TP Link Archer A8 (AC1900) will not connect to my Fiber Modem
This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.TP Link Archer A8 (AC1900) will not connect to my Fiber Modem
This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
I have to admit I'm about at my wit's end with this router. I purchased it through Amazon thinking that it was going to be a cakewalk to set up, but nothing has been further from the truth.
I'm currently running an aging D-Link 868-L router and it's been a workhorse for the past 6 years. However, now that D-Link has decided it's too old, they discontinued support, and I was in need of a new router. Too, over the past month or so it has been dropping speed, and disconnecting Wi-Fi more often, and again I've been looking for a newer model to replace it. Having done a good amount of comparing and searching, I opted for the TP-Link Archer A8 (AC1900) router.
I received it yesterday and attempted to set it up. Disconnected my fiber modem, and reconnected it using the Ethernet cables I already had. Once done, I used first the TP-Link Tether app on my phone, but couldn't get the Internet to connect. So, I tried the web portal. Same result, no Internet. At this point, I've already powered down the modem and the router multiple times, used my phone to search the web for possible solutions and getting nowhere. When I go to the Status page under Advanced, it just says that it's 'Connecting', but it never does. On my modem, the WAN light is steady, telling me that it sees the router, but the router apparently cannot see the modem, or just can't connect to it. I've tried multiple solutions offered on different sites, as well as here on the Forum, even going so far as changing the DNS Primary to 8.8.8.8 and Secondary to 8.8.4.4 but that's not working either. I've changed the default web address of the router to 192.168.2.1, that didn't work either.
My last-ditch solution was to upgrade the firmware, thinking that perhaps there was something blocking my effort through the original firmware that was onboard the router. I had hoped this would work, but the result was the same when I connected the modem. No Internet. It just keeps saying that it's 'Connecting' but never does. At least when I had the Ethernet cable disconnected from the WAN port, it did accurately recognize that, but once I connected it, no dice. I've tried the cable that came with the router, along with several other cables I have here, CAT5, even CAT6 hoping that it might make a difference. Sadly, it hasn't. Every time that I connect the modem to the router, I don't get Internet. I've even cloned my PC's MAC address to the router, but that hasn't worked either. I'm stumped. I've been working with computers for more than 30 years, and this is the worst predicament I've ever had getting hardware to communicate.
I'm hoping someone has something to offer, because I'm about to the point of sending it back to Amazon and trying another manufacturer. This shouldn't be this hard!
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Update: After getting a replacement router from Amazon, I unboxed the new one, set it up as I had the first one, and got a green light on the router. Though this only lasted a second and I was back to the same problem with the first one.
As frustrating as this might sound, it proved to me that the problem wasn't the router at all, it was the connection to my ISP. After looking through many websites and trying to track down a manual for the fiber modem (I actually found one but it was in Portuguese!) I used a hack whereby I disconnected the power from the modem as well as the fiber cable, thinking perhaps that it was somehow keeping power to the modem. Left it off for an hour, hoping by then the modem would 'forget' the old router. Long story short (too late, I know) that didn't work either. As soon as I reconnected everything, no joy.
Last-ditch, I called the ISP this morning. Told them what was happening and they opened an IT ticket. I received a call from one of their techs about 30 minutes later and was informed that my old router's MAC address was the problem on their end. No matter what new equipment I connected to the modem, it was going to be rejected simply because the old MAC address was what was being looked for. I confirmed to him the old MAC address, gave him the new one, he cleared out the old, inputted the new, and what do you know, it all worked. Connected like a champ, I even updated the Firmware without bricking the router. It took a little while to get it all configured to my preferences, the wireless items connected fairly quickly and my repeaters are broadcasting the signal way better than they were with the old router.
My only lament is, I sent back a perfectly good router to Amazon. I would have kept it, but they would have charged me $100 for the spare, and I can use the old router now as an access point so I no longer need it. I suppose I can assuage my bruised ego knowing someone will get it in an electronics pallet and be pleased with having useable equipment. Live and learn. Thanks for all the responses and help. Beer is on me.
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