ASUS - ASUS ZenWiFi ET8

Asus Zen Wifi ET8

I moved away from them due to visibility of devices on my network. It was a firmware update that changed the ability to see what devices were connected where. Speed was very good and pretty stable. I literally have two sitting here that I was using, DM if you're interested in them just for the cost of shipping.

For a quick, easy and uncomplicated setup TP-Link mesh systems are a good option. You didn't specify your internet speed, so I'll assume 1gbps max. If it's faster than that you'll want to get a mesh system that can match it. For example if you have 2gbps service you'll want a mesh system with 2.5gbps WAN and LAN ports. Let me know if you have faster internet speed and I could provide additional recommendations. I'm listing 3 unit sets since you'll have one mesh unit per floor, and all will be connected via ethernet (wired backhaul), per your post (you are running ethernet to each floor). WiFi 6 is still a great technology, offering 2.4ghz and 5ghz band support. WiFi 6E adds 6ghz band support. WiFi 7 is the newest technology, also has 6ghz band plus other upgrades. WiFi 7 is still new, can have bugs and you could encounter quirks. Not trying to scare you away from WiFi 7, but if you want something rock-solid I'd recommend WiFi 6 or WiFi 6E. I myself am using WiFi 6 and don't plan to upgrade to WiFi 7 for at least 2 years. All prices below are for units I found at amazon.com. TP-Link recommendations - Deco X55 ($130, AX3000, WiFi 6 dual band (2.4/5ghz), 3 pack, 3 gigabit ports per unit); Deco XE70 Pro ($240, AXE4900, WiFi 6E tri-band (2.4/5/6ghz), 3 pack, 2.5gigabit WAN & 2 gigabit ports per unit); Deco BE63 ($420, BE1000, WiFi 7 tri-band (2.4/5/6ghz), 3 pack, 4 2.5gigabit WAN/LAN ports per unit). A side note:, TP-Link charges extra for some security features; it's a subscription service, so you'll pay it as long as you want those features. [https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/4319/](https://www.tp-link.com/us/support/faq/4319/) Most people might be interested in adding Security+ ($35.99/year). Families with children using the internet might also want to add Advanced Parental Controls ($17.99/year). So about $54 extra is paid every year, for these increased security features. But TP-Link is the easiest to setup and use, not complicated, so perhaps the ease of setup is worth it to you. Or if you don't want the additional security features (summarized at [https://www.tp-link.com/us/homeshield/](https://www.tp-link.com/us/homeshield/) ) then you don't need to pay for it. Eero and Netgear ("Orbi" product) sell some mesh systems as well. Both of those also require subscription sign-ups for additional security features. If you are curious about these I can post some thoughts on them. ASUS includes Ai Protection Pro (security scanning/protection via Trend Micro) with their products for free. ASUS products cost more for initial purchase, but if you keep a mesh system for 4 years, then you've saved $216 by not paying for the security features (assuming TP-Link's $54/yr fee). However ASUS products can sometimes be a bit problematic to setup and use. You would probably have no issues but just warning you. I use an ASUS mesh system and it works well for me (XT8). I won't recommend it to you though, as it's an older system. Below are some newer recommendations. ASUS recommendations: ET8 ($259 w/coupon, AXE6600, WiFi 6E tri-band (2/5/6ghz), 3 pack, 2.5gigabit WAN & 3 gigabit LAN ports per unit); BT6 ($591, BE9400, WiFi 7 tri-band (2/5/6ghz), 3 pack, 2.5gigabit WAN & 3 gigabit LAN ports per unit). Hope that helps with your decision. Good luck and advise us if you have any questions.

If you want an easy setup, nice user interface and ability to tweak options/configurations down the road, ASUS ZenWiFi is a good option. Another bonus with ASUS is you can use a mobile phone app \*or\* a web interface on a laptop/computer to manage the system. Many other mesh systems from TP-Link, Netgear, Eero only let you manage them with a mobile phone app. That is fine if you have basic needs but if you want to get more control over settings, often not an option. For example TP-Link may not let you select WiFi channels for its wireless networks. With ASUS you have control over a multitude of settings. Or just leave it on the defaults and if you ever wish to dive into the config, it will be ready and waiting for you. I asked Google Gemini for some thoughts too (another poster used Ai so I gave it a try too). I see ASUS ZenWiFi is in the list along with others. Since your needs don't seem very complex any of these should work pretty well. Unfamiliar with Eero, but you stated they are "difficult" to move into AP mode, no idea why but if you know that to be true then I suppose you could remove Eero from your consideration list. Have fun! Click below image to make it larger... https://preview.redd.it/q9mu50skxxrf1.png?width=925&format=png&auto=webp&s=1fb6721ce7d5fb1ded5fee09f45ed12ce365b752

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.

Best bet would be to purchase two or three of the same type of router for your mesh system. I would recommend the ET9/XT9(The ET8 would also work, they can be had sometimes substantially cheaper). If you need Wi-Fi 7 go with the BT10. Since you have to use a mesh system,you're going to need at least a tri-band router. The mesh will use one of the bands specifically to talk to each other(wireless backhaul), leaving you a dual-band router for the rest of the house to actually use.

Yeah I like the ASUS approach as well. Mine just works, and it is so easy to add another node anytime I want since their stuff is all interoperable with the AiMesh setup.

