DHCP not working from ASUS router through ASUS bridge

[nugunsknight]

RESOLUTION FOUND:
The issue is the shortfalls of the DHCP server capabilities of either the Hardware or Software of the ASUS AC3200 or AC66U and possibly any other consumer grade router. I loaded windows server 2012 R2 with a student license, on a PC I use for projects, and It was able to effectively issue DHCP addresses for all network devices that requested them.


Okay, this may get lengthy to describe as I will also define all attempted fixes and solutions I have attempted to resolve my issue. This issue concerns wireless bridging of routers as well as several access points. I have seen one other similar post here that refers to what I am doing, but the workaround that resolved his issues are not applicable in my situation. The post I am referring to is HERE.

To begin I will describe my network layout so that you may get a general idea of what is setup and where the hardware lies along with overall distances. All IP address for routers are statically set.
The hardware involved is as follows:
2x ASUS AC3200 (stock firmware)
6x ASUS AC66U (stock firmware)
8x ASUS N66U (stock firmware)
1x ZyXel ADSL MODEM

HUB:
I have a Hub location where the wireless signal is broadcast from one ASUS AC3200 over 3 TP-Link Omni Antennas at 12dBi and one Parabolic Dish Antenna at 24dBi
IP= 192.168.1.1

ECC:
The second location is a community center that has the other ASUS AC3200 router that has one TP-Link Dish antenna just like the HUB and pointing (laser assisted setup, clear line of sight through a lightly forested area) at the HUB, typical reported connection speeds can vary between 150MB/s to 300MB/s and 4 or 5 bars depending on weather. The ECC is located about 900FT away and is the furthest wireless connection. The ECC has two access points coming off the bridges ac3200. Both APs are ASUS N66U's

PLEASE NOTE, sharing internal IP addresses is not a security risk and I am posting this from work, so my connected address is not my ISP address... just in case someone wants to say something about sharing IP addresses.
IPs:
Bridge = 192.168.1.3
AP 1 = 192.168.1.13
AP 2 = 192.168.1.23

CLIENTS:
There are 6 client locations that also bridge to the HUB via ASUS AC66U's with an AP that is an ASUS N66U. These range in distance from 100ft to 600ft. Wired methods are only plausible for three of these 6 locations, but not doable at the moment.
IPs:
CLIENT1:
ASUS AC66U Bridge = 192.168.1.2
ASUS N66U AP = 192.168.1.12
CLIENT2:
ASUS AC66U Bridge = 192.168.1.4
ASUS N66U AP = 192.168.1.14
CLIENT3:
ASUS AC66U Bridge = 192.168.1.5
ASUS N66U AP = 192.168.1.15
CLIENT4:
ASUS AC66U Bridge = 192.168.1.6
ASUS N66U AP = 192.168.1.16
CLIENT5:
ASUS AC66U Bridge = 192.168.1.7
ASUS N66U AP= 192.168.1.17
CLIENT6:
ASUS AC66U Bridge = 192.168.1.8
ASUS N66U AP = 192.168.1.18

Now that this is defined, here is my issue. DHCP Server is not issuing addresses BEHIND the wireless bridges. If I set a static IP address then 3 out of 4 times the device will connect with no issues. But if I connect a device to the HUB wireless network the client will get a dhcp address with no issues and connects just fine. I attempted to setup all devices on the same table ( all 16 devices within a 6 foot radius of eachother) and configure the bridges one at a time, but they still presented the DHCP issue.
What I have attempted:
-Warranty replacement of hardware.
-Firmware both old and new
-Merlin firmware
-DD-WRT firmware (not applicable for AC3200's, not available.)
-Connecting just one bridged router
-Static IP's do not always work, but typically do
-DHCP address range is set to 192.168.1.100-254
-Primary DHCP moved to raspberryPI
-Secondary DHCP server on raspberryPI

I do not think that the issue is based in the bridges/APs as they all exhibit the same issue, unless it is a firmware/hardware limitation that I am unaware of.

STATIC IPs work EVERYTIME for a device that is wired directly into the APs or Bridges, Wireless STATIC IPs are finicky, and DHCP is almost non existent.

Device counts: 54 Total
16 Mobile phones (15 Android, 1 iPhone)
4 Tablets (Android)
4 Desktop PCs (Custom built, One acting as media server)
15 Laptops (4 HPs, 3 ASUS, 3 Lenovo, 1 Macbook, 2 Toshibas, 2 Acers)
5 TVs (2 Visio, 2 LG, 1 Sony)
3 printers (3 HP)
1 roku
3 xbox 360s
2 playstations 3s
1 WiiU

 

[RealBeast]

Please clarify a couple of points.

Which device is providing the DHCP service, the AC3200 that is located at the "hub location?"

What do you mean when you state, "DHCP address range is set to 192.168.1.200-254." That could only support 5 devices for DHCP and new connections would constantly disconnect other connections. Perhaps I misunderstand.

 

[nugunsknight]

Please clarify a couple of points.

Which device is providing the DHCP service, the AC3200 that is located at the "hub location?"

What do you mean when you state, "DHCP address range is set to 192.168.1.200-254." That could only support 5 devices for DHCP and new connections would constantly disconnect other connections. Perhaps I misunderstand.

At this moment, the AC3200 at the HUB is the only DHCP server on the network. It currently has a DHCP range of 192.168.1.100-254.

I Tried two other configurations for DHCP with a raspberryPI as the primary/only DHCP server,
and primary and secondary DHCP servers with the router and the rPI with different ranges for assignment.

If the DHCP range was set for 200-254, there would be addresses for up to 55 devices, am I wrong?

