from the top:I was connecting this as a repeater, not to an AI mesh router. this is how that went:it connected right up but I couldn't access the settings using the unclear useless instructionsI finally did so consulting chatgpt ai which gave me the access address plus the username and PW that asus doesn't supply that you need if you are setting it up using the phone app, which is, by the way, admin and admin, but it's not published anywhere on the device, nor in the instructions!chat gpt isn't the greatest either so that took me hours.at 1 point, I went to the Asus website and downloaded the router finder thing forWindows and ran it. The app found the equipment but then I couldn't access the settings because the app said the router was on a different subnet mask than my computer. but i checked and they were the same!Eventually, by hook and crook, I got access to it's page, initially trying that app one more time which mysteriously worked for a change and then i went to the settings and changed them , turning on security, etc. I changed it's 2.4g and 5G settings to network name and my passcode.I thought all was fine, except this POS doesn't stay connected to the network no way, no how whether it's 2 feet from my network hum of 20 feet.once connected, unplugging and plugging back in a single wifi security camera from my system will knock it offline and it won't reconnect until I recycle it by unplugging it and replugging it back in, sometimes several times!but then it goes back offline and won't reconnect without unplugging it and plugging it back in again.but that is not all! at one point I tried to push the pin in and factory reset it, which is supposed to take 15 seconds. I held it for 0 seconds BUT NOTHING EVER HAPPENED! the light didn't change to yellow or anything. it just kept blinking blue (connecting mode).the Asus help line stays busy and the video at amazon to click on at amazon for this purchase IS A VIDEO FOR A DIFFERENT BRAND!reminds me fo the last Hewlett Packard printer I bought: total junk, new out of box that never stayed online for more than 1 day and quickly not at all, like within the first week and had non existent support.

I have an ASUS RT-AX86U router. While its very stable and the signal coverage goes quite a distance, the signal strength in the distant parts of the home wasn't satisfactory. I installed this extender in between those distant parts and the router and configured it as a mesh node. I used an Ethernet connection with the main router for the backhaul connection. The connection of the node with the main router is super stable (zero drops since I installed it about a week ago). The signal is now very strong in every distant corner of the house. On average with 6-7 heavy wireless connections to the node, it is able to sustain very strong throughput.Initial setup using AIMesh was practically seamless (you can find numerous YouTube videos with step by step instructions).If you will not be able to use LAN connection for the backhaul signal, I suggest that you read reviews of people who use a wireless backhaul connection.

I have an Asus RT-AX88U. A couple/ few years ago it was a decently high-end AiMesh router, that had good specs. Yet my iPhone was not getting a strong signal (e.g only 2-bars & intermittent dropouts), across the house into the bedroom (e.g. through a wall and around) bends.After buying a cheap $35 non-mesh repeater on Amazon and realizing it meant I would have to manually go into setting and switch WiFi networks, depending on where I was in the house with phone, I realized AiMesh sounded like the way to go, as it handles all the network handoff stuff automatically based on signal strength and router and extender proximities.I found the Quick Setup documentation a bit confusing, even 'm an sw engineer by profession for decades have seen it all, configured everything, and deal with many complex tech scenarios. Long story short, the way I set it up was:1. First decided I wanted AiMesh mode (NOT the default repeater mode that is cheaper and more common solution when searching for network extenders on Amazon).2. That necessitated downloading the *ASUS Router* app from the Apple Store. (NOTE: There are a number of ASUS Apps, even by ASUS on the Apple Store, so you have to get the right one, with the right name and match the App icon to the pic of the app in the extender's setup doc).3. After getting the Asus Router App talking to my existing Asus Router, I reset the ASUS RP-AX58 extender using the pinhole reset button, and selected the option add an AiMesh extender in the Asus Router app. It churned away fo about 5 minutes and succeeded. After that even my my RT-AX88U main router web configuration AiMesh menu option showed me the extender connected to the main router, in a nice diagram and reported signal strength of connection of extender to router, and showed the list of respective client connections.. It all works seamlessly now and solves some problems for us very well.Don't need to read this:The initial confusion I had was not realizing I had to configure it either for repeater mode or AiMesh mode and I used the wrong Asus app. But that was after trying to connect it using the WPS button on my existing router with the WPS button on the extender. After that all became a confusing dead-end was when I reset the extender with the pinhole button and did what I explained above.I feel the setup instructions could use a little more of an introduction and extablish some context before getting into the other wise good and useful nitty-grittty including LED status information.

