Hi all,

I currently have a hAP AC2 lite and am currently ruminating on whether to upgrade to the hAP AX2. However, I have been reading a lot of reviews that claim the WiFi from a AX2 is pretty substandard.

What I'd like to know is, how does the AX2 stack up against the AC2 lite in terms of WiFi coverage?

Having a bit more throughput on the 2.4GHz band is encouraging, but if the WiFi range is worse than the hAP AC2 lite then I don't think an upgrade would be warranted. Physical space is at a premium which is why I can't extend to the hAP AX3 at this time.

Interested in your thoughts.
Cheers.

Hi,

There is no "hAP ac2 lite". The devices are:
* hAP ac lite (RB952Ui-5ac2nD or -TC for the tower case variant)
* hAP ac2 (RBD52G-5HacD2HnD-TC)
* hAP ax2 (C52iG-5HaxD2HaxD-TC)

That said, both the ac2 and ax2 are a significant upgrade compared to the ac lite. If I had to choose between them, I would choose the ax2. Some indeed do claim that the ac2 has a bit better coverage compared to the ax2. I own both, and haven't experienced any difference. The ax standard has significant improvements, which are of course only available if your clients are (or will be) ax as well. The ax2 has other improvements as well, such as a bit faster CPU, more RAM and more flash. Altogether, it's a generation ahead in Mikrotik's product lineup.

If I had to choose whether to upgrade from an ac2 to an ax2, I simply wouldn't. (Unless you have other concerns beside it being a simple wifi ap/home router.)

Hi,

There is no "hAP ac2 lite". The devices are:
* hAP ac lite (RB952Ui-5ac2nD or -TC for the tower case variant)
* hAP ac2 (RBD52G-5HacD2HnD-TC)
* hAP ax2 (C52iG-5HaxD2HaxD-TC)

Thanks for the correction. it is a hAP ac lite, not ac2.

That said, both the ac2 and ax2 are a significant upgrade compared to the ac lite. If I had to choose between them, I would choose the ax2. Some indeed do claim that the ac2 has a bit better coverage compared to the ax2. I own both, and haven't experienced any difference. The ax standard has significant improvements, which are of course only available if your clients are (or will be) ax as well. The ax2 has other improvements as well, such as a bit faster CPU, more RAM and more flash. Altogether, it's a generation ahead in Mikrotik's product lineup.

If I had to choose whether to upgrade from an ac2 to an ax2, I simply wouldn't. (Unless you have other concerns beside it being a simple wifi ap/home router.)

Again, much appreciated.

In terms of physical size, would you say there is much difference betwen your ac2 (which I think is the same size as the ac lite) and the ax2?

Cheers.

The ax2 is about a millimetre or two larger in all dimensions as you can find on the product pages. Ac2 is larger than ac lite.

The ax2 has eight times as much RAM and storage compared with the ac2.

Other than the useful little mAP, I do not buy routers with 16MB storage at all.

For me it is not a question (I have an ax2 amongst several Mikrotiks) but you will have your own considerations.

In terms of physical size, would you say there is much difference betwen your ac2 (which I think is the same size as the ac lite) and the ax2?

All three have the *exact* same silhouette. The ax2 is noticeably heavier and has a fairly large grille cutout, both due to the larger heatsink necessary for the increased power dissipation. And the ax2 doesn't have the touchy-feely (polyurethane?) coating. All come with the exact same polycarbonate support thingy.

The ax3 has the same SoC as the ax2 run at double the frequency (which only accomplishes a modest increase in performance) and a 2.5G port. One thing to watch out for is that the ax2 doesn't have a USB port, while all the others (including the ax3) do, so if that's important to you then take a look at wall mounting

EDIT: Reading phascogale's reply... I already had the ac2 and ax2 side by side on a desk, so I got out a caliper. The ac lite TC, and ac2 are exactly as specified: 34 x 119 x 98mm, and the ax2 does actually grow to 34 x 119 x 101mm. I haven't noticed this before

And the ax2 doesn't have the touchy-feely (polyurethane?) coating.

