Comments on: AiMesh Review Revisited (With Asus RT-AC86U and RT-AC68U)

By: Mark B

Mark B — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 11:42:10 +0000

In reply to cla337. I don't think you will experience any issues pairing the AX3000 to the RT-AC68U, even if they use different Wi-Fi standards, they're still very much compatible. Regarding the option to use a tri-band router, a dual band router to a dual-band router should work just fine and to see a significant difference, you should ideally go for tri-band to tri-band. But again, the RT-AC68U should work decently well as a mesh node when paired to the AX3000 if the Internet data plan is good and if there isn't a huge distance between the nodes (also, the interference is kept to a minimum).

By: Mark B

Mark B — Mon, 28 Dec 2020 08:21:29 +0000

In reply to haridsv. That's great! I noticed that most people don't have any issues pairing the two routers together, but since there may be a few that could have some problems, I will keep the found solution in the article.

By: cla337

cla337 — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 21:47:35 +0000

I have an ac68u and just bought the asus ax3000 hoping to make it my primary router and mesh the ac68u. Haven’t opened the box up yet…is there anything I should know? Seems like there will be issues with comparability and also with wifi6 not being worth it or buggy. Should I just return it and get the ac86u? What about tri band routers-with the dedicated backhaul will it improve anything when the node is dual band? I want an upgrade while using the A68u as a node bc my daughter’s room is kinda behind a thick cement wall, but I can get a good angle into her room with a node.

By: haridsv

haridsv — Sun, 27 Dec 2020 14:09:45 +0000

I was using RT-AC68u (to be specific, the T-Mobile version) with Merlin 384.19_0. I just bought an RT-AC86u that I immediately flashed with Merlin 384.19_0. I then put 68u into an AiMesh node and I was able to easily find it from 86u and be able to configure it. The experience was extremely smooth and overall it just took 5 to 10min.

By: profhsg

profhsg — Tue, 01 Dec 2020 03:45:22 +0000

I just received my RT-ac86u today and meshed my old RT-ac68u on the first try. I updated the old router with firmware Version 3.0.0.4.386.40558 which is dated Nov.5, 2020. My new 86u uses version 3.0.0.4.386_40451. I followed the steps set out on Asus’ web site and voila, the 2 routers meshed. Actually it did take a few minutes. First, it forgot to reset the 68u before trying to mesh. Second, the actual meshing does take a few minutes. But, the end result was great. Asus says they are now using AImesh 2.0. Whatever the case, those who had trouble meshing the two units may now want to give it another try.

PS The units are connected wirelessly.

By: TorbenP

TorbenP — Mon, 09 Nov 2020 16:39:56 +0000

In reply to Mark B. Thanks, Then I try to buy a RT-AC86U and setup a AiMesh network :-)

By: Mark B

Mark B — Sat, 07 Nov 2020 08:05:07 +0000

In reply to TorbenP. Hi! You shouldn't experience any problems when the RT-AC86U and the RT-AC68U are connected via an Ethernet cable. I got those pairing issues when the connection between the nodes was wireless.

By: TorbenP

TorbenP — Thu, 05 Nov 2020 18:41:08 +0000

Great test you made. I have a RT-AC68U and was considering to setup a AiMesh network due to bad connection in some part of the house, but I have cables in the house. Have you experienced any problems in setting up a AiMesh network, with cables between the RT-AC68U and the RT-AC86U?

By: Mark B

Mark B — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 08:09:56 +0000

In reply to mbfreak.

I am happy to hear that it works for you. This is a router combo that I’ve been testing with almost every new firmware release, ever since AiMesh was launched years ago. And the problem persists ever since. I was tempted to think that it’s a hardware issue, but since an older firmware fixes the pairing problem, it’s all in the software. I will check out the newest Merlin firmware updates and perhaps, the problems will finally disappear.
As a side note, the issues that I have experienced have been discussed on the official Asus forums a while back where we actually came up with the solution that I’ve pointed in the article, but I’m not entirely sure where the topic is anymore since Asus has changed their forums over the years beyond recognition (and not only the layout).

By: mbfreak

mbfreak — Sat, 10 Oct 2020 07:44:40 +0000

These 2 routers, both running latest Merlin, worked perfectly with AiMesh for me.

And I don’t see other major problems like you experienced reported on SNB forums.