topic Re: AiMesh between BE and AX models in Networking

AiMesh between BE and AX models

Supermatico — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:04:33 GMT

Hi mates,

I just upgraded my house LAN system with:

- RT-BE88U as a router

- RT-AX88U Pro as a node

- ZenWiFi BD4 Outdoor as a node

Now, my question is quite easy:

if I swap the router with the AX88U one, I'll lost the wifi 7 capability of the other two device?

Thanks in advance

Re: AiMesh between BE and AX models

jzchen — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:36:35 GMT

Short answer, yes, because there is no control mechanism for WiFi 7 inside the WiFi 6 GUI/App interface.

Even with the BE router in place some functionality is limited by the AX node to create mesh/seamless roaming...

Re: AiMesh between BE and AX models

Supermatico — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 03:54:20 GMT

Thanks, I was looking for a confirmation for a little (and stupid) doubt before to start to do any changes in the network config.

So, I'll create an AX 5GHz 160MHz wifi SSID just for their comunication, in this way I think I'll maximize the bandwidth only for them and another wifi SSID 5GHz 20/40/80 MHz for all the related devices

I had some problems with the 160MHz activated for the TVs, so I prefer to do in this way

Thanks again for your time

Re: AiMesh between BE and AX models

jzchen — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 09:34:35 GMT

If all three are connected with Ethernet I suggest you try Ethernet Backhaul Mode under General -> AiMesh -> System Settings (tab).

It is hard to tell because I don't know the TV models so I can not look up the specs. Some have found creating an IoT SSID can be more compatible as it defaults to WPA2 and has option for WPA if needed.

Re: AiMesh between BE and AX models

Supermatico — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:25:43 GMT

Right now I have the router (BE88U) connected with the node (AX88U) via ethernet CAT 6a.

The BD4 in the garden is quite hard to connect it in the same way, so I was trying to connect the BD4 to the BE88U via Wifi 7, but the BD4 connection continue to swap between the BE and the AX because the AX is closer.

Of course when the BD4 connect to the AX node they do it via Wifi 6 at 2.4GHz (don't ask me why not the 5GHz band) and the connection line, in the synoptic, change from green to yellow (no matter about the diagram changes)

Also if you try to force the connection via settings, it is not definitive (infact the settings state as "Favourite")

I just discovered that the 160MHz option is for all SSID at 5GHz, you can not choose, I'll have a try to 160 MHz and I'll see

Thanks for now

Re: AiMesh between BE and AX models

jzchen — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 10:52:26 GMT

There is a range difference among the bands: 2.4 GHz > 5 GHz > 6 GHz. It has something to do with health and exposure to EMI/RFI energy. So if it is using 2.4 GHz it is because they are too far from each other to use 5 GHz.

I also believe if you compare bandwidth range: 20 MHz > 40 MHz > 80 MHz > 160 MHz.

I was asking if they are connected by Ethernet because I thought the outdoor models accept PoE (Power over Ethernet), so maybe you had it connected that way....

Re: AiMesh between BE and AX models

Supermatico — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 13:08:03 GMT

Finally I had to remove the new BD4, with that device in my LAN everything became a mess:

device not connected with the node at 2 meters, devices connecting to another node instead the closer one and so on.

I removed the BD4, send back to the seller, the router and the AX node via ethernet remain and everything is back to normal. I had just to move one device from the box in another place and everything is perfect now

I always thought that any mesh config was a children game, when I was just learning it from the ADs around the web; the day I decide to adopt this configuration I felt myself like a Guardian of the Galaxy with an invincible enemy...

Thanks for your time