(nor does the hAP ac lite-TC). Which is actually great, because in a few years, the moleskin layer turns out into the same sticky mess the thickier rubberish soft coats normally do. I liked the moleskin feel very much too until I've found out his happens.

Also, the hAP ax² lacks an USB port, which disqualifies it from some use cases.

If your considering WIFI as a factor then get a hex refresh (or better router) and tplink or zyxel wifi7 APs. No point IMHO of going anything less than wifi7 at this point. By the time MT figures out the dogs breakfast of wifi packages and capsman, wifi8 will be out. In other words, dont tie your routing device to wifi technology.............

Hmmm , surely it will need an increased budget (yes, I understand how it could be an investment for the future, still ...)

Mikrotik
min. Ax2 -> 99 $
max. Ax3 -> 139 $

Alternative with WiFi7 (and 6 GHz radio):
min. Hex refresh -> 60 $ + Zyxel NWA30BS -> 200 $ =260 $

max. Hex refresh -> 60 $ + Zyxel WBE660S -> 600$ = 660 $

I am very happy with my ax MT devices setup now.

ax3 as main router behind ONT on first floor
ax2 as CAP/switch on ground floor

I get all of the house covered.

Which is actually great, because in a few years, the moleskin layer turns out into the same sticky mess the thickier rubberish soft coats normally do. I liked the moleskin feel very much too until I've found out his happens.

Yep. Especially if they're exposed to high temp, sunlight, vapors (anything greasy and especially apolar solvents). And it becomes disgustingly sticky and smears at the lightest touch. On a router - just why?

Actually I've had some of my ac2 devices for a really long time and it hasn't happen to them (yet?), but they were kept in relatively sane places.

if they're exposed to high temp, sunlight, vapors (anything greasy and especially apolar solvents)
...
but they were kept in relatively sane places.

Regarding age, the affected one is from the initial series that still had the 256 MB RAM. As for the environment, it has always been in a living room, never exposed to direct sunlight, ambient temperature and vapors you'd expect in a non-smokers' living room... yet here we are. And yes, it is a single one so far. But it is a minor inconvenience as compared to the 16 MB flash issues with wifi-qcom-ac.

Regarding age, the affected one is from the initial series that still had the 256 MB RAM. As for the environment, it has always been in a living room, never exposed to direct sunlight, ambient temperature and vapors you'd expect in a non-smokers' living room... yet here we are. And yes, it is a single one so far. But it is a minor inconvenience as compared to the 16 MB flash issues with wifi-qcom-ac.

On some (non-MT) stuff I've seen different production runs age wildly differently in this regard. But again - what's the use of this coating on a router... I think Mikrotik actually realized this. and If this is what happened then good on them! (And I think many of these home devices end up in not exactly living room environments.)

If your considering WIFI as a factor then get a hex refresh (or better router) and tplink or zyxel wifi7 APs. No point IMHO of going anything less than wifi7 at this point. By the time MT figures out the dogs breakfast of wifi packages and capsman, wifi8 will be out. In other words, dont tie your routing device to wifi technology.............

First of all, I totally agree with you that it's best to separate WiFi from routing.

While it's nice that WiFi technology constantly evolves, my opinion is that it's mostly driven by marketing rather than real-world need. People are chasing higher WiFi speeds often for no good reason, just like they were chasing megapixels in photocameras a decade or so ago.

For example, everyone I know has 75-400 Mbps Internet connection. Higher WiFi bandwidth won't make any difference unless they have significant local traffic, which usually is applicable only if they have a local server. Probably 99% normal home users don't. They may spend $600 or multiples of $600 on BE devices and not feel any difference at all.

I think AC Wave2 reached that sweet spot that satisfies the needs for 99% of users. I'm actually in that 1% that has a local server, but most of my devices that need maximum throughput are wired. The ones that don't have such option can still reach 400-600 Mbps with AC AP. This is plenty enough for everything but specialized tasks like video editing over LAN. In the spot with the weakest signal I can still get around 300 Mbps.

In my opinion, it would be better to spend the money on higher quality stable access points and get enough of them for good coverage. With AC technology being considered old now, it has excellent price/performance ratio. I got enterprise-grade sophisticated used Ruckus R710 for $60 about a year ago, they are probably even cheaper now. It blows regular SOHO wireless routers out of the water.

