Poor speeds on GT-BE98/RP-AX58 mesh combo no matter what I try

[doctorjuggles]

Hi - new to the forums but I've searched and found nothing, so hopefully someone can help

I have a BE98 router and I have two AX58s which are connected via wired backhaul.

No matter what I do (disable smart connect, disable universal beamforming, force ethernet backhaul only) I cannot get anything to connect at more than 287mbps

I'm using my Asus Zenbook S14 and connect to the BE98 at 5k mbps plus, but I simply cannot get a better connection than 287mbps on the two mesh nodes
My networking knowledge is moderate, so I may need some things explained to me, but hopefully I can be helped!

[Saltgrass]

About all I could suggest is to troubleshoot the system.  Such things as trying one Mesh unit by itself.  If you are running both Mesh units straight back to the primary, perhaps going a Mesh to Mesh to primary situation, if possible.

You are using good Ethernet cable?  Are you seeing those numbers in the Front haul or backhaul information for each mesh unit.

You might even try using just one AiMesh in the wireless backhaul configuration.  

Because you may be dealing with your country's restrictions, I cannot address that situation.

If you have the Mesh units in a remote location, you might try bringing one closer for testing.

[jzchen]

Turning on Ethernet Backhaul Mode is probably the best thing you can do to increase performance from the RP-AX58s.  The reason is that AiMesh is limited by the weakest node.  Also it has self healing which reserves WiFi bandwidth to immediately take over in case Ethernet is somehow disconnected.  That said ASUS AiMesh instructions only say to make Ethernet Backhaul "preferred", to preserve this self healing.

If you are not getting reasonable speed from the RP-AX58 as and AiMesh node, this may be because the device is a little far from the unit and/or there may be a bug.  Both @Saltgrass and I have issues with GT-AX16000 as node to GT-BE98 Pro.  I suggest trying setting them as Access Points.

[doctorjuggles]

Thanks @jzchen  and @Saltgrass for the replies.

Everything about mesh on this system seems to be a disaster. I've bought a BT10 to add to the network (I wanted Wifi7 in an outside studio and no Asus Wifi7 APs are available.) Adding it to the mesh network has been impossible. Continuous errors, I'm currently stuck in a loop where it alternates between a red light and a yellow one. It's wired 10gig backhaul but the web and app interfaces both insist that it's not wired
I've seen another thread on reddit where users are also complaining about it here

It really looks like I've made a huge error in switching to Asus routers

[jzchen]

@doctorjuggles I'm sorry to read of your troubles.  The GT-BE98 had a firmware update release 2024/10/04 version 3.0.0.6.102_36852.  If you haven't already done so, please update to that version.  Once that is installed, please do a hard reset:

[Wireless Router] ASUS router Hard Factory Reset - Method 2 | Official Support | ASUS Global

When the power light turns off please keep the WPS button held down for approximately 20 to 30 seconds.  Afterwards release and switch the power switch off.  Turn on the router and set up from scratch.  Connect the ethernet from the BT10 to the GT-BE98, and use the add node feature to add it to AiMesh.  After that you may try re-adding the RP-AX58s as nodes.

Note/Understand that the RP-AX58 as AiMesh nodes can limit the mesh speed to it's maximum capability.  If they still do not perform satisfactory consider deleting them as nodes, and setting them up in strictly Access Point mode.

[jzchen]

Also the ZenWiFi BT10 has a recent firmware update dated 2024/10/08 version 3.0.0.6.102_35462 .  I hope this helps as well....

[doctorjuggles]

Thanks again for trying to help, @jzchen 

Both units (the BE98 and the BT10) have the latest firmware installed.
Setting the system up in AP mode creates a major issue for me - one of the reasons I purchased the BE98 is the ability to assign a VPN connection to a specific device. However, when I select AP mode, the system warns me that VPN connections will not be possible.

I'm aware you're trying to help, so I appreciate that and I must seem ungrateful with my responses. But I guess I'm annoyed that such an expensive piece of equipment isn't capable of doing what it advertises itself as being able to do - I know mesh tech is complicated, but it's still pretty disappointing

[Saltgrass]

This is what I see when I select my AiMesh node for information.  I have two BE98 Pros and using 6 GHz Wireless backhaul.

Maybe your numbers are different is some way which might indicate the problem.

[doctorjuggles]

Transmit rate is zero. I can access the internet at my full 3gbps via ethernet through it, but I get a red LED

Thanks all for trying to help - this is going back to Asus ☹️

[Saltgrass]

A red LED means, there is no WAN connection on the primary router or the AiMesh node is not connected.  Basically, it means the WAN port is not connected.