The ASUS quick instruction sheet is complete. I have a ASUS RT AX55 main router. I used the instructions in the second column to connect the Aimesh wirelessly. This avoids running cable which is better but depending on your setup may be a lot of effort and impossible. Prior to adding the mesh I had walked to rear bedrooms checking the WiFi signal by cell phone. The signal was very weak. I highly recommend that you use the Asus app to help you optimize the Aimesh. After I got the white indicator light on the mesh unit I used the Asus app to look for the Aimesh and install it. The app worked perfectly. Next I moved the unit to a wall jack in my hallway. This location is approximately 25 feet through 3 interior walls from main unit. The app showed a weak aimesh connection. In the app there is an option to optimize the router and Aimesh operation. I used that and the Aimesh went from weak to ok. I also noticed that the main router needed a BIOS update. I did it.I then checked WiFi signal with cell phone and all areas now have full WiFi signal. The furthest distance from the main router is about 50 ft. I have recommendations. Match your aimesh with your router brand, I.e don’t mix brands. The aimesh will probably work without optimizing using the Asus app. Use the app.I recommend this unit.

This extender is a good choice if you have an ASUS brand router to extend, and you prefer mounting it in a power outlet. If you have another brand access point main router, I would not choose this extender. Although it has good rage, it is a little difficult to set up in my opinion. (I have a set up tip later.) It is a little expensive, and may not work consistently with other brand routers in my experiences. I will explain those issues later. For non ASUS routers, I have had better experiences with the inexpensive TP-Link RE315, or if you want better performance, the RE715x.If you want to extend an ASUS router, I would suggest buying another ASUS router and using it in a mesh configuration for the same price as this extender. (Like the RT-AX58U) The second router will have better range, better specs and have support for a guest network. If you want to set up an ASUS AI Mesh configuration and prefer to use a power outlet, this extender is your only option. Once set up correctly, this extender has been solid for me. It is configured by logging into your main ASUS router from either a web browser or the ASUS router app. No account sign up is needed. Both work good. The app is easier to use. The web browser has other options not available in the app. Both the access point and extender are configured through the access point main router including firmware updates and all the settings. No further need to log into the extender.Now the not so good. This extender does not extend a guest network if you have one set up. To login to the extender, there is an ASUS “extender” app (as opposed to the ASUS “router” app) When I purchased this extender, the “extender” app constantly crashed. ASUS recently updated the app after ignoring it for a few years and it may work better now. I had to use a web browser for initial login. (You can also use the “router” app, which did not crash.) If you have a different brand main router, log into the ASUS extender and search for your wireless network. Join the network using your wireless password. The extender should connect and extend your network. This has not been consistent with non ASUS routers for me and the connection drops for short periods sometimes in my experience.If you have an ASUS main router, my big tip is to connect the extender with an Ethernet cable to the access point router. (Only if it is an ASUS router.) Trying to set up the extender wirelessly was hit or miss to say the least. Basically, you log into your ASUS main router, go into the network map and add an AI Mesh extender by searching for it. (Follow the instructions supplied with the extender.) I definitely suggest using the Ethernet cable for initial set up. Use the same WiFi SSID for all the signals except the guest network if you have one or turn on smart connect. After set up, you can disconnect the cable and place the extender anywhere it can reach a signal and it will automatically set up the WiFi mesh. All mesh routers, extenders, clients, and their traffic, is monitored and configured through the access point. Very nice.