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ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System (XT8 2PK) - Whole Home Coverage up to 5500 sq.ft & 6+ rooms, AiMesh, Included Lifetime Internet Security, Easy Setup, 3 SSID, Parental Control, White
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select your preferred free shipping option
- Ship it!
Return this item for free
Free returns are available for the shipping address you chose. You can return the item for any reason in new and unused condition: no shipping charges
Learn more about free returns.- Go to your orders and start the return
- Select your preferred free shipping option
- Ship it!
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Purchase options and add-ons
Brand | ASUS |
Model Name | ZenWiFi |
Special Feature | Internet Security, Parental Control |
Frequency Band Class | Tri-Band |
Wireless Communication Standard | 802.11n, 802.11ax, 802.11a, 802.11ac, 802.11g |
Compatible Devices | Personal Computer, Tablet, Smartphone |
Frequency | 5 GHz |
Recommended Uses For Product | Home, Business |
Included Components | ZenWiFi AX White Mesh Router(2), Warranty card, RJ-45 cable, Quick start guide, Power adapter |
Connectivity Technology | Wi-Fi, USB, Ethernet |
About this item
- Maximum Range : 5500 Sq Ft.LED Indicator : Power x 1. Power Supply : AC Input : 110V~240V(50~60Hz), DC Output : 19 V with max. 1.75 A current, DC Output : 12 V with max. 3 A current.
- Banish WiFi Dead Zone—Tri-band mesh WiFi system with unique antenna placement delivers strong WiFi to every corner of your home providing total wireless speed of 6600Mbps
- Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 Technology— With OFDMA and MU-MIMO ZenWiFi AX enables more efficient stable and faster transmission even when multiple devices are transmitting data at the same time
- Hassle Free Control – 3 steps setup and easy management with ASUS Router App
- Always Up-to-date Protection— The lifetime free network security powered by Trend Micro makes sure your privacy on connected devices is protected
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Important information
Legal Disclaimer
Disclaimer: Actual data throughput and WiFi coverage will vary from network conditions and environmental factors, including the volume of network traffic, building material and construction, and network overhead, result in lower actual data throughput and wireless coverage.
From the manufacturer
ASUS AiMesh
ASUS AiMesh is the ultimate Wi-Fi solution that lets you enjoy a stable, seamless and secure wireless connection anywhere in your home. With powerful features, exceptional ease of use and no trade-offs between Wi-Fi range and maximum speed. AiMesh is an innovative feature that connects multiple compatible ASUS routers to create a whole-home Wi-Fi network. It's a flexible solution that enables you to mix ASUS router models, so when you upgrade your network, there's no need to replace you router.
ZenWiFi AX (XT8)
AX6600 Whole-Home Tri-band Mesh WiFi 6 System - Coverage up to 5,500 Sq. ft or 6+ rooms, 6.6 Gbps WiFi, 3 SSIDs, life-time free network security and parental controls, 2.5G port
- Banish WiFi Dead Zone—Tri-band mesh WiFi system with unique antenna placement delivers strong WiFi to every corner of your home, providing total wireless speed of 6600Mbps.
- Next-Gen Wi-Fi 6 Technology— With OFDMA and MU-MIMO, ZenWiFi AX enables more efficient, stable, and faster transmission even when multiple devices are transmitting data at the same time.
- Hassle Free Control – 3 steps setup and easy management with ASUS Router App
- Always Up-to-date Protection— The lifetime free network security powered by Trend Micro makes sure your privacy on connected devices is protected.
- AiMesh Supported– Mix and match ZenWiFi with AiMesh-compatible routers to form powerful and flexible whole-home WiFi system
Features
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Whole-home CoverageThe ZenWiFi AX system comes with two ASUS AX6600 WiFi 6 routers that together cover up to 5500 sq. ft. or approximately six rooms. With their extended coverage, plus a tri-band design with configurable back-haul technology, you'll enjoy a super-fast, reliable and secure WiFi connection, whether you're in the living room or outside in the garden. |
WiFi 6ZenWiFi AX provides 160MHz bandwidth and 1024-QAM for dramatically faster wireless connections. With a total networking speed of 6600 Mbps, ZenWiFi AX is up to 2.2X faster than tri-band AC3000 (WiFi 5) routers |
Works with any WiFi deviceWiFi 6 is fully compatible with all generations of WiFi, so you can connect any device to ZenWiFi AX, no matter if it uses 802.11ac, 802.11n or other previous WiFi standards.