Also, keep in mind with 6 GHz the range is even worse that 5 GHz, meaning one needs more access points to cover the same area, increasing the total cost even further. I'm sure WiFi manufacturers are very pleased with this law of physics.

By the way, I hope you do know about controversy around TP-Link... I see you have been recommending them here and there.

in a few years, the moleskin layer turns out into the same sticky mess the thickier rubberish soft coats normally do. I liked the moleskin feel very much too until I've found out his happens.

Also, the hAP ax² lacks an USB port, which disqualifies it from some use cases.

It hasn't happened to any of the 5 ac2's I have used myself or deployed for friends and family. Maybe MT saved on higher quality coating to offset the 256 MB RAM?

Not including USB port on ax2 was such a poor move. I would have gladly paid $10 dollars more. The ax2 was presented as an upgrade to ac2. It's not an upgrade when you take away useful features.

By the way, I hope you do know about controversy around TP-Link... I see you have been recommending them here and there.

Yes, tp link routers, not access points and in reality, CISCO had issue in the past in the same vein, as guess what most devices are made in China so, do you think parts can get mysteriously added.........................

Most people I live around dont have less than 1gig connection so a wifi7 throughput makes sense and one should look at one people are using for tech on their smart phones....

Most people I live around dont have less than 1gig connection so a wifi7 throughput makes sense and one should look at one people are using for tech on their smart phones....

Well, different requirements call for different solutions

Where i live the fastest ive seen so far is 250mbit/s and quite a lot of people are still rocking 802.11n Routers. (WRT54G anyone?)
Customer of mine rocks 3x 250mbit/s and has Ubi U7 APs. Yet the newest client is like 4 years old.
While for a private one, I had the *pleasure* to install his 16mbit/s DSL last year. They're just using a FritzBox

CISCO had issue in the past in the same vein, as guess what most devices are made in China so, do you think parts can get mysteriously added.........................

True, but there is a subtle difference between devices manufactured in China for another company vs a company having Chinese ownership, designing everything and developing software there. Especially when it comes to cloud-managed stuff.

I agree it's the router I would be more concerned about. At least AP can be put into a management VLAN with no Internet access. That what I did with Omada EAP245 when I used it (pretty nice AP for the money by the way).

MikroTik devices are not made in China, are they? The ones I've seen all came from Latvia.

Most people I live around dont have less than 1gig connection so a wifi7 throughput makes sense and one should look at one people are using for tech on their smart phones....

Actually, all people I know also have 1 gig available, but it's just waste of money for most. I'm an IT professional and far from an average user, and I find 100 Mbit adequate for my needs. I would rather keep the money and spend them on buying new MikroTik toys.

What can possibly be done on a smartphone that would require 1 Gbit connection?.. First people waste money on ISP bandwidth they don't really need, then of course "to take advantage" of it, they need to buy expensive gear only to realize they now need to upgrade all client devices to match that new gear. It's a vicious cycle.

No idea where the parts for MT devices are made or where assembled for that matter.
Concur, eap245 was great, and yes omada sucks, all good when manually configured.
Most people stream video these days!!

However, I have been reading a lot of reviews that claim the WiFi from a AX2 is pretty substandard.

I recently bought my parents AX2, and had some
experience trying it at home. I really liked its speed, and a sufficient level of WiFi signal. But when I tried it at my parents', I saw every day, almost every hour, that wireless devices: Samsung S24+ phone, LG TV, smart speaker, smart power socket, etc stop connecting to WiFi, I tried all possible settings, firmware from 7.16 to 7.19 and all to no avail, until I was told to try 7.14.3 and it really works well, https://www.has-mikrotik-repaired-broke ... 3-yet.ovh/

Therefore, evaluating my terrible experience with WiFi AX2, and that I am chained to 7.14.3 - I would not recommend this router.

Most people stream video these days!!

If we talk Netflix specifically, you need like 16mbit/s for 4k. And I'm not kidding. Their bitrate is terrible
No clue about the others

But I was able to stream 1080/60 YouTube on a 6Mbit/s connection. (I think 2k worked too, but I don't really remember)