MikroTik - hAP ax2

ok now I know what are you talking about. First mikrotik wifi client will be best option like Hap ax2 will be ok but you must think about 5ghz radio usage when you like to setup bridge. When you setup client you are loosing 50% of radio bandwith. I recomend you mikrotik Audience because these device have two fizical 5ghz radios one for wifi client and one for ap.

If you like to setup these with two devices, your configuration in my opinion will be good.

I’ve got an ax2, and i can get 850mb/s throughput (iperf3 to a server; macbook wifi to router, then ethernet to server). Granted, only in the same room as the router. As you said, it’s not necessary most of the time Great thing about wifi 6 is that the 2.4GHz channel is faster too. I can get about 400-500mb/s throughout most of my (large) house

I should clarify - Iperf3 is a decent tool to measure the maximum *potential* throughput when the conditions are right. 850mb/s with only 5 simultaneous streams, and the router has fasttrack enabled for that connection (across VLANs). If fasttrack isn’t enabled or doesn’t apply (ie the traffic needs to go through the firewall) then forget it. I get about 300-400mb/s maximum in that case. It should go without saying that you shouldn’t use FT with internet traffic. If you want to saturate a 1Gb internet connection you need a much more expensive router (or you need to turn off the firewall)

In practice, MikroTik ax2 gives 700-750 Mbps max down./upload speed on WiFi, while "other brand" routers could provide 930-950 Mbps (AX1800. AX3000... doesn't matter). The coverage area restricted by power regulation limits, so there isn't so much difference. For me, the speed difference not so important as stability and flexibility of MikroTik devices.

I also should admit CPU performance of ac2/ac3/ax2/ax3. You could pass 300-400 Mbit/s via WireGuard/IPSec. For example, the most popular MIPS-based CPU for home routers, MT9621K, passes only 70-80 Mbit/s

In practice, MikroTik ax2 gives 700-750 Mbps max down./upload speed on WiFi, while "other brand" routers could provide 930-950 Mbps (AX1800. AX3000... doesn't matter). The coverage area restricted by power regulation limits, so there isn't so much difference. For me, the speed difference not so important as stability and flexibility of MikroTik devices.

I also should admit CPU performance of ac2/ac3/ax2/ax3. You could pass 300-400 Mbit/s via WireGuard/IPSec. For example, the most popular MIPS-based CPU for home routers, MT9621K, passes only 70-80 Mbit/s

for the budget choose the hap ax3 its like a small upgrade from the ax2. I got the ax2 its pretty solid only thing is that it doesnt have a usb port which it can be handy since you can plug in extra storage or 4g/5g modem as an aditional connection

For my home network I run 2 MikroTik hapAX2's. Hardwired together. One does the routing and acts as an ap/managed switch, the other one runs just as an ap/managed switch. This is a setup that can actually route a 1gb/s connection, i'm not sure if the cheaper mesh systems can actually route a 1gb/s connection.

I run a hAP ax2 at home and it's AWESOME. And a 4011 wifi capable at work. I never had a problem with them.

I run a hAP ax2 at home and it's AWESOME. And a 4011 wifi capable at work. I never had a problem with them.

If you like to tinker I'd recommend mikrotik stuff - AX2 or AX3. But you really should like to tinker, they're not trivial if you get outside of the default config. They can do pretty much anything the enterprise routers and APs can do(even wifi roaming if you have a few). TP-link ones are ok if you don't want to spend time configuring. If you're doing <=1G wire speeds, wifi 7 won't give you any benefits over wifi 6/6e. Most enterprise wifi7 equipment does 10G, sometimes even with optics. For what you need, i'd get a <100$ wifi6 tp-link router, and not worry that much about future proofing, because of the price.

HEX is sufficient for 600M, but on the limit. Also for future proofing and ARM related features, I recommend ARM based MT device. I had HEX when I had 600M cable, worked ok, but cpu had quite high usage during ISO dl's or my kids updating Fortnite at the same time. AX2 is what I would buy for 600M if had to stay in lower budget. I currently have RB5009 for my 1G connection and it's a beast.

