MikroTik - hAP ax³

I agree with mikrotik, take a look at their hAP ax3 if you want an all in one device.

I was disappointed to find that the UDR7 only supports 2x2 MIMO. After considering this, I’ve decided to stick with my MikroTik hAP ax3, which allows me to achieve speeds of 850-900mbps when nearby and around 400-500mbps at a distance. PD: from what I’ve seen the UDR7 has a Mediatek chipset instead of Qualcomm.

Mikrotik would be my go-to for a small business. Either something like the hAP AX3 or the RB4011. Add some cAP AX access points as needed for coverage.

Why not Mikrotik ax3? It is really good balance between price and power. You can also run docker containers directly in the router (i am not fan of this, but....you can)

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

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

I've got two ax3's and a hapac2 running capsman and it works pretty seamlessly for me. When I look at the logs I can see devices roaming occasionally, especially phones.

MikroTik HAP ac3 or ax3. Either one is good. It just depends on your budget. These are reliable routers.

[MikroTik hAP ax³](https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1872028-REG/mikrotik_c53uig_5hpaxd2hpaxd_us_hap_ax3_2_4_5ghz_wifi.html) It’s what I recommend to everyone. It’s a solid device that has great reliability.

Nope! It’s running full RouterOS.

I can recommend mikrotik routers. I had some cheap devices from them lasting for more than 10 years (bought them in university to have something to put theory in practice). if you are limited to a single device, I can recommend the hap ax 3, using it as my daily driver for more some time. I would recommend to split router and access point. On mikrotik.com, you will find performance measurements for each mikrotik router. Mikrotik has a had history with WiFi, their pre WiFi 6 accesspoints are not that stable. Since WiFi 6 (the models with ax in its name), for me the WiFi reliability is good (YMMV). You may also try to reuse your tplink router as accesspoints, it might reduce the load on it

This sounds like a defective unit. Are the antennas screwed on properly? My ax3 has a pretty good signal though 2 reinforced concrete walls. It also works very well for wireless VR gaming, which is very sensitive to the tiniest issues.

This sounds like a defective unit. Are the antennas screwed on properly? My ax3 has a pretty good signal though 2 reinforced concrete walls. It also works very well for wireless VR gaming, which is very sensitive to the tiniest issues.

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

Till they fix wireless performance on all routeros I advice go other Brand for wifi like ubiquiti, for routing mikrotik is the best, if you still want a mikrotik ax3 is the best for your needs

AX3 is pretty good hardware. But the RouterOS software is a shame for such a great hardware.

AX3 is pretty good hardware. But the RouterOS software is a shame for such a great hardware.

A hAP ax3 is perfect for a small apartment where you want WiFi built into the router. What you will lack is just 6Ghz as Mikrotik doesn't have that yet. To get 850Mbs WiFi on a 2x2 client, you'll get it at line of sight in said small apartment using 80mhz channel, but for further away you'll want 160mhz channel width as the best case transmission rate for WiFi6 at 80mhz is 1201Mbs (minus 30% or so for actual throughput because WiFi) and 2402Mbs for 160Mhz. Those speeds drop off as you move away from the router, have congestion, interference, or it's just Monday (because WiFi). The "tweaking" thing on Mikrotik is up to you. I rarely touch my settings, but **when** I do, I can tweak out the wazoo. Mind you, I have like eight devices, so the likelihood of tweaking settings is higher. For the whole "because WiFi" thing, use the following two references: * [https://www.wiisfi.com/](https://www.wiisfi.com/) (especially section 5 - "Understanding WiFi overhead") * [https://mcsindex.com/](https://mcsindex.com/) (after reading the first page)

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.

I have two ax3 presently and I’m not happy as it’s continually having various clients drop or not getting proper throughput. it sounds like ruckus R 650 is a really solid way to go from what are saying. I can use the AX3 as a switch and disable the Wi-Fi. Do you think that would be a good situation?

Mikrotik hAP AX3 which doubles as wireless AP and switch for my apartment. SFF Lenovo pc with OPNsense running as VM on top of Proxmos as firewall. Mikrotik RB260GS which I'm gonna use as a switch for my basements as soon as I find how to reset it.

Yes + to mikrotik. Been running hap ax3 for and the longest uptime i got is 2 years and 5 months. Only downtime is the freaking auto update of my service provider AT&T which happens once in a blue moon. For reference I’m my AT&T ONT is on bypass by using the bypass script on the mikrotik. So tricking ATT that I’m still using their gateway but its not connected after successfully bootup.

