Tri-band backhaul mesh - add dual-band node?

Yella Fella · 1 Nov 2022 at 14:35

Hey all,

I need to understand what to add to my existing mesh network. I'm using a tri-band Asus XT12 which is connected via a backhaul ethernet cat5 (if that is the correct term). I should have 2.4G and 2x 5G WiFi channels.

However, the ground floor and, more so, the basement cannot receive a strong signal... so I can either add another tri-band router node (possibly another XT12) or just a standard dual-band router node to add to the mesh network. I'll most likely be connecting up 2.4G devices e.g. smart cameras, and smart plugs. Ok budget as flexible.

I have no chance of wiring this up so questions:

Would this affect the speed and channels used?
Would I need another tri-band for more efficiency or would a dual-band be enough?
How would adding either node to the current network affect the current backhaul ethernet setup? Would it use the last channel for 5G meaning only 2.4G and 5G available?

Ideally, wiring it all up with ethernet is the best bet for efficiency, but it is not possible at the moment.

sandys · 2 Nov 2022 at 11:40

Been researching similar as I am considering going with xt12 or et12 pro and I need to do both wired backhual and wireless, looks like it is quite configurable and in your case a dual band should be fine and not impact backhaul at all

With AI Mesh You can add anything, sounds like you are not using the tri band functionality for backhaul in your setup if all wired which would give you a spare wifi backhaul for your next node addition

[AiMesh] What is Ethernet Backhaul Mode/Backhaul Connection Priority in AiMesh System and how to set up in different scenarios? | Official Support | ASUS Global

Guess you will only know when you try it but figure if it can work on my Cheapo AX3s it should be no problem here.

Yella Fella · 2 Nov 2022 at 11:45

I have no idea how that affects the current setup with a 3rd node/router. So whenever a device connects to the 3rd note/router it will use up one of the bands as it is without affecting the wired backhaul?

It's very confusing ha. I'll look up that link you've sent as well.

Firegod · 2 Nov 2022 at 15:04

Yella Fella said:
Hey all,

I need to understand what to add to my existing mesh network. I'm using a tri-band Asus XT12 which is connected via a backhaul ethernet cat5 (if that is the correct term). I should have 2.4G and 2x 5G WiFi channels.

However, the ground floor and, more so, the basement cannot receive a strong signal...

Silly question time.

Did you set the transmit power on the WiFi channels? Can't remember if they are set to full out of the box or not. Where are the XT12's placed at the moment (i.e how many floors do you have)? I would have thought one on ground floor would reach the basement OK as for example. Cheers.

Yella Fella · 24 Nov 2022 at 10:29

Firegod said:
Silly question time. Did you set the transmit power on the WiFi channels? Can't remember if they are set to full out of the box or not. Where are the XT12's placed at the moment (i.e how many floors do you have)? I would have thought one on ground floor would reach the basement OK as for example. Cheers.

I've not looked at this to be fair. Is power meant to be set for the WiFi channels? ha.

I have 4 floors of which the 1st floor is where two nodes are connected via ethernet backhaul. This is over the space of 4 rooms. Front of the house to the back of the house. The Wifi isn't bad. Though the ground floor front seems to lose connection only on the Google Nest Hub screen but not the TV weirdly. The basement suffers the worse as the cameras/other WiFi-enabled appliances are constantly showing offline

Firegod · 24 Nov 2022 at 12:58

Yella Fella said:
I've not looked at this to be fair. Is power meant to be set for the WiFi channels? ha.

I have 4 floors of which the 1st floor is where two nodes are connected via ethernet backhaul. This is over the space of 4 rooms. Front of the house to the back of the house. The Wifi isn't bad. Though the ground floor front seems to lose connection only on the Google Nest Hub screen but not the TV weirdly. The basement suffers the worse as the cameras/other WiFi-enabled appliances are constantly showing offline

Yeah.

You set it per channel (2.4Ghz / 5Ghz-1 / 5Ghz-2). So this is just snapshot of the 2.4Ghz channel for me. Failing that, I hadn't realised you were over 4 floors. It may be that another is needed in the basement to make it a 3 node system. I'm sure I saw the XT12 reduce in black friday "sales" at the moment.

Yella Fella · 24 Nov 2022 at 13:43

I did see the 'sales' as well though going back to trying and understanding ethernet backhaul and using up a channel. It's a very old Victorian house so, despite the big rooms, they have thick walls as well. I was looking at either a node on the ground floor in between the others and/or straight up in the basement.

I just don't understand how the WiFi will be affected with the nodes being a proper wireless mesh without part of it on ethernet backhaul.

I've not used the website version of that. I've been using the app to log in. I need to see where these options are.

Firegod · 24 Nov 2022 at 15:40

Yella Fella said:
I did see the 'sales' as well though going back to trying and understanding ethernet backhaul and using up a channel. It's a very old Victorian house so, despite the big rooms, they have thick walls as well. I was looking at either a node on the ground floor in between the others and/or straight up in the basement.

I just don't understand how the WiFi will be affected with the nodes being a proper wireless mesh without part of it on ethernet backhaul.

I've not used the website version of that. I've been using the app to log in. I need to see where these options are.

Definitely get into the Web GUI. You're missing out on a lot of extra things.

You're property sounds like mine. But yep it would be using the second 5Ghz channel for backhaul so it's whether that would be enough to reach up from the basement.

Yella Fella · 25 Nov 2022 at 13:36

Firegod said:
Definitely get into the Web GUI. You're missing out on a lot of extra things. You're property sounds like mine. But yep it would be using the second 5Ghz channel for backhaul so it's whether that would be enough to reach up from the basement.

Do you happen to know the answers to my questions at the start of this setup? Backhaul ethernet and then use wireless on another node? I'm trying to understand how that works.

Firegod · 25 Nov 2022 at 14:10

"How would adding either node to the current network affect the current backhaul ethernet setup? Would it use the last channel for 5G meaning only 2.4G and 5G available?"

I'm not 100% but in my mind it would mean you wouldn't have 5Ghz-2 on that individual node because it's using that to transmit to the nearest partner (to mesh with). So you'd have 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz-1 only. I wouldn't have thought it would knock 5Ghz-2 off from the remaining 2 nodes which are connected via Ethernet as they are wired. That would be my best guess. Reading this would seem to agree - https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1044184/

To be more flexible, we offer another option for your AiMesh backhaul connection by setting up “Backhaul Connection Priority” for each node based on your real-world condition. Both wireless and wired backhaul connection can be dynamically used at the same time within your system.

Case 2: I prefer using both of wired and wireless backhaul connections in my AiMesh system

In this case, you can set up a preferable backhaul connection by each node. For those node(s) with Ethernet connection, you can select “1G/2.5G/10G base-T/10G SFP+/Powerline WAN First” as its Backhaul Connection Priority. For those node(s) with wireless connection, you can still select “1G/2.5G/10G base-T/10G SFP+/Powerline WAN First", just in case you want to use both dynamically. When it’s wired connected, Ethernet backhaul will be prioritized.

So you can set the backhaul connection by each node.