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The ROG Rapture GT6 would make the most interesting hardware in Asus’s ZenWifi canned mesh family, except it’s not a ZenWifi.
Instead, Asus touted it as “the first ROG mesh WiFi system optimized for gamers” at the initial product announcement on Aug 23, 2022.
The system didn’t become available for purchase until January 2023.
But you can consider it a marriage between the company’s ZenWifi approach and its standalone gaming routers to be the first gaming canned mesh system. It probably won’t be the last.
Here’s the bottom line: If you’re in the market for a reliable Wi-Fi 6 mesh system that happens to have all of Asus’s gaming features built-in, at the current street price of around $600, the Asus ROG Rapture GT6 can be an excellent fit even with its current relatively buggy firmware.
Afraid of missing out on Wi-Fi 6E? You can upgrade your network with an access point.
The GT6 is not a must-have, nor does it include anything earth-shattering you haven’t seen in existing Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters. But it sure is a welcome option among purpose-built home mesh systems of the outgoing Wi-Fi 6 standard.
Dong’s note: I first published this post on August 23, 2022, as a news piece when the GT6 was launched and updated it to an in-depth review on February 17, 2023, after thorough hands-on testing.
Asus GT6: A new class of mixed ROG Rapture hardware
At the core of it, the Asus GT6 is a 2-pack purpose-built mesh system, just like any ZenWifi set. It includes two identical mesh routers.
Pick one and set it up as the primary router, and the other will automatically work as the satellite unit—the hardware is pre-synced, and each is a member of Asus’s AiMesh ecosystem.
The two units are identical, but Asus gives one of them a faint label on the back that reads, “Hi! I’m Main Unit, start with me”, which is helpful when you need to move the hardware around.
Or you can use each as the standalone router of a home where a single broadcaster is sufficient. In short, it’s familiar hardware as part of what I detailed in this post on Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters.
The biggest difference is that the GT6 is Asus’s first Wi-Fi 6 canned mesh hardware with built-in support for the company’s long list of gaming features, as the latest member of the company’s gaming elites.
Before this, Asus had the RT-AX92, available as a 2-pack mesh that has built-in gaming features. However, it’s not a full Wi-Fi 6 system and doesn’t look the part.
So, in more ways than one, it’s an alternative to getting one of Asus’s AiMesh-enabled gaming routers, such as the GT-AX11000 Pro, and using another AiMesh router as the satellite.
Asus Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 6E gaming routers
The table below shows the Asus gaming routers that support Wi-Fi 6 or Wi-Fi 6E. Follow the links to read more about each.
| Multi-Gig Port | Gaming Private Network | ROG First, Game Radar | Gaming Port | GeForce Now | Aura Lights | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RT-BE86U | 1x10GbE 4×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | ||
| RT-BE88U | 1x10GbE 1xSFP+ 4×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | ||
| RT-BE96U | 2x10GbE | No | ||||
| GT-BE98 Pro | 2x10GbE 4×2.5GbE | WTFast | Yes | No | Yes | |
| RT-AX88U Pro | 2×2.5GbE | WTFast | No | |||
| GT6 (canned mesh) | 1×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GT-AXE16000 | 1×2.5GbE 2x10GbE | WTFast | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GT-AX11000 Pro | 1×2.5GbE 1x10GbE | WTFast | Yes | |||
| GT-AXE11000 | 1×2.5GbE | Outfox | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GT-AX11000 | 1×2.5GbE | WTFast | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GT-AX6000 | 2×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GS-AX5400 | None | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| GS-AX3000 | None | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| RT-AX88U | None | WTFast | No | |||
| RT-AX89X | 1x10GbE 1xSFP+ | No | ||||
| RT-AX86U | 1×2.5GbE | No | Yes | No | ||
| RT-AX86S | None | No | Yes | No | ||
| RT-AX82U | None | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
| RT-AX92U (canned mesh) | None | WTFast | No | |||
| TUF-AX5400 | None | No | Yes | No | Yes | |
All of these routers have the standard set of Asus’s gaming features, including Mobile Game Mode, Open NAT, Gear Accelerator, and VPN Fusion.
The post on Asus Wi-Fi broadcasters explains in detail the meaning of each gaming feature mentioned in the table.
Or you can also think of it as the ZenWifi Pro XT12 with built-in gaming features. By the way, despite having a similar shape to the ZenWifi XT8, the GT6 is closer to the XT12 in terms of hardware prowess.
With that, let’s check the tech of these three.
