Picking the Best AiMesh Combo: The Real-world Tested Rules and Tips

This post will walk you through picking two or more Asus routers into a well-performing and seamless AiMesh setup.

“Well-performing” is the key here since you can add Asus AiMesh members willy-nilly, and they will work to an extent. It’s in the nuance.

This is part of my series on Asus’s AiMesh, a popular way to build a robust home Wi-Fi mesh system. Check the box below if you have any AiMesh-related questions.

How to pick the best AiMesh Router Combos: The three rules

There are a few dozen and counting AiMesh-enabled broadcasters, and while they all supposedly work together, there are better combos than others. Some are outright no good.

If you somehow end up with multiple AiMesh devices, chances are you can make them work. But if you’re actively looking to build one right now, it’s best to pick them wisely.

Asus hardware and AiMesh

The drawer below consists of existing Asus routers for the US market that can work as part of an AiMesh Wi-Fi system. Most are also available worldwide. Some other regions might have other models unavailable in the US.

The way it works, you use one router as the primary node, and the rest will work as satellite node(s) to scale up the coverage. The primary router decides the features of your mesh.

Technically, you can arbitrarily use a combo of any broadcasters above to create a mesh system, and it will likely work. It’s a matter of degrees. The point is don’t do that. Instead, follow these tips to ensure you get the best out of your hardware.

For the most part, picking AiMesh hardware is similar to any mesh system.

AiMesh combo rules #1: Consider wired backhauling

Like all home mesh systems, you should use wired backhauling — that is, when you use a network cable to connect the main router and a satellite unit.

In this case, you can use CAT5e (or higher-grade) network cables — Gigabit or faster wiring is a must. You can daisy-chain the hardware units or place unmanaged switch(es) between them.

With network cabling, you can use almost any router combo without worrying about performance or reliability.

“Almost” is the key here. You might want to avoid using wired backhaul in some specific sets or combo — more below.

Wired backhauling is especially good — it’s a must, in fact — when you use Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 or Tri-band Wi-Fi 6E hardware or mix hardware Wi-Fi grades and tiers.

Generally, if you’re looking to build the best-performing AiMesh (or any mesh) system, think about getting your home wired first. Or you can consider a good MoCA connection when applicable.

AiMesh combo rules #2: Traditional Tri-band hardware is best (only) for a fully wireless setup

When wired backhauling is unavailable, which is often the case, Consider Tri-band AiMesh routers.

Specifically, you want to use broadcasters with an additional 5GHz band that works as the dedicated backhaul. Dual-band hardware works in this case but only at 50 percent of the satellite unit’s bandwidth due to signal loss.

The idea is that you want a 5GHz band working solely or mostly as the dedicated backhaul. Conversely, if you have wired backhauling, it’s generally good to avoid Tri-band hardware.

AiMesh wireless combo: Avoid mixing Wi-Fi standards

In a fully wireless system, it’s best to avoid broadcasters of the different Wi-Fi standards.

Specifically, mixing Wi-Fi 6 and Wi-Fi 5, in this case, will be problematic. Among other things, the nodes will not link to each other reliably, and Wi-Fi 6 devices will need to work in compatibility mode, which is slow.

AiMesh wireless combo: Don’t count on the 6GHz band

It’s important to note that all Wi-Fi 6E routers are Tri-band, but they have no extra band that can be dedicated for backhauling — you need all three to host clients.

Additionally, the 6GHz band has a short range and can’t work reliably over distance or in a home with walls.

That said, if you use Wi-Fi 6E AiMesh routers, treat them the same as Dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (or 5) hardware — use them via wired backhauling or expect reduced performance.

The takeaway is this: Don’t count on the 6GHz unless you live in a small or open space.

AiMesh combo rules #3: Be smart about mixing hardware

It’s generally safest in terms of performance and reliability when you use the same routers across the entire system. But that’s hard to follow and also not a must.

In most cases, mixing a high-end primary router with affordable satellites is the smart way to have an effective AiMesh system.

Following are some tips for mixing AiMesh hardware

1. Use wired backhauling when possible

As mentioned above, using networking cables to link Wi-Fi broadcasters is the only way to get the best-performing mesh system. It also gives you more flexibility in hardware combos.

A mix of wired and wireless backhaul is still better than full wireless. In this case, the primary router unit should be wired to the first node, but you can wire only the nodes together.

