While in AP mode, be sure to connect the RBR to the host router using the WAN port on the RBR. This is required for AP mode. Then Switch connected to one of the LAN ports behind the RBR.
My setup is as per the third diagram in that link - with the router also connected to the switch.
]
When you say:
"
be sure to connect the RBR to the host router using the WAN port on the RBR. This is required for AP mode. Then Switch connected to one of the LAN ports behind the RBR.
"
Maybe that is the problem then. As it stands, the RBR WAN port is disconnected
The RBR LAN port is connected to a GS116LP switch
The RBS LAN port is connected to the same switch
The Router (openWRT) is also connected to that same switch
The above worked fine when the RBS was not wired - and the RBR saw it as a satellite
Now that it is wired, it works at one level - things can connect to it fine....it's just that the RBR doesn't think it has any sats - so maybe it is working more as a "dumb AP" than a mesh network
My setup is as per the third diagram in that link - with the router also connected to the switch.
]
When you say:
"
be sure to connect the RBR to the host router using the WAN port on the RBR. This is required for AP mode. Then Switch connected to one of the LAN ports behind the RBR.
"
Maybe that is the problem then. As it stands, the RBR WAN port is disconnected
The RBR LAN port is connected to a GS116LP switch
The RBS LAN port is connected to the same switch
The Router (openWRT) is also connected to that same switch
The above worked fine when the RBS was not wired - and the RBR saw it as a satellite
Now that it is wired, it works at one level - things can connect to it fine....it's just that the RBR doesn't think it has any sats - so maybe it is working more as a "dumb AP" than a mesh network
It turns out I don't have enough copper laid under the floor to run the router through the RBR750 WAN port as well as connect the LAN port to the switch
However, as a check I removed the wired connection from the RBS750
Within a minute or so the RBR750 detected it as a satellite - and all continued to work
So I guess the question becomes:
Is it better to have the RBS on a wired connection, apparently working fine, but with the RBR unaware of it, OR have the RBS on a wireless only connection, and have the RBR aware of it.
It feels like the advantage to the second option is nice handover between base stations
The advantage to the first option is better connection from the RBS to the wired network
At somepoint, when and if you get time and resources, I'd run another line from the RBR to the switch that way you can then enjoy the ethernet BH. For now, leave it as wireless and see how things work for you.
I'd a bit reluctant to run the whole wired network through the RBR, given it isn't actually doing any routing - since it introduces another possible failure point for all the wired stuff in the house
I'm assuming that when I had things set up on wired earlier tonight, when it was "working" but the RBR could not see the RBS, the system was operating as two standalone access points, woth none of the mesh cooperation
It turns out I don't have enough copper laid under the floor to run the router through the RBR750 WAN port as well as connect the LAN port to the switch
Oh, my. This sounds like a house built on a foundation (rather than a slab) which makes it possible to crawl around under the house and install Ethernet cables. (Dirty, claustrophobic, etc. But doable.)
Technically, there is a method to use a single Ethernet cable between the switch location and the router location to carry both the WAN and LAN connections. It involves creating VLANs on two managed switches. An investment of about $75 and some technical work. Paying a teenager to crawl under the floor might be simpler.
If the system meets expectations using the WiFi connection between router and satellite, "problem solved".
Yep, I agree with the pragmatic "if it's working on wireless, leave it"
I don't have a crawl space - well, maybe if I were a gerbil....just enough room under floorboards for some joists 🙂
The setup sketched (badly) in the attached image is what I had earlier. This worked at some level, but the RBR was unaware of the RBS
The current situation is the same as the above, but with the green wired link removed. This seems to be working fine.
From what people have suggested here, the other option would be to run the red cable into the RBR WAN port directly. But this would have a possible risk that then all traffic from the switch to the world has to pass through the RBR
Let us know how it goes. Just need the WAN port of the RBR connected then the RBS connected some how behind the RBR. Got another switch on hand that you could deploy? Something like NGs GS305 or 105 would work.
