[SOLVED] One new router, two wireless access points. Can it be done?

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SparkyLB

Oct 28, 2022
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Hello, all. First post.

I have a new Linksys router (shaped like a skyscraper, white--but I can get the type/model if needed), and 2 wireless access points, a LAPAC1200 and LAPAC 1750, both PoE. The 1750 is up and running, adding wireless capability to a part of my house that used to be a weak spot. It has 10 clients and works a charm. My issue is I can NOT get the LAPAC 1200 to be recognized. In my main (ISP provided) routers GUI, it shows "connected" but when I go to the 1750's management page, (where new access points are added,) when I try to "add new access point" I am prompted to enter the MAC address and the SN of the 1200. Invariably I get an error to the effect, "your access point could not be found. I know the device works, because a few weeks ago I gave it its own SSID, and connected my mobile phone to it . The LED is solid blue which means it has a client. My 1750 with its 10 clients is solid blue, too.

I've removed wireless isolation, did multiple factory resets, made sure all 3 devices use the same radio, put one on channel 1, one on 6, and one on channel 11 to reduce interference. Each device has the same SSID. I've upgraded the firmware on all 3 devices, have each device on a reserved IP address. Lastly, I set up (tried it once) the 1750 to master (ascendant) and the 1200 to slave (descendant). No dice.

To recap, the issue is I can't get the LAPAC1200 to be recognized. Otherwise the network works flawlessly.

Background infomation--from front to back, my ISP router is in the center of my house, and I have wireless cameras that frequently drop connection. I bought these two WAPs to bring a strong signal closer to the back of the house (the LAPAC1750) and one closer to the front of the house (the LAPAC1200)

Short of a solution, does anyone know of 2 wireless access points (PoE) that can daisy-chained together with only one ethernet cable coming down from the ceiling. I know this requires two RJ45s on each WAP, but I'm told most of the time; the two-port models only have PoE on one port. In my scenario, it's important that I don't have to run a second ethernet cable into the attic.

Thanks for your time, all!
Larry
 
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You must be using some kind of management software if you are having to put in mac addresses etc.

A AP tends to be pretty much invisible to other devices on the network. It is basically a dumb switch that is converting the wifi radio signals to ethernet. From the routers view point it is just a switch with mulitple devices connected it really has no idea if they are connected via ethernet or wifi. The router does not even really know there is a switch on the connection....except the only way to have multiple devices on 1 port is for there to be some kind of switch. All it really knows for sure is a bunch of different mac addresses are on that port.

It is really common for people to use old routers as AP. Each is setup completely independently they have no idea the others exist. This should all just work together, maybe try it without any fancy software.

Your largest issue daisy chaining AP is the POE. There is limited amount of power you can send over PoE so the first device would have to only use part of it and still have enough power left to send it on to the second device.

I have seen some switches with a limited ability like this. The switch is PoE powered and can then power 1 remote device. I know both uniquiti and mikrotik sell switches with limited abilities like this. Ubiquiti would be your best bet to maybe find a AP that has this ability.
Maybe it will work with some of the AP that use passive forms of PoE rather 802.3af.
 
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Thank you. Do you see any advantage to putting my two APs back on DHCP, then?
I have an 8 port switch where the first 3 ports are PoE, and I do have the ability to run a separate ethernet cable to each. I'll give that a shot.

The 1750 has a GUI that I can access from anywhere. The 1200 must be accessed from the LAN side of my router. Leads me to believe the 1750 must manage the 1200. "Add an access point" (i.e., the 1200) is an option only when I'm on the 1750's GUI.

I appreciate your patience.

Since everything's working other than getting the 1200 recognized, I might disconnect the 1750 and start over, installing the 1200 first.
 
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You would think if you just had the 1200 you could configure it unless it is somehow sold as some kind of slave unit for the 1750. I am too lazy to go read manuals this morning.
Once the are configured as long as you make sure the IP addresses do not conflict they should not even know the other device exists.
 
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So after downloading and reading the .pdf for the 1200, I changed the DHCP range on my router. The computer is new, and had an IP that started with 10, where the default IP of the 1200 WAP is 192. . .

Now all devices on my network use this IP and mask scheme. I was hopeful, but it didn't work. I am able to ping the 1200, but my same issue remains when trying to "Add Wireless Access Point." It says not found (when the required fields of MAC and S/N are put in), it says a reason for this is the IP range might be "off," but I fixed that, another reason they give is that the wireless router "might not be connected to the internet."

I have no ideas left. I'm never one to blame the HW. I know this is an "idiot error" that I just don't have the knowledge to fix.

Is there a way one can "connect a WAP to the internet?" I'd think that should be done automatically. Is there a way to confirm that it IS connected to the internet? I'm getting closer. This is going to happen, I just rather it happen while I've got some years left in me. :)
 
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It has to be something very simple.

