MR600 Bridge mode

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MR600 Bridge mode

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MR600 Bridge mode
MR600 Bridge mode
2020-03-29 22:36:03 - last edited 2021-12-22 06:18:46
Model: Archer MR600  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.1.0 0.9.1 v0001.0 Build 190412 Rel.66770n

I'm connecting my Archer MR600 to my pfsence box and trying to use it as a 4G+ modem only.  I cannot find a bridge mode in the settings anywhere, after a quick search it is mentioned that TPLink are not making a bridge mode for this device. Is this true? I have a limited window for return and will need to take advantage of it if this is correct.

 

Regards

 

TechWeasel

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#1
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1 Accepted Solution
Re:MR600 Bridge mode-Solution
2020-03-31 12:04:41 - last edited 2021-12-22 06:03:36

@TechWeasel 

Hi, thank you very much for your kind feedback.

There seemed to be two understanding about this “bridge mode:.

1. the LTE modem only.

For example, you have another wireless router and plan to set up MR600 as a 4G modem only, then let the original router to take over the NAT/DHCP function.

2. The  Wi-Fi bridging or WDS mode, which works quite like a range extender.

Unfortunately, neither of them is supported on MR600 yet.

Currently, there are three working modes on MR600 available.

3G/4G Router mode, Wireless Router mode(those two modes could be configured on web UI>Advanced>Operation mode) and Access Point mode( there is no mode option for this and you might need additonal configuration,such as disabling the DHCP).

 

 

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN Archer GE550 - BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router Archer BE800 New Firmware Added Support for EasyMesh in AP Mode, DoH&DoT, and 3-Band MLO Connection Archer AX90 New Firmware Added Support for EasyMesh and Ethernet Backhaul If you found a post or response helpful, please click Helpful (arrow pointing upward icon). If you are the author of a topic, remember to mark a helpful reply as the "Recommended Solution" (star icon) so that others can benefit from it.
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Re:MR600 Bridge mode
2020-03-30 13:18:57

@TechWeasel I have the same necessity but there is no way to get a bridge. That's incredible!!! I don' understand the reason. I would like to extend my lan using MR600 where 4G has highest level signal and use an oldest tp-link in router mode in another place where I have the distribution of wired LAN to the users. Both routers can't be wired between them so I should use WDS connection. The oldest router has WDS function but MR600 has not this function.

 

Someone from TP-Link can reply please?

 

My suggestion up to now is to send your modem back if you can.

 

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#2
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Re:MR600 Bridge mode
2020-03-30 16:14:48

@Vlasco yes this does seem strange. I'm my use case I want to treat the MR600 as a modem only feeding a ubiquity set-up. I would then be able to use the 4G internet access at home and retain the ability to take the MR600 with me when working remotely (only happens a couple of times a year).

 

Some direction / input from TPLink would be appreciated.

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Re:MR600 Bridge mode-Solution
2020-03-31 12:04:41 - last edited 2021-12-22 06:03:36

@TechWeasel 

Hi, thank you very much for your kind feedback.

There seemed to be two understanding about this “bridge mode:.

1. the LTE modem only.

For example, you have another wireless router and plan to set up MR600 as a 4G modem only, then let the original router to take over the NAT/DHCP function.

2. The  Wi-Fi bridging or WDS mode, which works quite like a range extender.

Unfortunately, neither of them is supported on MR600 yet.

Currently, there are three working modes on MR600 available.

3G/4G Router mode, Wireless Router mode(those two modes could be configured on web UI>Advanced>Operation mode) and Access Point mode( there is no mode option for this and you might need additonal configuration,such as disabling the DHCP).

 

 

Nice to Meet You in Our TP-Link Community. Check Out the Latest Posts: Connect TP-Link Archer BE550 to Germany's DS-Lite (Dual Stack Lite) Internet via WAN Archer GE550 - BE9300 Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 Gaming Router Archer BE800 New Firmware Added Support for EasyMesh in AP Mode, DoH&DoT, and 3-Band MLO Connection Archer AX90 New Firmware Added Support for EasyMesh and Ethernet Backhaul If you found a post or response helpful, please click Helpful (arrow pointing upward icon). If you are the author of a topic, remember to mark a helpful reply as the "Recommended Solution" (star icon) so that others can benefit from it.
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Re:MR600 Bridge mode
2020-07-01 16:52:10

@Vlasco It appears that TP-Link opted for OneMesh and getting rid of WDS bridging completely. OneMesh only works with some select TP-Link devices and is suggested to work really seamlessly. Yes, it seems to be a very anti-customer decision by TP-Link, but that is the case.

