[bambina]

I have bought x2 PW-AX1800 Routers and have paired using a Cat6 wire from Port3 to Port3 and tagged that Port when in AP mode, and Port1(x1) and Port2(x2) are internet dead on the AP yet fully working on the Main Router.

Port1(x1) untagged | Port2(x2) untagged | Port3(LAN) Tagged
All config matches blog article, yet support has no answer for this, please can someone help’.

[bambina]

PW-AX1800 pair, AP mode, dead LAN ports1 and 2 as soon as Port3 is Tagged, All config matches blog article, support has no answer’.

[bambina]

Just to add to this, i have decided to revert both routers to 192.168.10.1 and start all over again, well i disabled all broadcasting from Main router and only allowed the LAN to broadcast on the AP then i fully set everything up and not just did i get a broadcast coming from the AP on the LAN that actually worked but weirdly enough the Main Router was broadcasting the LAN too dispute this being disabled…!
In any event the AP did nothing else what-so-ever, i.e. it was the same as before yet now with a LAN broadcast and both routers have the broadcast blue light lit yet i thought i could interdependently choose to broadcast a SSID from 1 router and not the AP or vise versa as this doesn’t seem to be the case?

I also noticed that regardless to the AP being connected to the Main router or not then the Main router was continuing to have the broadcast blue led light on on the said router which was also confusing?

So i started again, this time i broadcasted all SSID’s on both routers and matched the channels, frequency, well matched everything and discovered that the AP does infact work on wifi and probably did all along its just i never tried wifi before as i seldom use it at all, anyway wifi broadcasts yet none of the ports give any internet on the AP, when i say any of the ports well i only have 2 being x1 & x2 well neither of those give any internet yet they do let me connect it to the laptop but zero internet even though the main router does give internet on the said ports and yes the ports are matched and port3 is tagged at both ends so im left partially working yet with no internet ports on the AP and no way of being able to individualize the broadcasts from 1 ap to the router.

When i go to MANAGE in the HUB UI i see 3 hostnames yet none of them are the AP MAC Address, i only see 2 MAC Addresses which ends in numbers which i checked and 1 of which is the Main Router and says its on LAN
the other 2 Hostnames MAC Addresses do not match with the AP MAC Address, 1 of them will be my laptop for sure and the other one may be something to do with QubesOS i dont know for sure but it starts F8 and ends in a letter rather than a number so im confused there too.

I also noticed in the same MANAGE that when im connected via wifi on the AP that nothing says CONNECTION wifi, it just says WIRED for everything.

[bambina]

Thanks for that, that reassures me that i did do everything correct as i have done that about 6 times and still dont have any AP action, the only things i did different i shall list below for you to see if that should matter or not;

5Ghz has always been disabled.
1. I only actually disabled the Broadcast of the SSID for LAN, in fact i disabled the broadcast of all SSID Broadcasts for now for everything, LAN, x1 & x2 as im on Ethernet wire, however all the SSID’s have been set up and ready for me to tick Broadcast when ever i like.
2. When you say keep off the AP whilst setting up the Main router i actually plug the main router directly into 1 laptop offline and the AP into another laptop offline and do them at the same time to check all SSID’s etc are all perfectly the same.
3. I left as you said yet i also ticked all the row on x2 just so i can access the router via Ethernet for now during this testing stage as i seldom use wifi.
8. I changed both routers IP addresses much earlier on, so the main router is; 192.168.5.1 and the AP i changed to; 192.168.6.1 surely this is not the issue is it?

As i currently have a ISP router on LAN connected to a VPN Router (WAN) then from the VPN Router i use (LAN) to plug into your pcwrt Main Router (WAN) then Port3 to the AP router Port3

Could i be getting triple NAT or something i read online, may i add, i have absolutely no issues with my current setup at all, i can access the pcwrt Main Router perfectly just the AP is non existent…
Should the 2 routers have their blue mesh lights on as the mesh lights are NOT On on the routers.
I i plug my Ethernet into any port on the AP after i told it to be a AP then i have ZERO access and i am then forced to reset it and start all over again, but the AP looks and seems all good sat there with the blue lights clearly showing the connections are good, i also tried changing around my cat6 cables for cat6a but that made zero difference & im getting concerned as i need to have this set up fully working for Tuesday midday and im panicking now.
4.

[bambina]

Also i dont seem to be able to login to the main router using an Ethernet cable, how do i fix this without giving a tenant on x1/port1 or a IOT device on x2/port2 more access to the LAN than i currently have given them?

