@ajones0009,

I believe that the issue you are coming across is a result of where you placed that switch in your network. Unless you are setting up VLANs and doing some advanced configuration, there should only be one cable running directly from your modem, directly to your router. All of the devices you want on the network have to be 'downstream' of the routers addressing. If you are splitting the connection, you're two devices going through the switch and are constantly fighting for the traffic, but since you did Mac cloning, the PC connects fine and may even take priority.

While you may have moved the router to test this, from a networking standpoint, your WILL have issues and conflicts with a switch between the devices.

If you are looking to use your switch in this location, you will have to set up your AX73 in AP mode and enable the DHCP server and Wireless functionality of your Modem if it has it.

  @ajones0009,

Glad to hear you got it working, 

usually the MAC address cache is cleared when the modem is unplugged for 5+ minutes, but it could depend on your ISP, as I have had to make this phone call before also.

The reason it latched onto your PC is that the PC was connected when you were trying through the switch. As it is a first come first serve basis for that IP address, that PC won the address over the router. This is why the mac cloning process usually consists of cloning the MAC address of the device that is able to receive the internet connection and talk with your ISP.

You may consider re-enabling the Wi-Fi in the basement if you need a stronger connection there and would like to extend your network further.

If the AP and router have the same SSID, your devices will be able to automatically switch between the AP and routers networks, otherwise they can have separate SSIDs and your devices will treat them as separate networks and compare the overall signal quality.