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The ZenWiFi BT8 is Asus’s third Wi-Fi 7 mesh system after the BQ16 Pro and the BT10. As the number suggests, its performance grade is progressively lower.
The most telling is the lack of 10Gbps support. Instead of two 10GbE Multi-Gig ports, the new system features two entry-level 2.5GbE ports. In return, it’s a lot more affordable, with a 3-pack costing the same as the 2-pack of the BT10.
Here’s the bottom line: If you’re happy with the 2.5Gbps ceiling bandwidth, which is plenty fast for most homes, the ZenWiFi BT8 is an excellent alternative to its more expensive cousins, well worth the $900 price tag for a 3-pack—the street price will vary, and there will be 2-pack and single unit options that cost less accordingly.
In fact, if you have a large home and can run a couple of network cables for backhauling, it’s decidedly the best deal out of the currently three Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi options.
Dong’s note: I first published this piece on November 22, 2024, as a preview and updated it on December 5, 2024, to a full review after thorough hands-on testing.
Asus ZenWiFi BT8: A stripped-down version of the BT10
The new Zen WiFi BT8 shares the same hardware design as the BT10. The two look identical from all angles until you look at their ports, where the former has one more but only features 2.5Gbps Multi-Gig. The latest mesh system is the first in the new family (and among Asus’s Wi-Fi 7 hardware) that doesn’t have 10Gbps ports. While that’s a bit disappointing, 2.5Gbps is plenty fast, and this is still a traditional tri-band Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster and not dual-band like the case of the BD4 or the TP-Link Deco BE25.
The table below shows how it differs from the other two Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi options.
Hardware specifications: ZenWiFi BT8 vs. ZenWiFi BT10 vs. ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro
| Asus ZenWiFi BT8 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | Asus ZenWiFi BT10 Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | Asus ZenWiFi BQ 16 Pro Wi-Fi 7 Mesh System | |
|---|---|---|---|
 |  |  | |
| Model | ZenWiFi BT8 | ZenWiFi BT10 | ZenWiFi BQ16 Pro |
| Antennas | 7 internal | 8 internal | 13 internal |
| Wi-Fi Bandwidth | Tri-band BE14000 | Tri-band BE18000 | Quad-band BE30000 |
| Modulation Scheme (QAM) | 4096-QAM (all bands) | ||
| 1st Band (channel width) | 2.4GHz 2×2 BE Up to 688Mbps (20/40MHz) | 2.4GHz 4×4 BE Up to 1376Mbps (20/40MHz) | |
| 2nd Band (channel width) | 5GHz 3×3 BE Up to 4323Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160MHz) | 5GHz 4×4 BE Up to 5762Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160MHz) | |
| 3rd Band (channel width) | 6GHz 3×3 BE Up to 8643Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | 6GHz 4×4 BE Up to 11,525Mbps (entire band) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | 6GHz-1 4×4 BE (lower) Up to 11,525Mbps (lower channels) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) |
| 4th Band (channel width) | None | 6GHz-2 4×4 BE (upper) Up to 11,525Mbps (upper channels) (20/40/80/160/320MHz) | |
| Network Standards | IEEE 802.11a, IEEE 802.11b, IEEE 802.11g, IEEE 802.11n, IEEE 802.11ac, IEEE 802.11ax, IEEE 802.11be, IPv4, IPv6 | ||
| Network Features | Web User Interface Asus Mobile App with Smart Home Master | ||
| Mesh Technology | AiMesh with AsusWRT 5.0 | ||
| Automated Frequency Coordination (AFC) | TBD (unavailable at review) | Yes (at launch) | |
| Multi-Link Operation (MLO) | Yes | ||
| Hardware Availability (at launch and subsequently) | 3-pack 2-pack | 2-pack single router | |
| Processing Power | Undisclosed CPU, RAM 1GB, Flash 128MB | 2.0GHz quad-core CPU, 2GB RAM, 256MB Flash | Undisclosed CPU, 2GB RAM, 256MB Flash |