You technically don't even need IP addresses on the AP after they are up and running. The IP address is only used for management.

All the AP will do is convert the wifi signal to ethernet and copy the mac address of the end device into the new ethernet packet. It does not care what IP are inside the packets. Many times business uses completely different management network/vlan so the IP address of the AP is on a completely different network and does not have any kind of IP on the same network as the end devices. This prevents even any attempts at hacking the AP. You AP actually support this mode but I do not recommend you mess with it.

Pretty much you should be able to configure the AP completely off line from the main router. The hook them to the main router and it will just function.

I am not sure where you are doing "Add wireless Access Point". If this is part of some management software then I would attempt to run without it. You should be able to just configure the AP and hook them up and they work. Now I know some commercial AP like cisco or HP can not even be configured by a web browser but they used to cost like $300 also so nobody used them in a home network.
 
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Thanks again, Bill. The 1750 is a "cloud managed" capable device, when you go to it's IP address from the browser, a UI comes in the form of its logon page that allows you to do all kinds of things--and to add it to an existing network you click "add wireless access point." Works a charm on the 1750, but never finds/errors out for the 1200, whose logon page is similar, but it's not designed to be cloud managed.

I have thought of simply wiring it to my router and not my switch, just to get it installed on a SW level, but it's a PoE device and my routers' 4 ports aren't PoE. I can buy the cheapest PoE injector and try that. I'm also thinking of spending $50 on a used LAPAP1750 (the one I have that isn't giving me crying fits) and just go from there.

I agree with you there, though. It's got to be something very simple.

I'll keep plugging away. I appreciate your thoughts.

Larry.
 
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Cloud management is the dumbest thing ever but it seems to be the trendy thing to do again.

When cisco purchased linksys they did a cloud only configuration system. They quickly got told how stupid that was and they soon added a simple web interface....just before they sold linksys to belkin. I guess they want to do dumb stuff again.

First it is a massive security exposure to let any internet based thing have control over your equipment. Next what happens if the internet is messed up does that mean you can't watch netflix because linksys web site is down. When they did it the first time you used to get into strange chicken and the egg issues where you could get the device miscondifigured so it could not contact linksys to change the configuration and the only local option was to factory reset it.

Ubiquiti make very nice AP units if you want some semi-pro ones. They too have a management software if you really want it but it runs locally on one your pc
 
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Thanks everyone for your well thought-out replies and honest good willed attempts at helping me. I have no intention of a never-ending thread. I have removed both WAP's (the only physical additions to my network), did a hard factory reset on both WAP's, and my Xfinity router, and started over by only attaching the problematic (LAPAC1200) router. I can ping it's IP address--but the error message remains "Your Wireless Access Point Could Not Be Found. Please check to make sure it's connected to the internet."

I am an electrician by trade. I have learned many hundreds of times that it is almost NEVER the hardware. It's the person installing it.

At the moment, my computer is less than 4 months old running Windows 11. My ISP router is 3 weeks old. Everything on my network works flawlessly. Only the "not found WAP" mentioned above haunts me. I have even changed my default gateway to a range of 192.168.1.1 to 192.168.1.250. (The manual said this must be done to "match the IP range of the WAP)

Can I chalk this up to a bad WAP, and just use the LAPAC1750 (works fine)? By this I mean throwing the 1200 out? I am completely out of ideas and spend at least a couple of hours reading and trying suggestions from the owner's manual of the 1200--but to no avail.

What say all you? Throw the darn thing out? Or "try this one last thing?

Thanks again, all.
 
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DHCP range should be 192.168.1.2 to 192.168.1.255 if you want to capture everything. You can't use 192.168.1.1 to start the range because that's where your router resides. I would keep the range to 192.168.2 to 192.168.1.99 to limit connections. You can also hard code a static ip address into your device, in which case they have to be outside the range. So I would use 192.168.1.1xx for your static devices, such as printers, NAS or pc's that you don't want the ip to change. You set the IP in the device itself, not the router.

In the case of the LAPAC1200, the default ip address is static 192.168.1.252. You should be able to just type this into a web browser. Here's their guide: https://www.linksys.com/support-article?articleNum=138378
 
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gggplaya, I had set my range just as you outlined 192.168.1...2 to 198.162.1...199. I took it down from 255 to 199. No change, I'm afraid. That LAPAC1200 .pdf I've been reading almost the entire contents for weeks now. I'm missing something.

There's a used 1750 on eBay for $50, but my mantra is, "It's not the HW. It's you." I've learned that enough times. I'm fairly confident everything is working as it should. It's just my failure to see what it is.
 
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SparkyLB said:
gggplaya, I had set my range just as you outlined 192.168.1...2 to 198.162.1...199. I took it down from 255 to 199. No change, I'm afraid. That LAPAC1200 .pdf I've been reading almost the entire contents for weeks now. I'm missing something.