Hardware specifications: Asus GT6 vs. ZenWifi Pro XT12 vs. ZenWifi XT8
 |  |  | |
| Model | ZenWiFi Pro XT12 | ROG Rapture GT6 | ZenWiFi XT8 |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | AX11000 | AX10000 | AX6600 |
| Mesh-Ready | Yes (2-pack) AiMesh | ||
| Dedicated Backhaul Band (configurable) | 5GHz-2 | ||
| Wired Backhaul | Yes | ||
| Dimensions | 4.53 x 9.45 x 4.53 in (11.5 x 24.1 x 11.5 cm) | 6.78 x 3.1 x 6.96 in (17.23 x 7.81 x 17.68 cm) | 6.29 x 2.95 x 6.35 in (16 x 7.5 x 16.15 cm) |
| Weight | 3.3 lbs (1.5 kg) | 1.94 lbs (880 g) | 1.56 lb (716 g) |
| 5GHz-1 (channel width) | 4×4 AX: 4804Mbs (20/40/80/160MHz) | 2×2 AX: 1200 Mbps (20/40/80MHz) | |
| 5GHz-2 (channel width) | 4×4 AX: 4804Mbs (20/40/80/160MHz) | ||
| 24GHz (channel width) | 4 x 4 AX: 1,148Mbps (20/40MHz) | 2×2 AX: 574Mbps (20/40MHz) | |
| UNII-4 Support (5.9GHz) | Yes | Yes (firmware ver. 3.0.0.4.386_49873 or later) | |
| Backward Compatibility | 802.11ac/n/g/a/b | ||
| Data Rates (up to) | 802.11a/g: 54Mbps 802.11b: 11Mbps Wi-Fi 4: 600Mbps Wi-Fi 5: 4333Mbps Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz): 1148Mbps Wi-Fi 6 (5GHz-1): 4804Mbps Wi-Fi 6 (5GHz-2): 4804Mbps | 802.11a/g: 54Mbps 802.11b: 11Mbps Wi-Fi 4: 300Mbps Wi-Fi 5: 1733Mbps Wi-Fi 6 (2.4 GHz): 574Mbps Wi-Fi 6 (5 GHz-1): 4804Mbps Wi-Fi 6 (5 GHz-2): 4804 Mbps | 802.11a/g: 54Mbps 802.11b: 11Mbps Wi-Fi 4: 300Mbps Wi-Fi 5: 867Mbps Wi-Fi 6 (2.4GHz): 574Mbps Wi-Fi 6 (5GHz-1): 1201Mbps Wi-Fi 6 (5GHz-2): 4804Mbps |
| Mobile App | Asus Router | ||
| Web User Interface | Yes | ||
| Asus Gaming Features | No | Yes | No |
| AP Mode | Yes | ||
| USB Port | None | 1 x USB 3.2 Gen 1 | |
| Gigabit Port | 2x LAN | 3 x LAN | |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 2.5Gbps WAN 1x 2.5Gbps LAN/WAN | 1x 2.5Gbps WAN | |
| Link Aggregation | Yes | No | |
| Dual-WAN | Yes | ||
| Processing Power | 2.0GHz quad-core CPU, 256 MB Flash, 1GB DDR4 RAM | 1.7GHz tri-core CPU, 256MB Flash, 512MB DDR 4 RAM | 1.5GHz quad-core CPU, 256MB Flash, 512MB DDR 3 RAM |
| Release Date | August 2022 | January 2023 | January 2020 |
| Firmware Version (at review) | 3.0.0.4.386_49723 | 3.0.0.4.388_20950, 3.0.0.4.388_22233 | 3.0.0.4.386_24926 |
| Power Adapter | AC 100-240V | ||
| Power Consumption (over 24 hours) | ≈ 335 Wh (measured at the router unit) | ≈ 255 Wh (measured at the router unit) | Not measured |
| US Retail Price (at launch) | $799.99 (2-pack) | $599.99 (2-pack) | $450 (2-pack) $250 (single router) |
A sort of new design
It’s worth noting that you can play online games with any Asus router and any ZenWifi mesh. All of them feature a robust QoS feature. Most of the time, that’s all you need.
That said, the GT6’s explicit support for games is more convenient than a necessity for gamers—you can pick a game and then apply the best settings with one click.
But, as a gaming machine, the GT6 has more than just software features. It looks the part, too.
Indeed, the new mesh hardware features Asus’s eye-catching ROG Rapture theme.
On the front, it carries a large ROG RGB programmable color- and pattern-changing light similar to the GT-AX1100 Pro. This light is synced between the router and satellite units, but you can also turn it off on each.
The Asus GT6’s top is transparent, like the case of the XT12, but in this case, that only allows you to see the antennas and other internal parts—there’s no decoration lighting.
Still, it’s safe to say this is the first canned mesh system with a design and features to arouse gamers. It’s a legit gaming system.
The GT6 has a cool trick as a mesh system: the support for UNII-4.