Also should Port3 have more access or just keep 1 tick on x3 for port3?

[bambina]

Thanks so much for your kind reply i was just starting to panic, well i shall try and make more simple;

> The Lan SSID will only be set up on 2.4Ghz and will be left disabled unless the Landlord wants to remotely turn it on so he can connect to it as an option in an emergency situation to config something then disable the broadcast again for example.

> x1 is used with Port 1 as Isolated Sandboxed Network for Tenants Only this means the Port1 can be used by a tenant into their laptop if they choose or x1 wifi on their laptop, which ever they prefer. In the real world it means taht all tenants will be using x1 Wifi 2.4Ghz and Port 1 will be used for their joint smart TV hence x1 and Port 1 will be dedicated just to them.

> x2 is used with Port 2 as Isolated Sandboxed Network for all Landlord IOT devices on wifi 2.4Ghz + a CCTV DVR used on the Port2 All Landlord Only.

> Guest Network is on 2.4Ghz wifi only NO PORT allocation at all ever.

> Port 3 is dedicated for mesh to the AP pcwrt router which is Tagged.

I have been playing around a little since we last spoke and i seem to have the Main Pcwrt Router set up to work online, i left the config for VLAN DESTINATION all as was, all i did was Change Port1 to x1 and Port2 to x2 then tag Port 3 (LAN) on both the Main Router and the AP Router.

I did plug in the AP Router offline and alter all the SSID Broadcasts to match the Main Router then Tagged Port3 but i don’t seem to be able to know where to go to tell it to be a AP and as a result it is not giving out any internet.

Also on the Main Router i told it to be a Main Router then entered a made up Mesh Password but dont know how to access the AP Router from the Main Router HUB?

Is there any way when im connected to the Main Router Hub i can see the config for the AP Router HUB as this has me a little confused please?

[bambina]

Hi there, i posted a reply after i managed to do the reset a week ago now but i never got any reply, would you know where i need to go to get support for these routers or can i return them please as this is becoming to much trouble and taking to long please help? thanks

[bambina]

> I want the pcWRT-Router to plug straight into the ISP Router (the ISP Router will be made dumb) & the pcWRT-Router to work seamlessly (meshed) with 1 pcWRT-AP all on hard wire.
> I want pcWRT-Router to Broadcast just 1, 2.4Ghz isolated SSID BBroadcast so that it can work with x1 IOT Camera Only.
> I want pcWRT-Router & pcWRT-AP to both Broadcast just 1, 2.4Ghz & a 5Ghz Broadcast for all tenants to use Only and so that when they walk past 1 Router then near the AP that their devices will seamlessly connect with which ever network broadcast is the strongest. Yet i dont want each tenant to be able to see any other device on the network which is not theirs, i.e. other tenants and/or IOT devices etc.
> I want pcWRT-AP to have x1 isolated Ethernet Port dedicated for connecting a smart TV.
> I want pcWRT-AP to have x1 isolated Ethernet Port dedicated for connecting a CCTV DVR.
> I want pcWRT-AP to have x1 isolated 2.4Ghz Broadcast to connect to a Room Stat & Nany Cameras.
SUMMARY
x3 Vlans needed in total all vlans are to be completely separate and i dont want any device on any vlan to be able to see any other device even on the same vlan.
x1 vlan will be for all tenants.
x1 vlan will be for all guests.
x1 vlan to be for all Owner IOT equipment (2.4Ghz Only.
Lastly with this in mind my other confusion was, as the owner then which vlan SSID and/or Port do i use to connect my device when i want to locally access the hub for anything on the odd occasion i may need to do so as i thought that if i used the Owner vlan IOT Vlan then i was concerned that if any hack had been done or virur inputted on the Owner IOT vlan then i plug in my loved device then i may catch and spread the said virus to my device and as there are only 3 ports on the back of the Router/Ap then these ports surly would already now be taken up with the 3 above named vlans so i wasnt sure how to deal with such an issue like that?
——————————————————————————————-
ROUTER CONFIG
1. When 1st setting up the router for the 1st time or after a reset then when following the guide wizard then what is the SSID Broadcast info required for? Is this for the Landlord/Owner only and no devices should ever be on it or is it for tenants to use only as a vlan or guests as this is extremely un-clear to me even if i need to broadcast it & if so then why and how and what for?
2. How do i know if i need to change any of the router and/or AP settings such as the below?
——————————————————————————————-
SETTINGS – NETWORK SETTINGS
—————————
DHCP SETTINGS
DHCP Start = 100
DHCP Limit = 150
DHCP Lease Time = 12
—————————
NAT OFFLOADING
Software flow offloading = NO
—————————
SECURITY
Stealth Mode = YES
Blocking Ping = YES
Block DNS rebind attack = YES
Enable mDNS = NO
—————————
DESTINATION CHART
There are 5 horizontal rows in total, its clear to me what they are for, they are for isolating LAN’s/networks from each other, so i shall try state what is not clear to me only;
> It is not clear as to what LAN is, who can use it, which port it relates to or which Broadcast it relates to or if it needs to just be kept clear and unused so that the owner/landlord can log onto it?
> I am also confused with the vertical columns for example on the LAN row they are all ticked so does that mean that if i allow a tenant to use the broadcast on LAN then they can see/access any/ever other vlan and device on any/all vlans?

