How hard to setup a ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro

[Sturmrider]

I am considering picking up the ROG Rapture GT-BE98 Pro now when I was younger I set up many routers and I still tinker somewhat with computers, but looking at the manual on this it looks like you have to jump through many hoops. I have heard their support is not the best and I want to know when I initially set it up it will work. 

It seems like you have to first reboot both your computer and modem which the computer is no problem the modem I guess is the Verizon fiber box in the basement I will have to check that out. Once that is done you can start the connecting portion of the instructions. First log into Asus and set up a name and password for the router then you can log into your wifi connection using your wifi credentials. 

I think what I have above is a condensed version of the instructions does that seem right. Any suggestions before I make the leap I know once it is set up I should be fine and able to maintain it. It just seems this one is a bear to start.

Thank you for your responses and help. Take care

Regards

Larry

[jzchen]

It isn't supposed to be a difficult setup.  The challenge I had seemed to be it would not auto detect the correct WAN port.  This is easily circumvented by using the "Advanced Setup" option, choosing the correct authentication type, if any.  If not, then simply DHCP server.

For the most part it works well.  I have access to a couple of later BIOS that I'm limited to share, which I'm not sure are ready for release yet, but seem to be.

Bottom line don't worry about it, I'd honestly worry about the dent in your pocketbook more...

[Sturmrider]

Thank you for the rapid reply.

You are right I will probably have to worry about the dent in my pocketbook more, but I am the cautious type trying to get ahead and so downloaded the manual first and started to read it. Wow it makes it sound like a huge project. We will see.

Take care.

[jzchen]

It isn't, you have us here to ask if anything.  Been there done that.

There are hundreds of settings but for the most part default is good.  You'll want to watch the AES setting for compatibility with legacy products.  (Turn off MLO and WiFi 7 to remove the +GCMP256)...

Jesse

[Sturmrider]

One reason I was getting the router was for the WiFi 7 new computers will have wifi 7 connectivity I know most legacy won't. Having not kept up on all wifi protocols I am not sure what the +GCMP256 is and how that will affect me/ I know it has something to do with the wifi traffic so my question is once I have turned off the appropriate settings can I remove this and then turn them back on.

I will admit I am catching up it has been over 15 years since I set up a building for internet and I usually had it all wired now I will be setting up some wired some wifi connections. Some wifi 7 some legacy such as hue bridges. I will have a lot to tackle.

Thank you for your time and I will look forward to all the help I can get expect to get the router in the next month or so. Take care.

[jzchen]

AES is tied with WiFi up to 6E (up to 160 MHz bandwidth) AES+GCMP256 is tied with WiFi 7 (up to 320 MHz bandwidth).  No, you can't turn off WiFi 7, disable GCMP256, then turn ON WiFi 7 and have it not reappear, they go hand in hand.  (+GCMP will reappear, which isn't legacy device friendly).  So what I did was effectively turned WiFi 7 OFF on 6 GHz-2, SmartConnected 2.4, 5, and 6-2 for legacy devices, and left WiFi 7 ON for 6 GHz-1, (not included in SmartConnect).

BUT- YMMV because I have 5 ASUS nodes: GT-AXE16000, RT-AX86U, RT-AC68U, RP-AX58, and RP-AX56.  (So getting them to work together well resulted in me doing that).

Definitely pop back in with questions as you think of them.  Now that I responded to this thread I get notifications when a response is posted and I'll come back and check on it...

[Sturmrider]

Hi,

I have one more question on the router does it have provision on the bottom to hang it instead of putting it on a shelf. I know some of the older ones did just curious if that will be an option for this one. Thank you once again for your help. I haven't been able to find anything about this in either the manual or online.

Take care.

[jzchen]

No problem.  While it feels lighter in the hand than my GT-AXE16000 I do not believe it is provisioned with wall mounting points.  In fact the whole router is raised on bar shaped feet for better cooling/airflow.  There are no fans that I am aware of it just cools by convection, (if I'm using the term correctly).

[Sturmrider]

Thanks for the rapid reply another question about placement would it be better on a 7' shelf which I would need a ladder to access it for resets etc and would only have about 3" space to the ceiling for the antennas or a 4 foot side table. I know they say place as high as possible that is why I thought of hanging it would be easier to access that way. I am thinking the 4 foot table might be able to find or build a 5 footer will have to look into it.

Again thank you and take care. Getting closer to the purchase just want to have everything ready on my side.

[jzchen]

So that question is a little tricky for me to answer without seeing what is going on.  I'm going to have to answer "it depends" for now, with the amount of details you've provided.  Placing it higher is due to the likely-hood of improving line of sight.  You probably have a lot less 7 ft tall things in the room than 4 ft tall, so the antennae have more sight to all your devices.  Similar to a church, concert hall, etc, the stage is elevated, so everyone can see.  Do you have a 2nd floor?  Well this complicates things if YES AND you want it to provide signal upstairs.  The closer too the ceiling the poorer it will do to provide signal to the second floor because signal may have a lot of floor to go through to reach it's client.

Here we have a 2nd floor.  The house is about 4100 sq ft.  I have my main router on the 1st floor (in other countries floor 0?).  It's on a media tower roughly 4 ft up and I tried to center it as best I can without placing it in a hallway, which would probably be dead center, with respect to the first floor.  I use another node or two on the 2nd floor.

Questions to consider, will it provide WiFi to the entire house/home?  Will I be adding nodes?  How will these connect if yes to nodes?  (hopefully wired)

Contrary to (my) logic the higher the frequency (latest is 6 GHz, of which the BE98 Pro has two) the lower the range.  This is not because it is less powerful.  I checked and it is more powerful.  But because the FCC/FDA wants to limit body exposure to too much radio wave energy for your safety, so the range on 6 GHz less than 5 GHz, which is less than 2.4 GHz.  I can't begin to answer how to place it depending on your distribution of these devices/clients...