Hello. I have the following setting:

Router (OpenWRT) --wired--- Unifi AP  --wireless-- TL WA850RE

I set a static lease for WA850RE. Now, recently I changed the router (still OpenWRT), but the identical IP address range, and I already entered the static address of WAL850RE, so that it will get the right address from the beginning. I restarted the APs then, also WA850RE.  However, I realized that the Mac Address of WA850RE is now a bit different, so that it did get a random IP address from the range.

I have another TL WA850RE, which is connected to the router as an access point. With that one, there was no problem. The Mac address stayed the same, so did the static lease.

Why does WA850RE change the Mac address when it's in repeater mode ? It looks like, the clients of it on repeater mode also get a bit different Mac assigned, does that do it to itself ? Why does it do it ?

I would appreciate your hint!