REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations

REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations

REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-09-27 13:00:56 - last edited 2024-09-28 06:27:36
Model: Archer AX55  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: pre-release V1 1.3.3

Hi again - sorry to be such a drag.

 

With reference to the sudden closure of the thread:

Closed-Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations

I quote from the above original post:

 

Additional Information

As always, we value your feedback. If somehow you encounter an issue during or after the router firmware upgrade, it's suggested to comment below with the following info. Your input helps us continue to improve and provide the best possible products and support.
•  Model, hardware version, and firmware version of your router.
•  Detailed issue description, and provide more information on the specific conditions that seem to trigger the problem.

 

I would like to point out that I am helping TP-Link by evaluating a pre-release firmware. I do not have a problem that someone from Senior Support is supposed to fix for me alone. I am simply giving TP-Link the requested feed-back and it would be an appropriate guesture from TP-Link to acknowlege if the reported bugs exist or not - and off course transfer relevant information  to the R&D section - I hope this is the reason for asking for feed-back about the pre-release.

 

To sum up: I have observed the folloowing issues:


1/

When running EasyMesh in AccessPoint mode (with Ethernet Backhaul) clients connected to the Satellite AP cannot be seen on the Master AP and hence not managed/Binded to the satellite AP. They should appear on the Master under "Advanced | EasyMesh" and you should be able to bind clients on the Satellite to the Satellite AP via the web interface of the Master AP. Everything is in place, but Satellite connected clients will never appear in the list on the Master.

 

If I pull out the Ethernet cable of the Satellite AP - hereby forcing it into normal WiFi based Mesh mode - the Master AP is now able to see and manage clients on the Satellite.

 

Re-inserting the Ethernet cable - hereby forcing the AX55s back to use Ethernet Backhaul - makes the Master AX55 revert back to NOT showing Satellite connected clients. This must be a bug!

 

My only response to this issue from Senior Support was:

"There's no function about binding client to specific AP so far, but we plan to add that later, so no need to worry about it."

 

Waoo... I need to quote from original post again:

 

New Features:

1. EasyMesh R2 AP Bind and Client Bind:

Simplified network management with the ability to bind specific clients to designated access points.

(Accompanied by a detailed picture of how to bind a satellite connected clients to the satellite AP using the WebGUI of the master AP :-)  

 

So if someone out there can reproduce the above client issue only when running in Ethernet Backhaul mode - please inform us here in the forum in order to help TP-Link and to ensure me and others what to expect of this new firmware.

 

2/

Very often the AX55 renews its DHCP lease (about every 35 secs). Senior Support claims this is due to Smart DHCP - i.e. the AX55 scans the main DHCP server in order to detect when to kick in its own local DHCP server - in case the main DHCP server is down. Fair answer - but this constant DHCP request should be stopped if you stop the local DHCP server on the AX55 AP. This is not a bug but only a sub-optimal design that in my opinion sends out lots of irrelevant packages on the network.

 

3/

One last thing: Setting up a GUEST WiFi Network SSID while the AX55 is in Acces Point Mode and un-ticking:

- Allow guests to see each other

- Allow guests to access your local network

does not seem to work at all - this is a critical security issue!.

 

3A/ I would really like to know how this isolation is supposed to work - especially in Acces Point mode in combination with EasyMesh & Ethernet Backhaul.

 

3B/ If LAN isolation it is not supposed to work in Access Point mode why is the setting still visible when the AX55 is in Access Point mode?

 

Cheers to you all

zEnterHacker

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9 Reply
Re:REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-09-29 04:00:43

  @zEnterHacker 

 

Hi, thanks for posting feedback here.

Sorry for the confusion caused. It is a not sudden thing to close that Pre-release thread, as there has been official firmware released on the official website and you may check via the Online Update on the web UI of the router. So we closed it.

As for your additional information about the beta firmware, I have reported to the senior support. And they will take further research.

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Re:REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-09-29 06:27:49

Hi  @Marvin_S 

Thanks for your assistance, So the pre-release (Archer AX55(EU)_V1_1.3.3 Build 20240628) has now become the official release including issues detected during the pre-testing period) I understand frown

 

Some of the new features are:

6.Add support for EasyMesh in AP mode;
7.Add support for EasyMesh Network via Ethernet Backhaul;
9.Add isolation of Guest Network and Main Network in AP mode;

 

Could you please give us an understanding of how this Guest Network isolation is supposed to work in AP mode when f.i. two AX55a are connected to each other via the two LAN Switch ports only and are operating in Ethernet Backhaul EasyMesh mode?

 

Since Access Points are normally directly connected to a LAN network (to give Access to this LAN network) - then In your answer please include:

1/ What is the TP-Link recommended network topology for two AX55 Acces Points running in Ethernet Backhaul mode in combination with a third party firewall?

2/ If not blocking all traffic - then which IP ports/IP addresses a are supposed to be blocked by this Guest Network isolation?

 

If You need time to consult with Senior Engineering - that's OK with me, bul please post a relevant answer here in this thread - thanks

 

zEnterHacker

 

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Re:REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-09-30 11:53:57

  @zEnterHacker 

Yet another issue .. 

facing this from time to time after going to 1.3.3 with AX55 

Network throughput falls to almost nothing from no obvious reasons .. no connections at all maybe me and my wife on mobile and one laptop or so .. 

when I connect to webinterface AX55 cpu is bussy-cycled into whatever and spins CPU to the fullest making no other process to do its job fully .. complete process starvation scenario .. even to connect to the weinterface of the router is pain ..

