Can't get AX55 into EasyMesh Satellite Mode

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Can't get AX55 into EasyMesh Satellite Mode

This thread has been locked for further replies. You can start a new thread to share your ideas or ask questions.
Can't get AX55 into EasyMesh Satellite Mode
Can't get AX55 into EasyMesh Satellite Mode
2023-09-16 14:41:46
Model: Archer AX55  
Hardware Version: V1
Firmware Version: 1.2.3 Build 20230603 rel.46473(5553)

I think my question at this point boils down to "is putting a router in EasyMesh satellite mode the same thing as doing a factory reset?" I'm trying to add an AX55 to an AX73 v1.0 as an EasyMesh satellite, but when I put the AX55 in EasyMesh satellite mode the AX73 cannot find it, and the AX55 behaves as if it it has been factory reset. This makes me suspect that the operation to put the AX55 in satellite mode is actually failing, but I don't know how I can know that.

 

Details:

I recently noticed that with a firmware update my AX73 v2.0 router now supports EasyMesh. I had been waiting on this to add a second access point to my network, so I just bought an AX55, intending to use it as an EasyMesh satellite. I made sure both routers are on the latest firmware. (The AX73 v2.0 is on 1.0.9 Build 20230721 rel.61392(5553), the AX55 v1.0 is on 1.2.3 Build 20230603 rel.46473(5553)) I plugged the AX55 in to power with no ethernet plugged in to any port, connected to the AX55's WiFi with my computer, set a password but then exited setup (because I was unable to complete setup because the router is not connected to the internet). Then I went to Advanced -> EasyMesh, clicked "Change Mode", selected "Satellite Router", then clicked "Change".

 

After the progress bar in the modal that appeared reached 100% I noted that I was now connected to my AX73's WiFi, so I opened its interface, went to "Advanced -> EasyMesh" clicked "Add Satellite Devices", selected "TP-Link Router" then "Next". After hitting "Done", the dialog presented says "Searching for satellite routers..." for a few minutes, then eventually "No satellite router nearby."

 

My hypothesis at this point is that the AX55 is not actually getting into satellite mode. When putting the AX55 into satellite mode, the dialog right before you click "Change" says "Note: In case you need to revert your satellite router, press the Reset button to factory reset it." But that's never what I actually need to do. When the "Changing to Satellite Router mode..." progress bar is at 100% I can immediately see the AX55's default network names available in my computer's WiFi network list. If I connect to them, the router behaves as if it has already been factory reset. (It asks me to set a local password, and if I give it one then go back into "Advanced -> EasyMesh" it shows that it is still in "Main Router" mode.)

 

For anybody that has successfully added a device as an EasyMesh satellite, does a router that has been put into satellite mode behave the same as a router that has been factory reset, or is the fact that my AX55 is behaving that way evidence that my AX55 is actually not successfully getting into satellite mode?

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Re:Can't get AX55 into EasyMesh Satellite Mode
2023-09-17 17:57:30 - last edited 2023-09-17 18:01:29

  @BikesAndBBQ 

 

Hello,

 

I have same issue on ax20, it is not get into satellite mode just only factory reset.

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Re:Can't get AX55 into EasyMesh Satellite Mode
2023-09-18 15:16:44

  @Farukk I got in touch with support and was able to get my AX55 connected to my AX73. They asked me to try putting the AX73 in satellite mode and connecting it to the AX55 with the AX55 as the main router. I was hesitant to do that because I had a lot of configuration in the AX73 I didn't want to lose, plus I wanted the AX73 to be the main router, but they reminded me that I could backup that router's config and restore it later. I did that and then I was able to add the AX73 to the AX55's network as a satellite. (I didn't actually perform the operation, but being able to see the AX73 from the AX55's "Add Satellite" dialog was enough to see that I was making progress.)

 

I canceled out of that, and then connected to the AX73's default network (it was also behaving as if it had been factory reset, just like the AX55 had been). I restored my backup of my AX73's config then tried again to add the AX55 as a satellite and this time it worked.

 

So at this point my best guess is that "putting a router in satellite mode" is essentially the same thing as doing a factory reset, and that when you do the "Add satellite" from your other router the main router is looking for routers in factory reset mode, and when it finds them will then configure them as satellites. 

 

My best guess about what I actually did that got me working was essentially doing a factory reset on the AX73. So if you're still having this problem, maybe try that? (Back up the config for your main router, do a factory reset, then restore the config and try adding your satellite again.) 

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