TP-Link Archer C7 configuration issue

[devehf]

Hello and thanks in advance for your help.

I am trying to add wired connections to my home network to improve performance of my network devices. I am also wanting to add a new wireless access point to improve wireless access throughout my house. My cable modem/router/WiFi device (Arris TG852) was fine for a while, but now I need better access with all the new devices in my family.

Here is the network design I would like to implement.

I am adding a TP-Link Archer C7 (AC 1750) to the mix as well as a Netgear Gigabit Ethernet Switch. I want to keep using the Arris as the main router, DHCP server and WiFi access point for one end of the house. I will add the Netgear switch to one of the LAN ports on the Arris so I can keep a wired connection to a Linux server, network laserjet printer and throw a couple of wired CAT-5 runs through the crawlspace to other rooms on the other end of the house where there is an office and a living room with an X-Box game console. I will also send a wired Ethernet run to the family room where the home theater is located. I have a Blue ray player with internet streaming apps (Netflix, etc.), a separate Roku for the fun channels you can get on those, and a Logitech Squeezebox for internet radio and streaming audio from a Linux media server. I want to locate the TP-Link Archer C7 in this family room and essentially use it as a switch for all the entertainment devices and broadcast a WiFi signal on that end of the house where we spend a lot of time with tablets and other wireless hungry devices.

When I try to disable DHCP and set the IP address of the TP-Link to 192.168.0.100 and set the DNS to the main router (the Arris @192.168.0.1), the TP-Link reboots and the admin page is no longer accessible. When I initially connect a laptop to the LAN port via a CAT-5 ethernet cable(after a factory reset) I can connect to the TP-Link again. I change the default IP address from 192.168.0.1 to 192.168.0.100 then reboot. Then I can't connect anymore. What the heck?! Can the Archer C7 only be the main router in a network? Why can't I net the IP in the network settings and still access the admin functions. I would install DD-WRT but this device is too new to be compatible. Bummer.

Any ideas on how to get around this lack of admin access? I need to be able to access the TP-Link admin so I can configure the wireless and what-not.

Thanks again!
Dave

 

[Kewlx25]

You said that after a factory reset it works fine, but then you disable DHCP and change the IP and it stops working. What if you just change the IP a but leave DHCP on? Also, are you getting an 192.168.0.X IP on your computer once you restart the C7?

 

[devehf]

Well I want DHCP to be off. I could try it since I don't get an IP after rebooting the c7. Maybe I should hook the c7 up to the Arris main router after rebooting then try to reach the fixed IP of the c7.

 

[Kewlx25]

What is your IP address when you disable DHCP on the C7?

 

[devehf]

I'm getting closer. I set up a fixed IP with the MAC address of the C7 then hooked up the C7 to the Arris main router. I am able to access the admin page of the C7 via the fixed IP of the C7. Yeah!

Now I need to figure out two more things:
1) What to do with the NAT settings. Should I disable NAT? Maybe it doesn't matter because I am not using the WAN at all.
2) How to set up the WiFi extension. Bridging the Arris's signal? Or setting up the separate WiFi capabilities of the C7. Seems like bridging is the better option because all devices would use the same SSID, right?

 

[devehf]

re #2 I decided to run separate SSIDs and connect every device with 5GHz capability to the 5GHz band. Devices with only 2.5GHz capability will go on the new TP-Link 2.5GHz band. I'll probably not use the Arris WiFi anymore since it doesn't appear to serve any coverage advantage.