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Flexible Network NamingUniquely, ZenWiFi AX lets you choose how you name your WiFi networks: a single name for everything, or separate names for each frequency band. The choice is yours! |
Easier-than-ever Setup3-step setup with the ASUS Router app:
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Make the Internet a Safer Place for EveryoneAiProtection Pro with Advanced Parental Controls is free for life. It gives you total peace of mind, and you can keep an eye on everything that's happening on your network via the mobile app.
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Commercial Grade Security
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Smart Looks for Smart HomesZenWiFi AX works perfectly with smart-home services - including Alexa skills and IFTTT - and is available in black or white to suit your lifestyle. |
AiMesh TechnologyEven non-experts can quickly set up AiMesh technology, while more experienced users will appreciate the comprehensive, advanced networking features. |
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This Item ASUS ZenWiFi AX6600 Tri-Band Mesh WiFi 6 System (XT8 2PK) - Whole Home Coverage up to 5500 sq.ft & 6+ rooms, AiMesh, Included Lifetime Internet Security, Easy Setup, 3 SSID, Parental Control, White | Recommendations | dummy | dummy | dummy | dummy | |
Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | Try again! Added to Cart | |
Price | -9% $299.99$299.99 List: $329.99 | $119.99$119.99 | $569.74$569.74 | -28% $179.99$179.99 List: $249.99 | $229.00$229.00 | -13% $697.49$697.49 List: $799.99 |
Delivery | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jun 5 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jun 5 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jun 5 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jun 5 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jun 5 | Get it as soon as Wednesday, Jun 5 |
Customer Ratings | ||||||
WiFi signal | 3.8 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.6 | 4.3 | 4.5 |
User interface | 3.4 | 4.1 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.7 |
Tech Support | 2.7 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.6 |
Easy to install | 4.1 | — | — | 4.2 | — | 4.0 |
Mobile App | 3.9 | — | — | 4.1 | — | 4.2 |
Sold By | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Amazon.com | Good Luck Bargains | STC Distributors (Serial # Recorded) |
connectivity tech | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi, Ethernet | Wi-Fi, Ethernet, USB | Wi-Fi, Ethernet |
number of ports | 4 | 3 | — | 2 | 3 | 4 |
data transfer rate | 6600 megabits per second | 1300 megabits per second | — | 3000 megabits per second | 1300 megabits per second | 11000 megabits per second |
wireless standard | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 A | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 A | — | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 A | 802 11 AX, 802 11 AC, 802 11 N, 802 11 G, 802 11 A | 802 11 A, 802 11 AX, 802 11 G, 802 11 N, 802 11 AC, 802 11 B |
frequency band class | tri band | dual band | tri band | dual band | dual band | tri band |
lan port bandwidth | 2.5 Gigabit | Gigabit | 1000 Mbps | Gigabit | Gigabit | 2.5 Gigabit |
What's in the box
Product information
Product Dimensions | 6.3 x 2.95 x 6.36 inches |
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Item Weight | 6 pounds |
ASIN | B083Q45V1V |
Item model number | ZenWiFi AX 2PK White |
Customer Reviews |
4.0 out of 5 stars |
Best Sellers Rank | #2,939 in Electronics (See Top 100 in Electronics) #24 in Whole Home & Mesh Wi-Fi Systems |
Date First Available | January 15, 2020 |
Manufacturer | ASUS |
Country of Origin | Vietnam |
Warranty & Support
Feedback
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Product Description
ZenWiFi AX (XT8) is a whole-home mesh WiFi system that combines extremely fast and stable wireless networking performance with simple configuration and elegant design with coverage up to 5 500 sq ft Featuring the latest WiFi 6 technology ZenWiFi AX takes mesh WiFi to a whole new level with dramatically improved coverage speed and stability.