| Multi-Gig Port | 1x 2.5GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 1x 2.5GBASE-T LAN, | 1x 10GBASE-T WAN/LAN, 1x 10GBASE-T LAN | |
| Gigabit Port | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| USB Port | 1 x USB 3.0 | ||
| Hardware Buttons | Power Switch, Reset Button | ||
| Dimensions (each unit) | 7.32 x 6.26 x 2.83 in (187 x 159 x 72 mm) | 8.43 x 14.12 x 2.83 in (214 x 174.2 x 72 mm) | |
| Weight (each unit) | 1.8 lbs (.82 kg) | 2.79 lbs (1.27 kg) | |
| DC Power Adapter | AC Input: 100~240 V (50~60 Hz) DC Output: 12 V with max. 3 A current | AC Input: 100~240 V (50~60 Hz) DC Output: 12 V with max. 5 A current | |
| Power Consumption (per 24 hours) | ≈ 270 Wh (router unit) ≈ 225 Wh (satellite unit) | ≈ 360 Wh (router unit) ≈ 250 Wh (satellite unit) | ≈ 530 Wh (router unit) |
| U.S. Release Date | Q3 2024 | May 26, 2024 | |
| Firmware Version (at review) | 3.0.0.6.102_56236 | 3.0.0.6.102_36758 | 3.0.0.6.102_34995 |
| Availability | Worldwide | North America | |
| U.S. MSRP (check street price) | $900 (3-pack) | $900 (2-pack) $500 (single router) | $1300 (2-pack) $700 (single router) |
A familiar ZenWiFi mesh
As shown in the table, other than the port grade, the other main difference between the ZenWiFi BT8 and the BT10 is the fact the former uses three-stream (3×3) Wi-Fi specs instead of the top-tier 4×4. It has fewer streams. Considering its ports, though, that makes sense since the speed is limited to 2.5Gbps anyway.
Wi-Fi bands vs. channels vs. stream
Wi-Fi uses three frequency bands: 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz. The width of each band is measured in MHz—the wider the band, the more MHz it has.
The 6GHz band is the widest of the three, with a total width of 1200MHz, ranging from 5.925GHz to 7.125GHz. Depending on local regulations, only a portion or portions of this entire spectrum are available for Wi-Fi applications.
In real-world usage, each band is divided into multiple portions, called channels, of different widths. Depending on the Wi-Fi standards and hardware, a channel can be 20MHz, 40MHz, 80MHz, 160MHz, or 320MHz wide. The wider a channel is, the more bandwidth it has. The number of channels in each Wi-Fi band varies depending on the channel width, but there can only be so many.
The 6GHz band has enough space for three 320MHz channels or seven 160MHz channels.
Data moves in one channel of a particular band at a time, using streams, often dual-stream (2×2), three-stream (3×3), or quad-stream (4×4). The more streams, the more data can travel at a time. Thanks to the ultra-high bandwidth per stream, Wi-Fi 6 and later tend to have only 2×2 clients.
Here’s a crude analogy:
If a Wi-Fi band is a freeway, channels are lanes, and streams are vehicles (bicycles vs. cars vs. buses). On the same road, you can put multiple adjacent standard lanes (20MHz) into a larger one (40MHz, 80MHz, or higher) to accommodate oversized vehicles (higher number of streams) that carry more goods (data) per trip (connection).
A Wi-Fi connection generally occurs on a single channel (lane) of a single band (road) at a time. The actual data transmission is always that of the lowest denominator—a bicycle can carry just one person at a relatively slow speed, even when used on a super-wide lane of an open freeway.
Other than that, you can expect the ZenWiFi BT8 to be similar to, if not the same, the rest of the family in terms of hardware configurations, network settings, and features. Specifically:
- MLO is there, but AFC is TBD: The hardware comes with MLO out of the box. In fact, by default, it’ll use an MLO link as the wireless backhaul, a.k.a. “Smart Haul”. On the other hand, the AFC feature is said to be added later via firmware updates, which remains to be seen. Asus didn’t confirm with me one way or the other on this front.