I would not be surprised, if the unit fries and dies .. I would like to see MTBF of the tp-links routers, because this is breaking stuff .. that is capable to fry milions of units just because of faulty SW .. Ïf that happens .. I make sure It goes on TP-link expense

 

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Re:REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-09-30 22:29:16

Hi  @Czmazel 

Just one small observation.

 

Are you having a cable problem on LAN2 since it's running at 100Mbps and not at 1000Mbps or did you connect a legacy device with a 100Mbps Ethernet card?

If your LAN2 cable has some bad connections that might be the reason for high CPU - you never know...  

 

Regards

zEnterHacker

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Re:REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-10-01 10:29:13

  @zEnterHacker 

 

Thats PC .. could be it has only 100Mb card in it .. connected with 2m patch cable - nothing special about it not really ... Im quite convinced it is related to mesh as it seems when it happens mesh starts to play wier ping pong game reconnecting each 30s dropping connections and everything blinks like on disco party..

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Re:REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-10-01 12:50:21

Hi @Czmazel 

 

Check your DHCP server setup (static addresses etc). Why? Because around every 30-35 seconds (the local AX55 DHCP servers refreshes its DHCP lease from the main DHCP server (if you got one or if your ISP WAN uses Dynamic DHCP IP assignment - I guess)

 

I'm just guessing here: If this DHCP refresh causes a delay in the WAN data flow or worse if a new IP address for some reason is handed out - this might force the routers into generating new internal router tables etc.

 

I don't have any transmission delays in my setup - but I have a constant DHCP lease refresh every 35 secs from all my 4 AX55s. My main firewall just hands out the same IP every time the router requests for a lease update - so not a problem - just waste of traffic.

 

zEnterHacker

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Re:REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-10-02 12:04:16

As zEnterHacker says, where is the advertised function to bind clients to specific routers/satellites?

I am using the official release firmware Archer AX55(EU)_V1_1.3.3 Build 20240628

Quote from the release notes

"15.Added binding capabilities for satellites and clients under EasyMesh;"

I have a number of smart plugs and devices that are now connecting to the wrong router/satellite, resulting in the plugs/devices having such a poor signal, that they are offline.

I have tried via the web interface and via Tether app, but the "Bind" option is not there at all.

Before the update (beta 1.2.6 Build 20231130), the clients all connected to their closest router/satellite with no issue, but now there are clients connecting to a router/satellite at the completely opposite end of the house.

For example, a smart plug in Bedroom 3 is connecting to the satellite (MR70X) in Bedroom 1 instead of the satellite (another MR70X) in Bedroom 3. Due to building materials used, this has resulted in such a poor signal, that the App says the device is offline, and cannot be controlled.

Both MR70Xs are connected to the main router (AX55(EU) V1) via Ethernet backhaul.

Network topography:

Please sort this out TPLink

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Re:REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-10-05 10:01:32 - last edited 2024-10-05 10:02:01

Hi @DavidR1974 

 

If possible you could try to pull out the Ethernet Backhaul cables to the satellites and see if you gain access to client management using normal WiFi EasyMesh functionality and then bind the clients from your main AX55 router. Then see what happens when you re-connect the cables to re-enable Ethernet Backhaul. The client binding option might disappear again - but who knows if the binding has been stored somewhere... wild guess - I know cool 

 

If you are struggling to have the correct client<>AP connection temporarily power off the satellite that you don't want a certain device to connect to and do the binding - if possible - during this period.

 

To be honest I have not tried this in my own setup - because here everything works with respect to connecting to the best AP.

 

Note: I'm using the same brand and model for all my AP devices - however you are using two different router brands in your EasyMesh setup and I'm just guessing that the official support will blame the opposite manufacturer from not adhering 100% to the Certified EasyMesh standard from the WiFi-alliance.

 

I know this is not a long term fix - but if it cures your situation here and now - then who cares - it´s better than poor performance.

 

Btw. Are you sure all satellites are in sync with the main AX55 - use a simple WiFi analyzer on your mobile or PC to check if the expected SSIDs are present at different WiFi channels close to every AP in your building. 

 

Let us know if it works for you.

 

Regards

zEnterHacker

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Re:REF: Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX55 V1 1.3.3 Brings a Host of New Features and Optimizations
2024-10-05 12:04:23

Due to building materials used, the satellites will not connect to the main AX55 via wireless due to Wi-Fi dead zones and very poor signals, hence Ethernet backhaul is a must.

Re the MR70Xs being a different brand, although they are branded Mercusys, they are still TP-Link devices, manufactured and maintained by TP-Link, so they cannot blame the issue of clients connecting to the weaker router/satellites on different manufacturers.

I don't want to go back to having different SSIDs for the satellites, as that causes issues with moving devices like phones and tablets, and even increases latency for wired devices. For example, my main PC connected to the MR70X in bedroom 1 currently has a ping to my ISP of 8ms, but before Ethernet backhaul was introduced to the AX55, and I was having to use the MR70Xs as APs with different SSIDs, the ping was over 50ms.

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