Customer reviews
Customer Reviews, including Product Star Ratings help customers to learn more about the product and decide whether it is the right product for them.
To calculate the overall star rating and percentage breakdown by star, we don’t use a simple average. Instead, our system considers things like how recent a review is and if the reviewer bought the item on Amazon. It also analyzed reviews to verify trustworthiness.
Learn more how customers reviews work on AmazonCustomers say
Customers like the coverage of the router. For example, they say it has good coverage and signal strength. Some appreciate the ease of setup. That said, opinions are mixed on signal strength, speed, value, performance, stability, and ease of use.
AI-generated from the text of customer reviews
Customers find the setup of the networking router to be easy. They mention that the interface makes setup super easy, and the configuration UI is really good. They also say that the app makes it extremely simple to do both in setting up the router unit and the node. Customers also say it's easy to set up limitations on a device by device basis, and that it connects to the mesh network easily.
"...Pros:- Stupid-simple setup. The entire network with both devices was up and running within ~15 minutes of opening the box...." Read more
"...2-pak setup was very easy and straight forward...." Read more
"...more ubiquiti devices and frankly, out of the box, it is easier to setup and configure...." Read more
"...It was a complete fail in my book.But, setting up this router is very straightforward and easy if you follow the simple instructions...." Read more
Customers like the coverage of the router. For example, they mention it gives good coverage and signal strength, it does an impressive job covering a large house with strong signals and throughput, and it works flawlessly. Some say the signal is strong and has a pretty good reach, extending well beyond the walls.
"...And, more importantly, it solved both of my problems. I no longer have any dead spots...." Read more
"...I have very good coverage throughout the house, both stories, the shop and even on the rear deck outside...." Read more
"...Its done an impressive job covering a large house with strong signals and throughput!! I would recommend it." Read more
"...Just a more confident experience. Full bars throughout the house...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the performance of the router. Some mention they're really pleased with the performance, saying the system works great, the app itself works fairly well, and the mesh works great. However, others say the security is deficient, bordering on unworkable, and one of their units never worked right. They also say it doesn't play well with Fios and that some of the features don't work on this router.
"...going to be slower than ethernet from the jump but the 5Ghz band is much more "fragile" and can quickly become very limited by physical distance and..." Read more
"...The wifi range is excellent; the speed is excellent; and the app works very well setting the routers up...." Read more
"...shifts from 1GigE to 100MB on the WAN port and of course severely degraded performance when I should be getting 300MB+ on my internet connection...." Read more
"...Overall, this is a powerful system, more powerful than the single-node netgear WiFi router I've been using for years. I'm glad I upgraded!" Read more
Customers are mixed about the signal strength of the router. Some mention that it works well and provides a strong backhaul signal via WiFi to other devices. However, others say that they have noticed a lot of connection drops with their devices when channel select is set to. They also say that their devices have problems automatically reconnecting to the network and that the entire network would disconnect for 1-2 minutes randomly.
"...Update: 3-8-2020 I'm finding that some of devices will not connect to the 5 G network when the system is in ax mode. Even if I'm but 5 ft. away...." Read more
"...I used the same SSID and passwords as before. Everything connected seamlessly and appears to be working. I'll keep an eye on this as well.-..." Read more
"...several connected devices in my home to have problems automatically reconnecting to the network...." Read more
"...Out of the box it simply worked and easily provide a strong backhaul signal via wifi to the other device being used as a router...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the speed of the router. Some mention that the range is excellent, the speed is excellent and consistent, and the throughput is better. However, others say that the overall speed is slower, and that the internet is very slow.
"...The wifi range is excellent; the speed is excellent; and the app works very well setting the routers up...." Read more
"...Connetions to client devices are solid and very fast with wifi 6 working perfect...." Read more
"...- 2.4 Ghz. Noticed in some instances where the speeds were sporadically low on 2.4 Ghz, but I generally don't use that and it isn't consistent..." Read more
"...I also have no speed issues. I’m getting in excess of 300Mbps in all areas of my home...." Read more
Customers are mixed about the ease of use. Some mention it has a good app user interface, lifetime security, and slick phone app. They say the initial setup was quick and easy. However, some say the controls are very good, but not as simple and intuitive as the Google WiFi system. They also say the back-end programming that do not sync with the app is a problem. Overall, the product has mixed opinions about the user interface.
"...And, this router is fantastic. So, don’t let the horrible technical support stop you from buying this router. I highly recommend this product." Read more
"...than it needs to be to use the cable vs wifi backhaul and NOT intuitive. It should just auto-detect this.-..." Read more
"...For the most part the app was very good and I had the router up and running in under 10 minutes. OK cool, the first part is done...." Read more
"...complete exchange of data using protocols like UDP and mDNS, is a complete mess, even when using only one unit for router/Wi-Fi and no wired or..." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the stability of the router. Some mention that it's 100% rock solid and reliable, while others say that the WiFi became extremely unstable and frequently drops connections.
"...2.4Ghz varied but was consistently fast and reliable. Full signal on various devices throughout the house and outside on both bands.-..." Read more
"...able to force anything to connect to the master and devices being dropped from the wifi)." Read more
"...system is most reliable if you "do the work." Assign IP addresses to routinely used wireless devices (smart home devices, etc.)-..." Read more
"...24hrs were rather disappointing with several network drops and overall instability. I was about to box it up when I went into troubleshooting mode...." Read more
Customers have mixed opinions about the value of the router. Some say it's well-priced and works as advertised. They also say it offers a cost-effective means of upgrading and expanding your home or office. However, others say it is too expensive, unreliable, and not worth the money.
"...I’m so glad I did. While this unit is far from inexpensive, when compared to other WiFi 6 capable units, it is a couple hundred dollars cheaper, but..." Read more
"Summary: Well-priced, WiFi-6 mesh system with tri-band WiFi..." Read more
"...Too pricey," I told myself. And I was right about that...." Read more
"...Not only are the individual units less expensive than the Orbi, but you need less of them - many homes would be completely covered by two..." Read more
Reviews with images
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Top reviews from the United States
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Pros:
- Stupid-simple setup. The entire network with both devices was up and running within ~15 minutes of opening the box. I'm probably more technically inclined than others, but a child could figure this out. As simple as connecting the router to your modem, turning it on, and then walking through the in-app setup. The mesh node was about as plug-and-play as it gets, at least when using ethernet backhaul. It was recognized and configured almost immediately as a secondary node in the network.
- Mobile app. Used for initial setup and management. Could probably be done through the web-ui but I don't really see a reason to do that on initial setup. Save time and just download/use the app.
- Web UI. The router management web UI is more robust and a bit easier to navigate than the mobile app. Will likely use this going forward for more detailed configuration and monitoring.
- Performance. Both speed and coverage are incredible. I pay for 1000/20 and consistently got ~930/~25 with the speed test in the Asus app. 5Ghz WiFi speed tests (fast dot com) on newer devices averaged ~750/~25. 2.4Ghz varied but was consistently fast and reliable. Full signal on various devices throughout the house and outside on both bands.
- Wired backhaul. Worth mentioning specifically because I saw some reviews that complained about this not working very well or at all when a switch was in between the two units. It worked immediately and works well for me. There's also multiple physical connections between the node, the wall and the switch itself and there still aren't any problems. if you run into problems, its probably worth double-checking your cabling (CAT 5E+), hardware (switch compatibility/1G+ ports), and Asus config
Cons:
- Asus UI/UX. Very minor issues just getting used to and understanding how to navigate the UI both on the mobile app and on the web. It seems simple enough now though after poking around. Not worth docking the rating.
- 2.4 Ghz. Noticed in some instances where the speeds were sporadically low on 2.4 Ghz, but I generally don't use that and it isn't consistent enough to dock a star. Most of the connected devices on the network default to or have to use the 2.4 band, so it could just be some basic congestion. As of this writing, I'm getting 150/22 on my laptop while situated near the secondary node, which is more than acceptable. I'll look deeper into the settings and report back if there are problems.
