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TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients

TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients

TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients
TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients
2025-06-09 21:34:37 - last edited 2025-07-29 08:33:50
Tags: #Network Connectivity #Firmware Update #Access Point Mode
Model: Archer BE550  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.1.2 Build 20250317 rel.18331(4555)

I’ve been trying to connect a TP-Link router as an access point to my OPNsense-managed network (subnet 10.0.10.0/24). I tested both static IP (10.0.10.10) and dynamic IP via DHCP. The router was connected using the LAN port, but I also tried the WAN port just to be sure — same result either way. The TP-Link received an IP correctly, and OPNsense DHCP worked fine. However, devices connected via Wi-Fi to the TP-Link never had internet access, even though they could successfully ping the OPNsense gateway (10.0.10.1). Later on, the TP-Link itself also lost internet access — despite getting a valid DHCP lease with the correct gateway and DNS. The logs showed DHCP ACKs followed by timeouts or rebinding, and service restarts like INET_OFF. I verified that OPNsense’s firewall and outbound NAT rules were fine, and tested another access point in the exact same setup — which worked perfectly. Pings from OPNsense to external addresses like 8.8.8.8 also succeeded. Interestingly, when I plug the same TP-Link directly into the ISP modem and run it in router mode, it works flawlessly and gets full internet access. So OPNsense and the network are fine — it’s just this TP-Link that seems to completely break down when used in AP mode behind OPNsense.

I'm getting really frustrated, for few days I can't get it to work, old RT-AX55 worked flawlessly as AP... I have EU distribution hardware V1.0.

Edit before send:
Router in AP mode randomly got back internet access, wi-fi clients still no internet.

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7 Reply
Re:TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients
2025-06-10 11:10:12 - last edited 2025-06-10 11:11:41

 Hi @Mikko_pl,

Thank you for contacting our community.

 

If you want to connect the BE550 to the OPNsense device, please confirm the WAN port of BE550 is connected.

It is recommended that you can hard reset BE550 to factory, and configure it as an Access Point as below: Press and hold the button until the LED blinks to reset the router to its factory default settings. 

For Access Point mode, please see:

  • Go to Advanced > System > Operation Mode, select Access Point Mode and click SAVE. The router will reboot and switch to Access Point mode.
  • After rebooting, connect the router to your existing wired router via an Ethernet cable.
  • Log in again to the web management page http://tplinkwifi.net, and go to Advanced > Quick Setup.
  • Configure your wireless settings and click Next.
  • Confirm the information and click SAVE. Now, you can enjoy Wi-Fi.

 

If your connection is correct, you can consider doing Mac clone for the BE550,refer to Situation 2:
How do I configure MAC Address Clone on my TP-Link Archer Router?

Check Out the Latest Posts: △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX50 Introduces New Parental Control Features and Enhancements △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX80 Supports EasyMesh in AP Mode, DoH/DoT, ECO Mode, and More △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience
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Re:TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients
2025-06-10 12:19:12

  @Joseph-TP 

I already tried all that multiple times (resetting, pluggin to LAN or WAN, changing mode) and neither router or AP mode works. Router itself has connection to the internet, but devices connected to wifi network can't even reach the gateway. As mentioned, when using ASUS router it all worked fine (same port, same cable, same net, same opnsense settings) and also plugging router directly to ISP modem (in router mode) works like a charm. It just doesn't want to work properly behind another router.

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Re:TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients
2025-06-16 09:38:05 - last edited 2025-07-29 08:33:50

Hi @Mikko_pl,

I'm sorry for not getting back to you sooner.

According to the feedback we received, this situation is not necessarily caused by the router, but may ultimately be due to a problem with the OPNsense server settings.
We recommend that you also contact OPNsense server support to see if you need to modify the settings for the new router.

Thanks.

 

Check Out the Latest Posts: △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX50 Introduces New Parental Control Features and Enhancements △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX80 Supports EasyMesh in AP Mode, DoH/DoT, ECO Mode, and More △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience
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Re:TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients
2025-07-29 08:33:46

  @Joseph-TP Just triple-checked, ARP response is not passed from opnsense (it is being sent) to devices connected to BE550. For example my phone can ping BE550, but can't ping the gateway. All other devices ('above' the AP) can ping the phone (DHCP from opnsense works). It's definitely issue with the router, should I return it as faulty or is it a firmware issue which will be fixed?

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Re:TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients
2025-07-31 02:05:57

Hello@Mikko_pl ,

We would like to escalate your case to the support engineers, and they will follow up on it. If you are willing to conduct further analysis, please check your inbox and respond.    

Check Out the Latest Posts: △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX50 Introduces New Parental Control Features and Enhancements △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX80 Supports EasyMesh in AP Mode, DoH/DoT, ECO Mode, and More △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience
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Re:TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients
2025-09-07 17:18:18

I just got my GE800/BE19000 and have set it up behind OPNSense and I can confirm AP mode does not work. Clients connected via Wifi aren't getting IP address and it's not getting to the OpnSense router. I tried setting DHCP to Auto and On (with different IP range, also with same subnet but outside the range of OpnSense DHCP server) and nothing works. Router mode works but this prevents me from doing what I wanted with OpnSense. I'm on the latest firmware

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Re:TP-Link router fails in AP/router mode behind OPNsense, no internet for Wi-Fi clients
6 hours ago

Hi @Eli_L ,

Thanks for contacting our community.

May I know if the router can normally get internet in Access Point mode now?

 

If still not, please try the following suggestions:

  • Please connect the OPNsense LAN to the LAN port of router in Access Point mode(not the WAN port).
  • Please confirm the DHCP server is disabled when the router is in Access Point mode.

 

Also, please consult the support of OPNsense for help: check the DHCP server, firewall or others to see if you need to modify any settings.

 

 

Check Out the Latest Posts: △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX50 Introduces New Parental Control Features and Enhancements △Pre-release Firmware for Archer AX80 Supports EasyMesh in AP Mode, DoH/DoT, ECO Mode, and More △Introducing AI QoS: Elevate Your Gaming Experience on the Archer GE800 Gaming Router △Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN △Tether KidShield Test Recruitment - Safeguarding Children's Online Experience
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