TL-WR841N - CONFIGURATION: Access Point vs. WLAN Router
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Hi community!
Some months ago I bought this TP-Link router (second hand), in order to connect a desktop PC by LAN, a netbook (by LAN or WLAN), a smartphone and a printer - these two unities only by WLAN.
The TP-Link router is connected with internet through a Fritz!Box (main DSL router).
I had quite no problems, to get that. Only for the printer I had to set a dedicated IP address, to avoid often new printer login.
But sometimes I get repeatedly conncetion breaks. Are they due to a bad internet locally or to a not correct configuration of the TP-Link router?
I searched on the TP-LINK support web and I found two interesting contributions:
1. How to set the WLAN on the router (https://www.tp-link.com/de/support/faq/1015/) - This is also, how I set my TP-Link router.
2. How to use the router as access point (https://www.tp-link.com/de/support/faq/962/)
I don't know, which is the best configuration for me, because I cannot understand this: why the two configurations are different for a use, that is the same?
Or is there a difference between a router with WLAN and an access point router?
Can you help me, please?!
Thanks a lot in advance
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Hello, thanks so much for your detailed information.
Basically, a wireless router is a combination of a wireless access point and a wired router, it routes data packets across a network. While an access point only connects Wi-Fi devices together. Refer to the below link for more details:
What’s the difference between the Access Point Mode and Router Mode on the TP-Link wireless router?
Back to your initial inquiry, you may keep the existing settings on your WR841N and leave it working as a router, as you need to build a sub-LAN. However, you may not be able to visit the printer which is not in the same sub-LAN.
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Hello, please confirm some details before I can tell whether your settings are correct or not:
1. What is the detailed network diagram, is it Fritz!Box DSL modem router (LAN)-(WAN) WR841N (LAN)-printer? If the Fritz!Box is a DSL modem router, it will be suggested to configure the WR841N to work as an access point, otherwise, there will be double NAT in your network and there might be an issue on your printer.
2. What is the WAN IP address on the WR841N? What is the IP address you gave to the printer?
3. What if you connect the printer directly to your Fritz!Box modem router, will it work?
Thanks.
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thanks a lot for your replay!
actually, I did only need some information about the differences between the two configurations, that for me look like equivalent ...
... but, no problem here are the data
THE CURRENT CONNECTION CONFIGURATION
Extern Line <-> WAN port of FRITZBOX!-7362-SL (DSL modem) <-> LAN Port <-> WAN port of TP-Link
TP-Link <-> LAN port <-> Desktop PC
TP-Link <-> WLAN <-> Netbook (but sometimes through LAN port)
TP-Link <-> WLAN <-> Smartphone
TP-Link <-> WLAN <-> Printer with dedicated (permanent) IP: 192.168.0.102
MY WISHES FOR MY SUBNETTING
* relativ independent from the main router concerning the administration of unities connected with the TP-Link (like a sub-router)
* not accessibility at all to the unities comnnected with the TP-Link (like a sub-router)
TP-Llink SETTINGS
A - Network - WAN
WAN connection type: Dynamic IP
IP Address: 192.168.178.31 -> I think, this one has been assigned by the FritzBox!
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
Default Gateway: 192.168.178.1 -> I thinkl, this could be the internal IP address of the Fritz!Box
Primary DNS: 192.168.178.1 (not active)
Secondary DNS: 0.0.0.0
Host Name: TL-WR841N
B - Network - LAN
MAC Address: C4-6E-1F-8C-CF-26
IP Address: 192.168.0.1
Subnet Mask: 255.255.255.0
IGMP Proxy: enabled
C - Wireless Settings
Wireless Network Name: XXXX
Region: Germany
Mode: 11bgn mixed
Channel Width: auto
Channel auto
D - Wireless Security
Version: WPA2-PSK
Encryption: AES
E - DHCP Settings
DHCP Server: enabled
Start IP Address: 192.168.0.100
End IP Address: 192.168.0.199
Default Gateway: 192.168.0.1
Primary DNS: 0.0.0.0
Secondary DNS: 0.0.0.0
FRITZ!Box SETTINGS
I am not able to give surely information about the settings of the FRITZ!Box because this ist not mine. It belongs to the renter of my apartment and he has no interest about my subnet.
Here the defaullt data - I don't think they are manual changed
IPv4-Address: 192.168.178.1
Subnet mask: 255.255.255.0
DHCP-Server: activated
Network Address: 192.168.178.0
IPv4 Address range: 192.168.178.2 – 192.168.178.254
192.168.178.1 reserved for the FRITZ!Box
192.168.178.255 reserved for Broadcast
192.168.178.20 – 192.168.178.200 reserved for the DHCP server
192.168.178.201 – 192.168.178.254 reserved for FRITZ!Box users with VPN access
169.254.1.1 reserved IPv4 Address for emergency (not changeable)
ABOUT YOUR FURTHER QUESTIONS
Question: What if you connect the printer directly to your Fritz!Box modem router, will it work?
Answer: Until few months ago my smartphone was connected with internet through the WLAN of FRITZ!Box. Further it was not possible to set a WLAN connection with my Netbook.
Then the renter began cutting the WLAN connection and at the end he changed its pasasword. So I decided to bild a subnet.
About issues with internet: I don't really know, if they are due of the connection. I think also, the connection in my region ist not always good.
About issues with printer connection: after he had got a dedicated IP address, I have not recorded any issues more
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Hello, thanks so much for your detailed information.
Basically, a wireless router is a combination of a wireless access point and a wired router, it routes data packets across a network. While an access point only connects Wi-Fi devices together. Refer to the below link for more details:
What’s the difference between the Access Point Mode and Router Mode on the TP-Link wireless router?
Back to your initial inquiry, you may keep the existing settings on your WR841N and leave it working as a router, as you need to build a sub-LAN. However, you may not be able to visit the printer which is not in the same sub-LAN.
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Tanks very much for your answer an the reference link!
You wrote:
Back to your initial inquiry, you may keep the existing settings on your WR841N and leave it working as a router, as you need to build a sub-LAN. However, you may not be able to visit the printer which is not in the same sub-LAN.
Only for information:
from PC in TP-Link Subnet, through WLAN, I can print, get the print orders list, see and (as admin) change the printer settings - at least since the printer has a dedicated IP.
About the experencied interruptions of internet connection:
I am now sure, it does not depennd at all from TP-Link configuration or something similar. I surfed 2-3 days with my PC directly connected with the FRIT!Box (the main Modem-Router) and the connection was also interrupted more times - no significative difererences compared with the connection through TP-Link als Sub-Router.
PS: I don't know, how I can mark this thread als "done" or "solved" ...
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