- SSID management. Fairly negligible but worth mentioning like others have. The default configuration uses a single SSID for both 5 and 2.4 Ghz bands which I immediately turned off. I assume most folks would want the delineation of the two like me. The other knock here is that it will broadcast the alternate 5 Ghz channel used for wireless backhaul. I don't intend to ever use the wireless backhaul, but, unless I'm missing something, Asus seems to force it to be left on as a fallback in case the wired connection ever drops. I'm fine leaving it on as a fallback but I'll at least see if I can hide the SSID without causing problems with the network, since it should never be used by regular clients.
TBD:
- Long-term performance. Very satisfied at the moment but I'm sure most would agree that a huge percentage of the value is how these things hold up over time. I'll report back as needed.
- Advanced features. I haven't spent enough time with the router management software to really understand the pros and cons here quite yet.
- IOT connection stability. Saw some reviews that dinged connection drops for connected devices. No issues to report yet. I used the same SSID and passwords as before. Everything connected seamlessly and appears to be working. I'll keep an eye on this as well.
- Wireless backhaul. I have not tested wireless backhaul and I don't really intend to. In fact, I don't really see the utility of using wireless backhaul if you can avoid it. For the XT8, it relies on an alternate channel on the 5Ghz band. This is obviously going to be slower than ethernet from the jump but the 5Ghz band is much more "fragile" and can quickly become very limited by physical distance and obstructions between the two nodes, even if the actual channel is dedicated strictly for backhaul instead of regular traffic.
Misc. Notes:
Physical setup:
- Cable connection from the street comes into the basement, which is where the modem and the main router are situated.
- The house is fully wired via ethernet. A 10-port gigabit switch also sits in the basement with the modem and router, which feeds the wall ports in various rooms throughout the home.
- Only a handful of the wall ports are actually used consistently. One for the entertainment center, one for a PC and one for an AP on the second floor of the home.
- Various connected and personal devices throughout the house. Smart speakers, smart TVs, Nest thermostats, a camera, dog collar, wireless printer. Personal devices include cellphones, laptops, and tablets.
Previous hardware:
- Netgear Nighthawk 6700 running DD-WRT, located in basement. Older model but the reputation precedes itself. Worked fairly well on stock firmware for a little while. Decided to switch to DD-WRT after cord-cutting and increased bandwidth needs for remote work and more IOT devices. DD-WRT improved things for a little while. I toyed with various setups but ultimately wanted the router to feed all connectivity in the house, so it remained in the basement.
- Ubiquiti AP on 2nd floor for better coverage. The house is a recent reno but is originally ~200 years old. Whether the older construction materials of the innards of the house or just physical distance of having the router in the basement, it was difficult to get solid coverage throughout even with relatively modest square footage. The single AP worked well for a little while but UI/UX for Ubiquiti products is clunky at best and annoyingly difficult to configure. Performance degraded slowly over time and required lots of hand-holding just to remain stable. It also seemed impossible to get a true "mesh"-like network without having to purchase a second AP and completely turning off wifi on the main router. This didn't seem appealing given the dissatisfaction with the Ubiquiti ecosystem as a whole.
Current hardware:
- Main AX6600 router in basement, replacing the Netgear 6700. Modem feeds the WAN port, single LAN port feeds the main switch for ethernet wall ports.
- Secondary AX6600 on 2nd floor as secondary AP Mesh Node, replacing Ubiquiti AP. Strictly uses ethernet backhaul via wall port
Reviewed in the United States on April 10, 2023
Pros:
- Stupid-simple setup. The entire network with both devices was up and running within ~15 minutes of opening the box. I'm probably more technically inclined than others, but a child could figure this out. As simple as connecting the router to your modem, turning it on, and then walking through the in-app setup. The mesh node was about as plug-and-play as it gets, at least when using ethernet backhaul. It was recognized and configured almost immediately as a secondary node in the network.
- Mobile app. Used for initial setup and management. Could probably be done through the web-ui but I don't really see a reason to do that on initial setup. Save time and just download/use the app.
- Web UI. The router management web UI is more robust and a bit easier to navigate than the mobile app. Will likely use this going forward for more detailed configuration and monitoring.