Asus ROG Rapture GT6: Detail photos
UNII-4: A boon for those unable to run network cables
UNII-4, also known as the 5.9GHz band or the final frontier of Wi-Fi 6, is the newly available portion of the 5GHz band and enables the availability of a third and only DFS-free 160MHz channel which works excellently as the backhaul in a fully wireless mesh system.
UNII-4: What 5.9GHz band is, and why it’s hot
The GT6 is not Asus’s first UNII-4 supporting hardware. The company has recently enabled this on the ZenWiFi XT8 via firmware, and its upcoming ZenWiFi Pro XT12 and GT-AX11000 Pro also have it.
Tested Wi-Fi broadcasters with UNII-4:
- Asus ExtepertWiFi EBM68 (Tri-band)
- Asus ROG Rapture GT6 (Tri-band)
- Asus GT-AX11000 Pro (Tri-band)
- Asus ZenWiFi Pro XT12 (Tri-band)
- Asus ZenWifi XT9 (Tri-band)
- Asus ZenWiFi XT8 (Tri-band)
- Synology RT6600ax (Tri-band)
- Synology WRX560 (Dual-band)
However, the GT6 is the first gaming canned mesh that features the 5.9GHz portion of the frequency band.
When it comes to gaming, nothing beats network cables—you should get your home wired—but for homes that must use a fully wireless mesh, UNII-4 is the best wireless alternative.
Single 2.5Gbps port. Familiar features and settings
Besides that, each Asus GT6 router comes with a single 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig WAN-only port and three Gigabit LAN ports, like the ZenWiFi XT8.
So it’s a bit tight on the network port department—by now, I’d hope that all new routers have at least two Multi-Gig ports, like the GT-AX6000 or ZenWiFi Pro case ET12.
To make up for it, it has a USB 3.2 Gen 1 port to host a good collection of USB-related features, including the ability to function as a mini NAS server.
Besides that, the ROG Rapture GT6 shares all the standard features and settings available in Asus gaming routers. I tried these out in my testing, and they all generally worked as intended.
The new mesh is so familiar that I’ll skip mentioning the long list of what it can do—which you can find out more about via the link below—and jump to its real-world performance. That’s where it gets interesting anyway.
Asus Wi-Fi hardware: All you need to know
Asus ROG Rapture GT6: Excellent performance despite buggy firmware
I tested the Asus GT6 for over a month and was generally happy. The reason I took my time was because of its firmware.
A bit of a firmware-related issue
Out of the box, the hardware comes with firmware ver. 3.0.0.4.388_20950, which is a pre-released version. I used it for over a week with no issues at all.
General note on AsusWRT firmware
Considering the vast number of hardware options, most of which can be combined into a mesh system using the AiMesh feature, firmware can be tricky for Asus, especially with hardware running firmware versions that start with the 3.0.0.4 kernel.
AiMesh was first added as a major feature via firmware version 384 in early 2018—represented by the RT-AC86U. It was buggy at first, but it became stable with the latest minor updates. In early 2020, Asus released version 386, which was also buggy in the early stages, to add AiMesh 2.0 via the introduction of the ZenWifi product line. By late 2022, version 386 had become fully mature, and Asus released version 388 (dubbed AsusWRT 4.0) to add better VPN support, triple gaming/protection levels, and more. This version became stable by late 2023, which is also when the latest version, dubbed AsusWRT 5.0, was released.
When it comes to updating—especially in an AiMesh setup of mixed hardware units using wireless backhauling—keep the following three items in mind:
- Avoid the initial major release: This is the first firmware version of a model where the middle three digits of the firmware version change, such as from 384 to 386 or from 386 to 388. Generally, things start to be good with the first minor update to a major firmware release.
- Avoid using Auto-Update for firmware: Instead of letting the hardware update itself, you should update the firmware when you see fit. (It’s OK to choose Auto-Update for the security-only updates when that’s an option.)
- Version consistency (in a mesh system): Generally, it would be best to use the firmware version of the same major release for all AiMesh members. (Mixing hardware of different major releases can produce mixed results, though things get better with version 388 and newer.)
- After a major update, it’s recommended that you back up the settings to a file, reset the hardware, and set it up from scratch. Then, if need be, restore the settings.
The point is to tread lightly when upgrading firmware if you have a system of mixed hardware. The more differences in Wi-Fi standards and tiers within your combo, the more potential issues you might run into.
Depending on the hardware combo, you might need to rebuild the system from scratch or reset and re-add a satellite node if you change the major firmware version (in one or all hardware units involved.) Your luck will vary.
This version is not available for download, so there’s no way to go back to it, which explains why I used it for so long before upgrading.
However, upgrade I eventually did, as the hardware constantly nagged me about version 3.0.0.4.388_22233, which is supposedly the official initial release. Unfortunately, it didn’t work as well as the older release.
