches that were put in storage. Lastly, there are two ISP (cable and fiber) so each VLAN has primary and backup to which the other VLAN has different primary and backup. The only major issue is when switch fails (goes back to factory default or dies), I have to reconfiguring a new switch and powercycle all the devices to forget seeing the other VLAN devices. So each switch location has 1st vlan - mesh device with three ports - four PoE+ and two ports from the VLAN switch 2nd VLAN - mesh device with three ports along with one USB-A port - one port from VLAN switch Yes, I have a lot of interference in 2.5Mhz range with this and my neighbors. Only my low-end devices (irrigation, garage doors, some security devices) use this. I would rather have hardwired connections to avoid wireless jammers trying to block security solutions. NOTE: Having separate LAN help many times when ISP fails and the routers do not always switch over correctly. I also added a power strip with external cable on/off switch so I do not need to open the screwed in wall panel. Occasionally, the ISP fiber to ethernet adapter doesn’t cooperate if their router is powercycled.

I bought two identical Asus 6E routers and set them up as a mesh network. It worked so well, I have now bought a third one for my son.

First, trade in your ATT router/modem for a new one,then buy a new ASUS 6E or 7 router that has Mesh capability and use the same network and password as the ATT router. This Mesh system should give you 50-75% of your Ethernet connection which should be plenty fast for your needs. Good luck!

please!! Don't spend 1.6k on Wifi 7 Eero. EERO is great, but 600 dollars great lol. Go with Ubiquity Access points. No way is a wifi 7 mesh worth 1.6k. Let alone most of your devices being able to use it. Asus mesh 6E networks are nice. A bit of a pain to first set up. I connected 4 together for a buddy. Basement, 2nd floor main floor and backroom. Wifi reaches far into his back yard and front. That was at best 600 ish in total.

I've had success with Asus Zen Wifi and Amplifi; but I think Asus is a better product personally. I have Ubiquiti in my home right now and don't particularly like it.