Full Fibre 2.5GB and 5GB - Multiple questions!

[Timberflake]

Hi all,

We currently have Sky 1gb connection to the house using an Asus AX7800 as the router/mesh WiFi system. The house has had ethernet run to multiple points using cat6e cables, with the farthest point being around 15m away.

I'm now considering an upgrade ideally to 5gb depending on the equipment I'm going to need to swap out, but I have multiple questions. I'm already aware that I'm going to need to invest in a new switch, which I was already planning on doing as I'm planning on upgrading my NAS, the other questions I have are:

1) I'm going to need to upgrade my router/mesh if I move to 5gb, but can I keep the exisiting AX7800 in place if I upgrade to 2.5gb? If I upgrade, what would people recommend?

2) Will the cat6e cables I'm got to various points in the house be capable of carrying the full 5gb? I wouldn't mind a bit of drop off to two of the points, but I'd want the one to the office to get the full 5gb (<5m away from the router, one floor above).

3) Perhaps a silly question, but what's the different between mesh and an access point and is there any benefit of one over the other? Will devices automatically switch to the strongest access point the same as they would with a mesh system?

[TimmyBGood]

@Timberflake 

Just to clarify, do you have CityFibre in your area?  The 2.5Gbs and 5Gbs services are only available on that infrastructure (and note it's Gbs for gigabits per second rather than GB for gigabyte)

Cat6 ethernet cable (there isn't any Cat6e) is capable of multi-gigabit performance as long as it was carefully terminated.

[Timberflake]

Hi there,

I do have CityFibre where I live and I've checked the avaiability online with Sky and CityFibre.

[TimmyBGood]

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@Timberflake wrote:

3) Perhaps a silly question, but what's the different between mesh and an access point and is there any benefit of one over the other?

Mesh nodes use a separate wireless backhaul to move data between themselves.

Will devices automatically switch to the strongest access point the same as they would with a mesh system?

In theory, yes, but access points don't support each other in the way mesh nodes do.

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[Timberflake]

Ok, so mesh might be the better to go for if I need to upgrade. I thnk my AX7800 supports 2.5Gb as it has a 2.5Gb WAN port, so it comes down to do I save a few ££ and go with 2.5Gb or go full throttle for 5Gb.

[JimM1]

@Timberflake Since you are fully wired, you need to look at wired backhaul and understand that as a first step, Going 5Gb/s you need to have a 10Gb/s Ethernet primary wan, cable should be NO issue whatsoever as you are Cat6, you are NOT going to do it wireless speed's, and sky will supply you the new GigaFast+ Hub which spec wise has all the bells and whistles that would ever be needed as the primary Hub!

ASUS ZenWiFi BT10 | Whole Home Mesh WiFi System | Asus UK

Two BT10's will more than likely be enough on a wired backhaul, the rest you can take care off with a good 10Gb/s switch if needed.

[Timberflake]

I'm familiar with backhaul as I have it set up on my ASUS AX7800. Do I need to upgrade the mesh system even if I go for the 2.5Gb as the AX7800 has a 2.5Gb WAN port.

My intention would be not to use the Sky hub as I replaced the Sky hub I currently have with the ASUS router.

[JimM1]

@Timberflake Not sure where you are directing the message to use the @ followed by the name it makes it easier, but if you were directing towards me then, let me go see what the spec on the Asus is, if all the lan's are 1Gb/s will not do anything! Asus below from them! So you will be relying on your gear doing what, win11 combined Nic/Wireless will get you there, but the rest NO!

*To use the Link Aggregation Control Protocol (LACP) function, devices must support the IEEE 802.3ad protocol. WAN and LAN aggregation also leverage the same 1G WAN/LAN port and cannot be enabled at the same time.
**The 2.5G port does not support WAN aggregation. Please set the 1G WAN/LAN1 port as WAN to enable WAN aggregation. For more details, please visit the ASUS support site (https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1048826).
***Internet speeds are dependent on your ISP.