Specifically, with this version, the mesh only worked well when I didn’t customize the Wi-Fi settings further than the SSIDs and password. Things would go haywire if I did any more than that, such as changing the channel width or assigning a particular channel to the 5GHz-2 band. Most noticeably, clients would stop connecting to the satellite unit.
If you get this mesh set now, keep its pre-loaded firmware until a version newer than 3.0.0.4.388_22233 is available.
It’s worth noting that the latest firmware worked fine in my testing when I used the UNII-4 portion for the router’s 5GHz-2 band. And that’s important since it’s probably the only customization you should do, anyway.
Fast Wi-Fi performance, excellent coverage
I tested the Asus GT6 multiple times. Its real-world throughput speeds didn’t change between the two firmware versions, but the 2.5Gbps did play a role.
Per my standard testing, I generally hook the test server via a network cable to the router’s LAN port. In this case, the GT6’s Gigabit port limits its Wi-Fi performance.
(👉) Standard test with data hosted by one of the router’s Gigabit port
(★) Extra test using 2.5Gbps port to host test file
To take advantage of the 2.5Gbps port, which only works as a WAN port, I set up a double-NAT to host the test server via this port, and it made noticeable improvements, but only in certain situations.
Specifically, as a single router or satellite via Multi-Gig wired backhauling, the GT6 delivers much better performance when this port is used. But for the most part, its performance was on par with other Asus mesh hardware of similar specs, as you can note on the charts.
As for coverage, the Asus GT6 delivered about the same Wi-Fi range as the XT12. Generally, each unit can handle some 2000 ft2 (186 m2) when placed at the center. Your mileage will vary.
The 2-pack system also proved reliable, passing my multiple-day stress test without any issue, as long as I used it with the default Wi-Fi settings, as mentioned above.
An OK mini NAS server
The Asus GT6 didn’t impress when hosting a portable storage device via its USB port.
I tried a couple of top-tier portable SSDs with it, and while it worked fine, the sustained copy speeds were relatively modest—they were consistently well below the 100MB/s mark.
At this rate, the router can work as a server for mild network file sharing and media streaming needs. You should get a real NAS server or pick one of these routers if you’re serious about network storage.
Asus ROG Rapture GT6's Rating
Pros
Excellent Wi-Fi performance and coverage, UNII-4 support
Tons of useful features and settings, including built-in gaming features
AiMesh 2.0 full support, helpful mobile app, no login account required
Compact and good looking, USB port
Cons
Single 2.5Gbps WAN-only port
Buggy (initial release) firmware
Slow network storage performance when hosting a USB portable drive; not wall-mount-ready
Conclusion
The Asus ROG Rapture GT6 is not a must-have Wi-Fi system. You can get an Asus standalone gaming router and build it up into a mesh by adding more hardware.
However, compared to its ZenWifi cousin, including the XT12, this new hardware is a convenient way to get the Wi-Fi performance and the gaming features you need in a single package. And its lower price tag doesn’t hurt.
In any case, make sure you note the firmware issue above, and it’s a good idea to wait till a new firmware release is available before getting it.
can you combine the GT6 as main with the XT8 as node ? how’s the overall stability with fastest firmware update on the GT6
Yes, you can, Kevin. That’s one of the recommended for a wireless setup. I haven’t tried that particular combo but this post will help.
Hi Dong,
thanks for the reply I’ll purchase the Rog gt6 and use it as the main router and put my XT8 as a node. Appreciate your help.
Sure, Kevin. Use UNII4 as the backhaul in the wireless setup and that should work out well. Good luck!
Hi,
I’m using a pair of GT6s setup with wireless backhaul. These originated in Germany and as such only offer upto channel 140 even though I’m in the UK. Is it possible to quantify how much the lack of channels and UNII-4 will affect what wifi speeds I see compared to the same UK spec GT6s?
Thanks
Give this post a good read, James!
Hey Dong! Thanks for all of your reviews, your site is really great.
I’m trying to decide between a paired set of the GT6 or an AX11000 PRO with some of the Asus AX58 extenders. I can’t wire a backhaul at the moment so I need to rely on 5GHZ backhaul which is why I am choosing wifi 6 over 6e or 7.
The AX11000 PRO is a slightly more powerful router. The only thing holding me back is that the GT6 are pre-synced. I know with the original AX11000 some folks said it didn’t always mesh well. Did you find that pro did better, or for a dedicated wireless mesh system do you think, in your experience, the GT6 is a more reliable bet? Reliability is key, at least as reliable as wireless can be.
I’d go with a set of GT6, Zack.
Hey Dong,
I currently have an XT9 system set up at my house. I have constant issues with my setup where I constantly get ping spikes between my node and main router. I never had this issue with my previous XT8 setup.
