so i decided to try another router. i had a tenda ac9 around so i swapped it out. i reset to default settings. changed LAN ip to 192.168.1.1. then i started adding mac addresses for static ip assignments. wouldn't you know i couldn't assign 192.168.1.2. kept giving me error message, "can not use 192.168.1.2 for an ip address". that is the exact same local ip address i was having problems with the Archer c9. but the Archer c9 let me add 192.168.1.2 to the static ip reserve table. but like i said in original post, router would actually never assign that ip address to the device.

now i am wondering if it some sort of conspiracy? why do the chinese not want me to use 192.168.1.2???? :confused:

maybe your Pi just wan't take that assigned ip address, try another one or contact Raspberry company for more help. Or settle down with dhcp