- Pre-synced hardware: When you get a pack, the identical hardware units are pre-synced. As a result, all you need to do is pick one unit to set up as the primary router, and the rest will be part of the system when plugged in.
- AsusWRT 5.0 firmware and core features:
- Multiple SSIDs via the “Smart Home Master” feature, including the support for MLO, Guest Wi-Fi, and IoT via virtual SSIDs.
- Safe Browsing with DNS filters via specific servers.
- Useful Parental Controls and advanced VPN feature set, which includes VPN Fusion and Instant Guard.
- Advanced QoS and online protection (via AiProtection) to keep your network and devices safe.
- Flexible port management with support for Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation, and USB cellular tethering.
- A comprehensive set of network settings and features managed via the web user interface or the (optional) Asus Router mobile app that requires no login account or subscription.
- Robust network-attached storage when hosting a USB external drive.
Tip
Asus’s self-defined networks (SDNs), a.k.a virtual SSIDs, can be set to be part of the same subnet as the primary network, which might or might not be the default option when you first create them. If picked to be not part of the primary subnet, a virtual SSID will be of a different subnet separated from the main network, which can cause local connection issues for those who are unaware.
Unless you’re fluent in handling multiple subnets, it’s best to use these SSIDs with the same subnet as the main network. To change the subnet, you might need to delete the SSID and recreate it.
The gist is that if you’ve used an Asus router before, the new ZenWiFi BT8 will be right up your alley. In fact, you can even load the setting backup files of most existing Asus routers onto it, making it an easy upgrade.
After that, in terms of performance, the new mesh system likely has the same Wi-Fi coverage as that of the ZenWiFi BT10 but with lower real-world rates, which are limited by the 2.5Gbps ports. And this port grade also determines its top broadband speed. So, you should consider it only if you have Internet that’s slower than 2.5Gbps.
Asus ZenWiFi BT8: Overall excellent performance with some quirks
I tested the ZenWiFi BT8 for over a week and was generally happy with it. The initial firmware proved to be reliable enough, though it did come with some quirks, which has become somewhat of a “tradition” among Asus’s Wi-Fi hardware.
A bit of buggy firmware, finicky MLO, and slow network storage speed
The most noticeable is the fact that the interface sometimes showed that the Internet connection was disconnected, though it was not. Secondly, in a fully wireless setup, the satellite’s MLO SSID often randomly switched the bonded link to use a 2.4GHz + 6GHz combo (instead of the combo of all three bands or 5GHz + 6GHz), causing the connection speed to reduce significantly. This might have been because the MLO feature was not yet new and not fully hashed out.
Additionally, also in a fully wireless backhaul setup—where the hardware units of the mesh system connect via Wi-Fi—I noted:
- In a star topology (recommended), the backhaul link was always an MLO. However:
- In daisy-chain topology, the backhaul connection between the second satellite unit and the first always used a single band, whichever was applicable considering the distance.
This phenomenon might just be how MLO works. After all, the BT8 is the first 3-pack Wi-Fi 7 ZenWiFi I’ve tested. Still, this reinforces the notion that when you use a mesh system in a fully wireless setup, it’s best to place the satellite units around the primary router.
Finally, when hosting a portable SSD, the ZenWiFi BT8 had terrible network storage performance in my trial, even worse than that of the BT10, with the real-word writing speed averaging around 20MB/s and the reading less than 80MB/s. It’s the slowest among all Wi-Fi 7 hardware with network storage features I’ve tested. So, if you’re serious about network storage, get a real NAS server.
Reliable and fast Wi-Fi and wired performance
As an entry-level Multi-Gig Wi-Fi router, though, the ZenWiFi BT8 proved to be quite excellent. Its real-world wired and wireless backhaul performance was generally the maxed-out speed of the 2.5Gbps ports, among the fastest in the similarly-specced crowd.