Do you think the GT6 would be a good alternative for me?
I don’t know what you mean by ping spikes but I’d recommend setting it up properly first. If you use it in a wireless setup, use UNII-4 for the back-hauling, etc. More here. The GT6 is similar. Only you would know if something or someone is good for you.
So the GT6 doesn’t have ZenWiFi. Can you tell me what that means, exactly? What doesn’t the GT6 have that the XT9 and XT12 (both ZenWiFi) have?
Read the review, Gary. ZenWiFi is not a thing to have.
Yes I read it, and I’ve also searched the web for some hint as to exactly what ZenWiFi is. The best I can determine is that it may provide an easier setup experience. Otherwise it just seems like it’s a meaningless marketing term, since all of the recent ASUS mesh routers are AiMesh anyway. Did I miss something?
It’s just marketing terms mostly. But ZenWiFi hardware units in a pack are often pre-synced so they work together immediately.
Thanks for confirming that I’m not losing my mind, yet.
How would this fare against the Synology Mesh set up with the bundle of Synology WRX560 and RT6600ax Models? I’m Deaf and I need to ensure that the video calls and zooms are at best speed possible to avoid lagging with hands moving in the video conferences, etc.
I do not want to wire throughout the apartment – hence the consideration for a good, solid mesh systems. I have narrowed down to the ASUS Rapture GT6 and Synology Bundle above.
Any advice and thoughts would be appreciated here.
Thanks!
It’ll be better, M. Generally, for your needs, you want a Wi-Fi 6 mesh with dedicated backhaul, so this GT6 one, which among the alternatives of the ZenWiFi XT12, or a Wi-Fi 7 system, like the ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro. Good luck!
Thanks and the GT6 is working great! Much appreciated for your feedback!
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Hi Dong,
First off I love your website and your reviews! I do have a concern about this specific mesh system though and I’m wondering if you can help me?
Currently, I have both the Asus ROG Rapture GT6 and Netgear Orbi RBK852 and am debating which one to keep. It seems as if the Orbi is more stable but weaker/less “sexy” than the Asus. There are also additional charges for internet security and parental controls when Asus provides it for free.
I really want to keep the Asus but when I ran that system our baby monitor kept losing connection (and it’s the room next to where the main router is connected). Whereas, the Orbi didn’t drop connection once.
After doing research, I noticed that Orbi’s RTS Threshold is set to 64 and Asus defaults to 2457. If I lower this to 64 will it provide stability? Again, I want to go with the Asus but I can’t if our baby monitor keeps losing connection. Any tips or tricks to update the Asus settings to provide more stability?
Disabling smart connect, splitting the bands, disabling beamforming, disabling DFS, changing to 80mhz, updating the channels, and binding the baby monitor to the closest AP has not worked. Any advice would be much appreciated.
Separate the 2.4Ghz band as a different SSID and use it for the baby monitor, Nick. Make sure you use the compatibility settings (Auto) for this SSID. Or you can even create a Guest Wi-Fi SSID for it (if so turn on the Intranet access). I’d take the GT6 over the Orbi in a heart beat.
Great review and links to your other articles for config and other considerations in the comments.
Dong, do you have any inkling as to whether or not Asus is planning to launch an updated GT6-like system (e.g. a GT7) that follows the WiFi 7 spec? I couldn’t find any mention on Asus’ website and since they didn’t announce anything at CES about a model like this, I assume it may be a while.
Your guess is as good as mine, Joe. But my take is with Wi-Fi 7, the UNII4 support is irrelevant. You can just get two standalone AiMesh Wi-Fi 7 routers, pick the gaming one as the primary and you get the same effect.
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thank you for embedding links in your reply!
Almost a year later from this review. I’ve decided to switch my AX82Us running in AiMesh to this with UNII-4 support. I don’t have the option for wiring and don’t need 6Ghz (yet so this’ll easily be good for a few years!
👍
Hi Dong
Love your reviews and comment section is a goldmine. I’ve down a (relative) deep dive and I have an interesting predicament:
I’m looking to update my home internet to a wired backhaul “mesh” system. I’ve always loved Asus and would like to stick to the brand. I’m currently using an AC-68U (amongst others)
I live in a 5000sqft apartment with thick concrete walls, and have a 1 Gigabit internet. Rooms are already hardwired and have the modem& switch above the ceiling in the main entrance hall.
Based on previous testing I would need atleast 4 routers throughout the house (for both range and to be hardwire in specific devices in certain rooms).
We are a family of 6 with a fair number of devices (50 ): phones iPads, laptops, Apple Tvs, TVs, AV receivers, Xbox, Nintendo etc. Gaming however is not currently a priority.