 

Please check if the TP-Link device that you have supports OneMesh.

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#5
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Re:MR600 Bridge mode
2020-07-01 21:00:14

@vivenair I solved installing a wifi extender between MR600 and second router. 

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#6
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Re:MR600 Bridge mode
2020-07-29 19:56:14

@TechWeasel 

 

There is no bridge mode which is a pity but with some clues from support at broadbandbuyer UK I have been able to get the equivalent set up working.  Full details of how I set it up follow.  My home router is a DrayTek but a similar approach on another router should also work.

 

On TP-link Archer MR600 4G router:
 
If need be, reset router using pin at back
Login at 192.168.1.1  (or whatever IP if already changed)
Disable WiFi  (not strictly necessary to make it work, but if you already have a WiFi network you won't want this on as well)
  • Click "Wireless" in left hand menu
  • Uncheck "Enable", click "Save"
 
Click "Advanced" tab at top
Click "Network" left hand side
Click "LAN Setting"
Change IP address to 192.168.0.1  (or something on a different subnet to your existing router)
Leave DHCP enabled (that's right, do not disable)
Click "Save"
Router will reboot.
Connect an Ethernet patch cable from any LAN port on the TP-Link to the WAN2 port on the Draytek router
 
You can also reserve the Draytek IP address: 
Go to "LAN Settings"
Click "+ Add" under Address Reservation.  Click "Scan" to find the MAC address, Click "Save"
Currently 192.168.0.102 is reserved for the Draytek in my case.
 
On Draytek router
 
Click "WAN > Internet Access"
On the WAN2 line of the table select "Static or Dynamic IP" under Access Mode col.  Then Click "Details Page".
Select "Specify an IP address" and put in 192.168.0.102 or whatever IP your router (DrayTek in my case) was given by the TP-Link. (It might be better to chose a different IP address with less chance of a collision with another client of the TP-Link - e.g. 192.168.0.199 - needs to be within the IP range set up on the TP-link but if you have no other clients connecting to the TP-Link it won't matter).
For the subnet mask put 255.255.255.0 and for the Gateway IP address give the address of the TP-Link, in my case 192.168.0.1. 
 
Click OK and let router restart.
 
That should provide a basic internet connection through to the DrayTek.
 
I was advised that ideally the IP address of the Draytek WAN2 port (192.168.0.102 in this case) should be set up as a DMZ on the TP-Link. This will allow things like port fowarding set up on the existing router (DrayTek in my case) to work without replication on the TP-Link.  Obviously you'll want your NAT / firewall working on the (DrayTek) router to protect clients from a raw internet connection.
 
On TP-link Archer MR600 4G router:
 
Click "NAT forwarding" on left hand menu
Click "DMZ"
Check "Enable"
Enter the IP of the DrayTek router - 192.168.0.102 in my case

 

This all seemed to work for me and was able to stream Spotity, Netflix, do email, browse and play online games on clients of the DrayTek for several hours.  I've not tested it over a long period yet.

 

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Re:MR600 Bridge mode
2020-09-25 16:18:48

@lightwhisper @TechWeasel 

Many thanks for this idiot-proof method of connecting the MR600 to my Draytek.  Been trying to do this for some time and these instructions solved the issue within minutes.

 

Very much appreciated.

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Re:MR600 Bridge mode
2020-09-25 16:31:19

@Dewcal 

Thanks - good to know it was useful for someone else!

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Re:MR600 Bridge mode
2020-12-31 15:26:30

@lightwhisper and me! Thankd

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Re:MR600 Bridge mode
2021-09-12 15:54:58 - last edited 2021-09-12 15:55:31

@Lightwisper et al, I’ve been following your setup instructions (thanks!) in order to try to use the Archer MR600 with my tried-and-tested Google WiFi. All seems very clear when I setup the MR600 (IP address 192.168.8.1) until I try to reserve the IP address for the primary router (Google WiFi).

 

I’ve connected the Google WiFi WAN port to Lan 1 on the MR600 but when I click scan nothing is showing up, ie the MR600 doesn’t appear to be ‘seeing’ the Google WiFi puck.

 

When I run a status report from the Google WiFi puck it’s clearly seeing the MR600 (ethernetLink: true) but doesn’t appear to be obtaining an IP address.

 

Any ideas gratefully received…

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