The Wi-Fi performance was excellent, too. The router unit (or the satellite in a wired backhauling setup) consistently delivered high Gig+ sustained rates and even passed the 2Gbps threshold in some tests. The satellite unit did well, too, even in a fully wireless setup.
In terms of coverage, the ZenWiFi BT8 was similar to the BT10. However, considering the lack of 10Gbps ports, which lowers the wireless backhaul bandwidth, it doesn’t have the same range in a fully wireless setup. While it’s impossible to put Wi-Fi coverage in number, and your mileage will vary, you can expect a single unit of the BT10 to cover around 1800 ft2 (167 m2) of space, with a second unit adding about 60% more.
The 3-pack ZenWiFi BT8 passed my 3-day stress test without disconnection, proving to be reliable. The hardware has no internal fan and remains completely silent. It also produced very little heat, with the chassis feeling slightly warm to the touch even after a prolonged operation.
Asus ZenWiFi BT8's Rating
Pros
Tri-band Wi-Fi 7; two 2.5Gbps ports per unit; excellent overall performance
AsusWRT 5.0 has lots of customizations and free-for-life high-end features (VPN, Parental Controls, Online Protection, Dual-WAN, Link Aggregation, Smart Home Master, etc.).
Robust web user interface and helpful optional mobile app; easy-to-blend-in design
Comparatively compact with no internal fan; runs cool and quiet
Cons
Only three network ports; entry-level Multi-Gig grade; terrible NAS performance when hosting an external USB drive
Not wall-mount-ready; slightly buggy interface and MLO
Conclusion
Unlike the case of the ZenWiFi BT10, which was buggy at launch, the ZenWiFi BT8 proved to be reliable even with the initial firmware and worked without major issues right out of the box. Still, it’s safe to say it’s currently not at its best and won’t be so until future firmware updates.
Most importantly, this new mesh is not earth-shattering. It’s Asus’s more affordable full-band option for those who don’t need 10Gbps wired grades. Generally, if you only care for Gigabit or Gig+ bandwidth, this new mesh system is right up your alley, especially if you have wired your home with a few network cables. If so, consider a set today!
If you want something even less expensive, the ZenWiFi BD4 will give you Wi-Fi 7 at a fraction of the cost.
Thank you for a thorough review.
Is the read/write speed issue with usb connected storage still present in the newest firmware?
I don’t check every time there’s a new firmware update, Mizumi, per my past exprience, this type of performance is not firmware-related.
I purchased the BT8 for my symmetrical gigabit fiber internet. The speed test on the router is reporting 941mbps down & up, however I can only get around 30mbps on any of my client devices regardless of wifi band or hardwired. I have the firmware updated, have hard reset, factory reset all settings, and nothing is resolving this issue. I have never had an issue like this with Asus routers before so I’m a bit disappointed in this BT8. The wifi download speeds are fantastic (400-800mbps) but the uploads are maxing out around 30mbps for some unknown reason. It takes awhile to sync files to the cloud…which I’m not used to with a gigabit ISP!
Sorry to hear.
Definitely something is not right with your testing, setup, or devices, Jesse. I’d recommend going back to the basics. Maybe, you’ll find out what’s missing. Getting emotional won’t solve anything. Good luck!
Thanks but the issue is not anything I did wrong 😉
I worked through this with Asus and their firmware has an issue that needs to be resolved. The upload/download speeds are not an issue when I connect these as AP to my GT-AX6000 configured as the router. The issue is isolated to the BT8 unit being configured as the router. There are other reports of this issue elsewhere on the internet; I am not alone.
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Thanks for this comparison of the BT10 and BT8. I will definitely get one of these 2 models by the end of this year.
I’m wondering how important the processing power difference is between the models given that the BT10 has double the RAM and flash memory and a better processor than the BT8.