[bambina]

lol, i so need a full guide including all settings really as i see to have issues every step of the way, i mean for example i have just gone to reset the device to start all over again yet fail to be able to even reset the router or find out where you state how to reset it either, i have spent a longtime searching on your forum and online and just cant get the answer anywhere…
I have tried holding in the reset button for up to 30secs yet to no avail, i also tried power off router then hold in the reset button then power up whilst still holding it in for 30secs yet still to no avail 🙁

[bambina]

That video with the very distracting music which you kindly sent me was not helpful, im so so confused here as that clearly showed a partial set up of what i think was a router + a wireless meshed AP yet i dont want such a set up, nor would i be able to complete such a set up with such limited information from such a short limited video, i need a comprehensive idiots guide for a beginner as its been almost 1yr and still i have not ever set up router 1 correctly and i have 2 routers now and intend to add a 3rd if needed yet think its best to 1st get 2 routers set up meshed correctly yet i really need all config as i dont even know what the same subnet means 100% you see? please help as i really want to use your kit? thanks

[bambina]

3. Regards the mesh, well is the 2 proposed router set up above not classed as a mesh?
also what about double NAT?
do i need to be concerned with DHCP, DCP etc?
Can I turn off IPV6 or do i need that running?
Is there any more data on me adding the 3rd router/AP via wireless connection please?

4. 150mb download speed
Possibly about 15 to 25 devices i would estimate yet i dont know for sure until i get the full set up sorted so i can observe whats going on as theres always complaints about the speed issues yet im sure someone is consuming excess bandwith as only 6 people there yet if you was to say 6 people with laptops + phones = 12 devices + IOT = 6 more devices + a couple of guests and that should be full load on the network.
The smart TV is on hard wire.

[bambina]

Thanks for that, so i would need to buy another router from you then?
So just to be clear on the wiring here if i buy another same pc-wrt router;
ISP Router LAN going to pc-WRT Router1 WAN
then from pc-WRT Router1 LAN to pc-WRT Router2 LAN
then fix both pc-WRT Routers SSID Broadcasts to be the same on both 2.4 and 5ghz then switch both pc-WRT Routers to AP Mode?

If this is true then;
1. Can i still use the ISP SSID Broadcast if i change it to a different Broadcast name?
2. If i dont do any separate VLANs on the pc-WRT routers then can i still access the Routers remotely without compromising my safety7 or the house safety?
3. What if when i have done the job i need to add another pc-wrt router to provide better wifi coverage yet i cant use a Ethernet cable for the 3rd router how will that work?
4. Will using separate VLANS help towards preventing bandwidth overload by to many devices on the network etc?

[bambina]

Thanks, however that unfortunately doesn’t seem to of worked for me…

I want the ISP Router and the pcWRT Router to be connected via Ethernet so i intend to connect the Ethernet to the ISP Router on LAN1 then connect it to the pcWRT on a LAN1 port as i want both Routers to emit the same WIFI SSID Broadcast to help provide better WIFI Coverage in the property.
I also intend to config and set the pcWRT Router up as much as possible at home before i drive all the way to the tenants place to install the pcWRT if possible?

1. How do i exactly config/add this pcWRT Router to the existing ISP Router so it becomes a Access Point please?

2. Also can i still access the said Router remotely?

[bambina]

is this forum dead? does anyone know how to best get tech advise about pcWRT routers or should i be using a different router make please as im confused?

[bambina]

just to add to my prior post, i am probably to scared of issues in replacing the ISP router as i live a long way from the property so i think i would prefer to just add pcWRT ROUTER/S LAN to WAN set up im thinking

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