I am trying to connect multiple RAX40s as APs for a R8000P base router with a switch in between. However, it seems I can only get one of them switched to AP mode and working. The rest work just fine when booted from a factory reset, however when they reboot from being switched to AP mode they either lose their WAN connection (LED goes amber), or "steal" the WAN connection from the other working RAX40.
How come the RAX40s lose their WAN internet connection when switched to AP mode, but work just fine when creating their own network?
Is this a defective device issue or does Netgear just not allow multiple APs on a R8000P?
I'm super confused as to why this isn't working.
I have made sure that the switch is not the issue by trying to connect the RAX40s directly to the R8000P, and the issue persists.
I have also had BestBuy Geek squad come check it out and they couldn't figure the issue out either. They just kept repeating how I should have bought a mesh system.
All routers have the latest firmware.
Model: R8000P|Nighthawk X6S AC4000 Tri Band WiFi Router, RAX40|Nighthawk AX4 4-Stream WiFi Router
The rest work just fine when booted from a factory reset,
Not really relevant for the AP mode - as the factory default is router mode, and all clients wil get IP addresses from the RAX40 router where they are connected to (LAN port) or associated to (wireless).
however when they reboot from being switched to AP mode they either lose their WAN connection (LED goes amber),
The Netgear consumer routers in AP do not maintain a WAN connection in the classic definition. In AP mode by definition it's just a L2 bridge between the port designated "Internet"/"WAN". This could have an impact on how the device does check the Internet connection - I suspect the amber LED is a false indication only as I've experienced this on some earlier tests and remember having read similar reports several times.
..."steal" the WAN connection from the other working RAX40.
How does this appear to you resp. the systems you connect to that router supposedly in AP mode? What comes into my mind is that one RAX40 went to router mode, and started to issue local IP addresses on the LAN/WLAN (using a different subnet like 10.0.0.0/24 with the WAN on 192.168.1.0/24 (default on your R8000P).
How come the RAX40s lose their WAN internet connection when switched to AP mode, but work just fine when creating their own network?
Not convinced this observation is correct - see above. The IP stack on the RAX40 is active for local maintenance, and should have the IP address configured from the primary router DHCP with reservation or being manually configured accordingly (IP address according to a plan, correct mask, correct default gateway). This IP stack on these routers in AP mode does not make the wireless clients associated to the WiFi radios to reach the Internet, leaving alone Netgear does implement ugly things sometimes, like a L2 DNS capture "relay" which can lead to strange issues...
I have also had BestBuy Geek squad come check it out and they couldn't figure the issue out either. They just kept repeating how I should have bought a mesh system.
Well, in my opinion consumer routers make awful bad or very limited feature wireless access points. When putting up money and time in such a set-up - long before looking into consumer Mesh systems - I tend to suggest looking into Netgear's Insight product offerings.
..."steal" the WAN connection from the other working RAX40.
How does this appear to you resp. the systems you connect to that router supposedly in AP mode? What comes into my mind is that one RAX40 went to router mode, and started to issue local IP addresses on the LAN/WLAN (using a different subnet like 10.0.0.0/24 with the WAN on 192.168.1.0/24 (default on your R8000P).
By losing WAN I mean they have a self assigned IP and no internet connection when directly plugged into that router via ethernet.
I'd have the R8000P set up in Router mode. Connect the first RAX40 as AP mode, and all works well. Sometimes even the second RAX40 connects fine as an AP. But the next RAX40 I set up either doesn't get a WAN connection or runs fine but when I go to check on the other RAX40 APs one or more of them loses WAN and shows amber color on WAN LED.
The RAX40s definitely don't unexpectedly switch back to router mode since they never give themselves or any clients an IP. But when they truly are in router mode they work just fine.
Why would only one, sometimes two, RAX40s be able to act as AP but as soon as more are connected it because an issue? Theoretically I should be able attach as many APs as I would like as long as they fit in the IP address space.
Re: RAX40s lose WAN internet when switched to AP mode
I set up a second RAX40 and set it to AP mode and the first RAX40 lost the Internet. After much effort, I was able to get them both to work in AP mode by following the steps below. 1. Unplug the WAN-side cable of the RAX40 running in AP mode. 2. Start the other RAX40 in AP mode. 3. Insert the unplugged cable. The device name, SSID, and MAC address of the two RAX40s are different. Why does this happen?