Just one FYI. Asus has a 3-pack of the BT10, model BT10(W-3-PK), listed on their website for $1300 and Best Buy has it for $1000 which looks like the new regular price on their site not a sale price. It’s a $200 difference in the regular price of both BT8 and BT10 3-packs so it will make the decision about which one to get a little more difficult when I pull the tigger in Nov or Dec.
The processing power is mostly for the included features (security, parental control, port-forwarding, USB-based storage, etc.) If you only care about the Wi-Fi, either is fine in terms of performance (per their specs.)
Hello, again Dong,
I hope you don’t mind me asking another question. I also don’t know if this thread is the correct one for asking this question. If it’s not, then I sincerely apologise. Also, I made an error in my first post. I actually receive 1 Gig download speed, not upload speed, as mentioned. I value your knowledge and guidance in this matter.
I’ve run into a problem, and I’m unsure of where to look for help, so I have the following (or did have only the ASUS RT-BE92U router is currently being exchanged due to a fault), but my setup is as follows:
ASUS RT-BE92U – Main Router
ASUS ZenWiFi BT8 – Node
ASUS ZenWiFi BT8 – Node
I have external security cameras installed, which are currently required. While they may not be the most secure, I have to keep them for now.
I was hoping to seperate my more vulnerable devices such as security cameras, video doorbell and any other external devices (what I call Vulnerable to my internet) on one network.
Then, things like TV and computers, i.e. Laptops, iPad on another and then perhaps gaming consoles on another.
However, the external security cameras connect to a NVR Recorder and connect to my router ASUS RT-BE92U directlywith a physical ethernet cable. and so I’m struggling to be able to seperate the vulnerable devices which may leave me open to unwanted trouble.
I do not know much about networks; it’s all relatively new to me, and I’m trying so hard to get this sorted but struggling so much. Is there a way of dedicating a single LAN to the vulnerable devices using this router?
Thank you so very much in advance for your time and expertise. I truly appreciate your help and I’m so sorry if this is not permitted in this thread.
All the best
Marie
You don’t seem to have a “problem”, Marie. If I read your comment correctly, it seems you are just paranoid or had a wrong understanding of what a vulnerability means. Give this post a good read! If all of your devices are connected and working well, I’d say be happy about it.
Thank you for your response. I’m definitely not paranoid (although I have genuine concerns when it comes to safety)
When I talk about vulnerable devices I’m talking specifically about the security cameras which are highly hackable and seems to somewhat be a trend where I reside.
I need to feel assured that if a situation arose and the cameras were hacked then at least everything else attached to my internet would be safe. So I’m wanting to be sure that I’ve purchased the right equipment for the right job, that is all.
I’ll take a read.
Make sure you read the post I linked. Generally, things are not easily “hacked”. But if you have cameras you know for sure are that vulnerable, then you need to get new cameras. There’s nothing you can do with router in this case that could help.
Hello Dong,
great review.
I own 4 BT8 (router configuration), but have enormous problems with mi iPhone 14 pro and macbook air (M2). The devices sometimes enter in a continuous connection/disconnection loop and the only way to resolve is to delete and reconfigure che connection.
Other devices (more than 50) are ok.
Are you aware of this problem?
Yes, Marco, that’s the issue with Apple. Update your devices or made an IoT virtual SSID for them with the most basic settings.
Hello Dong,
I recently discovered your website and would greatly appreciate any advice you might offer me. I feel a bit embarrassed about my lack of knowledge.
I live in the UK, and my upload speeds are only 1 gigabit. I have ordered the ASUS RT-BE92U WiFi Cable Router – BE 9200, tri-band, as my main router, and I’m trying to decide which of the following options I should choose for my nodes to complete my AI mesh: ASUS ZenWiFi BT8, BT10, or BQ16. I realise that it’s somewhat excessive, but I would really value your input.
All the best,
Marie
I think your best best is the ZenWiFi BT8 considering your broaband speed, Marie, or multiple RT-BE92U units. It’s best if you can use wired backhauling. More on AiMesh setup in this post. 1Gbps is very fast by the way. Good luck!