The XD6 and ET8 are not available, and their in lies my predicament:
For a hardwired backend “mesh” system, my Asus options are XD5, XT8, XT9 or GT6. ET12 is too expensive to justify.
Initially I bought 5x XT8. One will be installed above the false ceiling and the other 4 will be throughout the house. Due to the location of the modem, I will essentially “lose” one router, but will be benefit from its wifi for a near by bedroom.
My goal is to have a cost effective, stable system.
Based on all the reviews, and reports of continually buggy firmware for a wired backhaul, I’m believe the XT8 is not the right solution. XT9 is more expensive and very close to the cost of the GT6.
The questions becomes, keep the XT8 and hope for the best, downgrade to 5x XD5, or pay around 100usd more (than 5x XT8) and get 4x GT6. If I go the GT6 route I’ll end up having to use my existing AC68u in one of the rooms. I prefer not to overspend, but I’m concerned with the XD5’s lack of ports, antennas etc. GT6 on the other hand is more expensive ( stretching the budget), has an ugly form factor (WAF) and in general it’s unclear to me if it would be less buggy/stable than an XT8 in a wired set up
Ideally the XD6 would have been my preferred option from a cost, stability and functionality perspective, but alas that is not an option.
Which would you chose? Do i ditch Asus all together and get the more budget friendly TPlink XE75?
Thanks
I’d stay with Asus, Naif. And check out this post, it’ll answer everything. If not, make sure you read the rest of the AiMesh series before asking more questions.
Thanks for the quick reply.
Based on what you’ve stressed; a dual band is better for a wired system, therefore the XT8/9, GT6 are out. You’d prob recommend four XD5 routers set up as nodes to a better dual band wifi 6 router.
1. Would a RT-AX68U as a main paired with 4x XD5 (+ 2 additional switches for added ports to hardware devices), be a good setup?
2. Should I get the best main dual band router wifi 6 router I can get?
3.Is there a benefit to having a multi Gig router as the main, feeding non multi gig (XD5)nodes?
4. Continuation on from point 2: are the XD5s sufficient as nodes? I’m feeling a bit jipped considering the XD6 is significantly better, or are the benefits (6 antennas, more ports, faster speed) marginal in a wired setup considering the number of nodes I’ll have.
Sorry meant AX86U paired to four XD5s.
Hey Dong
Been reading the articles on the subject over and over again, and I’ve pretty confident with my conclusion that the XD5 would the more suitable option.
For less than $50 I can buy a GT AX6000 (over the cost of a AX86U) as the primary router with a wired backhaul to the XD5s.
I’ve even read in other comment threads that you’ve recommended the AX86U as a suitable primary, but I’m also thinking it might make sense to future proof and go with a multi gig router incase I need to upgrade to multi gig mesh set up in the near/future.
Are there downsides to going with the Ax6000 over the AX86u as the primary in that setup that I am ignorant/unaware of?
Thanks again. The wealth of knowledge that you’ve provided is incredible and is greatly appreciated.
Ended up getting a pair of XD6s from amazon, wired to an GT-AX6000 and it’s working really really well.
Your Aimesh set up instructions really helped, I’m getting very close to gigabit speeds throughout the house in 5Ghz wifi and around 1.3Mbps wired.
I might need to add another XD6 node in the one dead zone in my house.
Dong, great review and fantastic website. The GT6 sounds like a good mesh system.
We followed your advice on your website and have just finished running wired Cat 6A Ethernet in our home and connected up our main Computer and TVs via ethernet to the ISP provided Router via the new wired backhaul network.
We were considering an Asus RT-AX82U as a single unit placed in the centre of our home for Wifi coverage for wireless devices (Wifi 5 and Wifi 6 MacBooks, Wifi 6 tablets and Wifi 6 mobile phones) roaming around the house, or else now possibly the Asus GT6, or possibly an Amplifi Alien (we’d go for that if one unit is enough because I’d rather not sign up with an account just to manage the device and it looks like managing more than one Alien router in a network requires an account). We don’t have any Wifi 6E devices currently. We’ve basically hooked up our stationary Computers (which I think are Wifi 5) or TVs etc by ethernet backhaul rather than connecting by Wifi.
Quick questions:
1. Have the firmware issues for the Asus GT6 been resolved? I see mixed reviews on Amazon with either people loving it or complaining about firmware issues. Or in the context of wired backhaul are we better off going for a different Asus like the dual band RT-AX82U or even an Alien?
2. If two Asus triband units (e.g. two GT6) are connected by wired backhaul as Mesh access points, do devices automatically take advantage of the additional 5Ghz band (that is normally used for wireless backhaul) that is now freed up? Or is it better to just go for a dual band system like the Asus RT-AX82U or Amplifi Alien?
