Whats The Best Value for Money Wi-Fi 6 Mesh System?

stuarty9 on 10/09/2021 - 10:34
Last edited 10/09/2021 - 10:49 by 1 other user

I am looking at getting a mesh system:
Requirements:

  • Wifi 6
  • 2 satellites (3 pack)

Ideally I would get a tri-band system but I think that's outside my budget of $500-$600 so I'd say it'll have to be a dual-band system.
I was looking at these two:
Orbi: https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/netgear-orbi-ax1800-dual-…
Asus: https://www.jbhifi.com.au/products/asus-zenwifi-mini-xd4-ai-…

Both look to be very similar.
I connect around 40 wifi devices & a few Ethernet connections including Synology NAS & security cameras.
Looking at the specs the Orbi does not have QoS, Asus does. Another thing is warranty Orbi: 2yrs while Asus 3yrs.
I have for the last 5 years now had a Netgear Nighthawk router which has served me very well.

Also open to other options within budget.
Thanks!

Computing Wireless Router

Comments

  • teacherer on 10/09/2021 - 10:45
    +2

    I was looking at mesh and after researching decided i wanted ethernet backhaul. Then it just made sense to go fully wired WAPS.
    I'd consider that, especially if

    I connect around 40 wifi devices & a few Ethernet connections including Synology NAS & security cameras.

    • thatonethere on 10/09/2021 - 12:45

      Yeah I agree. If you can wire the satellite WAP's you won't regret it performance wise.

      The best solution I've done for people is they usually have the NBN/VDSL in some back room with wifi not making it out to the rest of the house very well, we then cable up another AP to their lounge room (usually under the house or thru roof) and put it behind the TV. Then we can plug Xbox/AppleTV etc into the WAP so they have cabled access back to the internet. Leaving wireless for mobile devices.

      • Twix on 10/09/2021 - 13:18

        You really shouldn't be installing Wi-Fi APs behind a TV.

        • abb on 10/09/2021 - 14:36
          +1

          For ideal WiFi you'd build your whole house out of PTFE or polyethylene foam.
          Sometimes compromises must be made for aesthetics or other practical reasons at the cost of a few dBm in signal strength…

        • thatonethere on 10/09/2021 - 17:46
          +2

          I shouldn't be doing a lot of things

    • mikeb on 10/09/2021 - 18:59

      I hardwired all 4 of my 4 orbi satellites. I can't remember the model but it was the one before the latest wifi6 release. RBK50 I think. In theory a wired backhaul for my Orbi is actually slower but I doubt it is in reality.

  • geek001 on 10/09/2021 - 11:11

    Best value? Maybe 3 of these. https://www.pcbyte.com.au/p/xiaomi-mi-aiot-router-ax1800-219…

    I don't know how well they work as a mesh system though. I have only read reviews on the router itself and I know they can do mesh, but not sure how well multiple routers work as a mesh system.

  • isthatallyougot on 10/09/2021 - 12:18
    +2

    Tenda Nova MW6-3 Whole Home Mesh Wi-Fi System - $185.00

    • SimAus007 on 10/09/2021 - 13:10

      I bought the Tenda Nova from Amazon and it's a ripper in performance and great value!

    • Twix on 10/09/2021 - 13:10
      +1

      MW6 is not Wi-Fi 6.

    • [Deactivated] on 10/09/2021 - 13:11

      One big problem with Tenda Nova is that you can't assign IPs to individual devices. Pretty huge flaw.

      • jv on 10/09/2021 - 13:13

        you can't assign IPs to individual devices. Pretty huge flaw.

        Not for 99% of people…

        • [Deactivated] on 10/09/2021 - 13:14

          If you're doing any kind of home automation, it renders it useless.

          • jv on 10/09/2021 - 13:27

            @[Deactivated]: Works fine for me…

          • abb on 10/09/2021 - 14:39
            +1

            @[Deactivated]: Someone should invent a method to give some kind of names to devices that can be resolved to their current IP address!

  • caitsith01 on 10/09/2021 - 13:43
    -4

    Having switched to an Amplifi mesh system from a reasonably high end Asus router, I'd say don't bother.

    Access points in the "mesh" still have to feed from the primary router and most of them do a pretty bad job of optimising traffic. Wifi is not seamless (i.e., the "mesh" points have different AP names).

