Solution Powerline Extender Acting as the DHCP server
This Article Applies to:
TL-WPA7510, TL-WPA9610, TL-WPA8730/8630(P) V2, WPA4220 V3, etc.
Problem Description/ Phenomenon:
What is Smart DHCP, and How does Smart DHCP work? Visit TP-Link Smart DHCP Makes Network Configuration Simple.
Some users may find that after the power outage or router’s rebooting, even after router’s internet is back and up running, client devices still get IP address from powerline extender, and cannot connect to the internet.
Note: if router loses internet and then goes back afterwards, powerline extender will do a scan automatically, if it detects another DHCP Server is running, it will disable its own automatically (when powerline units remain paired), and the devices will get IP address from main router then access the internet through that.
Troubleshooting Suggestions:
1. Double check if the main router’s internet is actually back ON and working fine.
To confirm this, wire a computer or laptop to another LAN port of the router using an Ethernet cable, leave the main powerline adapter connected to the LAN port of the router as well, check if you can access the internet successfully on the computer or laptop. If yes, that means the router's DHCP server is up and running; If not, you will need to check what's wrong with the router after the reboot or power outage.
2. Make sure the powerline adapter and extender are still paired (house LEDs are ON), show us the IP address on the clients devices. Compare that when the internet is good and when it is not.
How to check the IP address on a computer: https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/669/.
If your model is not listed or the issue persists, please report back with the information below to help locate the issue.
Or send a support email to TP-Link technical support with title ‘[Forum ID 265692] Powerline Extender Acting as the DHCP server’ to get further assistance:
1. How did you find out powerline device's DHCP server does not work properly? Did you often reboot main router or is there often power outage in your house?
2. Does router’s internet work fine at that moment?
3. LED status on both powerline units.
4. Brand and Model of router, the network topology, for example:
ISP modem --- Router Archer C7 --- PA8010 .... <powerline> ...WPA8630P --- Asus laptop model X.
5. Model & OS of devices that connected to wireless powerline unit.
6. Model number & firmware and hardware version of your powerline KIT, update the firmware if it is not the latest version:
How to update the firmware of the powerline adapter using the tpPLC Utility: https://www.tp-link.com/support/faq/1091/
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@Zoltar74 which are those unofficial firmwares?
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I also used 8630, since I removed from the network everything works well as never before...
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Hello @Louen
It's on the sticker of WPA4220 unit, usually together with model & hardware version.
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Hello @Zoltar74
Really appreciate for your positive feedback on the unofficial firmware shared by our forum user. I will collect some feedback there and may forward to our team for study & research purpose. Kindly note that those firmwares are not provided by TP-Link staff or ever tested by TP-Link, I would recommend user evaluating first before update to any unofficial firmware.
As this thread is mainly for smart DHCP concern, may I know did you find the firmware helps improve the stability or with DHCP server issue? If so, can I know which firmware you updated to, many thanks.
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@Solla-topee I have only installed the first beta version that you provided in JULY 2020 that did not work and gave problems. I have not installed the firmware that I provide by private the technical service nor do I plan to install any more beta. I already told you at the time that if you want beta-testers you will page them. I have provided the information about the unofficial firmware to highlight the ineptitude of your development team and the contempt you have for your customers, and propose an improvement to the poor people who have to put up with this like me, not to do you a favor. What are you going to do with my feedback? If the product has already reached the EOL, all you are doing since 2017, date on which you published the latest firmware, is to delay customers so that the warranty expires, if any, and do not return the product.
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I honestly found that community built firmware a red herring and waste of time. It did not claim to address the DHCP issue or the access point aspect of the devices at all, and it was impossible to install on my hardware (WPA8630P UK V2).
Maybe it works fine if you have exactly the required hardware and are looking to increase powerline throughput by some amount - but for addressing the DHCP issue it is a non starter as far as I can tell. No-one was posting any messages saying "I tried it and it's fixed!"
Also I could find no info about who had prepared the firmware at all, related documentation, open source project pages etc. so it felt risky. At least with TP-Link firmware there is some sort of accountability.
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Kind of really confirms TPLink aren't doing anything to fix a dud product but have allowed the 'community' (their customers) to be misled and diverted with false hopes that they are actually trying do a fix.
A case setup to liase with what I thought was TPLink actually went nowhere and no fixes were derived. I thought it was TPLink liaising but clearly not. Just another deception.
Trustworthy? Not.
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