- Performance. Both speed and coverage are incredible. I pay for 1000/20 and consistently got ~930/~25 with the speed test in the Asus app. 5Ghz WiFi speed tests (fast dot com) on newer devices averaged ~750/~25. 2.4Ghz varied but was consistently fast and reliable. Full signal on various devices throughout the house and outside on both bands.
- Wired backhaul. Worth mentioning specifically because I saw some reviews that complained about this not working very well or at all when a switch was in between the two units. It worked immediately and works well for me. There's also multiple physical connections between the node, the wall and the switch itself and there still aren't any problems. if you run into problems, its probably worth double-checking your cabling (CAT 5E+), hardware (switch compatibility/1G+ ports), and Asus config
Cons:
- Asus UI/UX. Very minor issues just getting used to and understanding how to navigate the UI both on the mobile app and on the web. It seems simple enough now though after poking around. Not worth docking the rating.
- 2.4 Ghz. Noticed in some instances where the speeds were sporadically low on 2.4 Ghz, but I generally don't use that and it isn't consistent enough to dock a star. Most of the connected devices on the network default to or have to use the 2.4 band, so it could just be some basic congestion. As of this writing, I'm getting 150/22 on my laptop while situated near the secondary node, which is more than acceptable. I'll look deeper into the settings and report back if there are problems.
- SSID management. Fairly negligible but worth mentioning like others have. The default configuration uses a single SSID for both 5 and 2.4 Ghz bands which I immediately turned off. I assume most folks would want the delineation of the two like me. The other knock here is that it will broadcast the alternate 5 Ghz channel used for wireless backhaul. I don't intend to ever use the wireless backhaul, but, unless I'm missing something, Asus seems to force it to be left on as a fallback in case the wired connection ever drops. I'm fine leaving it on as a fallback but I'll at least see if I can hide the SSID without causing problems with the network, since it should never be used by regular clients.
TBD:
- Long-term performance. Very satisfied at the moment but I'm sure most would agree that a huge percentage of the value is how these things hold up over time. I'll report back as needed.
- Advanced features. I haven't spent enough time with the router management software to really understand the pros and cons here quite yet.
- IOT connection stability. Saw some reviews that dinged connection drops for connected devices. No issues to report yet. I used the same SSID and passwords as before. Everything connected seamlessly and appears to be working. I'll keep an eye on this as well.
- Wireless backhaul. I have not tested wireless backhaul and I don't really intend to. In fact, I don't really see the utility of using wireless backhaul if you can avoid it. For the XT8, it relies on an alternate channel on the 5Ghz band. This is obviously going to be slower than ethernet from the jump but the 5Ghz band is much more "fragile" and can quickly become very limited by physical distance and obstructions between the two nodes, even if the actual channel is dedicated strictly for backhaul instead of regular traffic.
Misc. Notes:
Physical setup:
- Cable connection from the street comes into the basement, which is where the modem and the main router are situated.
- The house is fully wired via ethernet. A 10-port gigabit switch also sits in the basement with the modem and router, which feeds the wall ports in various rooms throughout the home.
- Only a handful of the wall ports are actually used consistently. One for the entertainment center, one for a PC and one for an AP on the second floor of the home.
- Various connected and personal devices throughout the house. Smart speakers, smart TVs, Nest thermostats, a camera, dog collar, wireless printer. Personal devices include cellphones, laptops, and tablets.
Previous hardware:
- Netgear Nighthawk 6700 running DD-WRT, located in basement. Older model but the reputation precedes itself. Worked fairly well on stock firmware for a little while. Decided to switch to DD-WRT after cord-cutting and increased bandwidth needs for remote work and more IOT devices. DD-WRT improved things for a little while. I toyed with various setups but ultimately wanted the router to feed all connectivity in the house, so it remained in the basement.
- Ubiquiti AP on 2nd floor for better coverage. The house is a recent reno but is originally ~200 years old. Whether the older construction materials of the innards of the house or just physical distance of having the router in the basement, it was difficult to get solid coverage throughout even with relatively modest square footage. The single AP worked well for a little while but UI/UX for Ubiquiti products is clunky at best and annoyingly difficult to configure. Performance degraded slowly over time and required lots of hand-holding just to remain stable. It also seemed impossible to get a true "mesh"-like network without having to purchase a second AP and completely turning off wifi on the main router. This didn't seem appealing given the dissatisfaction with the Ubiquiti ecosystem as a whole.