Many thanks in advance and thank you for your website.
If you have wiring, stay with dual-band routers, Clara. More on mixing AimMesh hardware here. So get another RT-AX82U or RT-AX86U, etc.
1. Yes, it’s great now for a wireless fully wireless setup. Wired backhauling is good too but then it’s unnecessary.
2. See the post linked above or this one on how to deal with mesh in general.
I can Report back, that 2 ax11000 pro triband devices performe really strong in an wired backhoule mesh setup. Both 5Ghz networks are running fine, the lower channels as one Network for most devices, the upper Chanel as an dedicated VR Network. One important hint, here in Germany, you can only use the 160Mhz if you set up the control channel manually to 36 and or 100. Every Auto setting leads to only 80Mhz ALL the Time.
Used my Ax82u for nearly 3 years and never saw more than 1200Mbps link. The same with the glorious Ax11000 pros until it found an hint in an Forum.
Dong,
Thanks for the review. Picked these up on sale after I couldn’t take my orbi wifi6 3 pack anymore. Constant hang ups and crashes the last month or so.
The GT6 is strong enough for my large house and many walls. Overall my system is faster and incredibly more stable. Highly recommend now you can get the 2 pack for about $400.
👍
Hi Dong,
thinking in a wired backhaul mesh. better this option with 2 ROG Rapture GT6 or 2 GT-AX6000?
(priorizing WiFi range over speed)
I read in another of your reviews that for wired backhaul in some cases is better 2band than 3band.
I love your reviews
gracias
It’s defenitley better when you use the 2.5Gpbs ports for the job, Stin. You’ll get a true multi-Gigabit network. More here.
Hello Dong,
was the listet Power consumption meant for one device or both what makes more sense for an mesh system.
how about the single Test mentioned, have you found the Time for it?
thanks
Pay a bit attention, Jarno. 🙂
This is a great article, Dong. I was considering the XT8 or XT9, I think either of which would work for me. However, with a pair of the GT6 being only about $100 more (as of today) I think the GT6 is a no-brainer!
👍
Love these reviews, learning a lot!
Basically I’m wanting to know if this offers anything performance wise over the XT12?
I’m a competitive gamer I unfortunately am being forced to connect my PC via wifi due to the horrible layout of my new apartment.
I just don’t want to get sucked into the whole “gamer” branding that Asus used with their other products.
Forgetting price, would this GT6 offer me any advantage over the XT12?
As mentioned, Luke, the GT6 has the lighting and game-related feature in the firmware — like other Asus gaming routers. Performance wise, it’s not better than the XT12. You generally can play most games just fine with the XT12 — more on that here.
Hello Dong. I bought the mesh that contains 2 of this router (GT6). I have a 1GB up and 1 Gb down system. I have a3800 square foot home. Is it normal to get almost 1/5 of the speed through the wifi (around 240 up nd down)?? I don’t know what to do in terms of settings or location. The speed is like that even if I am 10 feet away from the router. The speed is good for most parts but it is still 1/5 of what i should have. I that normal?
That depends, Emad. More on speed testing here.
Hey Dong,
I currently have a primary AX86U and a satellite AC68U in a full wireless mesh setup.
Aside from the strong recommendation to use a dedicated wired backhaul for obvious reasons, I opted for a wireless setup as I stay in a multi-level multi-story home which has super thick concrete floors (think impractical drilling) and limited options for pulling wires through existing conduits.
I am considering a pair of these GT6’s (for a really good deal) given the enhanced features and throughput on both 5Ghz-1&2, especially in context of an improved wireless backhaul.
The only reservation I have to go ahead is the memory difference (half) compared to my primary AX86U. When looking at my main router’s resource utilization at present, it is sitting at 48%, or 490MB of 1GB, or comparably 96% of 512GB on the GT6. Im not using features like AiProtection, VPN etc – just “typical” use. The number of devices connected is <20, thought often more in the region of 10 or so.
With this in mind, I have 3 questions if I may:
1.) Does the memory consumption on my AX86U sound “normal”?
2.) Is there a way I can identify which process(es) is/are consuming memory and if so, how?
3.) Do you envision that having only 512MB on the GT6’s should be a deal breaker for me? Is there pause for concern here that I may run into trouble due to the amount of RAM?
Many thanks in advance.
Regards,
Mudredodra
I’d not get too hung up on the specs in routers, Mudredodra. They are not computers — they have limited pre-determined number of things they can do. So
1. Yes. But it can also mean the AX86U has too much memory.
2. No.
3. No.
Hello Dong,
Silly Question but when setting the backhaul to use 5 GHZ-2 how do I know if it’s set to use UNII-4? Under wireless –> General I’ve selected 5 GHZ-2, then I checked off the setting below, and I’ve also selected “Enable 160 MHZ”
Auto select channel including U-NII-4 band
If I set the backhaul to use 5 GHZ-2 and check this option will this use UNII-4? Since my house is not wired I need to backhaul wirelessly and I want to make sure I’m using this.
