ASUS - RT-AX3000

I have the ax3000 and it’s fine. The only thing I wish it had natively was port mirroring. I never use the mesh or security insights etc. I do like that you can set up a guest network with timed access for when we have friends over. Another device with custom firmware and a laptop dedicated to network monitoring helped solve other concerns

I have both. 86 is main and 3000 is my aimesh The 3000 is a great router. I paid $7.99 at Goodwill for the x86 got really lucky. Get the 3000 should do you 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 can confirm I'm pretty happy with my mesh system. I use a RT-AX 3000 as main router and RT-AC1900P as wifi extender using AiMesh. Only issue is that I only get around 300 Mbit between one end of my property and the other, where I both have computers. But I think that's because that's a few walls and doors between the two routers. In the near future I will connect them with a LAN cable. However initially I had some issues with setting up the AiMesh because one router was running the Merlin custom OS and the other one the native.

Here’s a breakdown of the best router options for your 300-400 Mbps connection in a 2-3 BHK home, with a focus on future-proofing, reliability, and performance. I’ll also clarify whether Wi-Fi 6E or Wi-Fi 6 is the better choice for your situation. Should You Choose Wi-Fi 6, Wi-Fi 6E, or Wi-Fi 7? 1. Wi-Fi 6 is sufficient for most homes and supports high speeds, excellent device management, and widespread compatibility with current devices. • Your iPhone 11 and MacBook Air 15” (2023) don’t support Wi-Fi 6E, so Wi-Fi 6 will be optimal in the short term. • It’s also budget-friendly and works well for 2-3 BHK homes. 2. Wi-Fi 6E adds the 6 GHz band, which provides higher bandwidth and less interference. • However, it’s only useful if your devices support 6 GHz (future upgrades will). • It’s worth considering for future-proofing, especially if the price difference isn’t too high. 3. Wi-Fi 7 is emerging but not necessary right now. Few devices support it, and the routers are expensive. Key Features to Look For • Speeds: Look for routers rated for at least 1 Gbps to handle your connection with headroom for upgrades. • MU-MIMO and OFDMA: Ensures smooth handling of multiple devices like your phones and laptops. • Coverage: Ensure coverage for your 2-3 BHK space (mesh systems are unnecessary unless walls are very thick). • USB Port: Useful for storage or printer sharing, though optional. • Built-in VPN Support: Some routers offer built-in VPN servers, but many require a subscription. Recommendations 1. TP-Link Archer AX73 (AX5400) • Wi-Fi 6: Dual-band router with up to 5400 Mbps speed. • Devices: Handles 30+ devices with MU-MIMO and OFDMA. • USB Port: Yes, supports file sharing and media streaming. • VPN Support: Built-in OpenVPN support. • Price: Around $170. • Why It’s Great: Affordable, reliable, and offers great range and speed for a 2-3 BHK. 2. ASUS RT-AX58U (AX3000) • Wi-Fi 6: Dual-band with up to 3000 Mbps speed. • Devices: Strong MU-MIMO and beamforming for device management. • USB Port: Yes. • VPN Support: Built-in OpenVPN server support.

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 and long term support in the same proposition is something not realistic Depends on what is meant by “long term”. My 6 year old RT-AX3000 is still getting firmware updates

Just get the RT-AX3000. I have used both, and they're both fine for normal use like you've described. Might as well save some money. My parents still use the AX3000 and it's been fine and rarely has issues. I used the 86U myself and rarely ever had to reset it. I really liked it. Not sure if it was worth the money, but it was a rock. These days I'm learning a bunch of network stuff, so I have a pfsense router with Ubiquity APs. That's overkill for most people.

AImesh can do the job, but it will do it much better with wired backhaul if you can, especially because the AX3000 is only 2x2 dual band and has no dedicated radio for meshing, so if you mesh wirelessly, you end up halving the 5GHz bandwidth.

Both AX86U and AX3000 have 2 radios: a 2.4GHz one and a 5GHz one There can't be a dedicated channel for mesh becaue there is no extra radio for mesh communication. AX86U does 4X4 MIMO on 5GHz instead of 2x2, so its radio can beamform a 3dB stronger signal to the AX3000, which helps with the bandwidth, especially in case of otherwise weak connection between the 2 devices. Still, every 5GHz device in this case is broadcasting on the same channel, so every client connected to the AX3000 will have at best half the bandwidth available, because of its data having to be repeated on the same 5GHz channel to the AX86U.

Gotta be the tried and true asus ax3000. I’ve had mine for 5ish years now and it’s a tank. I left Netgear due to puma chipset connection-drop issues. The next step imo is OPNSense on a mini pc. Edit: forgot to add - for modems, whatever you do, do NOT get a modem with a puma chipset. Research the firmware issue for more detail, but lots of packet loss and dropped connections baked into it.