Thank you very much for your super quick response. As I’m already expecting the RT-BE92U unit tomorrow, I’ll order a couple of ZenWiFi BT8s now.
Thank you again for your amazing support…
👍
Greetings Marie,
I would like to commend Mr Dong for his laudable work in explaining mesh systems and the various challenges associated with them.
I would also like to point out a major shortcoming, especially on the ASUS website, where a basic piece of information is missing, that when you buy a mesh system package, one piece always works as a router and the other pieces as satellites (Node in the ASUS dictionary). Maybe ASUS mentions it somewhere in the support section, but this is so huge that a layman has no chance.
That’s how I started, I bought something I didn’t need at all, but I had a chance to return it.
Good luck with the new system.
That’s not true. As I mentioned in the review, you can use any of the routers as the primary unit. Even though one is marked as the router, that’s only for the sake of convenience.
Mr. Dong,
I am criticizing Asus and not you. After discovering your site I have got a lot of insights, for which many thanks.
I wasn’t being defensive, just saying what it is. And I generally welcome constructive criticism.
I bought a twin-pack a week ago. The performance is great, but like previous new-ish Asus stuff I’ve purchased in the past, the firmware still requires some work. Every day or so the wifi module crashes – the LAN router still works but wifi dies, requiring a power cycle of the router node. Also, the TX power adjustment doesn’t seem to stick in the UI, although I guess that could be due to my browser. The reboot time is reasonably quick, but it takes just as long to then connect up the satellite node.
Another observation is that on the satellite node it seems that the WAN port has to be used for a wired backhaul connection, and hence can’t double up as a 2.5Gbps LAN port.
Hi Dong, As a Gamer with 1gigabit of internet/ person with a smart home that has around 30 or more devices in the network/ lover of wireless backhauling just for the simplicity of it because who wants to deal with cables ? Not me.
Are there any other benefits from the Zenwifi BT10 (or BQ16pro for that matter) other than higher bandwidth and increased wireless back haul range? Such as reduced latency for gaming ? Or anything like that. Or will the BT8 suffice ?
Currently I have the rog capture Gt 6 and I love it. Though id like to take advantage of our gamings PC’s built in Wifi 6E and wifi 7 motherboard cards. Even though we get speeds of 950mbps, download speed isnt the most important thing for us, but rather reduced latency and ping. Wirelessly of course ! We hate wires.
No, you already have the best setup, Luis. The next step, until there’s a Wi-Fi 7 version of the GT6, is running network cables. It’s actually fun.
Hello, Dong – great review!
I’m currently having a BT10 as my primary router, with an AX58 as the AImesh node – which is working okay for my needs – although I would like to have a full Wifi7 system in the future, including the mesh.
I have reviewed your AiMesh compatibility post about the best approaches. Considering all of your guidance, and considering that I can’t really have wired backhaul in my home – would you recommend having a BT8 as an AiMesh satellite node with the BT10 as the main router ? Or would it be better to just go with another BT10 as the satellite – given both are Wifi7 ? If there are diminishing returns with another BT10, then I would rather just go with a BT8 as the satellite node – what do you think ?
I’d go with the BT10, Jayden (or all BT8). Mixing the hardware of different grades can cause MLO to not work optimally or at all. If you have wired bachauliing, then it’s OK to mix the two. Good luck!
Already have Asus mesh using the older AXT routers. Doing some home expansion a will need 2 additional safeties. Will the BT8 router work with the existing Asus routers? Any compatibility issues?
That depends, Jeffrey. More in this post on the topic.
Unfortunately I have multiple devices dropping wifi connection constantly throughout the day with the BT8’s. These are random devices (so not the same device) including my Iphone, Alexa’s, PC’s using wifi and other smart home products. My Iphone is set to use the 5G connection only and to auto connect, when it loses connection I have to manually reconnnect.The previous Mesh system I was using had none of these issues ever and was rock solid. The firmware was updated on the BT8’s when installing the system. I really wanted these to work but not sure if I have faulty units or if the latest firmware has not actually resolved the problem the BT10’s suffered.
