ASUS - TUF Gaming BE9400

I have this router as my main; it seems like this firmware fixed it for me: 3.0.0.6.102_37563. I was about to say the latest firmware, but I just checked, and it seems like Asus has released another one. That said, I'm looking to buy another one for a Mesh Node, but to try Asus's new TUF router (TUF-BE9400) So I can get Wi-Fi 7 in my bedroom too.

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.

TLDR: I'd suggest the RT-BE82U for dual-band WiFi 7 (2.4ghz/5ghz) as it has 2.5gb WAN/LAN ports. I'd suggest the TUF-BE9400 for tri-band WiFi 7 (also has 2.5gb WAN/LAN ports) and also has 6ghz band if that is important. Details: Good options listed above (ASUS BE3600 or TP-Link BE6500) but I don't like that the ASUS BE3600 only has 1GB LAN ports. I checked the ASUS website and it seems the most affordable WiFi 7 router they sell with 2.5gb WAN/LAN ports is the RT-BE82U. I think that might be a better choice for u/IfarmExpIRL since they have 2gigabit internet service, and every port supports 2.5gb. ASUS RT-BE82U: [https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-RT-BE82U-Dual-Band-802-11be-Extendable/dp/B0D48GS6KB](https://www.amazon.com/ASUS-RT-BE82U-Dual-Band-802-11be-Extendable/dp/B0D48GS6KB) Comparison of RT-BE58U ($149), RT-BE82U ($199), RT-BE86U ($249) and TUF Gaming TUF-BE9400 ($279): [https://www.asus.com/us/product-compare?ProductID=26424,30794,25357,31038&LevelId=networking-iot-servers-wifi-7](https://www.asus.com/us/product-compare?ProductID=26424,30794,25357,31038&LevelId=networking-iot-servers-wifi-7) For Tri-Band WiFi 7 (if 6ghz is important) then here is a comparison of the least expensive ones I see on ASUS's website. RT-BE92U ($249), TUF-BE9400 ($279, also listed previously) and RT-BE96U ($549!). Of these I would think for u/IfarmExpIRL the TUF-BE9400 is the best option - [https://shop.asus.com/us/90ig0a30-ma1c0v-tuf-gaming-be9400-tuf-be9400.html](https://shop.asus.com/us/90ig0a30-ma1c0v-tuf-gaming-be9400-tuf-be9400.html) Even though it is $30 more than the RT-BE92U, the BE92U has had reported performance issues and I would not recommend taking a chance on it. Search reddit and you'll find the posts by users. Amazon reviews are also not good for the BE92U. In comparison the TUF-BE9400 is a gaming line router from ASUS, and those tend to have higher quality components than the standard ASUS line, so I think it would be a solid choice if Tri-Band WiFi 7 is needed. Comparison - [https://www.asus.com/us/product-compare?ProductID=26439,31038,22429&LevelId=networking-iot-servers-wifi-7](https://www.asus.com/us/product-compare?ProductID=26439,31038,22429&LevelId=networking-iot-servers-wifi-7)

Always bought a worthy router , for example I got the ASUS WIFI7 gaming router as I would never get my gigabit speeds via WiFi. It’s disappointing for the money spent monthly and this has been 15+ years of this and it’s a monopoly. I’ve tried others companies as well as ones that came and went. I typically always hardwired and that’s the closet I’d ever get to a gig. I have a rentals properties I own and one is a new build (3 months old) another I built 15 years ago both spectrum all the way through the whole time including my personal home & business. As long as the modem is up to par Docsis3.1 etc, is what they offer but there is better out there, however that is what’s important but even using spectrums new WIFI7 router the equipment is subpar to be nice. Of course, there are variables involved understanding, LoS, waveforms, frequency , channels and interference or whether it’s your walls or you live in a old home or a new build, or where the whole neighborhood is set up for spectrum and you’re stepping onto the signal from line to line & home to home. Everything is expanding to quick all over and they all can’t keep up but want the business and worry about the quality later. Even more troublesome is telecoms infrastructure as a whole is outdated severely is the major culprit and it get a bandaid over a bandaid, spectrum’s architecture is no different and is out of date( I.E. the IP switch up of running out years back & MAC addresses are getting there too) again many variables. Apologies, this is more info than asked , I just dealt with it today via a tech telling me to get a mesh network or router because I won’t be happy with the performance. I know people that have been behind the scenes or even subbed out and worked on the back end of things as I have or have climbed the towers for installation/fixes to the front know. I will always say being you can’t get out of the modem as you could once upon a time , always buy your own equipment for best results. Finally even with my $500 router I still only get 650-700 down & up which is disappointing. In all the years whether admittedly doing what I was trained to do , these days when having techs out they all will tell you all day get your own router or mesh network which is a tad cumbersome when you folks are paying high bills and installation fees and is some cases getting PODS , the glorified signal repeaters. It’s a shame. Please know I am not bashing spectrum per se , they are all the same as it’s a bigger issue. I just don’t see a solution in the near future. YES , always get your own gear when possible and configure it well and properly.

