NETGEAR is aware of a growing number of phone and online scams. To learn how to stay safe click here.
Forum Discussion
Paulwright44
May 17, 2024Aspirant
AX1800 Router - Issues with AP Mode
Hiya, I am running into an issue that I am struggling to resolve. I recently moved to a new property that has a main house and a Casita out back. To extend internet to the Casita, we installed about ...
- May 17, 2024
Paulwright44 wrote:
I went back to the main house and logged into my Gateway (primary router) it does not show the device in the DHCP server. To troubleshoot, I brought the AX1800 back to the main house and connected it to the Gateway using a different cord right next to the Gateway. The Gateway picked it up and assigned an IP, and everything seemed good.Sort of suggests that there is nothing wrong with the router in AP mode. Looks like the cable link to the AP is the issue.
I assume that the AP is a RAX10. AX1800 is just a label for the wifi technology it uses. Netgear made a handful of AX1800s.
Does the RAX10 work as expected in AP mode when it sits next to the gateway?
When you connect at the remote end, does the RAX10 show a connection on the Internet LED?
Things I am thinking but really don't know:
- Should the Ax1800 actually be running in Bridge mode?
- Should I assign it a static IP (does that matter?)
- Is this type of setup incompatible with Cox Gateway devices / should I pick up another router to be used in bridge with my cox modem?Bridge mode needs a wifi link back to the router. 100 feet is a stretch for that.
Netgear does not recommend using a fixed IP. I have no idea why. I use that and it works just fine. You could try it.
Your own experiments suggest that there are no compatibility problems with the gateway.
Bit of a puzzle.
Kitsap
May 17, 2024Master
Did you install the RJ45 end connectors on your long run Cat 5e or are you using punch-down terminations?
Paulwright44
May 17, 2024Aspirant
Okay so I fixed it but the solution was not all that satisfying.
I factory reset and ran through setup again. Used the same setup as before --> dynamic IP + AP mode. I did notice this time around there was a firmware update available which I downloaded.
Per the first poster - "Sort of suggests that there is nothing wrong with the router in AP mode. Looks like the cable link to the AP is the issue."
When I brought it back out it still didn't work. So I decided to re-terminate both ends of the cat5e cable (RJ45 end connectors) and alas it worked after that. What is bizarre is that the cable worked when I used it on a laptop. I'm not familiar with architecture of ethernet cables but I guess it was poorly terminated and not working well enough for the router, but just well enough for the laptop. Just bad craftsmanship on my part!
Thanks all for the thoughts and suggestions, very helpful for consolidating the issue.
- KitsapMay 17, 2024Master
Glad you got it working.
Most likely, the chip set behind the Ethernet ports on the router is different than the one behind the port on your laptop. One was more tolerant of a marginal signal than the other.