ASUS RT-AX5400 Dual Band WiFi 6 Extendable Mesh Router

DVD_dude

Jul 15, 2025 7:53 AM

76 Comments

Joined May 2009

DVD_dudeJul 15, 2025 7:53 AM

76 Comments

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I have this router. It's wifi 6 and works just fine. It still receives regular updates.

7

1

bensonw

Jul 15, 2025 1:23 PM

761 Comments

Joined Jan 2008

bensonwJul 15, 2025 1:23 PM

761 Comments

Looking for an inexpensive router to replace my RT-AC86U for Wifi6 and AiMesh support. Think this is a decent choice?

estoyloco

Jul 15, 2025 1:31 PM

3.5K Comments

Joined Jun 2005

estoylocoJul 15, 2025 1:31 PM

3.5K Comments

Quote from sr27

:

This is a 5 year old router. Doesn't even have the current wifi standard

I have a less than one year old router. It has the current standard, and all my devices still run on 5 year old standards Big Grin

Just because it is latest doesn't mean you will get benefits from it right away. All clients that connect to it also needs to support it.

This is a $100 router, and it performs very well. I'll take this over a junky $100 WiFi 7 one any day.

7

sr27

Jul 15, 2025 1:33 PM

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Joined Apr 2008

sr27Jul 15, 2025 1:33 PM

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Quote from estoyloco

:

I have a less than one year old router. It has the current standard, and all my devices still run on 5 year old standards Big Grin

Just because it is latest doesn't mean you will get benefits from it right away. All clients that connect to it also needs to support it.

This is a $100 router, and it performs very well. I'll take this over a junky $100 WiFi 7 one any day.

agree reliability is important. I am pointing out that sinking 100$ on previous gen tech is decision to be made before jumping on it. should have been explicit.

1

estoyloco

Jul 15, 2025 1:45 PM

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Joined Jun 2005

estoylocoJul 15, 2025 1:45 PM

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Quote from bensonw

:

Looking for an inexpensive router to replace my RT-AC86U for Wifi6 and AiMesh support. Think this is a decent choice?

The biggest downside to this is it only has gigabit ethernet. While it isn't a deal breaker, for most, just be aware of this limitation.

If you are looking at 2Gbps+ internet service, you will most likely be buying $300+ routers.

You need multi-gig WAN and LAN ports to fully take adantage of multi-gig internet.

Now, if your internet provider only provides speeds under 1Gbps, then this works perfectly for you.

Keep in mind while AiMesh works great, cross generation mix can cause issues.

I.e. if you ever upgrade to WiFi 7 router, you may have AiMesh compatibility issues. I run my main router RT-BE88U as a single WiFi 7 router. Then I run all my WiFi 6 AiMesh routers as access point mesh using WiFi 6.

When I try to mix WiFi 7 and WiFi 6 together as a single AiMesh network, I had compatibility issues.

5

jdsteel7

Jul 15, 2025 1:46 PM

1.2K Comments

Joined Jul 2018

jdsteel7Jul 15, 2025 1:46 PM

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This router or the ASUS TUF Gaming WiFi 6 Router (TUF-AX4200) that I picked up like-new for $79 during Prime Days? Looking for reliability and best for gaming

bensonw

Jul 15, 2025 1:55 PM

761 Comments

Joined Jan 2008

bensonwJul 15, 2025 1:55 PM

761 Comments

Quote from estoyloco

:

The biggest downside to this is it only has gigabit ethernet...

When I try to mix WiFi 7 and WiFi 6 together as a single AiMesh network, I had compatibility issues.

Well, my internet is 1.2Gb so I am not losing much, if any, given that's theoretical speed. As for the WiFi7 vs WiFi6 issue, did you mean you are having issue since your nodes are WiFi6 only? If so, did you have to upgrade all your nodes as well to WiFi7 capable devices?

Thanks!

bensonw

Jul 15, 2025 1:57 PM

761 Comments

Joined Jan 2008

bensonwJul 15, 2025 1:57 PM

761 Comments

Quote from jdsteel7

:

This router or the ASUS TUF Gaming WiFi 6 Router (TUF-AX4200) that I picked up like-new for $79 during Prime Days? Looking for reliability and best for gaming

I also picked up that as well and using it as a node on 2nd floor. My main is at basement attaching to the cable coming from the outside that is RT-AX86U Pro. My 1st floor is still the RT-AC86U so wanna get that upgraded to WiFi6 also.

Slickone_

Jul 15, 2025 2:48 PM

4.5K Comments

Joined Dec 2012

Slickone_Jul 15, 2025 2:48 PM

4.5K Comments

Quote from bensonw

:

Looking for an inexpensive router to replace my RT-AC86U for Wifi6 and AiMesh support. Think this is a decent choice?

I'm wondering the same thing. According to specs, if you don't use "1024QAM", the AC86U is faster, though I assume everyone uses 1024QAM, but I'm not sure what that is or where it's set. And 2.4Ghz is faster on the AC86U.