Always bought a worthy router , for example I got the ASUS WIFI7 gaming router as I would never get my gigabit speeds via WiFi. It’s disappointing for the money spent monthly and this has been 15+ years of this and it’s a monopoly. I’ve tried others companies as well as ones that came and went. I typically always hardwired and that’s the closet I’d ever get to a gig. I have a rentals properties I own and one is a new build (3 months old) another I built 15 years ago both spectrum all the way through the whole time including my personal home & business. As long as the modem is up to par Docsis3.1 etc, is what they offer but there is better out there, however that is what’s important but even using spectrums new WIFI7 router the equipment is subpar to be nice. Of course, there are variables involved understanding, LoS, waveforms, frequency , channels and interference or whether it’s your walls or you live in a old home or a new build, or where the whole neighborhood is set up for spectrum and you’re stepping onto the signal from line to line & home to home. Everything is expanding to quick all over and they all can’t keep up but want the business and worry about the quality later. Even more troublesome is telecoms infrastructure as a whole is outdated severely is the major culprit and it get a bandaid over a bandaid, spectrum’s architecture is no different and is out of date( I.E. the IP switch up of running out years back & MAC addresses are getting there too) again many variables. Apologies, this is more info than asked , I just dealt with it today via a tech telling me to get a mesh network or router because I won’t be happy with the performance. I know people that have been behind the scenes or even subbed out and worked on the back end of things as I have or have climbed the towers for installation/fixes to the front know. I will always say being you can’t get out of the modem as you could once upon a time , always buy your own equipment for best results. Finally even with my $500 router I still only get 650-700 down & up which is disappointing. In all the years whether admittedly doing what I was trained to do , these days when having techs out they all will tell you all day get your own router or mesh network which is a tad cumbersome when you folks are paying high bills and installation fees and is some cases getting PODS , the glorified signal repeaters. It’s a shame. Please know I am not bashing spectrum per se , they are all the same as it’s a bigger issue. I just don’t see a solution in the near future. YES , always get your own gear when possible and configure it well and properly.

FYI , all of our current routers and mesh product all have extensive on router functionality including Open, Wireguard and much more. As such you could pick BT6, 8, 10, 16 our any of the routers. Also all of the units have our Gaming QoS option for prioritizing game packets and or specific systems, if you want a more streamlined experience our gaming models ( ROG, ROG STRIX, TUF GAMING ) also have dedicated Gaming Ports which are pre configured should you connect your device to that port. You can also do this manually through our firmware/app. Also note unless you need the coverage specific to a kit ( which can be done via AiMesh ) on the router side you have the benefit of no backhual use maximizing throughput if you are within the coverage area of a router.

500mbs is more than enough for couple of people. Even for doing 4k streaming is fine. Don't really see any benefits of 1gig unless you are downloading/uploading tons of data. 2gb is just overkill and definitely not required. Look at review website dongknows to narrow down the choice of routers based on your requirement. Everyone is different so hard recommend, still some are good. Few router recommendations 1. Unifi UDR7. Great all-in-one router with lots of features. 2. Asus with wifi 7 and support for merlin firmware. Check above website for reviews. 3. If you want more control and would like to go DIY route, Any N100 mini pc with dual nic running opnsense/pfsense on it. Maybe directly or virtualized. Add an AP like unifi or omada or something else.

I'm no expert at all in networks. I use Asus tri band routera running Merlin firmware. I have one router at the far end of the house on the 1at floor and the second router at the opposite end on the second floor. The signal extends to the yard and fully covers the house with Wi-Fi 6. House is close to 3k square feet. I have the routers hardwired since that provided the best connection. If you go the Merlin website you'll see what routers are supported.

Was doing research on deco mesh systems and one thing i noticed is that there’s a lot of complaints about hardware revisions and firmware. I was interested in the ability to select preferred connection between decos and device preferred connection. That way i could set the mesh topology as i wanted while steering non mobile devices to specific decos where signals are strong from multiple decos to the correct one. Simple right? Nope. The updated firmware for this feature only applied to specific versions of hw. So a v1 xe75 got it but not a v2 at the time. Then an xe200 didnt have it at all and it some older popular models never got it at all. It just seemed like a mess and the model i ordered didnt have it but amazon lost the pkg so i got an asus instead that feature is just naturally in their firmware… Their wifi7 models all support it but it’s like they just stop supporting previous popular hardware and move on so quickly

If the internal walls in your apartment are concrete and you don't have line of sight to the router it can be hard to get reliable wifi in multiple rooms even in a small apartment. The issue is made worse by the fact that there are a lot of competing signals in most places in Hong Kong. WiFi 7 does deal with these issues better than previous technology, but is expensive. I use as Asus WiFi 7 router and it is a distinct improvement on the one that it replaced. With a 2.5G connection I am seeing download speeds in a 700sq ft apartment of 500mbps at worst and about 1100mbps as best.

If the internal walls in your apartment are concrete and you don't have line of sight to the router it can be hard to get reliable wifi in multiple rooms even in a small apartment. The issue is made worse by the fact that there are a lot of competing signals in most places in Hong Kong. WiFi 7 does deal with these issues better than previous technology, but is expensive. I use as Asus WiFi 7 router and it is a distinct improvement on the one that it replaced. With a 2.5G connection I am seeing download speeds in a 700sq ft apartment of 500mbps at worst and about 1100mbps as best.

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

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.