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’ve been using the AX3 in my home for the past 6 months with no problems. In terms of the WiFi, it was very much “set it up and leave it” - though of course the rest of the router configuration took me ages and much frustration. I’d come from using a tp-link WiFi router which one device in my home had been occasionally dropping out with, the problem disappeared when I switched over to the AX3, but that is very anecdotal…

I’ve been using the AX3 in my home for the past 6 months with no problems. In terms of the WiFi, it was very much “set it up and leave it” - though of course the rest of the router configuration took me ages and much frustration. I’d come from using a tp-link WiFi router which one device in my home had been occasionally dropping out with, the problem disappeared when I switched over to the AX3, but that is very anecdotal…

Go for ARM to be future proof. Either Ax2,3 or the RB5009 imo. The latter is a beast.

I still prefer the RB5009 for the 10G interface which you can use to feed the switch. It doesn’t make a huge different per se (no difference if you’re just switching traffic and maybe marginal if using L3HW) but if you’re having to route a lot of traffic around then it’s helpful to have the increased throughput on the interface. The AX2 I haven’t tried yet. I have some AC2’s deployed around family members and it handles their small needs just fine. One uses it solely as a router. The other also uses its wifi. I have two family members with AX3’s and they also have done fine. Both of them use the built in wifi. One of them was a replacement for the ISP provided unit and their wifi speeds at its worst was better than the best the ISP unit could offer. So they were happy with it.

No AP will cover 120 sqm adequately.  Far ends will be degraded.  If your ok with furtherest points being slower.  It could work.  But if you want same speed in all spots, 1 AP won’t do it.   I know you claim the dream router does.  But it’s definitely not giving you same speed everywhere. 850 Mbps over wifi is not easily achieved.  Connection rate maybe.  Throughput, your going to need AX, 4x4 and perfect signal levels.   Which goes back to range.  No way 1 AP will give you 850 Mbps at its furthest reach.  Next to it maybe.  Not at it’s max distance.    Do you even need 850 Mbps?  IoT devices need less than 1 Mbps.  Cameras 3-5 Mbps.  Streaming video 10-40 Mbps.   Where did 850 come from? DD-WRT and Tomato was probably not software causing the needs for reboot.  It was probably the Linksys/Belkin/Dlink hardware you put it on that was junk.  No matter how good the software is.  You put it on junk hardware, it’s still gonna perform like crap.  So don’t knock them.  Blame whatever brand device you put it on.  I mean, it was probably giving you issues with factory software to being with to even look into replacing the OS.   Why does the router need USB?  Anything a router can do with USB (except adding network interface).  A low power Atom/Celeron/Pi can do 100x better.   MikroTiks are some of the most stable on the market.  Also most flexible powering options.  And take surges better than any other brand.   MikroTik doesn’t need reboots other than upgrades.   Wifi speed, Wifi7, 4x4, or 160 wide channels is only way you get 850 or close. Most MikroTiks are 2x2 80 MHz.   That will give 1200 connection rate, with about 600 Mbps usable throughput.   wAP AX could do 850 if you can maintain 160 MHz channels, but I wouldn’t count on it.   Audience could do 850, if your client device is 4x4 and supports the frequency of the second 5 GHz radio.   But I doubt the CPU in the audience would handle it.   So MikroTik only has two APs that possibly could do 850 throughput.  And it’s under specific scenarios. Covering 120 sqm, with MikroTik; best bet is to do two APs.   No fuss, some people say MikroTik’s are difficult.  Myself, I’ve been doing networking for over 18 years.   MikroTik isn’t about learning the interface like other brands.  It’s knowing actual networking.  Lots of brands you can fumble your way through getting it to work without having any networking knowledge.  MikroTik, your going to need to know how subnetting, IPs, DHCP, NAT, and filter rules work at minimal.   Not just definition of those terms.  But what they actually do and relate to each other.   AX3 would be my recommendation.  But it’s not going to fully cover 120 sqm.  Or deliver 850 Mbps over wifi.  Even with perfect signal standing next to it.   I think you need to be more realistic.  600 Mbps from wifi is more than double anyone actually needs.  It will be fine.  And 2 APs to cover 120 sqm will give much better result than trying to force 1 to cover it.  You could do AX3 as router.  And wAP AX as second AP.

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 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.

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.