I have 1000/1000 and hAP ac2 is plenty. For 600/40, a hex will be plenty. All of the hAP ac2, ac3, ax2, ax3 are good buys if not a bit overkill but whatever.

I have my daughter the ac2 with version 7.18.2 and two wireguard vpn and it works great with the new wireless package, but if I had to buy again I would avoid it, better an ax2, the 4011 is too much for a home network, the same as the 5009, plus they are more expensive

I think the AX2 is a good choice. I do something similar in my apartment where I have a Debian machine with a WiFi adapter receive the free building WiFi and then send it over to a hEX to create a private LAN/WLAN (for WiFi, i've setup an old tp link router/AP combo in bridge mode and plugged into the hEX). The whole set up works pretty well and is relaible, the only issues I encounter come from occasional speed dips but those are usually remedied by disconnecting/reconnecting the Debian box to the free building WiFi.

+1 mikrotik. Especially if you're not a heavy wifi user, as they are not the most advanced APs. I have a couple of hap ac2 and ax2 in different locations, and they're rock solid.

Ac2. But this router slowly die because of lack of memory. Actually i dont think its good deal in 2025. Maybe you can buy ax2 instead? It has 1GB RAM instead 128MB and 128MB flash instead of 16MB. Latest version of routeros is problematic on ac2.

I used a Mikrotik hAP AX2 as a "travel router" for a while with WiFi as the WAN connection on it and it worked great.

Yea, that's best case. Perfect signal. Agreed, can't guarentee it always or throughout. 2.4 GHz in AX is a lot better. It's 25-30% speed improvement, which is huge, since AC got no improvement. I use 2.4 all the time now. Prior to AX, 2.4 with distance would slow down too much. Now it's plenty usable with room for overhead/retires. AX2 is what I use. And if you're not chasing speedtest numbers. It can handle anything the average home user needs. Are there better wifi and/or routers, yes. Do you need it to be better for home use, most likely not.

It’s same CPU.  But AX2 is clocked lower due to smaller heatsink.  And it can’t be manually overclocked like older MikroTiks could.  And AX3 antennas are required to be attached.   The higher clock speed of the AX3 does result in pretty good performance gain over the AX2. 

AX2 and 3 are great. What was the reasoning behind avoiding them?

There's zero context for the sisters needs though. And no reasoning for mikrotiks having bad WiFi. They are fine. I use both mikrotik and ubnt and I'll switch between the two depending. Nothing actually wrong with an AX2 or 3 for me.to ever rule it out without context.

AX2 I feel is a great little router. It will do over 700mbps over 5ghz without any issues for example. It's a lot of bang for buck for under a hundred euro. Anyone who understands spatial streams to the point they want more won't be getting routers bought for them, neither will they be spending AX2 tier pricing IMO.

AX2 and 3 are great. What was the reasoning behind avoiding them?

AX2 I feel is a great little router. It will do over 700mbps over 5ghz without any issues for example. It's a lot of bang for buck for under a hundred euro. Anyone who understands spatial streams to the point they want more won't be getting routers bought for them, neither will they be spending AX2 tier pricing IMO.

I'm on hAP ax² on 1:1gb with \~20 firewall rules, some ports forwarding, no issues at all.

Get ac2 or ax2, hex has old cpu, new hex is okayish because it has arm but arm5 which is obsolete. Arm is a key factor here because you get free relay for your vpn (back to home cloud) and option for containers (apart from new hex which has arm5 with less containers options)

Get ac2 or ax2, hex has old cpu, new hex is okayish because it has arm but arm5 which is obsolete. Arm is a key factor here because you get free relay for your vpn (back to home cloud) and option for containers (apart from new hex which has arm5 with less containers options)

You should try with hap ax3 or at least hap ax2. Those have wifi 6.

You should try with hap ax3 or at least hap ax2. Those have wifi 6.

