topic Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update in Networking

Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

apara — Tue, 26 May 2026 04:51:28 GMT

I have an AIMesh with a hub/primary GT-AX11000 Pro and a remote RT-AC5300 node. After a recent Firmware update of GT-AX11000 Pro to 3.0.0.6.102_37436-g5a1fb9f_476-gaed2e I can no longer connect at 5G to RT-AC5300 running 3.0.0.4.386_48439-g74bd669. While my computer (Windows 11) is showing a strong 5G signal, attempting to connect results in "checking network requirements" followed by "cannot connect to this network". This worked fine before the GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update.

I fully reset the RT-AC5300 (with WPS) and re-added it as a mesh node. It connects to the HUB with a GREAT 5G connection on the 5G-2 antenna. However, no devices can connect to it on 5G-1 antenna for some reason.

This was working fine before the firmware update.

Any ideas what I can try?

I would gladly replace RT-AC5300 with another GT-AX11000 Pro, but they are out of stock on the Asus store and everywhere else.

Thanks.

Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

Alex52 — Tue, 26 May 2026 05:37:06 GMT

This same firmware issue apparently affects other AX and AXE Wifi 6 routers. Mesh node use is broken. BE Wifi 7 models don't appear to be affected - yet.

I recommend changing all mesh nodes to AP mode. You'll need to connect them by Ethernet cable to the main or by switch to the main, but performance is better than wireless mesh. Your AC model should work fine in AP mode.

As jzchen has noted, this could be an issue with authentication and security. You might try lowering this on your AX main first to see if your AC model can be setup again as a working node.

Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

Alex52 — Tue, 26 May 2026 05:55:54 GMT

I'll add my ET8s (WiFi 6) acted similarly when added as nodes to a main by Ethernet cable - after they had just had their firmware updated. This appears to happen if either the node or the main is using recently released firmwares.

Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

apara — Tue, 26 May 2026 22:42:08 GMT

Oddly, I took out my two old RT-AC68U routers (which, incidentally, got their last update earlier in May/2026), and they both worked perfectly fine without any changes on the HUB GT-AX11000 Pro.

I kept the RT-AC5300 disconnected because clients could connect to it from a certain distance, but the less capable and lighter RT-AC86U seems to be working just fine.

I feel the firmware update on the GT-AX11000 Pro broke compatibility with the RT-AC5300, but not with the RT-AC86U. The RT-AC5300 offered much faster throughput (tested with speedtest.net) due to its dual 5G antennas, so I would love to get the RT-AC5300 working again.

Alternatively, I could buy another GT-AX11000 Pro to make all the mesh nodes the same (and hopefully better compatible), but no one has a GT-AX11000 Pro in stock, and the Asus store is also out of stock at the moment.

Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

Alex52 — Tue, 26 May 2026 23:30:49 GMT

Interesting. I have an AC 5300 put away I haven't used in a number of years along with two AC3100 routers.. The last EOL firmware update for the AC5300 was in early 2025 as far as I can tell. Your recent AC 86U firmware update this year is likely what made them compatible, but the AC 86U is also now EOL and will receive no further updates. I also liked my AC5300 as it was very reliable. Too bad there are no more updates for them. Unfortunately, the AC AX11000 is also very near EOL. Best advice is to upgrade to a current new model to avoid EOL as long as possible.

Resetting the AC5300 to AP mode may get it working. But wireless mesh using ASUS firmware is just not going to happen.

Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

apara — Tue, 26 May 2026 23:39:59 GMT

LOL, I just got the GT-AX11000 Pro on sale to upgrade my house mesh. Cabling the routers is not an option, so I need to make the WIFI Mesh work. For now, things are working fine. So, I hope that they continue to work. I may just need to skip future firmware updates. If I can find a new GT-AX11000 Pro, I will probably buy another unit. The Asus store still shows them as out of stock, so I am hoping they will get some more soon.

According to https://www.asus.com/event/network/eol-product/, the GT-AX11000 Pro is a recommended replacement for RT-AC5300. Honestly, I cannot afford to pay $500 to $1K for the latest routers, so I need to go with something a little older. I should have purchased all 3 GT-AX11000 Pros when they were available to ensure all my nodes are compatible with each other. I still hope to get one if and when they become available on the Asus or Amazon site in new condition.

Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

jzchen — Wed, 27 May 2026 01:21:35 GMT

Have you tried toggling off and then on the 5 GHz-1 under AiMesh Management (tab) for the AC5300 router?

Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

apara — Wed, 27 May 2026 04:08:44 GMT

OK, toggling the 5 GHz-1 off and back to on did not improve things.

However, I learned something else.

The signal is not completely gone; it's just very weak. I took my phone, which I had previously been unable to connect to the RT-AC5300 from the front of the house, and walked right up to the router. Standing in front of the RT-AC5300, I was able to connect. My phone dropped the connection and reconnected to the 2.4 GHz network from the HUB as I walked away from the RT-AC5300 toward my computer at the front of the house.

So it feels like the connection and signal are there, but extremely weak. My computer, in front of the house, for example, does not see the 5 GHz or 2.4 GHz signals from the RT-AC5300 router at all, and only sees the 2.4 GHz signal from the HUB GT-AX11000 Pro, which is all the way on the other side of the house.

I am thinking that the AIMesh programming affects the signal strength (which I set to Performance/Max on the HUB) and somehow misconfigures it on the RT-AC5300 node.

Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

jzchen — Wed, 27 May 2026 13:33:02 GMT

I've read that slidebar doesn't really work but I've never tried it....

The other suggestion I can think of because ASUS says explicitly there are going to be no more firmware updates:

You could try the last Merlin firmware, but I am not confident it works well in AiMesh.

Switch the AC5300 to Repeater mode until the next AX11000 Pro update and try AiMesh again at that time.

(Until you find a replacement that is)...

Re: Unable to connect to RT-AC5300 AI Mesh node after GT-AX11000 Pro firmware update

jzchen — Thu, 28 May 2026 12:08:53 GMT

Have you considered a GT-AXE16000? I have owned mine and still using it since June 2022.