WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled

WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled

WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago - last edited 3 weeks ago
Model: Archer C80  
Hardware Version: V2
Firmware Version: Archer C80(EU)_V2.20_1.13.2 Build 230824

Hello,

I have two routers: Archer C80 and WR840N. I use the Archer C80 to get internet access, and the WR840N is connected to it in "Range Extender" mode to link my Ajax security system.

Access Control is enabled on the Archer C80, and I have added all devices, including the WR840N, to the allowed list. However, the WR840N is unable to connect to the Archer C80 when Access Control is enabled. If I disable Access Control, the WR840N connects without any issues.

Has anyone encountered a similar problem, or can anyone suggest a solution? Any help would be appreciated!

Thank you!

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#1
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1 Accepted Solution
Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled-Solution
3 weeks ago - last edited 3 weeks ago

  @Netwixell 

 

Hi,

 

Have a look at the section "How can I retrieve the virtual MAC address from the Wi-Fi Range Extender to set up an Access List?" of his article https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/kb/detail/412804 .

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#2
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled-Solution
3 weeks ago - last edited 3 weeks ago

  @Netwixell 

 

Hi,

 

Have a look at the section "How can I retrieve the virtual MAC address from the Wi-Fi Range Extender to set up an Access List?" of his article https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/kb/detail/412804 .

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#2
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago

  @woozle I have added all device MAC addresses, including the WR840N, to the Allow List on the Archer C80 router. However, despite this, the WR840N still cannot connect to the network when Access Control is enabled.

Are there any other settings that could be blocking the connection, or what could be the cause of this issue?

 

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#3
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago

  @Netwixell 

 

The WR840N in range extender mode has most likely a second MAC address that you are not seeing in the client list of your Archer C80 router.

 

Do you see a MAC address in your Allow list that looks like the MAC address printed on the label (bottom side) of the WR840N, with only the last number being different?

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#4
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago

  @woozle Before adding the WR840N router's MAC address to the Allow List on the Archer C80, I disabled Access Control. After connecting the WR840N to the Archer C80, I checked the list of connected devices. In this list, there were two devices: my laptop and the WR840N. However, the MAC address of the WR840N is different in the first two characters from the one shown on the device itself, while the remaining characters match.

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#5
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago

  @Netwixell 

 

Ok. So it looks like the MAC address you have already added to the Allow List is the "virtual" MAC address of the WR840N when it's operating as a range extender.

 

I think if you now also add the "real" MAC address of the WR840N to the Allow List, then it should work.

 

A Wi-Fi router usually has several MAC addresses (e.g for WAN, LAN and perhaps another one for the Wi-Fi radio) with the one printed on the label being any one of them.

 

I'd say you try the one printed on the label first.

 

You should be able to see all the MAC addresses of your router in the "Status" menu of the admin GUI. 

 

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#6
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago

  @woozle Alright. I will do this and monitor the situation. If tomorrow the WR840N is still unable to connect, I will write about it here. I also want to mention that when the WR840N cannot connect to the Archer C80, I can enable the WPS switch, and then the WR840N is able to connect. In this case, I only need to enable the WPS switch. I don't need to perform the steps described in points Method 1, Method 2, and Method 3.

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#7
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago

  @Netwixell 

 

I have no explanation for this. Normally the state of the WPS switch should not affect the general behavior of the router.
 

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#8
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago

  @woozle Yes, it is indeed strange. But this is what's happening. Alright, so I will keep observing the situation for now.

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#9
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago

Alright. So at this point, I can confidently say that the actions I took did not help.

This problem still persists.

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#10
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Re:WR840N not connecting to Archer C80 with Access Control enabled
3 weeks ago

  @Netwixell 

 

If it still doesn't work, then perhaps the TL-WR840N uses the so-called "many-to-one" mode and you can't use Access Control with it.

 

I can only guess, because I don't own a TL-WR840N, but you are able to see all the MAC addresses of your devices and with the help of the TP-Link article for which I already posted the link earlier you should be able to determine what mode the TL-WR840N actually uses.
https://community.tp-link.com/en/home/kb/detail/412804

 

 

 

 

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#11
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