I am using a cAP AX and I get 600+ on 5ghz and 200 or so on 2.4ghz. It has two ports, so it's "technically" able to be a router. I use an RB5009 for the core though. The AX2 and 3 are pretty decent though from what I understand if you don't need "great" coverage of a large area.

tl;dr; just buy a few things and grow/adapt as you learn I have a 60's split level and have settled into the following setup over the last 8+ years: 1. HEX RB750Gr3 running Wireguard and Capsman (v3 and v2) 2. Feeding an 8-port POE Texas passive POE injector 3. Provisioning a mix of hAP AX2, 2xcAP AC, hAP AC Lite, hAP AC2 over wired CAT5e 1. Garage: HEX + AC2 2. Upstairs Hall: cAP AC 3. Living Room: AX2 4. Backyard: cAP AC 5. Downstairs media cabinet: AC Lite for 100mb ethernet Fire TV stick It's a completely ghetto rigged setup, and one cAP AC has been removed from its case and shoved in a weatherproof box mounted to the outside of the house to replace a wAP AC that died. The CAT5e is from a spool I bought 25 years ago! But, I put it together piecemeal as I learned and it works well enough for my 300mbit AT&T service that is shared between 60+ devices. I have one central UPS powering the whole bit from the garage so it even works for a few hours during power outages. The hAP AC Lite is the thorn in my side as it is 100mbit only and is the last remaining capsman v2 device out there. If money were infinite, and I were starting over, I'd likely just get a RB5009 or L009 and run cat6e to a mix of cAP AX or hAP AX2s and be done with it. That would let you easily run 1Gbit service and share it out via 600-700mbit wifi to everything. My next goal is figuring out how to move equipment to get rid of that AC lite, but spending $100-200 on more networking isn't quite in the budget yet.

Avoid ac2, it’s dated and have issues with dwarf 16MB storage. Super cheapskate and shortsighted move by MikroTik on this and several other models. Pick ax2 at least.

Avoid ac2, it’s dated and have issues with dwarf 16MB storage. Super cheapskate and shortsighted move by MikroTik on this and several other models. Pick ax2 at least.

They are nice, but they are the lower end of what's available in the market. Compare with offer by Ubiquiti (Unifi) or TP Link (Omada) and you can get better devices there (with 4x4 MIMO, for example).

For normal home user -- meaning few laptops doing browsing, plus some phones or tablets, Mikrotik wifi is fine. I have myself ax^2 at home. Again, Mikrotik wifi is not bad per se, but it is the lower end of the available offers on the market. If you have some nicer devices -- e.g. up to 2019, Apple Macbooks Pro used 3x3 MIMO wifi chips -- and you have capable AP, it was nicer (I had nanoHD at the time). Or maybe you have several devices that are streaming all the time -- e.g. your TV is connected via wifi and is almost always on, or you have some security cameras streaming over wifi -- that will take its toll on the available bandwidth. Though we don't know, whether this is the case.

MikroTik hAP ax² is a decent option, but not very user friendly. Have you given https://www.waveform.com/tools/bufferbloat a run? and you are having issues that doesn't occur without other network traffic?

hap ax works for me as a station, not a repeater

I've used hAPs before with CAPSMAN, had no complaints other than the slow adoption of the new WiFi standards. I've since switched to Unifi AP ACs with OpenWRT and usteer installed, works a treat.

NGL I think it’s smarter to buy older gen wifi or used with one of the managed solutions, rather than bleeding edge unmanaged wifi 7 Potentially OP if interested in one node might dig in and research Mikrotik hAP very closely to see if it can do the needful WiFi VLAN. They’re not known though for strong wifi. My hAP is only used as a firewall as a Temu UDM , with the WiFi as an emergency fallback during a power outage, when I don’t power my APs

Do you have any references comparing firewalla to UniFi, Mikrotik, and PFsense/other x86 software firewall? I got some “upgrade to 1/10Gb fiber ads and am tempted”. Currently at 0.6/0.6, which my hAP can do no problem