AiMesh hardware with wired backhauling: Consider the AP mode

With wired backhauling, you can use standard access point (AP) mode for any satellite unit.

While this setup will not give you a real mesh system — you can’t control the AP’s Wi-Fi settings via the main router — it’ll give you excellent performance, reliability, and more control. Specifically:

• You can fully control the satellite hardware, including some extra features available in the AP mode (Wi-Fi settings, USB-related, lighting, and others).
• If your primary router is a Dual-band and the AiMesh satellite is a traditional Tri-band, you can use the node’s 5GHz-2 band, which is unavailable in the AiMesh mode.
• You can use a third-party router (or AP) or a non-AiMesh Asus router, such as the RT-AC3200.

Using the satellite units in the AP role is far more reliable than using them as wireless AiMesh nodes in my trial. So, consider that an alternative when you have issues with a pure AiMesh setup.

2. Pick the right primary node and appropriate settings

In an AiMesh system, the primary router is the device that decides the features of your network. Consequently, keep the following in mind for the hardware for this role:

• It should be one of the highest Wi-Fi tiers, measured in the number of streams (4×4, 3×3, 2×2, etc.).
• It’s the one with the most bands. So, pick the tri-band instead of the dual-band if you have both.
• Use the latest router with the most feature. So pick the Wi-Fi 6 router if you also have Wi-Fi 5 broadcasters.
• Use the Wi-Fi settings at the primary router applicable to the satellite. For example:
  • Avoid the 160MHz or UNII-4 if any of the satellites only supports 80MHz or doesn’t support this portion of the 5GHz band.
  • When mixing a router of a newer Wi-Fi standard (such as Wi-Fi 6) with satellites of an older standard (such as Wi-Fi 5), use the latest hardware in compatibility mode. (Mixing Wi-Fi standards are always problematic, especially with wireless backhauling.)

3. Pick the proper hardware for the satellite nodes

In an AiMesh setup, you generally have little or no control over the satellite nodes’ features or settings. They only extend the network by providing additional Wi-Fi coverage or network ports.

There are two scenarios: wired and wireless backhauling. For wired backhauling, it’s best to use Dual-band hardware throughout.

If you mix hardware of different numbers of bands and use a Dual-band as the primary router, note that you won’t be able to use any of the satellites’ third or fourth bands — they are not available — unless you use the hardware in the AP mode as mentioned above.

AiMesh hardware with wireless backhauling: Important notes

Generally, this case is when things get complicated. Keep the following in mind:

• Use the primary router and satellite of the same Wi-Fi standards and tier(•). If that’s not an option, pick satellites with the same Wi-Fi standard (and tier) as the router’s backhaul band (5GHz).
• When mixing (traditional) Tri-band and Dual-band hardware, we have two scenarios:
  • If you use a Tri-band primary router, its dedicated backhaul band (5GHz-2) is unavailable to a Dual-band satellite, which will connect to the router’s 5GHz-1 (or 2.4Ghz) band as backhaul. (You can open the primary router’s 5GHz-2 band to clients.)
  • If you use a Dual-band primary router, a Tri-band satellite’s second 5GHz band (5GHz-2) is not used at all. This band will not work as backhaul, nor will you be able to make it work for the client. The satellite will use its first 5GHz band (or the 2.4GHz) as a non-dedicated backhaul.

^(•) If you use broadcasters of different tiers, keep in mind that your network’s Wi-Fi connection speed will generally be that of the lowest-tier broadcaster. For compatibility reasons, the system must support the lowest denominator.

Asus AiMesh combo: Bugs and firmware updates

Since there are so many possible AiMesh combos, mixing hardware, even when you do that right, likely will result in unexpected bugs. This is especially true when you use a fully wireless setup and after a firmware update.

To minimize issues, tread lightly with firmware updates and setting customization. Don’t rely too much on the Asus Router mobile app. Instead, opt for the web user interface.

The takeaway

With many hardware combo options and regular firmware updates, AiMesh has been up and down in terms of reliability. But that’s also the case with most Wi-Fi systems. They are all about nuance.

AiMesh is one of a few mesh approaches that allow for a flexible hardware combo. Consequently, picking the correct hardware combination is the first important step. The next step is to set up them properly.