It’s likely the firmware, Michael. As mentioned, try turning off MLO for now until there’s a new update.
Thanks for the suggestion. The firmware is the latest version. MLO is turned off by default and I didn’t turn this on.
I have had the same issues with my BT8 and have returned a package and got new devices with same issues.
I have contact with a journalist in Norway who gave the system 8,5 out of 10 (best-in-test), but he will demote the score unless Asus responds to him on plans of correcting this.
To me – it seems Asus is burying their heads in the sand on this as I’ve reached out on their forums and directly on support but they have decided to ignore my feedback.
I’m returning my set of BT8s on Monday.
You’ll run into the same issue with any Wi-Fi 7 broadcaster. That’s a typical Apple thing. It has always been. You can turn off Wi-Fi 7 mode on the Asus via the main SSID customization (which is the case of many other current Wi-Fi 7 broadcasters by default) to make it work until Apple supports the standard fully. Or stick with Wi-Fi 6.
It’s unfair to blame Asus for this. That’s like using snow tires in summer and blaming the car for low mileage. If you get a plug and play system, you’d complain about the lack of options, performance ,and features. The point is that you can’t have things both ways.
Great review, thanks.
The BT8 looks ideal for my domestic needs. I don’t need more than 2.5G, and MLO (if it works) looks to be ideal for maximising a wireless backhaul. Do you think MLO would work in a three node setup with two BT8 units and an additional BD4 satellite? This would be purely to save some money. I need one fast point-to-point backhaul (in lieu of an ethernet cable) but I need an additional node for full coverage.
Not a good idea, Dave. You can’t have good MLO mixing tri-band and dual-band.
Dong,
Would work a combination of BT8 as router and two XT9 nodes sans the 6 GHz band on nodes? Backhaul 2.5 GHz ethernet.
It would likely work but is a matter of degrees. Mixing hardware is tricky. In this case, you won’t be able to manage the XT9’s 2nd 5GHz band which is its strong point thanks to UNII-4 in a wireless setup. More here.
Hello Mr. Dong, thank you for reply.
It’s a shame, because the most attractive thing about BT8, for me, is the second 2.5G LAN port, which I intented to use (via a switch) for 2.5G backhaul. Now I have to stay on 1G backhaul because the XT9s have a much stronger signal on 5-2 band than on 5-1 band. Probably because of lower interferences as I “see” in my surroundings a total of 66 wifi streams…
Hello Mr. Dong
you say that I won’t be able to manage the XT9’s 2nd 5GHz band. The BT8 (or the BT10) does not cover the second 5GHz band? Thanx.
Read the reviews and their specs and you’ll find out what bands they have. More on mixing AiMesh hardware in this post. Lake sure you read before asking questions, please.
Hello Mr Dong,
I’ve read your review not once, but several times.
If this statement in the specification section “5GHz 3×3 BE Up to 4323Mbps (full band) (20/40/80/160MHz)” means that the router goes up to 5.9GHz ? then it’s OK.
The BT8 manual doesn’t give any information about the frequency spectrum or the available channels.
No, the 5.9GHz portion is not used in Wi-Fi 7 since no client supports it. It would make MLO very complicated. More here.
Hello,
can you confirm that I can set a dedicated VID under IPTV settings (necessary for my internet connection to the fiber modem)? Thanks.
I can’t since I don’t have the same broadband plan, Florian.
Dear Dong Ngo,
thank you for the review.
I want to connect the BT8 to my internet modem via PPPoE.
Can Vlan Tag on the WAN port? I need a dedicated WAN VLAN TAG in order to function the internet connection.
Thanks for a short reply.
BR,
Florian
All Asus routers support VLAN Tagging, but I’ve never had the need for this feature or used it, Florian.
BT8 has :
2.5G WAN x 1
2.5G LAN x 1
1G LAN x 2
as stated at Asus official web, 1 more 1G LAN than BT10
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