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

[Yella Fella]

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.

 

[Yella Fella]

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.

 

[Yella Fella]

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

 

[Yella Fella]

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.

 

[Yella Fella]

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.