What you did should be enough, Frank, but to make sure, you can manually pick one of the UNII-4 channels. It’ll take a few mins to take effect.
hi dong
whats better gt6 or xt12.using it in 2 level apartment.
wireless 5ghz backhaul.specs look similar.
thanks
You can make that decision by reading this review, Christian. You’re the one who’s been to that apartment. If you need more info, here’s the review of the XT12.
Do you still have 160mhz as an option on 5G-2 on Asus ROG Rapture GT6 on latest firmware? I bought it recently but noticed there is no option to enable 160mhz on 5G-2, 80mhz max, which makes it not an AX10000 router.
Yes, Oliver, but the use of DFS and UNII-4 varies from one region to another.
I was able to purchase a pair in late December. So far, I’ve been very happy with the performance, no modifications, just setup out of the box. I rent a condo, so cannot hardwire for backhaul. Range is exceptional compared to my AX86U and AX11000. My AX11000 would drop one 5GhZ channel intermittently, which has not been an issue with the GT6. I also get 800mpbs on my laptop, which betters the 400-500mbps I would get with the AX11000. Looking forward to the full review.
Noted. Thanks for sharing the experience.
Really looking forward to your review of the GT-6! Any idea when you’ll publish it?
It’s not available yet. So we’ll see.
Lol cheap SoC but dedicated gen 2 radios supporting unii-4
Don’t think its worth 599.99, but it will certainly perform well due to unii4 power output..
We’ll have to wait and see…
9 antennas but only 2×2 on 2.4GHz. Is this a misprint or something else?
It’s something else, like your assumption that you know what you’re talking about. What does the number of antennas have to do with this? 🙂
More on antennas in this post.
Wow! You are literally the rudest blogger I have come across. Time and time again you insult your readers. You could have answered Layne way less snarky, and been so much more polite in your response. Instead, you continue to be rude to your readers to the point where you push them away. Just stop it, Dong. You’re so rude and a complete a$$.
Thanks for the message, Richard. Hope it made you feel good about yourself.
I think Layne could have defended themselves if need be. I was writing with tongue in cheek. Most importantly, I answered the question the way it was asked. And, by the way, Layne was a return reader, and I’m pretty sure I wasn’t kissing their ass the last time or times.
You’re such a judgemental di*ck, Richard, and impolite, too. What an irony.
Dong’s initial response was fine, considering the questioning. I’d say the same thing. And to your comment, I’d say, “f*ck off!”
It was not fine. Go read most of Dong’s responses to his readers. Every week I’m reading smart a$$ remarks back to his readers. It’s like he berates his readers on a weekly basis. I’ve never seen a blogger treat his readers this way. It’s so uncalled for.
@Richard
I couldn’t reply directly to your last comment. But I’d like you to hear this:
Why are you still here, Dick? Didn’t you mention that Dong “push”ed your kind away with his style? Why did you return? Who do you think you are to say something is fine or not?
I’ve followed Dong for almost two decades, and he’s the ONLY tech reviewer who doesn’t pander to bullshit, the type you’d like to eat.
It’s not my place to say this but seriously, f*ck off! There’s NOTHING wrong with how he answers any efing comment because he simply could have just ignored them.
If you ask a stupid question, then you deserve whatever comes after.
Get a life!
Gents,
Before things get out of hand, I’d like to have the last word in this thread.
I appreciate your input, but let’s put an end to this.
Keep your opinion about me to yourself, or bring it elsewhere. I didn’t make this website to talk about myself or to address folks’ feelings.
If you think this is me “berating” you, so be it! But if you leave any more comment here on the matter, it’ll be your very last comment on this website.
Thank you!
@Richard, you’re such a hypocrite! Even if Dong wasn’t joking, Layne’s question was flippant at best.
Why do you think Dong has to be “polite” when you’re clearly incapable of being nice, yourself? Just read your comment again!
Just for the record, you’re the only one who’s rude.
Fail after fail after fail with just single 2.5 gbe port. It seems like Asus will go bankrupt if they include a 2nd 2.5 gbe port. This goes into my auto-ignore list. Dong you should really come down harshly on devices which feature single when you review them.
As harsh as can be! 🙂
would be great to see how it compares in terms of performance (like the range, signal strength, quantity of supported users, etc.) with the GT-AXE16000.
This one is a mesh — it’s a 2-pack. The GT-AXE16000 is a standalone router. But I’ll test a single unit, too, to see how it pans out. It’ll be a while till it’s out, though.