The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
NG supports 802.11K at least the R7800 did but needed debug menu to enable it. Probably default in the RAX120. FYI there's a new v2 variant now available, supporting uplink side MU and OFDMA using the v2 revision of the IPQ8074.
No there’s no speed restrictions per client on the 5Gbe interface in my testing via a Multi-Gig switch connected directly to it. I'm currently using it as an AP for my pfSense firewall though.
Right now the newly announced TP-Link AX11000 seems like a better buy for use as an AP-Switch Combo as it sports 2x 10Gbe interfaces (1 is SFP+) plus a 2.5 Gbe interface. As a router probably not at least from what I've heard in regards to firmware updates and short support cycles from this vendor.
Ok, so after further deliberation, I'm about to pull the trigger on the following entry-level stop-gap 2.5G setup:
* Asus RT-AX86U - I decided against the Zyxel primarily based on the 1G single client transfer cap (perhaps solvable, but I don't want to wait for Zyxel - by the time they are done, it well may be time to upgrade to 6E). The Asus is well reviewed, speed is not capped, LACP actually works in AP mode, and there is a well regarded 3rd party Merlin firmware to play around with. It costs about the same as Zyxel, but clearly provides more functionality except perhaps the smart roaming features. Also it's 3x3 not 2x2 at 2.4Ghz.
Yes, there are better 6 routers and APs for sure, starting at about £100 extra, but it's a dead end with 6E around the corner
* I will just get one Wise Tiger AX210NGW to see how it goes
* 3D Club 2.5G USB-A 3.2 gen1 adapter to attach to either a laptop or the NAS
This should allow me to:
* Play around with .11ax and 160 Mhz channels with speeds up to 2400Gbps at close range (I would be amazed if that worked in practice since the partially congested 36-64 range will be the only option)
* Connect my NAS to the AP via either the 2.5G port or 2x1GB in LACP mode, both of which which should actually enable 1GBps+ throughput to a single client
* Get a wired 2.5Gbps connection from my laptop to the router if the 160Mhz route fails
Should I need more LAN bandwidth, the next step will be a 10G switch, and the NAS actually (unofficially) supports a 5G USB NIC too.
Should I need more wireless bandwidth at a distance, a wireless 4x4 bridge will be the answer.
Many thanks for all your help advice guys, I learned quite a bit - it has been fun too, hopefully the joy will continue once the Asus arrives lol
Just a couple of final words on this: the RT-AX86U exceeded my moderate expectations.
+ Smart connect is fine and massively configurable
+ Supports all the smart routing protocols 802.11k, r, v - only the good people at Asus know why they don't advertise this in the specs
+ 160Mhz works great, good automatic channel selection
+ With the 2.5G Ethernet connection, my transfer speeds went at around 145MB/s down / 90MB/s up at close range over AC, with huge speedups at a range too
+ AX210 card pushed this further to 170MBs down, surprisingly 200 MB/s up at close range (and some +40-50% improvements both up and down at a range) - possibly hitting some contention or NAS HDD speed limits
- OK, the LACP didn't enable single-client transfers over 1Gbps - hard to say if the router or the NAS is to blame
Very happy, thanks once again for all the help guys.
That's an excellent router! I have the AX88U. I had to get an ASUS router since they have a very easy to configure built in VPN Client so I could hook up my IP Phone to. Very solid, superb speeds and wireless range. Coupled with the Intel AX210, a wireless match made in heaven!
Quick question. Say I setup vpn can my mobile provider tell where I am making wifi calling calls from? Say I connect to a network using vpn in the United States, and I am from canada. Will they be able to tell?
VPN will hide your location for IP based traffic only.
If you're using an APP to do wifi calling then yes it will be hidden. If you're just using the native phone app they will be routing it through their network as normal IP traffic.
The provider network still has to originate the call as your phone / sim / eSIM / etc. is what your # is tied to. If your phone can't connect to the network it won't produce a call.
Specifically to anonymity of WIFI calling you need to disable the data connection to the provider by either going into airplane mode and then turning on WIFI only to route all traffic over WIFI but, there still may be telemetry active in the background for emergency services to locate you.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.