-----------------------

RT-AC86U
https://www.asus.com/us/networkin.../techspec/

AC2900 ultimate AC performance : 750+2167 Mbps

802.11a : up to 54 Mbps
802.11b : up to 11 Mbps
802.11g : up to 54 Mbps
WiFi 4 (802.11n) : up to 450 Mbps
WiFi 5 (802.11ac) : up to 1734 Mbps
1024QAM (2.4GHz) : up to 750 Mbps
1024QAM (5GHz) : up to 2167 Mbps

---------------------

RT-AX5400
https://www.asus.com/us/networkin.../techspec/

AX5400 ultimate AX performance : 574+4804 Mbps

802.11a : up to 54 Mbps
802.11b : up to 11 Mbps
802.11g : up to 54 Mbps
WiFi 4 (802.11n) : up to 300 Mbps
WiFi 5 (802.11ac) : up to 400 Mbps
WiFi 5 (802.11ac) (1024QAM) : up to 3466 Mbps
WiFi 6 (802.11ax) (2.4GHz) : up to 574 Mbps
WiFi 6 (802.11ax) (5GHz) : up to 4804 Mbps

2

bensonw

Jul 15, 2025 3:33 PM

761 Comments

Joined Jan 2008

bensonwJul 15, 2025 3:33 PM

761 Comments

Quote from Slickone_

:

I'm wondering the same thing. According to specs, if you don't use "1024QAM", the AC86U is faster, though I assume everyone uses 1024QAM, but I'm not sure what that is or where it's set. And 2.4Ghz is faster on the AC86U.

Good info, my friend. I guess that's why the RT-AC86U was considered great for price vs performance back in the days. Replacing it with the AX86U will be better, just that using it as a node seems overkill mostly...

Meowmixes98

Jul 15, 2025 3:53 PM

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Joined Jul 2007

Meowmixes98Jul 15, 2025 3:53 PM

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Quote from bensonw

:

Looking for an inexpensive router to replace my RT-AC86U for Wifi6 and AiMesh support. Think this is a decent choice?

I used to have this router and it is solid for what it is. Asus routers are pretty good.

1

AlpineMan

Jul 17, 2025 12:55 PM

3K Comments

Joined Dec 2003

AlpineManJul 17, 2025 12:55 PM

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Quote from estoyloco

:

The biggest downside to this is it only has gigabit ethernet. While it isn't a deal breaker, for most, just be aware of this limitation.If you are looking at 2Gbps+ internet service, you will most likely be buying $300+ routers.You need multi-gig WAN and LAN ports to fully take adantage of multi-gig internet.Now, if your internet provider only provides speeds under 1Gbps, then this works perfectly for you.Keep in mind while AiMesh works great, cross generation mix can cause issues.I.e. if you ever upgrade to WiFi 7 router, you may have AiMesh compatibility issues. I run my main router RT-BE88U as a single WiFi 7 router. Then I run all my WiFi 6 AiMesh routers as access point mesh using WiFi 6.When I try to mix WiFi 7 and WiFi 6 together as a single AiMesh network, I had compatibility issues.

2+ gig internet service doesn't need $300+ routers. Have a look at the Verizon wifi 6e router CR1000A. You don't need Verizon service to use it. 2.4ghz 4x4, 5ghz 4x4, 6ghz 4x4, two 2.5gig LAN ports, one 10gig WAN port, one 10gig LAN port, one 2.5gig MoCA 2.5 port, USB-C port. Bought a few and installed at a couple of homes. $50/each in ebay. Can use MoCA or ethernet ports as wired backhaul for access points. I sold and replaced my Asus ET12's with these more cost effective routers. Performance is on par with my old Asus, in fact its 2.4 and 6ghz radios are even stronger than the ET12.

3

dhan1

Jul 17, 2025 2:39 PM

164 Comments

Joined Jul 2014

dhan1Jul 17, 2025 2:39 PM

164 Comments

bought this last year for $140. excellent router. I bought this to replace my TPLink router which has major security flaws.

Last edited by dhan1 July 17, 2025 at 02:32 PM.

estoyloco

Jul 17, 2025 4:04 PM

3.5K Comments

Joined Jun 2005

estoylocoJul 17, 2025 4:04 PM

3.5K Comments

Quote from bensonw

:

Well, my internet is 1.2Gb so I am not losing much, if any, given that's theoretical speed. As for the WiFi7 vs WiFi6 issue, did you mean you are having issue since your nodes are WiFi6 only? If so, did you have to upgrade all your nodes as well to WiFi7 capable devices?

Thanks!

Issue is only mixing WiFi 7 and WiFi 6 routers in a single AiMesh network.

So I have two AiMesh networks created. One runs WiFi 7 and the other network runs WiFi 6 routers. However, that means I do have two different SSIDs for each network.

I did not upgrade my client devices.

ASUS RT-AX5400 Dual Band WiFi 6 Extendable Mesh Router

$100

$140

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