Home Network Community > Wi-Fi Routers > DHCP Issue in AP Mode
< Wi-Fi Routers

DHCP Issue in AP Mode

DHCP Issue in AP Mode

DHCP Issue in AP Mode
DHCP Issue in AP Mode
2025-06-25 13:59:59 - last edited 2025-06-25 20:34:36
Model: Archer A6  
Hardware Version: V4
Firmware Version: 1.13.6

Goal: Connect Archer A6 as AP to existing router

 

Scenario is as follows:

 

Connect Archer A6 in "Router Mode" to router, (LAN port on Router is connected to WAN port on A6) with a single PC plugged into one LAN port on the A6. In this mode, A6 gets an IP address from the router's DHCP server and the PC gets an IP address from the A6 and everything works as expected.  Restarts to A6 always result in service being restored.

 

Switch configuration of A6 to "Access Point Mode".  The "Ethernet" LED initially lights green and then goes out as soon as the "Internet" LED lights green.  Examining the DHCP server logs on the router shows that the A6 is continually trying to get an IP address (but is obviously failing).  As a result, the PC plugged into the A6 is unable to get an IP address and attempting to connect to the IP address of the A6 Internet port (the one issued by the routers DHCP server) also fails.

 

Removing the Ethernet cable from the A6 WAN port for 5 secs and replacing it will get a "good connection" approximately once in 5 times and the "Ethernet" and the "Internet" LEDs both stay lit.  At this point everything works as expected, (the PC plugged into the A6 is able to get an IP address from the router the console of the A6 is accessable from a PC connected to the router).  However, rebooting the A6 returns to the state where the "Ethernet" LED is off, the "Internet" light is on (green) but no connection (PC or Router side) is possible.

 

Note: Reconfiguring the A6 AP to use a static address (rather than the dynamic address) works fine and the AP works correctly through multiple restarts/power cycles.  This is the configuration that I am currently using.

 

I have tested the above in version 1.14.0  (pre-release) and the behavior is the same.

 

Any thoughts appreciated...

  0      
 
  0      
 
#1
Options
4 Reply
Re:DHCP Issue in AP Mode
2025-06-26 10:21:09

  @avionics 

 

Best practice is to use a static IP address for the AP. This way you'll always know its IP address if you need to login in its WebGUI.

For example if your main router uses for the LAN an IP address 192.168.1.0/24 then you can set A6 LAN IP address as 192.168.1.254.

Another approach would be to use an address reservation on your main router and reserve a LAN IP address for A6, so it would bel permanently assigned.

In any case A6 DHCP server should be turned off.

Here's (Case 2) a guide on how to configure wireless router in AP mode.

 

 

If this was helpful click on the arrow pointing upward to make it blue. If this solves your issue, click the star to make it blue and mark the post as a "Recommended Solution".
  0  
  0  
#2
Options
Re:DHCP Issue in AP Mode
2025-06-26 17:56:06 - last edited 2025-06-26 18:10:01

  @terziyski 

 

Thanks for the input, however my point was that DHCP on the "Internet" port in AP mode on the A6 appears to be broken. 

 

In my tests, the DHCP server on the A6 was turned off (it defaults to off when you switch to AP mode).   

 

As I said in my post, using a static IP address on the "Internet" port works fine, however you have to "get there".   

 

The factory default for the A6 is  "Router Mode".  When you switch the mode to "AP Mode" the current software resets the Internet port IP address method to dynamic (even if a static IP address had previously been set). As a result you fall into the "hole" I described and have to cycle the Internet port up and down until you "luck into a connection" so that you can set the "Internet" port to static IP mode.

 

As I said, I have the AP working just fine however I felt it worth telling others about the bug.

 

Andrew

 

 

  0  
  0  
#3
Options
Re:DHCP Issue in AP Mode
2025-06-26 19:33:20 - last edited 2025-06-26 22:22:12

  @avionics 

 

I got ypur point and it's good that you share this particular issue.

Sometimes the blue (internet port) of the router may not like the ethernet cable and misbehave.

Try the following - use the original cable in the A6 kit to connect to your main router and test again.

If there's no any improvement you may try the approach that I mentioned in my first post:

Use an address reservation on your main router and reserve a LAN IP address for A6, so it would be permanently assigned even if A6 is set with Dynamic IP address.

By the way what's your main router make and model ?

If this was helpful click on the arrow pointing upward to make it blue. If this solves your issue, click the star to make it blue and mark the post as a "Recommended Solution".
  0  
  0  
#4
Options
Re:DHCP Issue in AP Mode
2025-06-26 21:55:13 - last edited 2025-06-26 21:57:00

  @terziyski 

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

Two points:

 

  • DHCP on the A6 "Internet" port works just fine when it is configured in "Router Mode".  With no change to the Ethernet cabling (or anything else for that matter),  simply changing the mode to "AP Mode" causes the issue as described above to appear.  Having said that, I tried things again with the supplied cable as you suggested with no change.
  • Address reservation will not solve the issue since it is dependant on DHCP working between the Router and the A6 which it does only intermittantly when the A6 is in "AP Mode" (though it works 100% of the time when the A6 is in "Router Mode").

 

 

 

 

 

  0  
  0  
#5
Options

Information

Helpful: 0

Views: 276

Replies: 4

About Us
Press
Copyright © TP-Link Systems Inc. All rights reserved.