Guest Network Problems on GT-AX11000 AiMesh Network

[ceglia]

Hi,

New to the forums. I have an AiMesh network composed of two GT-AX11000 routers connected to one another via ethernet. I have various devices connected to the 2.4Ghz, 5Ghz and 5Ghz-1 bands and they are able to connect to the main router or the mesh node without any problems. So far, so good.

I recently set up a Guest Network using the 2.4Ghz band. All devices can connect to the Guest Network via the main router, but they cannot connect to the Guest Network via the mesh node.

Both GT-AX11000's are running the same latest firmware that is supposed to add support for the Guest Network across all mesh nodes. I enabled the "All" nodes option on Guest Network to ensure devices could connect to any node on the mesh network, but I can't get any device on the Guest Network to connect to the mesh node, even if they're sitting on top of the node and the main router is on an entirely different floor of the house.

I have exchanged various emails with tech support, but so far, they haven't been of any help. Anyone know what the issue might be? Details of my network are set out below....

Main Router: GT-AX11000 firmware 3.0.0.4.386_49599
AiMesh Node: GT-AX11000 firmware 3.0.0.4.386_49599
Guest Network Band: 2.4Ghz, "All" Mesh Nodes enabled
AiMesh Node connects to the Main Router with Cat6 Ethernet via a 2.5Gbit Network Switch (using 2.5Gbit ports on both routers)
Non-Guest Networks work perfectly across all nodes (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz, 5Ghz-1)
Tried removing the switch and connecting the two routers directly, just in case that would make a difference.... it doesn't.

Thanks!

[Saltgrass]

I was unable to get the Guest Network systems to connect through the AiMesh node. They went straight to the Primary router.

Both of those systems connected normally through the AiMesh router on my normal network.

So, unless I was doing something incorrectly, it appears the AiMesh nodes do not allow a connection.

[ceglia]

Saltgrass wrote:
I was unable to get the Guest Network systems to connect through the AiMesh node. They went straight to the Primary router.

Both of those systems connected normally through the AiMesh router on my normal network.

So, unless I was doing something incorrectly, it appears the AiMesh nodes do not allow a connection.

That is my experience as well. Thank you for trying.

I decided to get rid of the AiMesh network altogether and set up the second GT-AX11000 as an Access Point (AP) since it's connected to the main router via ethernet. I then set up four networks on the AP to match the four networks on the main router exactly: same SSID's, same password, same guest network. I'm still testing things, but preliminary tests seem good. Devices on the Guest Network can connect to the main router or the AP. And devices on non-Guest Networks can also connect to either GT-AX11000 without having to reconnect manually or input passwords.

I'm still verifying how seamless everything is when moving through the house, but most devices stay in one place, so hopefully it will be good enough. I suspect it won't be as seamless as AiMesh, but it might be good enough for my purposes. It's really just cell phones that move around, and occasionally one laptop. Fingers crossed.

One complaint I have is that it seems a bit difficult to determine which GT-AX11000 a device is connecting too. System Log > Wireless Log in the web admin GUI has the most reliable information, but it's not exactly the quickest place to check (too many button clicks, and only lists MAC addresses with no nicknames, so it's cumbersome to identify devices in the list). the info in the Asus router app is usually inaccurate, showing a single device connecting to both GT-AX11000's. The Network Map Client list and the AiMesh Client List in the web admin GUI is also inaccurate.

[Saltgrass]

You can change the designations of the devices so pick the identity you want to use. I change my iPhone from a MAC address to a name whenever I need to.

If you have a really large house, have you ever done a Wi-Fi survey on it?

[ceglia]

Saltgrass wrote:
You can change the designations of the devices so pick the identity you want to use. I change my iPhone from a MAC address to a name whenever I need to.

As far as I'm aware, that only changes it in the AiMesh Client List or the app or the Network Map Client List, but none of those are reliably able to tell me what's connected to what. I'll see "iPhone 11 Pro" connected to both GT-AX11000's when it's obviously only connected to one.

The Wireless Log is accurate, but only displays MAC addresses. :mad:

Saltgrass wrote:
If you have a really large house, have you ever done a Wi-Fi survey on it?

I haven't... how do you do one?

[Saltgrass]

ceglia wrote:
I haven't... how do you do one?

I haven't done one myself, my house isn't that large, but if you look online some of the utilities will allow you to do it, if you want to spend the time.

If you don't want to go that way, you can carry a laptop into different areas and check the strength of the signal. It would not be that accurate but might show an area in need of attention.

[ceglia]

Thanks, I'll take a look at some point.

By the way, the Access Point (AP) solution is working perfectly. No need for an AiMesh network. Phones and laptops switch seamlessly between the main router and the AP. and the Guest Network also works perfectly. devices can connect to the Guest Network from either the main router or the AP and can seamlessly switch between them.

Here's my setup:
- AT&T Modem > first GT-AX11000 as the main router > second GT-AX11000 as Access Point, everything hardwired with Cat6.
- I'm keeping the various bands (2.4Ghz, 5Ghz-1, and 5Ghz-2) separate with distinct SSID's, but all SSID's and passwords are identical on both routers
- I also set up a single 2.4Ghz Guest Network on each router, using the same SSID and password.
- No AiMesh whatsoever.

Everything works perfectly and as you'd expect. Each router has its own admin GUI and I can even configure the RGB on the AP router (something you can't do with node routers in AiMesh). :cool::D:cool:

[Racekonijn]

@ceglia

I am experiencing the same problem as your original post (also having 2 GT-AX11000, one as main router, one as AI Mesh node, wired backhaul).
Have you tried testing with a lower firmware version?

For example version 3.0.0.4.386.46065
Information says: "Fixed AiMesh guest network issues." ...


FYI as a workaround, when you open access to your intranet, it is not a problem and guest networks do work fine on both router and node. However, it's just that what you don't want for a guest network ... 😉
(also works fine as long as the node is turned off)
The reason why it works (when given access to intranet) then I think is because then he gets ip's in the range of the main network

[ceglia]

i don't think i tried with 385.46065.  i had an even older version, and i had to upgrade to 386_49599 in order to set up an AI mesh.  but in the end, it was unnecessary since i'm not using AI mesh at all.

question for you.... if your two GT-AX11000 are connected via ethernet, why bother with AI Mesh?  why not set up the second router as an AP?  it works so much better in my opinion.

[jzchen]

"if your two GT-AX11000 are connected via ethernet, why bother with AI Mesh?  why not set up the second router as an AP?  it works so much better in my opinion."

AiMesh is supposed to work like a cell phone moving among cell towers.  As the phone moves from one cell tower to the next, one does not have to redial the other person to continue the conversation.  Your connection is not dropped and reestablished with another access point, potentially disconnecting you from your current task.  For example you are logged into your bank account, moving to another access point may necessitate relogging in, vs moving to another node, where you do not.

But if access point mode works much better for you, then that's a moot point for me to make...

[ceglia]

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@jzchen wrote:

Your connection is not dropped and reestablished with another access point, potentially disconnecting you from your current task.  For example you are logged into your bank account, moving to another access point may necessitate relogging in, vs moving to another node, where you do not.

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Have you tried it or are you just speaking theoretically?  I tried both AI Mesh and AP Mode, and there was no difference in my case.  Completely seamless, no drop in connection when moving through the house, and it's been almost a year since I set up the second router as an access point.  The key is to set up the two routers with identical SSID's and passwords.  If the SSID's are different, then there would likely be a momentary drop in the connection.