Results of Firmware 3.0.0.6.102_39112 On My BE96U and Two GT-BE98 Pro System

[Alex52]

After installing this update, the BE96U node curiously began working in MLO on the 5GHz and 6GHz bands, with the GT-BE98 Pro main and the GT-BE98 Pro node also using all bands - until instability began appearing the next day and I had to do a factory reset of the entire system. After rebooting, MLO was no longer working on the BE96U.

Performance was still up,  as before the firmware update, with throughput staying between 6-9Gb. Utilization was staying at 47-53% with occasional temporary spikes of 90% on some 2.4GHz SSIDs. However, clients started dropping and no amount of changes to security, modem reboots, or band connections and manual IP assignment could stop this. There were also times clients were connected but showed as offline in the ASUS App. The App also began freezing. 

After two days of this strangeness, the BE96U began dropping out of mesh requiring factory resets and Ethernet connection to re-establish it as  a node. While connected by Ethernet, the BE96U would provide WiFi7 and WiFi6 signal but throughput dropped to 5-6Gb with utilization staying at 50-90% at 2.4GHz - even temporarily spiking very high on 6GHz. 5GHz stayed around 12%.

I factory reset both GT-BE98  Pros and later swapped the two GT-BE98 Pros around from main to node and had the same node problems with the BE96U connected. I also noticed utilization dropped to 33% @2,4Ghz, 5% @ 5GHz, and 1 % @ 6GHz with the BE96U removed. Higher signals levels from each GT-BE98 Pro also returned to normal high levels. Since this left part of my home without 6GHz signals, I installed my AXE11000 as a node. Utilization increased at 2.4GHz to 44%, but stayed at 5-7% on 5GHz and 1-2% on 6GHz. Signal remained strong on all bands throughout my home again and all my clients reconnected on their own. It's a shame my old WiFi6 6e AXE11000 performs better than the new WiFi7 BE96U - even with both using their latest firmware.

So, I'm now limited to WiFi6 in one area of my home. But, at least I have good signals in all areas again. What do I have in the BE96U? Currently, it's  a new $500 paper weight I only purchased this summer. If I  could get my money back, i would just get a third GT-BE98 Pro. I have no need for a $500 paper weight.

Before I  installed 3.0.0.6.102_39112, I had an all new system with strong WiFi signal levels and good wireless throughput that worked as long as I left most of the added features turned off.

Should ASUS replace/repair the BE96U, or is this firmware related and something that has no solution other than waiting who knows how long again for a new firmware update?

[Chuck684]

This version is also dropping clients for me as well. I have a RT-BE96U as my main router. Clients drop but then it also appears that both of my SSIDs (I have a regular and a MLO) also disappear completely. I tried doing a factory reset via the web interface but that doesn't appear to have helped. Seriously considering trying to do a downgrade. The previous versions were completely stable for me. Would factory resetting using the WPS or reset button be different? Anyone else having issues?

[Alex52]

Factory WPS resets of my BE96U have been useless. The only way for use I've found at this point is to set it up as a repeater. It still offers some erratic operation as a repeater. One more thing I've noticed has been the router reporting it can't get an IP address for connection. This happens sporadically whether in repeater or mesh node mode. The BE96U appears to  getting a lot of interference using this firmware and needs to be much closer to the main just to work. A downgrade probably is the solution. The firmware seems alright for use in the GT-BE98 Pros I have - just not in the BE96U.

[Alex52]

With the BE96U running as a repeater, all WiFi is working but erratic. Bandwidth has dropped everywhere but from the BE96U repeater. Utilization has jumped again with the BE96U repeater turned on. Latency has jumped to 300-600ms from the previous 65ms average without the BE96U acting up. With the BE96U turned off, my system returns to normal.

[Alex52]

Yesterday, I  changed the BE96U back to a mesh node and enabled MLO fronthaul. For few minutes, I could see my MLO capable clients connect using all three bands. Physical speeds were at 9-11Gb during those few minutes. Then, everything throttled back to single 5GHz and 6GHz connections, at a 5-7Gb physical connection rate. In the app, I still had stars by all three units (denoting fronthaul) and some SSID connections in each band showing as MLO.  DNS latency is still high around 300ms and utilization is still high but fluctuating down to normal levels sporadically. Some of my clients still have trouble connecting despite all security is at the correct defaults.

So far today, everything is still running the same. At least nothing has crashed (yet). I'm still at a loss of why the BE96U was initially working in MLO with my two GT-BE98 Pros and why MLO fronthaul stopped connecting after a few minutes and still hasn't reconnected despite still being on. At least, MLO fronthaul being on doesn't seem to be causing any problems. I'm going to let the current settings run to see how long the system will keep running at current levels. Hopefully, the BE96U will continue working as a mesh node this time.