My experience too. Competitors have better range and bandwidth for similiar price.

I have an ax3, I like it The only issue I have is partly me and the devices themselves to blame. out of convenience I have it at the back of my house for some eth connectivity so I’ve had to throw an old asus up front to just serve some 2gz only devices wifi. Once i run Ethernet around the house it’ll be a non issue as it moves to the front near the devices that actually need it.

I have an ax3, I like it The only issue I have is partly me and the devices themselves to blame. out of convenience I have it at the back of my house for some eth connectivity so I’ve had to throw an old asus up front to just serve some 2gz only devices wifi. Once i run Ethernet around the house it’ll be a non issue as it moves to the front near the devices that actually need it.

Mikrotik hAP AX3. I'll die on this hill, Mikrotik is amazing, especially on a budget.

I had a very bad experience with mikrotik ax3. Actually there is no way to make it works with a MacBook pro 2017. I would recommend to use a router and and a AP from another brand.

I had a very bad experience with mikrotik ax3. Actually there is no way to make it works with a MacBook pro 2017. I would recommend to use a router and and a AP from another brand.

I don’t agree with the main comment. When I bought my Mikrotik Hap Ax3, I tested absolutely everything I mean all the possible setting combinations, spent all the possible time for testing, and its WiFi is simply not acceptable. Besides the signal strength and speed loss when I am in the next room(nothing in between besides a wall) there were connection drops that were happening very often. I wrote to the forums and Mikrotik support with everything I have done and results but no one could help. After wasting so many hours I accepted the reality and setup old router and now ISP’s router as my access point. Because I liked the router capabilities of the Mikrotik so much I left it as my router and disabled its WiFi.

I initially thought so, but then I decided that wasn’t the case. I got almost full bandwidth next to the router as with my other. I realized the people that say they get good range and bandwidth lives in US. I live in Europe and my walls are built with widely layed bricks which are quite thick. So, I think Mikrotik’s antennas aren’t able to penetrate them properly besides the disconnect issues.

I don’t agree with the main comment. When I bought my Mikrotik Hap Ax3, I tested absolutely everything I mean all the possible setting combinations, spent all the possible time for testing, and its WiFi is simply not acceptable. Besides the signal strength and speed loss when I am in the next room(nothing in between besides a wall) there were connection drops that were happening very often. I wrote to the forums and Mikrotik support with everything I have done and results but no one could help. After wasting so many hours I accepted the reality and setup old router and now ISP’s router as my access point. Because I liked the router capabilities of the Mikrotik so much I left it as my router and disabled its WiFi.

I initially thought so, but then I decided that wasn’t the case. I got almost full bandwidth next to the router as with my other. I realized the people that say they get good range and bandwidth lives in US. I live in Europe and my walls are built with widely layed bricks which are quite thick. So, I think Mikrotik’s antennas aren’t able to penetrate them properly besides the disconnect issues.

I've had massive issues with ax3 and 5ghz WiFi for a couple weeks, until I started experimenting. It turned out to be the country setting on the WiFi interface. When it was set to my home country, some devices could not connect, and others had an issue where the network would not appear in scans. Clearing this setting has fixed everything.

I've had massive issues with ax3 and 5ghz WiFi for a couple weeks, until I started experimenting. It turned out to be the country setting on the WiFi interface. When it was set to my home country, some devices could not connect, and others had an issue where the network would not appear in scans. Clearing this setting has fixed everything.

They are very powerfull and very hard to setup. If you are expecting a web interface setup with basic options you are basicaly never going to set up a mikrotik router or it will take ages. You chose good routers, ax3 with antennas will be more expensive and better. But someone will have to set it up for you or you get into reading stuff and in a month youll have functional router. Thats my experience. I called a guy 😋

They are very powerfull and very hard to setup. If you are expecting a web interface setup with basic options you are basicaly never going to set up a mikrotik router or it will take ages. You chose good routers, ax3 with antennas will be more expensive and better. But someone will have to set it up for you or you get into reading stuff and in a month youll have functional router. Thats my experience. I called a guy 😋

Check out the MikroTik hAP ax³, it’s a great all-in-one router with strong WiFi 6 (2.4 & 5GHz), solid repeater performance, and 5 gigabit ports for your home setup. It also supports Wire Guard VPN natively, so you're covered for privacy, too. A bit more setup than basic extenders, but once running, it’s super stable and reliable. Great pick if you're moving away from the Fritz Repeater.

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