Rebuilding network for ease of use

[spacein_vader]

Yes, I'd say that that is indeed the point of MESH. It's fundamentally to work a bit like a cellular service - the system passes a given user off to another node if you get a better signal from it as you move around. If you get good whole house coverage with one AP (or router) then I can't see Mesh benefitting you. The only possibility is if at some future point, something is added tht requires range extension. Or maybe, if you find a radio blind spot somewhere.

The way my Asus works is as a router. I turned the ISP (Virgin)
one into modem-only mode (i.e. disable wireless and all router functions like DHCP, and plug the Asus WAN port into the ISP-modem LAN port. Let the Asus handle the routing. It's way more powerful. For example, separate 'guest' networks, with their own passwords. It also handles DHCP and all such services, is configurable for prioritising games and so on. It's way more than the Virgin unit, with Trend Micro protection built-in too. Turning it into a MESH is more or less just adding another unit and setting it ro MESH AP mode, not router mode, so that remains an option. i.e. out of the box, it's just a good router.

If your one unit is enough, no MESH needed but the Asus units are, IMHO, pretty good. Not cheap, though.

May I ask which Asus model you're using, if I do go down the new router erm, route, they're near the top of my list. Also are you using the stock software or the Merlin open source fork? Cost isn't really the issue as mentioned.

I guess another way to look at it is "what will and won't work if something gets replaced or factory reset?

1&2 you could just get a commodity box to give the same functionality. A decent brand should give a few years of updates.

3 I'm yet to pihole as I've just got browser extensions installed in most places, maybe an option at least for PCs.

4 Wi-fi on a separate device makes it ISP/router change proof, even if the new wi-fi didn't get disabled then it's not the end of the world.

1 & 2 I am looking at synology and others mid range NAS offerings. Unfortunately while they mostly run Plex, emby or Jellyfin support are harder to find. Not ruling it out though.

3. The main reason the family want to keep the Pi hole is it blocks the ad breaks on ITV Hub, All4 and similar streaming services which all come through our Roku devices connected to the TVs. They'd lose this with pc browser based stuff which they mind less anyway.

4. That's what I'm thinking, never having to move all the IOT and other appliances to a new network password etc every time you change ISP. Appreciate an Asus router or similar in series after the ISPone would also eliminate that issue as an AP would.

[Saracen999]

May I ask which Asus model you're using, if I do go down the new router erm, route, they're near the top of my list. Also are you using the stock software or the Merlin open source fork? Cost isn't really the issue as mentioned.

ASUS RT-AX86U and, at the moment, stock firmware. I had thought about Merlin but, right now, am not sure I need it and don't want to mess with the warranty.