Current hardware:
- Main AX6600 router in basement, replacing the Netgear 6700. Modem feeds the WAN port, single LAN port feeds the main switch for ethernet wall ports.
- Secondary AX6600 on 2nd floor as secondary AP Mesh Node, replacing Ubiquiti AP. Strictly uses ethernet backhaul via wall port
Update: 3-8-2020 I'm finding that some of devices will not connect to the 5 G network when the system is in ax mode. Even if I'm but 5 ft. away. Switch the ax mode off and it will connect both the 2.4 and 5 networks. Go figure. Occasionally I have to switch the ax mode back on to get some other device to connect properly. I often take the device into another room some 15ft or more away and it will connect with the 5G without any issues.???
Update: 3-2-2020
My Blue Cave node was inconsistent on wifi but excellent with the ethernet so I tried a RT-AC68A as a node and it works great. Both the ethernet and the wifi provide excellent speeds in the basement some 25 feet away. I don't plan on sending it back since I'm very happy with it so far. Have had to make a few adjustments here and there because not all digital devices are "equal". If you don't mind paying up for a system it is pretty hard to beat for setup and performance. One thing to add: when I set up the node I used an ethernet cable from the main router lan to the AC68A wan. For some reason it would not locate it wirelessly.
Update: 2-24-2020
Went into the wireless in the menu and enabled WIFI Agile Multiband for both the 2.4 and 5g networks. (I disabled the smart connect right out of the box.) It will ask you to change the Protected management Frames also. Did so not knowing what the outcome might be but these changes seemed to help with the issue of the mesh switching between the nodes and the primary router. Also, my phones would not hook up to the primary router sitting 5 ft. away but since the afore mentioned changes that issue is gone and the speeds have been excellent. I added a star to my orignal review since the system is working much better. I sure as hell would like a manual to look at rather than just a quick setup document. If someone out there has some ideas or additional adjustments that can be made I'm all ears.
FIRST REVIEW: This is an early impression of my experience so far. 2-pak setup was very easy and straight forward. Had to reset once but couldn't find the reset button until I looked on the very bottom of the router. By the way the wps button is there also. I'm paying for 200 mgb and will get 200 to 260 with my desktop 7 ft away. My motorola z3 play generally gets 140 to 170 depending on where I am. I was getting 160 to 200 in the basement 25 ft. away on a desktop. The all those scores are on wifi.
I setup an additional Blue Cave node in the basement (which was another story) and connected to two different desktops with ethernet cables. At times they are ripping along at 230 to 260 or may drop off to 80 to 90 for no apparent reason. I disconnected the cables reconnected and the speeds went up again???? (This issue has vanished after making the above mentioned changes). The app will sometimes show the blue cave is offline yet it is working.
I have some similar questions as a few others have had about bothersome issues that have arisen. Will address these later. I finally disabled the ax mode for 2.4 and 5g and it seemed to put some of these issues to rest for awhile. I have had ASUS routers for years and love them along with the menu. These two have me considering going back to my older routers because they were more reliable. I'm not a computer guru but I can handle most of the basic computer issues and projects. We don't buy the hardware to continually reboot, reconnect, and try work
arounds to make the systems work.
Update: 9-22-2020 Additional thoughts on the zenwifi routers. I've found that I need to keep it in the non-AX mode so all of my cameras, wall plugs, etc will remain connected all of the time. ALSO, THE RESET AND WPS BUTTONS ARE ON THE BOTTOM OF THE ROUTER. Nothing in the instructions that I could see regarding their location so if you are looking for them check the bottom. The wifi range is excellent; the speed is excellent; and the app works very well setting the routers up. I'm paying for 200mbs but I get 260+ download with wifi in the same room and 200+ downstairs in the basement.
One additional point: Since the recent updates adding my Blue Cave router to the mesh was much easier than when I first started using the zenwifi XT8 mesh system.