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Archer C8 and WR841N in bridge mode

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Archer C8 and WR841N in bridge mode

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Archer C8 and WR841N in bridge mode
Archer C8 and WR841N in bridge mode
2015-07-26 18:08:37
Region : Argentina

Model : TL-WR1043ND

Hardware Version : Not Clear

Firmware Version :

ISP :

Dear all, I would like to ask you as experts for advice, how to create a small home network with 2 TP link routers. I bought yesterday

TP Link Archer C8 Firmware Version: 3.16.27 Build 20140905 Rel. 51545
Hardware Version: ArcherC8 v1

I already own TP Link WR841ND Firmware Version: 3.13.11 Build 121116 Rel.73797n
Hardware Version: WR841N v6/v7 00000000

My goal was to connect all devices(printer, external HDD) to Archer and not to use WR841ND anymore - it is heavilly marketed, that Archer has higher coverage. Unfortunately I learned by hard way, that I have completely the same coverage with both of them. Nevermind. I decided to use WR841ND in bridge mode in the cellar in order to cover "white spaces" on the map. And to use them in wireless mode.

I found some setting on the internet and I followed them.
On WR841ND I set
Network / WAN --> WAN Connection Type: Dynamic IP (before I had to have static + all values - because of service provider)
Network / LAN --> IP Address: 192.168.0.2

Wireless / Wireless Network Name: radik_WR841ND
Wireless / Wireless setting --> tick Enable WDS Bridging and clicked on Survey. I aligned channel and Key type + password.
I disabled DHCP

On TP Link Archer C8 I set

Network / WAN - all values for connecting to service provider(WAN Connection Type: Static IP) and all attributes on this page
Network / LAN --> IP Address: 192.168.0.1

Wireless 2.4GHz / Wireless Network Name:radik
Wireless 2.4GHz / Wireless setting / Channel: 4

DHCP / DHCP Setting / Start IP Address: 192.168.0.100
DHCP / DHCP Setting / End IP Address: 192.168.0.199

If I connect

Result

On Wireless 2.4GHz / Wireless statistics I can see WR841ND MAC address among current Connected Wireless Stations numbers.
When connected to SSID radik (Archer C8)
I can reach http://192.168.0.1/ and configure Archer C8
I can reach http://192.168.0.2/ and configure WR841ND
I can reach internet
When connected to SSID radik_ (WR841ND)
I can NOT reach http://192.168.0.1/ and configure Archer C8
I can reach http://192.168.0.2/ and configure WR841ND unless I hardcode my IP address to 192.168.0.(3-255)
I can reach internet


Can you please advise, how to configure these 2 routers to cooperate in order to help me to cover the whole house ?
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#1
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3 Reply
Re:Archer C8 and WR841N in bridge mode
2015-07-27 14:01:20
On WR841ND I set
Network / WAN --> WAN Connection Type: Dynamic IP (before I had to have static + all values - because of service provider)

 If it works in WDS mode, WAN port is unplugged, isn't it?

 When connected to SSID radik_ (WR841ND)
I can NOT reach http://192.168.0.1/ and configure Archer C8
 What's the IP address and gateway obtained automatically on clients connected to WR841?
Can you ping 192.168.0.1?


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#2
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Re:Archer C8 and WR841N in bridge mode
2015-07-29 02:15:46
Looking from the spec, it states
CE:
<20dBm(2.4GHz)
<23dBm(5GHz)
FCC:
<30dBm
Do your country region allow up to 30 dBm transmit power? If your region does, you can set the transmit output to high at
Wireless 2.4 Ghz / 5.0 Ghz > Wireless Advanced > Transmit Power > High.
You will get slightly better signal, as 10 dBm in math is 10 times more powerful, but in real life, it just translate into higher 1-2 signal bar for wifi devices.

If you really want a high power router, tplink only provide WR841HP as the strongest one.
It 300 Mbps wifi b/g/n 2.4 Ghz, transmit power up to 30 dBm (1000 mW) coupled with dual detachable 8 dBi antena.
Doing math, we will have EIRP up to 38 dBm, about 13 dBm more than the standard router which has 25 dBm (20 dBm + 5 dBi antena)
And yes, when I measure the signal using Wifi 360 overview, it shows up approx 10-15 dBm higher than the standard wifi at the same distance.
But again, it only shows up as 1-2 additional bar at the device signal bar, with more stable connection than the standard one.

Unfortunately, I don't know whether my unit defect or all WR841HP has the same problem with ARP delay as I posted at
http://forum.tp-link.com/showthread.php?81542-WR841HP(HG)-ARP-Delay
Until today, i still haven't get the answer to this riddle, whether from our forum, this forum, even the online shop. The delay really kills me everyday.

===============
As for the WDS, from my experience with WR340G (main) and WR740N (WDS) for 2 years, it always break the main router management page about once in 2-3 days.
Everyday, WR740N must be restart once or twice, should some of the wifi client suddenly cannot connect to the internet (not bandwidth/ISP problem).
Then I tried to move the WR740N close to the WR340G and just connect it by short LAN cable, for a whole week, I only restart once and no issue just like above.
I then proceed to upgrade the WR740N (thinking it might solved the WDS), and test it again for another 3 days. Same problem arises, intermittent restart needed everyday.
Finally I just give up the WDS, and simply setup the LAN cable across and connect them by LAN, not WDS anymore.

So in your case, you might try setting the transmit power first.
If it is still not enough, it will be better to invest in several metres of LAN cable.
It will save your time from any future WDS problem.
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#3
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Re:Archer C8 and WR841N in bridge mode
2015-07-29 19:14:06
Finally I resolved with a elemntary setting.

I switched on WDS on Archer C8 and switched off WDS on WR841N.

All other settings I left as it was and it works like that. It does not work the other way, no matter what you set.

I contacted also TP-LINK technical support and they said, that actually it does not matter, where this function is switched on.

Thank you for your replies.
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#4
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