    I also have ongoing issues with the primary router seemingly being unable to handle enough clients to manage my modest smart home setup (maybe 20-25 Lifx lights).

    I got significantly better performance from my old Asus and only gave Amplifi a go on the basis that I have had 3 Asus and TP-Link routers in a row die after 2-3 years, which is unacceptable quality to me.

    2.4GHz in particular is trash on the Amplifi and you get huge changes in reception by moving the router a few degrees or a few centimetres, which indicates major problems with the way the antennas are configured.

    The Amplifi is expensive so I will put up with it for now but definitely do not recommend. Put your money into a powerful single router and, if you absolutely need it, a basic wireless repeater.

    • ESEMCE on 10/09/2021 - 14:05
      +4

      Wifi is not seamless (i.e., the "mesh" points have different AP names).

      Are you sure you've set it up correctly?

      • caitsith01 on 12/09/2021 - 15:14

        Yes.

        However, my original comment was wrong, it does both (additional SSIDs and mirroring the primary SSID). Which just confirms how bad the wifi range is compared to my old Asus.

  • User2049 on 10/09/2021 - 14:16
    +1

    Deco X60

  • Typical16-bitEnjoyer on 10/09/2021 - 14:24

    Highly, highly recommend Ubiquiti. Prosumer essentially but easy as to setup. The new UC models would be right up your alley.

    https://ui.com/wi-fi#compare

  • bejahi on 10/09/2021 - 14:27

    I'm running the older Orbi system (RBR50, RBS50, RBS40, RBS20) and can say that apart from the odd unstable firmware update a couple of years ago, they've been stellar.

    2 satellites via Ethernet backhaul, one via wireless (mix and match is very convenient)

    Has most of the common "advanced" features you could need, only really missing QoS

    Excellent coverage and seamless transition between satellites and bands - space them out sensibly.

  • stuarty9 on 10/09/2021 - 14:45

    Appreciate all the responses.
    Can anyone speak of experience connecting a NAS? I normally just use on wifi as I don’t like having to be always be in the one spot (main computer is a MacBook Pro)
    Assume best option here would be to Ethernet blackhaul?
    Assuming you can do that on pretty much all mesh’s?

    • teacherer on 10/09/2021 - 14:51

      Definately can't do it on all meshes, relatively few I thought.
      I forget since reserching, some of the key players out there have it.

    • Twix on 10/09/2021 - 14:54

      Nah you can't do Ethernet backhaul on all models. Ethernet backhaul is the best option.

    • mikeb on 10/09/2021 - 19:05

      Connect NAS via wifi? No that would be far from ideal. I don't know that I've actually seen one??? Your NAS should connect via an ethernet cable. I've got 2 NAS connected to an Orbi mesh network via satellite Orbis. My satellites have an ethernet out port and are also hardwired back to the parent router. If your wifi satellite backhaul is fast and stable then a NAS connected to a non-wired satellite should work ok.

  • gavincato on 10/09/2021 - 14:50
    +1

    The google mesh system is great. I have an enormous house - 4 levels, crapload of rooms.

    The 3 google wifi points talking to each other without ethernet backhaul is awesome. Every room in the house has perfect wifi, speedtests still get well over 150mbit/s at the furthest points away from a wifi point, and 550 odd if you are close.

    They are only $400 odd now. Was $550 when i got it.

    • Carrera1963 on 15/09/2021 - 11:27

      Google Nest Mesh isn't Wifi6.

      • gavincato on 15/09/2021 - 13:22

        Sorry missed that bit. I don't think I have any wifi6 devices apart from my phone.

  • stuarty9 on 12/09/2021 - 08:23
    +4

    Update: Originally I purchased the Orbi AX1800 system, however after setting up and use for 24hrs, I wasn't completely satisfied. I returned the Orbi and ended up with the Asus ZenWifi MINI XD4.
    No issues thus far and no issues with Officeworks price matching competitors.
    Asus seems have a few more features over the Orbi. The only downside when compared to the Orbi is the amount of ethernet ports however not a massive issue for me, as I would have needed a switch for the Orbi anyway.
    The Asus form factor is also much nicer and half the size of the Orbi as well
    Getting very good speeds and have setup in backhaul wired also.

  • Muscles on 13/09/2021 - 21:51

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/642088

    These were on sale recently.

    Wifi 6 and tri band although only 2 pack

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