Asus zenwifi is worth considering. Just got 2 nodes of the 6E one from 2023 for $200 @ microcenter. After some issues with a new fully updated asus wifi7 router constantly rebooting & some similar claims across a few of their wifi7 devices i fear they've got a bug. The 6E has been running fantastic for ~4days now

you have plenty of bandwidth, any issues you have are connectivity. Id just buy a Asus wifi 6E Ai Mesh capable router and move your current router to the second floor and use a wired backhaul. Installing an Ethernet connection between floors would allow you to improve your connectivity upstairs more than anything else.

I got pretty good service from the Spectrum-provided routers for a long time, but I finally broke down and bought an Asus 6E router last Fall. It was so good that, a couple of months ago, I bought a second Asus router and made a mesh network. I spent a good bit of money, but I'm now happy with my WLAN. I'm on 1 GB asymmetrical service.

I would pick a WIFI 6E router from ASUS. Great company, great software support,frequent firmware updates,excellent products.

The signal strength on the dream 7 is eh. Personally if you aren't going to use the other things ubiquiti offers don't use them. You have the flex so it could be worthwhile but you're making do without it. The Asus 6 and 6e routers/mesh routers are very stable and work fantastically and have stronger signal strength. If you love to tinker or want the other features ubiquiti offers like multiple AP, cameras etc then use them. But purely for router the dream 7 isn't really worth it.

Its some software problem, the pcvr connection is often broken with updates (i have some quest for 3 years) after some of the updates the 6ghz suddenly ran smooth just to revert with the next one. But 99% of the last 14months 5ghz 160mhz DFS ran better(but not always perfect). 6Ghz is usable but has a lot of microstutters/lost frames for me while 5ghz runs perfect like a cable lately (knocks on wood). I tried the ASUS 6E router, Acer predator W6, Tenda 6E router. All the same, with the exception of tenda, it sucked over 200mbits. I also had several Q3 as I was trying to get one with no mura, Quest Pro ran identically on 5 or 6Ghz. Maybe its something specific to my place, but there are no other 6Ghz networks and it was working perfect at several occasions. Like dont stretch your budget getting the 6E if youre tight on money, it might not by worth.

Asus ZenWiFi mesh system (2pk)... Thread closed... 😉

I bought an Asus zenwifi system but eventually hardwired the satellites to a switch plugged into the main unit. Works great.

asus zen wifi. with a house you should have it wired for ethernet anyway. the zen wifi can handle both and 2.5gb in the wifi 7 model.

Hello! I have an asus zen WiFi mesh net with two of the three nodes set up. I have Ethernet over coax and have the downstairs node connected via Ethernet. I should (based on the range of these routers) have excellent coverage in the house. I have noticed however my devices sometimes get confused which node it should connect to, resulting in sub par speeds. The nodes are very far apart. When I did add the third node I felt I was getting crazy interference. Any suggestions?

Yeah, extenders don't work in big houses. For 3500 sq ft, get a mesh system like TP-Link Deco or ASUS ZenWiFi.Covers everything, no dead zones, no 5G or 2.4GHz.

Avoid tp-link and any other CCP networking equipment. Don't intentionally put stuff with backdoors in them just to save a few bucks. Unifi is great but it's expensive and you really should use it wired. If you're just looking for plug and play mesh Asus has good offerings. Their AI mesh system works well

I've had zero problems with M1 for many years. Only went down once, and that was for scheduled maintenance in the middle of the night. Also, it's not just your internet plan that could be the cause of any issues. If your router isn't good enough, or is in a terrible position, or is overheating, or the bomb shelter is between your laptop and the router, you are gonna have issues no matter what plan you have. I have a standard 1Gbps plan but an Asus gaming router with ethernet cables going to the 3 heaviest users in the home – PS5, living TV and bedroom TV. I also set up a second router using Asus AImesh to provide wifi signal to one of the further corners of the house.

I've been using AiMesh since the beginning, and it was rocky at first, but now I'm currently quite happy with it. One solid main router and two APs outside. What unifi did you get to replace your setup and do you think it was worth the cost?

Asus AiMesh - Yea TP-Link Deco - Yes TP-Link Easy Mesh - Not sure

ASUS aimesh is the best option besides true ap based systems.

I've been using Asus Aimesh for years. 3 nodes and seamless switching when walking around. There does seem to be a client limit at about 75-80 wifi devices whiche forced me to move iot devices to a separate wifi network. Asus is great to start with but unifi likely my next system

I use Asus routers in my Ai mesh network and it gives me complete control over everything and I've loved it. I use that coupled with family link from Google and I feel like I've done my job as a parent blocking as much bullshit as I can for my kids.  But don't worry, their friends who's parents don't care about a single thing they consume will come along and ruin your hard work. Or your kids will be kids and find loop holes, which they always do. But you still tried. 

Asus AiMesh can be configured without an app and uses local credentials for management.

For gaming use cable, for wifi coverage of this size, you can do well with asus aimesh, you can pick two routers of your choice, cheaper than ismesh system and many settings available.

I went from DD-WRT for years to ASUS AiMesh and have been on Unifi equipment for a good four years now. I never have any issues with roaming (3600+ home) and I can fine tune whenever necessary (rare). I love the Unifi and don't plan on moving away any time soon. If you want peace of mind, I definitely also recommend Unifi.

As has been said, plug in everything you can. For a basic option, the Asus routers with AiMesh are a pretty simple solution. Start with one on the second floor centrally located and see if you need more. Use inSSIDer to see how your signal strength is as what kind of interference you have and set settings accordingly. If you’re not reaching all corners, add another compatible Asus and put them on floors 1 and 3 (both wired connection to WAN jack)

ASUS AIMESH Stable and cheap.