There's a used 1750 on eBay for $50, but my mantra is, "It's not the HW. It's you." I've learned that enough times. I'm fairly confident everything is working as it should. It's just my failure to see what it is.
Click to expand...

Can you try holding the reset button for longer than 15 seconds to put it into factory default? If you bought it used, someone may have put it on a different subnet.
Reset Button—Press and hold this button for less than 15 seconds to power cycle device. Press and hold for longer than 15 seconds to reset the device to factory default settings

Other than that, if you're sure the POE is working and it's not showing up on your routers client list or does not respond to 192.168.1.252, then I'd say you have a bad unit.
 
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Thanks again gggplays. Yes, sir. I've factory reset the unit more than once. I think I know the PoE works because the unit has an led that does turn on and does "what it's supposed to do" when plugged into a PoE port on my switch. Solid green is what I get. According to the book, this means the unit is on and functioning, but has no clients. When it has clients, the led is blue. My 1750 in the living room LED is blue, and it has a few clients.

As you state, the manual simply says to hold down the reset button more than 15 seconds to reset to factory default.


Random question--If I bought a PoE injector and plugged this WAP into the RJ45 female on my computer, would that tell me anything in the way of troubleshooting? To be "found," does this WAP have to be plugged into either only a router or a switch? Just grabbing at straws.
 
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SparkyLB said:
Random question--If I bought a PoE injector and plugged this WAP into the RJ45 female on my computer, would that tell me anything in the way of troubleshooting? To be "found," does this WAP have to be plugged into either only a router or a switch? Just grabbing at straws.
Click to expand...

Yes, since there's no DHCP server, you can try logging into the default IP address 192.168.1.252. But you might need a crossover cable or a switch(no router or dhcp server). You'll need to set a static ip and subnet mask on your computer as well.
 
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Just a question:

Noted that the 1200 can be successfully pinged - correct?

As can the 1750 - likewise correct?

If you run "arp -a" via a couple of network computers do the Access Points appear in the resulting list?

And are the IP's and Physical Addresses as expected?
 
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Thank you, @gggplaya I will get back to you with an answer.

@Ralston18 Yes, both the 1200 and 1750 can be pinged.When I return home from work I will get a complete answer to you. I'm certain that on ONE computer, (my computer) both WAPs will appear with their corresponding IP Address on an arp -a query.

I will perform this on at least 2 computers when I get home.
 
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@ralston, yes, both the 1200 and 1750 show up on the arp -a list, and mac address and IP correspond correctly. I am also able to ping both from a command prompt without issue. I don't know my wife's PIN, so I could only do this from one computer. It is connected via ethernet to my router, and both WAPs are connected to a 12 port switch, which is wired to my router too. The first 3 ports of the switch are PoE.
 
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Switch: "I have an 8 port switch where the first 3 ports are PoE, and I do have the ability to run a separate ethernet cable to each."

Make and model switch?

I have been looking for some sort of technical differences between the 1200 and the 1750.

First thought being PoE Standard: Both APs' use 802.3at according the Linksys specs that I found.

One noted difference but not sure if it matters. MIMO: 1200 = 2x2. 1750 = 3x3

Also the search for differences led to even more things to look at.

Summary via Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Power_over_Ethernet

All in all, that led me to Modes:

https://www.versatek.com/what-is-power-over-ethernet/

Take another look at the Ethernet cables and their respective pinouts.
 
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Business model - correct?

Which Version?

This switch?

https://www.tp-link.com/us/business-networking/smart-switch/tl-sg2008p/v1/

https://www.tp-link.com/us/business-networking/poe-switch/tl-sg1008mp/

Installation Guide (appears to use the same guide as earlier versions of the switch):

https://static.tp-link.com/upload/m...0120/7106509264_TL-SG2210P&SG2008P(UN)_IG.pdf

From an earlier version of the Installation Guides:

"When the total power consumption of connected PoE devices exceeds the maximum, the PoE port with a smaller port number has a higher priority. The system will cut off power to the ports with larger port numbers to ensure supplying to other ports. Take TL-SF1008P as an example. If port 1, 2 and 4 are consuming 15.4 W respectively, and an additional PoE device with 20 W is inserted to port 3, the system will cut off the power of port 4 to compensate for the overload. "

Took some digging about but it appears that 1200 is 18 Watts and the 1750 is 15 Watts. Should be okay but not sure. Anything else PoE plugged into the other PoE ports?

I also noted a few other PoE caveats via "*'s". Wondering if the problem is some power limit: imposed or configured.

"3. PoE budget calculations are based on laboratory testing. Actual PoE power budget is not guaranteed and will vary as a result of client limitations and environmental factors. "
 
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