ASUSRT-BE86U BE6800 Dual-Band WiFi 7 Router, Supports 4096-QAM, MLO, AI WAN Detection, AiMesh, Subscription-Free Network Security, and Comprehensive VPN Features, Guest Network Pro, Gaming

I recently upgraded my home network setup and added the ASUS AX86U as an AI Mesh device to complement my main router, the AX88U Pro. The results have been outstanding, particularly when compared to my old AC68U router.The AX86U integrates seamlessly into the AI Mesh system, working flawlessly with the AX88U Pro. The speed improvements are instantly noticeable across the board. My internet speeds, as well as home LAN speeds, have seen a significant boost. Streaming 4K content, online gaming, and even heavy downloading happen without a hitch, with zero lag or buffering issues.The AI Mesh feature is a standout. It blankets my entire home with strong, reliable Wi-Fi, eliminating any dead zones and providing a smooth, uninterrupted connection no matter where I am. The setup was straightforward, and the AX86U's performance as part of this mesh system is nothing short of exceptional.If you're looking to upgrade your home network, pairing the AX88U Pro with the AX86U as an AI Mesh device is a winning combination. The performance, ease of setup, and reliability make it a no-brainer. This upgrade has been well worth it! Highly recommended.

In 2021 I purchased an Orbi system (RBK753 or RBK753S which is the membership club equivalent) and it worked fine for a while, but it had one flaw that used to drive me crazy: Whenever there was a need to reboot the router, it would take 1 to 2 DAYS for my 10 nest cameras to sync and for all of them to be online again. After putting up with this for 2 years I had enough and after 2 decades of an exclusive relationship with Netgear, I decide to open myself up and go back to the router dating scene to see what had changed in 2 decades. To my surprise, apparently Netgear is no longer king, and this particular ASUS router was included in the top 5 router rankings on every publication and established website out there. Sometimes it would be ranked #1 sometimes #3 but it would always be in the top 5. So I purchased it. Going from a Netgear Orbi system with 5 satellites (6 if you count the router itself), I was curious as to how much of my 4000sqft home a single router could cover. My goal was, if possible, to do away with Mesh systems. Netgear also had a flaw where despite broadcasting the same SSiD on all satellites, some clients still could differentiate between the one they originally connected to and an identical satellite broadcasting the same SSiD in other parts of the house. Some of my light switches would even see the same SSiD listed several times despite technically being the same network.So I installed the ASUS RT-AX86U PRO and even though it didn’t cover the entirety of the 4000sqft, it did cover a solid 50%. Technically I was able to see and connect to its SSiD from anywhere in the house but in some far corners the signal would not be a solid or steady. I knew I was asking too much of a single router since my previous Orbi alone with no satellites could barely cover 20% of my home so the fact that this one was pushing 50% it was a huge accomplishment. So I decided to order another RT-AX86U PRO and add it to the first one as an iMesh node.In case you’re not familiar AiMesh is the proprietary ASUS technology that allows you to seamlessly add other ASUS products as Mesh network nodes to your main router. Just the future proofing benefits alone make this a brilliant concept. So once I added the second RT-AX86U PRO to AiMesh, with 2 clicks, the remaining part of the house that I was having issues with now had a rock solid signal. Not only that but the 4 LAN ports on that second router acting as a node were active! And allowed me to hardwire several legacy devices in that room for unparalleled speed. I still had 2 nest cameras in a far corner of the property that were actually out of the house in my backyard and only operated in the 2.4 ghz range and were struggling to connect to the network (understandable since now I was not only asking my router to broadcast successfully at that distance but also to penetrate siding and insulation and the odd slab of concrete which are tougher for a wireless signal to penetrate than the drywall inside the house). At 200 bucks a pop my wallet was a bit reticent to add a 3rd RT-AX86U PRO, so I settled for an ASUS RP-AX58 AiMesh extender. At only 80 bucks, if this thing really did what it said it did, which was integrating itself into my AiMesh network, talk to the other routers in the fast 5ghz channel and rebroadcast that data in the far corner of the house both in the 5Ghz and also in the 2.4 GHz frequency that is the only one my aging nest cameras could comprehend, it was a no brainer. And guess what: It did. So using 2 RT-AX86U PRO routers, one as a main and the second one as an AiMesh node, and one ASUS RP-AX58 AiMesh extender, I was now able to flawlessly cover my 4000sqft home. Something that with the Netgear Orbi it used to take 6 satellites to do. And the best part, if I ever needed to reboot the router, all my nest cameras would come back online within a minute. Not 2 days.I am extremely happy with my purchase and considering the 2 routers I just added to my network are top of the line, I expect to be able to continue to purchase the latest and greatest ASUS router every few years and use all existing hardware as AiMesh nodes.

After years of relying on Xfinity's modem/router combo (XB7) I finally decided to do my research and upgrade routers. I've always had dead or weak spots around the house and I wondered why. It turns out the XB7 router function wasn't cutting it so I found multiple Reddit threads that suggested this router model. It does SO MUCH more than Xfinity's router like vpn protection, traffic logging, and most importantly DATA USAGE LOGGING. Setup was a breeze and their mobile app was super simple to setup, but you have lots of control on their too. Now anywhere I go in the house I have my full speeds, signal strength, and coverage. It feels really nice and I should have bought this years ago. The aimesh node thing is cool too like you can add a second ASUS router wirelessly to extend the coverage, but I don't even need it because this single router covers so much area!March 30, 2025: A bedroom down the hall behind thicker walls was getting slow speed. So I purchased another asus aimesh supported router and that fixed it.

This router is fantastic! It was easy to set up and works flawlessly right out of the box. The coverage is excellent, providing a strong and reliable connection throughout my home. The WiFi 6 speeds are impressive, and the added security features like AiProtection Pro and Instant Guard are a great bonus. Whether for gaming or everyday use, it handles everything with ease. Overall, a solid choice—highly recommend!