ASUS begins shipping the ZenWiFi BN12, its WiFi 8 mesh system up to 19 Gbps

ASUS has started shipping the Ships ZenWiFi BN12. The company thus confirms the move to distribution of a product whose main characteristics it had already announced, although it has not yet said how much it will cost or in which countries it can be purchased first.

The statement places the start of shipments as a novelty. The BN12 combines three wireless bands, a joint maximum advertised speed of 19 Gbps, and Ethernet connections of up to 10 Gbps. ASUS proposes it as a solution to extend the network throughout the house through several nodes, with functions to analyze interference and distribute traffic between devices.

Three bands and up to 19 Gbps combined speed

The official file identifies the team as BN19000. Their Theoretical maximum speeds are distributed between 11,529 Mbps for the 6 GHz band, 5,764 Mbps for the 5 GHz band, and 1,376 Mbps for the 2.4 GHz band.. The figure close to 19 Gbps results from adding the maximums of the three bands; It is not the speed that a mobile phone or a computer connected individually will reach. Actual performance will depend on devices, distance, interference and installation.

Each band has a 4×4 configuration. The system also supports WiFi 7 and earlier generation devices, although WiFi 8 features require compatible equipment.

Techniques cited for BN12 include new modulation and coding rates, unequal modulation between streams, access to non-primary channels, and coordination between access points. ASUS foresees more stable connections at medium and long distances, but the statement does not provide comparative tests with a specific WiFi 7 system.

An expandable mesh network with wireless or wired links

Two ZenWiFi BN12 units can form an AiMesh network with one Advertised coverage of up to 7,000 square feet, about 650 square meters. This is a manufacturer’s estimate – walls, construction materials, and node placement may reduce this.

The system supports expansion with ASUS routers compatible with AiMesh. In a multi-node installation, communication between them can be carried out wirelessly and take advantage of links in the 5 and 6 GHz bands through Multi-Link Operation. When the home has Ethernet cabling, the 10 Gbps ports allow nodes to be connected by cable and reserve more wireless capacity for user devices. The sheet includes three modes of operation: wireless router, access point and AiMesh node.

Each unit incorporates eight internal antennas and twelve high-power front-end radio modules. ASUS uses them to expand coverage and maintain the connection with low-power devices in areas far from the nodes.

Two 10 Gbps ports, three 2.5 Gbps ports and one USB

Wired connectivity includes five Ethernet ports per unit. One 10 Gbps can be configured as a WAN or LAN, while the second 10 Gbps works as a LAN. There is a 2.5 Gbps port configurable as WAN or LAN and two other 2.5 Gbps ports for the local network. This distribution allows you to connect a multi-gigabit Internet access and maintain fast connections for a NAS, a computer or the link between nodes.

The tab adds a USB 3.2 Gen 1 that can be used to share the connection of a 4G or 5G phone or modem if the main line fails. It also supports dual WAN and automatic detection of Internet input. To use these options, a compatible device or second connection is required.

Inside there is a 2.6 GHz quad-core processor, 2 GB of RAM and 256 MB of flash memory. ASUS lists one-, two-, and three-unit packs, though it notes that these may vary by region.

Traffic control and security from the router

Adaptive QoE adjusts traffic priority based on the usage it detects on the networkfor example, when a video call and a download coincide. WiFi Insight allows you to check your status, detect WiFi and other interference, and review a 24-hour history. ASUS also mentions intelligent channel switching.

In terms of security, the BN12 incorporates AiProtectionanalysis of router configuration, blocking malicious sites and filters for ads or trackers. Add parental controls, DNS filtered browsing, and VPN features, including WireGuard support. The product page specifies that Instant Guard requires a public IPv4 address on the WAN connection, a requirement that may limit its use on lines where the operator does not provide it.

The manufacturer had already announced in September that the ZenWiFi BN12 would arrive during October. The new statement confirms that it has begun shipping it, but does not identify the first markets nor does it state that it is for sale in Spain. It also does not communicate a price for any of the configurations. For now, the beginning of distribution is confirmed commercial data; The arrival in Spanish stores is still pending announcement.