I have several devices, The printers, Roku, and the Desktop PCs that have Static IP addresses and have no issues with connecting to the network and internet.

I have gone through and set everyone phones to have a static IP for the networks, but it is not plausible to do this for the laptops as they are used outside of our land. The TVs and game systems are finicky when trying to assign static IPs and hardly work when doing this.

If I can edit my post, I will clarify some more things on there.

 

[RealBeast]

Yes, 55, I read 250-254.

I've never attempted that many wireless bridges, so not sure that those devices will support more than one to one. I understand that it is an issue for you, but the usual method would be to run a cable and just set up APs. Did you check with ASUS support on the question of how many media bridges can be done?

 

[nugunsknight]

This issue persists even if there is only one Media Bridge or all 6.

A cable is workable for two of the locations, but the other locations cross over 400ft to 1000ft. This network is located on a family farm that is also a family subdivision. A DSL line out here costs about $80 a month, plus about $1000 for installation. To try and avoid this I devised this network layout. It works for the most part, DHCP is my only issue.

I did use the static table included in asuswrt for assigning ip addresses based on MAC, but I removed it as an attempt to correct this DHCP issue. This has been something I have been working with for about three months and the issue has been persistent since installation of the hardware.

I will add that even if there was a static IP address assigned by the router based on MAC address, that would only work as often as DHCP does.

If I have the device connected as such over ethernet OR WiFi
PC>AccessPoint>MediaBridge>AC3200HUB>MODEM>IoT
Then dhcp AND static may or may not work

If I have the device connect as such over ethernet
PC>MediaBridge>AC3200HUB>MODEM>IoT
Then a static IP address works 100%, but DHCP works only some of the time. This only works for devices that support a wired connection as the Media Bridge has no wifi broadcasting capability.

 

[RealBeast]

I know that you have probably done all this, but I'm thinking it over from the starting point, so no offense if you have done it all, just don't want to miss anything.

I've always had success in assigning the networking components (that use them) static addresses in the specific device and in the static route table of the DHCP server, and in many cases I just used reserved dynamic addresses if the DHCP device supported it (and I think that yours does).

Your APs also need to have static or reserved dynamic addresses and must all use the DHCP router address as their gateway address.

I really feel that we *must* get this working, just so you can have bragging rights (and of course a stable network).

 

[nugunsknight]

No worries. I tried to cover it all in the first post. I would rather you bring something up, even if I have done it just to make sure nothing is missed.
I do have almost everything that is able to set its own static IP address, but none of the laptops are set nor are most of the phones or non PC devices.

I do have my APs and Bridges set to a static IP address as listed in my first post.

The gateway address is set as 192.168.1.1 in all aps and bridges, as well as when I set a static on a device.
I typically don't have issues with static IP for the PCs, but the other devices do not always connect when setting their static IP.
Now, in the ASUSwrt DHCP setup screen, the Gateway field is blank on the HUB AC3200 Router. If I set this as the PIs address when the PI is the DHCP server, should it redirect any DHCP request to that IP address?

 

[RealBeast]

I wouldn't complicate it with the PI for now.

 

[nugunsknight]

I am going to swap out the AC3200 router for an AC66U (because I already have one), just to see if this is a dhcp issue with the firmware of the AC3200, or a limitation of application. I have been through all versions available for stock ASUSWRT firmware as well as merlinware with no change. I will report back when I find out how the AC66U works.

 

[chado006]

I have similar issue on 2x AC87u
Can you please let me know if your mediabridge is connected to your hub with a 5ghz or a 2ghz connection?
And did you tested with both bands

 

[RealBeast]

I have similar issue on 2x AC87u
Can you please let me know if your mediabridge is connected to your hub with a 5ghz or a 2ghz connection?
And did you tested with both bands

The media bridge is meant to be connected with the 5GHz AC connection for the increased bandwidth that it provides.

Some of the earlier models (AC66 and 68) would still allow you to set up a local access point on the bridge using 2.4GHz, although I have not tried that with the later models.

 

[nugunsknight]

Three of the media Bridges are connected over the 5GHz band as they are within range to communicate on this band, The other four Media Bridges are connected over the 2.4GHz band.

I have tested connections on both bands and within a 10 ft radius of each other on a table. The issue is present whether it is one media bridge connected or all 7. Even my furthest connection at a little over 900FT gets a usual data rate of at least 150MB/s, even more on a clear dry day. This is more than enough to as this is just my mothers house and all that she does is web browsing.

I did swap out for the ac66u and this yielded no different results. I am now in the process of setting up a windows server using a trial license, AND Configuring a raspberryPI to see if using these as a dhcp server would resolve the issue.They will be implemented separately as to not complicate the setup. When I finish this test I will report back.

EDIT: Keep in mind that I am using high dBi omni-directional and directional antennas.

 

[nugunsknight]

The issue is the shortfalls of the DHCP server capabilities of either the Hardware or Software of the ASUS AC3200 or AC66U and possibly any other consumer grade router. I loaded windows server 2012 R2 with a student license, on a PC I use for projects, and It was able to effectively issue DHCP addresses for all network devices that requested them.

 

[RealBeast]

The issue is the shortfalls of the DHCP server capabilities of either the Hardware or Software of the ASUS AC3200 or AC66U and possibly any other consumer grade router. I loaded windows server 2012 R2 with a student license, on a PC I use for projects, and It was able to effectively issue DHCP addresses for all network devices that requested them.

Glad to hear it, I assumed it was something of that sort.

 

[nugunsknight]

RealBeast, I selected your response quoting my solution as 'the solution' to allow those small few that have the same issue to see what the conclusion was with ease. Thank you for the responses.