Access point no internet connection

SDMFer

SDMFer

SDMFer

Associate
Joined
10 Nov 2013
Posts
57
Location
Manchester
Hi all,

I have a TP Link Archer C7 as the main router (off a Virgin hub set in bridge mode as modem only) and a TP Link Archer VR600 set as an access point connected by Cat5e cable to extend WiFi coverage. It also has a CCTV NVR connected via Cat5e.

I set it up with main router IP 192.168.0.1, DHCP range x.x.0.2-x.x.0.99, with the AP at x.x.0.100, DHCP server disabled and WiFi SSID same as the main router. Which worked! But recently it seems like the connection has been dropping out, which on further investigation turns out that the AP has no internet connection (WiFi fine).

I have messed with internet connection settings on the AP, although the router-AP connection is LAN port to LAN port so it made no difference. The CCTV still works fine, so the AP is connected to the network no problem. I am at a loss as to why the AP no longer can see the internet connection and would appreciate any opinions on what I can do to sort this. Thanks!
 
I wouldn't expect it to have an internet connection as such. It'll most likely to be looking to it's WAN and there isn't going to be anything there. There's nothing unusual about this.

If the devices that are connecting to it are getting valid IPs and can connect out to the internet then it's working.
 
This is just it though - if I connect specifically to the AP with a unique SSID, I cannot connect to the internet with my device. However the CCTV can still be reached from over the LAN and is connecting to the internet?!

I think it may be easiest, although a bit time-consuming, to switch the two routers over. The main router, an Archer C7, has an access point mode, which should ensure all unnecessary settings are off, and then set up DHCP on the Archer VR600 as the main router. I just have to make sure I have enough LAN port on the VR600 as it’s WAN port is a shared LAN port...oh the fun! Thanks for the advice.
 
I don’t see any point doing that. Did you check what the gateway and DNS servers were set to on the AP?
 
Sorry, I didn’t mention this setup is at my parents’ house, who are also in isolation so I can’t go inside and sort it out - I was sat outside the front door yesterday on the WiFi with my iPad! I’m popping round later today so will have another play with it and report back.

Just to check, the DNS servers are optional and blank on the main router (likely set by the Virgin hub modem). I would imagine the AP gateway would be the main router IP (192.168.0.1), but should I set the DNS servers to the Virgin ones or just leave them blank?

I also suspect this may have gone wrong after they had a power cut a while back. Whether that has upset something I do not know, but it’s odd that the AP switch works fine, in that the CCTV is still discoverable via the internet on the computers and apps, but I cannot browse the internet via the WiFi on it?
 
The gateway has to be the main route to the internet, so if that’s the C7 then that’s the gateway.

If that works then you should be able to ping a known site. I usually use google at 8.8.8.8

If that’s working then you need to be able to resolve IP addresses and you need a DNS server. You can set it to the same as the gateway or you can force it to look somewhere. For the sake of this exercise, try 1.1.1.1 and 8.8.8.8.

If you can now attach to the access point, you should be able to access the internet.
 
SDMFer said:
This is just it though - if I connect specifically to the AP with a unique SSID, I cannot connect to the internet with my device.
Click to expand...

That's unexpected. If you do 'ipconfig /all' (assuming it's a Windows box) on a device that's connected to the wireless network on the VR600, what is shown as being the DHCP server? Please post the output of the command. I'm assuming the C7 will be the DHCP server shown.

SDMFer said:
However the CCTV can still be reached from over the LAN and is connecting to the internet?!
Click to expand...

That's completely normal. The wireless network you're connecting to is on the LAN side of the VR600 as is CCTV device. Internet traffic from the CCTV device will just be using the default gateway - the C7.
 
Okay, so I went round yesterday after my dad had moved the AP further from the main router to try and improve WiFi coverage. I was hoping that after a restart from doing this I could then dig into the settings and sort this out. Except it seems to now work as expected?! I harbour a sneaky feeling that after a power cut some weeks ago, perhaps on coming back on in perhaps the wrong sequence has upset something, and a reboot has just sorted it out?

I’ll see how it goes, but so far so go, and thanks for the help, it’s much appreciated and saved a lot of messing around!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom